Dmozsite site help to build up your link Popularity and give you higher Page Rank. http://www.dmozsite.com AMPATUAN, Philippines – A scion of a powerful pro-government clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in the southern Philippines turned himself in Thursday amid mounting pressure on the president to crack down on lawlessness and warlords. The dead from Monday's massacre included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a gubernatorial candidate who wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruled Maguindanao province unopposed for years. Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor who allegedly stopped the convoy with dozens of police and pro-government militiamen, surrendered to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in the provincial capital, military commander Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said. "The family voluntarily surrendered him and they agreed that he will be investigated," Ferrer said. Asked by reporters if he was involved in the killings, Ampatuan, who tried to hide his face with a scarf, replied: "There is no truth to that. The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty." Prosecutors have 36 hours to decide whether to file charges. "Within 36 hours the prosecutors will resolve the case," Justice Secretary Agnes Devanedera told reporters in Manila after she arrived with Ampatuan and other officials on board two air force planes from southern General Santos City. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he had warned Ampatuan's family they risked a military attack unless they turned him over by midday Thursday. As a helicopter carrying Ampatuan took off from the Maguindanao provincial capital for General Santos, shots rang out but the aircraft was not hit, Ferrer said. It wasn't clear who fired the shots. The Ampatuan clan helped President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies win the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections by delivering crucial votes. Arroyo's ruling party, in an emergency meeting late Wednesday, expelled Ampatuan, his father and a brother. Ampatuan's surrender followed days of discussions between his family and Dureza, apparently in a bid to prevent hostilities between the clan's followers and government forces. The area around the provincial capital was tense after troops disarmed nearly 400 pro-government militiamen loyal to the Ampatuans. Such militias are meant to act as an auxiliary force to the military and police in fighting rebels and criminals but often serve as politicians' private armies. The military deployed tanks and truckloads of troops throughout the province under a state of emergency to hunt down the attackers and prevent retaliatory violence from the victims' clan. Police and soldiers on Wednesday found 11 more bodies at the site of the attack, bringing the death toll to 57. Six of the bodies were discovered in a large pit, buried alongside three vehicles, and five were found in a nearby mass grave. The vehicles _ a sedan and two vans _ were crushed by a large backhoe that ran over and buried them, investigator Jose Garcia said. Police Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu said they did not expect to find any more bodies. Arroyo has come under intense pressure at home and abroad to seek justice for the victims of the massacre, with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and media and human rights watchdogs voicing their concern over the scale of the killings. The gubernatorial candidate, Ismael Mangudadatu, had received death threats and sent his wife and relatives to submit his candidacy Monday in the convoy that was ambushed. Mangudadatu said four people whom he refused to identify told him Ampatuan was seen with the gunmen. National police director Jesus Verzosa said six senior officers, including the provincial police chief and his deputy, 20 members of Ampatuan township's police station and 347 militiamen were in custody for the investigation, but that not all were considered suspects. Arroyo vowed justice for the victims. Few, however, think she will be able to restore the rule of law in the impoverished region that has been outside the central government's reach for generations, and where warlords backed by private armies go by their own rules. Maguindanao's acting governor is Sajid Ampatuan, another son of former Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the clan's patriarch. Human Rights Watch expressed concern that the administration's relationship with the family would hinder an impartial investigation. Among the 18 dead journalists _ the highest number of reporters killed in a single attack anywhere in the world according to media groups _ was Alejandro "Bong" Reblando, 53, a former Associated Press stringer. He was the most senior in the group of reporters. Reblando, who was based in General Santos City, was a staffer for the Manila Bulletin newspaper. He covered the southern Philippines for the AP from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, reporting on the Muslim separatist insurgency as well as local politics. He is survived by his wife and seven children. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Prime_suspect_in_Philippine_massacre_surrenders.htm 1st Dec,2009 After Hong Kong singer-actor Nicholas Tse admitted that his wife, Cecilia Cheung, is pregnant once again, he has been receiving words of congratulations from people around him. On that note, the actor's face would light up and he will sincerely thank these people for their well-wishes. When the weather turned cold and Cecilia was down with the flu, the entire Tse family slept in separate bedrooms to minimize the risk of getting infected. In their large six-storey home, they were not only sleeping in different bedrooms but also in different levels of the house. Nicholas laughed as he said, "I am now sleeping in the dungeon!" For his upcoming movie, Nicholas loaned three of his shops out to the production team as he said, "I bought these shops for three to four years and have been renting them out to others. Their contract was recently completed and I've decided to hit the walls down and rent it out again later. Coincidentally, they [production team] needed it and I've decided to loan it to them. A lot of people want to purchase these shops but I won't sell them. The shop in Zhong Huan is definitely for my son, Lucas." The 29-year-old performer shed some light on his future plans for his family and revealed his plans to move them to China. He decided on it after he saw how Chingmy Yau's two daughters were schooled in China. "They speak mandarin in authentic Beijing pitch. Their English sounds like a foreigner's. It is important to be adapt at these two languages and it will be useful to them in future. When Lucas is older, I will send him to study abroad." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Nicholas_Tse_plans_to_move_his_family_to_China.htm 25th Nov,2009 According to Taiwanese media reports, Hong Kong singer-actor Edison Chen recently made rounds in Taiwan on the pretext of promoting his self-designed USB drives. In the wee hours of the morning, he visited three different nightclubs within three hours before returning to his hotel at 5am in the morning. He visited the XAGA nightclub located in Taichung first and at around 2am, he moved on to Taipei's Luxy club where took off his jacket, which is a latest design from CLOT (Edison's own fashion line) and gave it to a lucky fan. An overseas representative of CMD emphasized, "It was Jeff who invited Edison out for supper and got us to pick him up. This group of girls was found by Jeff, we do not know them at all. We did not even talk to them in the car." Due to his hectic schedule in Taiwan, his representative shared that Edison did not eat even though they went for a shabu-shabu meal. After a few introductions and greetings, he left and returned to the hotel. Edison returned to Los Angeles two days ago in an afternoon flight. When reporters questioned the representative if Edison was drunk, he said, "He did toast some drinks to the staff, but that was out of courtesy. He didn't drink much." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Edison_Chen_visits_three_Taiwan_nightclubs_to_promote_his_own_USB_products.htm 25th Nov,2009 Fann Wong has fallen ill with H1N1 but her husband Christopher Lee is unshaken and unfazed. The actor said in an interview, "Actually, H1N1 is like the common cold. It is just the name that scares people. The doctor is actually pretty optimistic and that is reassuring. He told me that I could go to work as usual." Chris also said that he will continue to share a bedroom with Fann even though he has yet to take the H1N1 immunization jab himself. Currently filming the second season of Channel 8's variety programme Life Transformers, he plans to go back as soon as possible to look after his wife. The actress had returned home last Thursday from a trip to Hainan Island, which Chris shared that she did not pack enough warm clothing. The cold weather there made her uncomfortable and when her temperature hit 37.6 degrees, he took her to the doctor's where it was diagnosed as H1N1. Fann's manager Teo Lian Hua suspects that the newly-married star caught the virus while in Hainan. Currently on a 10-day sick leave, Fann did appear with her fellow cast members on the first day of filming the upcoming local movie Happy Go Lucky. Directed by Ye Chun-hui, the movie stars Patricia Mok, Liu Qianyi, Liu Lingling, and Marcus Chin. Fann's manager, Teo Lian Hua, shared that the starlet sounded drowsy over the phone and was worried that her absence would affect the movie's filming schedule. Apart from Fann, her co-actress in the movie, Liu, was down with food poisoning the day before. Asked if the director took these happenings as 'ominous signs', he said, "When I first heard it, it was rather shocking. However, after thinking about the movie industry, you would know that anything can happen. It is more important to find the solutions to these problems. We will let Fann get enough rest and film the other actors' parts first." Happy Go Lucky is slated for release in March 2010. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Fann_Wong_is_down_with_H1N.htm 25th Nov,2009 MUMBAI (AFP) - – First came offshore locations, then foreign special effects experts, fashion designers and movie titles. Now the songs that drive Bollywood and the country's music industry have gone international. What was once dismissed as a passing fad has now become the norm, with an increasing number of English lyrics being used in Hindi soundtracks, reflecting the lifestyles and aspirations of more worldly young Indians. The latest hit song is "Tera Hone Laga Hoon" (I'm Falling For You), from the movie "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" ("An Amazing Story Of Strange Love"), starring Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor. "Shining in the setting sun like a pearl upon the ocean. Come on, feel me. Girl, feel me," the song goes. For Irshad Kamil, who wrote the words, using English is a natural progression given the increasingly outward-looking perspective of Bollywood, which is seeking newer, potentially more lucrative, audiences abroad. Hollywood studios are also looking to tap into the 2.2-billion-dollar industry and its production expertise. "Bollywood heroes are playing characters that have Western orientation and therefore such words have become essential to write in the lyrics," said Kamil. "There is a demand for it in the script and therefore as a lyricist we have to give such one liners in Hindi songs and that has become quite popular." Even in the mid-1990s, Hindi-language films still reflected traditional themes of chaste love, hard work and family values, with soberly dressed heroes and heroines overcoming social divides or poverty in stylised song and dance. Now more contemporary themes are tackled, with plots and characters often owing more to Manhattan than Mumbai, and pulsing rap, hip-hop or rock music driving gyrating, scantily-clad dancers who would not look out of place on MTV. For Kamil, the changes are inevitable given the outside influences on Indian society after the liberalisation of the country's economy from 1991 -- with Western clothes, food and lifestyle now seen as status symbols. Call centres and back office operations for Western companies employ thousands of Indians, with English -- the common language of politics, academia, the judiciary and state administration -- the everyday medium. Even leading actress Katrina Kaif -- Hong Kong-born but brought up in France, Hawaii and London -- struggles with Hindi. "Today, many of the Indian youth use English words in day to day usage," said Kamil. "When they meet they say, 'What's up?' There is a huge import of English language of late and if you observe carefully, they have a mixture of Hindi and English in their language and therefore we have to write such lyrics. "Earlier, youngsters used to understand Urdu and Hindi language in depth, but today's youth don't understand that much, so we have to simplify our language and also use English words depending on the character of the film." Swanand Kirkire has written music for actor-producer-director Aamir Khan's new film "3 Idiots", based on Chetan Bhagat's best-selling novel "Five Point Someone". "Indian society has changed drastically in recent years and therefore English words find their way into Bollywood," Kirkire said. "Bollywood film titles are in English, like '3 Idiots', so logically songs will also have some English words. One of the songs in our film goes by the name 'All Is Well'. "Society is evolving and so is our film industry. Earlier we had our hero and heroine dancing around trees. That was a common trend of every film, but now they dance at different places like pubs or studios. "Things are changing, therefore language is changing too." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Bollywood_changes_its_tune_with_English_lyrics.htm 23rd Nov,2009 SINGAPORE: The local full—feature comedy "Happy Go Lucky" held its first day shoot ceremony on Monday without leading actress Fann Wong, who has been diagnosed as having H1N1. Fann, who had returned on Thursday from a work trip to Hainan Island, developed flu symptoms the next day and a fever on Sunday. She was diagnosed that evening with the virus when she visited a doctor. While the artiste rests at home, production of the movie — slated for a Chinese New Year release — is in "tremendous chaos" as a new filming schedule has to be planned, her manager told MediaCorp. The actress has been given a 10—day medical leave. The comedy is Fann’s first movie since her September wedding to actor Christopher Lee. — TODAY/so http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Actress_Fann_Wong_down_with_H1N.htm 23rd Nov,2009 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Little Richard is asking fans to pray for his speedy recovery after undergoing hip surgery at a Tennessee hospital. The Rev. Bill Minson, a family friend, says the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had been in some pain leading up to the surgery but continued to maintain a rigorous performing schedule. Minson says the 76-year-old asked him to tell fans "to get ready to rock 'n' roll with him in the new year because he's coming back strong." The Macon, Ga., native now lives in Tennessee. He is recovering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Little_Richard_asks_fans_for_prayers_after_surgery.htm 23rd Nov,2009 The upcoming Channel U drama series, The Illusionist, will be helmed by local heartthrob, Thomas Ong, singer-actress Chen Meixin, and veteran Chinese host, Quan Yifeng. It tells the story of a magician (Thomas Ong) who crosses path with a newbie (Chen Meixin) and a high-level executive in the advertising department while collaborating with the television station to produce a magic programme. The story between the trio continues as they get involved in a series of entangled relationships with each other. It has been two years since Meixin last participated in a local production (her last was Dear Son-in-law in 2007). At the lensing ceremony of the 13-episode drama series, a bubbly Meixin exclaimed, "He [Thomas] is really handsome! I am afraid of looking at him in the eye! I'm afraid of getting mesmerized by him!" When Thomas was told of Meixin's comments, he jokingly replied, "Really?! I am probably too old to her!" As one of the leading lady in this series, the 22-year-old nubile actress felt pressured acting alongside veteran artistes such as Yifeng and Marcus Chin. Before filming began, Meixin would often study her scripts three to four times as she was afraid of making NGs (no-good takes). Although she is a Singaporean, Meixin chose to set her sights on the overseas market and have decided to focus on developing her career abroad instead. In-between her hectic filming schedule, Meixin is caught up with preparations for her upcoming album. "I originally planned for a year-end release this year. However, it looks like we won't have enough time to rush it out in time now." Apart from releasing a music album, the cheery lass revealed that she will be taking on a Taiwanese idol drama series next year and refused to divulge further details on it. Produced by WaWa Productions, The Illusion will be a 13-episode series. It is estimated for a March broadcast next year and will be aired on Channel U at 10pm. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Chen_Meixin_is_afraid_of_looking_into_Thomas_Ong_s_eyes.htm 23rd Nov,2009 In the ongoing 180-episode Channel 8 drama series, Your Hand In Mine, Paige Chua takes on the role of a lively and adorable girl, Li Li Fen. With an innocent and gullible character, she is filled with dreams of becoming a director. As she enters the working world, she finally understands the wise words said by her elder brother (Shaun Chen) and learns that things are not as clear-cut as they seem to be. In an interview, Paige gave her two cents on stepping out into the working world. The actress shared that she has been reflecting on her flaws ever since she started working. "I was very rebellious in secondary school. However at that point of time, I did not feel that I was rebellious. I made mistakes. I felt that I had very different opinions from my parents." When reporters quizzed her on the extent of her rebelliousness, Paige revealed that she used to shout at her parents, quarreled and angered her mother, and stayed out on purpose to return home after the 12am curfew. She shared that these actions were merely the tip of an ice berg and said, "The most rebellious was after I graduated from university. I did not find a permanent job. After working in a bank for two months, I quit and went to become a model." "To them, this was not a good choice. After finishing university, they felt 'why should I become a model?' I told them to give me a few years and I'll show them what I want. At that time, I was really interested in this line of work. I wanted to give it a shot and see how far I'll go." As typical Asian parents, Paige shared that her parents have very traditional mindsets and felt that the entertainment circle was too messy and different. Worried that their daughter would be led astray, Paige explained, "Parents can't be by our side helping us forever. If we fall down, we must know how to stand up again." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Paige_Chua_quit_bank_job_to_be_a_model_cites_rebelliousness.htm 23rd Nov,2009 Highly-anticipated Channel 8 blockbuster drama of the year, Together, finally concluded filming on the 17th this month. Following their collaboration in the hit drama Little Nyonya and the stage musical Peranakan Ball, Together marks the third collaboration between actors Dai Yang Tian and Jeanette Aw. At the press conference of the upcoming drama series, reporters quizzed Yang Tian if he had any growing fondness towards his leading lady after spending so much time working together. "Familiarity breeds fondness. There will be more or less some [feeling], but it is not until I can't break out of character. However, this morning I told Jeanette 'Because we have been filming everyday, it suddenly feels a little empty when we aren't filming today.'" Jeanette shared that she has pulled herself out of her role when filming ended and avoided giving a direct reply to the question. The local starlet expressed that she feels comfortable collaborating with Yang Tian and 'understands him better now'. There have been different factions of fans rooting for Qi Yuwu and Jeanette (the pair were ill-fated onscreen lovers in Little Nyona), and Yang Tian and Jeanette. When reporters talked about it and asked the actress if she felt weary and would like to return to working with Yuwu, a surprised Yang Tian immediately exclaimed in protest, "Why is Qi Yuwu mentioned?" Jeanette teased him and jokingly replied, "I think I hear a hint of jealousy!" Putting the jokes aside, the 30-year-old actress said, "I do not feel weary as every job brings forth different experiences. I enjoy them all." "I am not weary of it. I am not a person who easily gets tired of things. However, after what you've said, this is my first time knowing that there are others rooting for Qi Yuwu [and Jeanette]," the Shanghainese actor replied. "As for the notion of a 'Golden Couple', it is actually the script which gives viewers a preconception of it. If we were to act as enemies in our next show, the audience will think that we have broken up. Following their collaboration in Together, there have been rampant rumours about an ongoing relationship off-screen between the pair. Both Yang Tian and Jeanette appeared shocked to be told of the news and the actor said, "Are [the rumours] that serious?! If the both of us ever get together, we'll be public about it!" Jeanette nodded in agreement and replied, "When the feeling arrives, we'll tell you guys!" Together will be shown on Channel 8 from Nov 30 onwards from Mondays to Fridays at 9pm. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Dai_Yang_Tian_is_growing_fonder_of_Jeanette_Aw.htm 23rd Nov,2009 Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh has little interest in taking home the Best Actress Award at the annual TVB Anniversary Awards ceremony. She said that she has no intentions of vying for the coveted title this year. She even announced her decision to reduce her work in TV drama series to only 60 episodes a year. Despite this, Charmaine's earnings have not dropped. In fact, she racked in S$2.4 million last year to become TVB's highest-earning artiste, overtaking Bernice Liu who came in tops in both 2006 and 2007. With a four-month break from work this year, it is reported that a large portion of Charmaine's earnings came from her advertisement deals in both Hong Kong and China. According to Hong Kong news reports, the actress earned S$3.31 million between the period from November 15 last year to November 15 this year. Fellow TVB artiste Raymond Lam comes close behind to be the second highest-earning celebrity in the station earning S$3.12 million this year. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Charmaine_Sheh_is_the_highest-earning_TVB_star.htm 23rd Nov,2009 The Will is one of the three feature films that is set for release next year on Channel U, besides The Promise, and Cooking Without Clothes. The movie showcases a stellar cast which includes renowned Taiwanese host-actor Ah Bu (Brian Zhou Yong Xun) of The King of Adventure, Crystal Lin from One Million Star 3, and Michelle Chong and Johnny Lu from Channel 5 sitcom Sayang Sayang. While she played Johnny's love interest in Sayang Sayang, Michelle will portray Ah Bu's wife in The Will. Her character had plans to divorce her husband but changed her mind after discovering her husband's rich inheritance. Hence she pretends to be demure and persistently bugs him for a reunion. Donning an explosive curly hair wig, the audiences erupted in laughter when Michelle's character appeared onscreen during the press conference. "I was only in five or six scenes. However, I was slapped, drenched in water, and was even buried alive! You can tell how unpopular I am in the entertainment industry," said Michelle who laughed in jest. The 33-year-old animatedly gestured the scenario of her drenching scene. "I was drenched many times! My undergarments were all soaked however the director felt that it was not wet enough and was very unsatisfied. He kept requested for the scene to be repeated over and over again. Even the heavens took pity on me and it suddenly rained in the end! The director finally said it was enough!" Michelle's character also suffered a few slaps from both Ah Bu and Johnny. "They were both imagining that they were slapping me and I was continuously slapped. Of course, not all the slaps were real. However, I was still slapped in the face a few times." Slapping and getting drenched were only the tip of the iceberg when Michelle revealed that she had to be buried alive and act as a dead corpse in one of the scenes. "It was really tough! However I received a red packet afterwards, there was S$10 in it! I believe this is the biggest amount given so far in the local entertainment circuit," she humorously quipped. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Michelle_Chong_gets_drenched_slapped_and_buried_alive_in_The_Will.htm 23rd Nov,2009 China-born martial arts film star Jet Li has finally opened up about his newly-minted Singaporean status in an interview with the Taiwanese media during an APEC meeting held last week. A few months ago, he made headlines when he become a Singaporean and bought a luxurious S$20 million bungalow at Binjai Rise but remained tightlipped on the topic of his new Singaporean citizenship, Jet was present at the APEC CEO Summit 2009 as a representative for being an International Film Star and Founder of his charity organization, One Foundation. He shared, "I will never reveal how much money I have spent, and how much money my wife has given me to do charity work. I don't need to be ranked, I am willing to do it." "I have not been shooting any movies for the past one-and-a-half years. During this time, I have been going on business trips and have flew around the world 50 times My wife gives me the money for this expenditure. I hand all my money over to my family." In an interview, the actor silently acknowledged his new Singapore citizenship, "Compared to other cities, Singapore is a lot cleaner. The security is a lot better and the weather is hotter. There is a warmer climate in Southeast Asia too. A bilingual education system, a mix of cultures with some western influences. These are the main aspects that attracted my attention." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Jet_Li_openly_acknowledges_and_explains_his_new_Singaporean_citizenship.htm 23rd Nov,2009 While filming the music video for their latest track, 'Yin Shi Nan Nu', the lead singer of Singaporean rock band Mi Lu Bing, Nic, takes on the role of a man who is suffering from a terminal illness and has to part with his girlfriend. He was so engrossed in his role, he could not detach himself from his onscreen character even after filming concluded. In an interview with the trio, the group's keyboardist WeiQi revealed that he found Nic tearing while singing, "Actually it's good to immerse yourself in the role. It helps with singing. The effects are better and there are more feelings." "To act well in a role, you have to immerse yourself in it. But when you get too attached to it, you'll start feeling sad when you return home. [I was] sad for three whole weeks," Nic chimed in response. Signed on to Dragon One Entertainment, the S$100,000 production cost of the band's third album was pumped in by Lawrence Tan, the general manager of Dragon Brand's Bird Nest and the third generation heir to the local brand established in 1957. Lawrence explained, "I love their energy. I gave them some suggestions for their album. When they let me listened to their song, 'Chi Xia Yu Zou', I suggested to them and said that this song can be their title track." For their latest album, Set Meal For Three, the members of Mi Lu Bing came up with a story concept before they started composing. With an entirely different creative process from their previous albums, and a food theme encircling Set Meal For Three, the members likened every song in their album to a plate of dish. They earnestly hope to stimulate every listener's senses with each 'dish'. The band's manager, Jasmin Chong expressed her confidence in the band and believes that they have the capabilities of performing well in the Taiwanese market. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Mi_Lu_Bing_s_Nic_was_sad_for_three_weeks_from_his_tragic_role_in_their_MV.htm 23rd Nov,2009 All heads turned when Korean stars Byun Woo Min (who can be seen in K-drama Cruel Temptation on Ch U), James Kim and Lee Seul set foot at Dempsey for the Quest Models' Relaunch party last night. After a short introduction and much handshaking, the Korean stars soon settled down for a short interview session where they charmed guests with their friendly demeanour and unassuming smiles. The trio flew in two days ago for a slew of promotional activities and meet-and-greet session with fans. It was a short two-day stay for them as they had to catch a return flight back to Korea after the event ended due to various other filming commitments. The camaraderie between the three was aptly seen from their off-camera interactions - looking out for one another, cozying in together for group shots, and cracking jokes throughout the interview. Apart from work, the artistes shared that they had their fill of fun chomping down local delights, and also went sightseeing. Visiting our sunny shores for the second time, up-and-coming actress Lee Seul, spoke up and shared her favourite tourist spot, "Sentosa, because it is a really beautiful island." And like all other tourists, the softspoken actress was particularly impressed with our clean and green environment. "Everybody's very kind, they are always smiling," the ingénue actress modestly shared. James is no stranger to the unofficial favourite pastime of local Singaporeans - eating. The actor, who is bilingual in both Korean and English, was quick to name his favourite local dish in Singapore. "What I enjoy most doing in Singapore would be going out to eat And my favourite dish is the chilli crab!" he wisecracked. Sporting boyish good looks and a charming personality, we quizzed him on his take on local girls. "Actually, I haven't had the time to meet any Singaporean girls. However, from what I've heard from my friends, Singaporean girls are more independent, they are like career woman." "They are more independent than Korean girls. Korean girls are usually shy and they do not like to share about themselves. Singaporean girls are more open-minded." When he was asked to take a pick between girls from either nationality, the easygoing actor shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't mind as long as they are sincere. Nationality does not matter - it is the heart that matters." Both artistes shared that they will be meeting with viewers and fans soon in January 2010. James will be starring in an epic Korean drama with fellow Korean actor, Oh Ji-hoo while Lee Seul will be starring in upcoming Korean movie, Tears. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/The_Hallyu_wave_hits_Singapore_yet_again_with_more_visits_from_Korean_stars.htm 23rd Nov,2009 20 Nov, 2009 Referring to previous reports about Hong Kong actors Charmaine Sheh and Kevin Cheng's fake break-up in an attempt to preserve their careers and tie the knot next year, Charmaine's manager Miss Hu has only this to say, "She's very busy, and has no time to get married." Charmaine and Kevin's rumoured romance has long been in the spotlight, and the latest word on the street is that Charmaine succeeded in getting Kevin to marry her! However, her manager Miss Hu expressed no knowledge of this, "It was the media that told me that she was getting married, and I don't even know this myself!" She said that Charmaine has been very busy juggling her filming schedules in the past 6 months, and after completing her current project Heaven and Earth next year, she will start filming another drama, Here Comes the Princess. With a total of 30 episodes, the production is estimated to be completed only by next April. Thus, it is impossible for Charmaine to fly to the US to get married as suggested by the rumours. Miss Hu said, "With two dramas in one day, she does not even have time to go for stage events. Furthermore, she has not indicated any intention to take leave." Just this September, Charmaine flew to Hawaii for a holiday and reports said that she went there to prepare for her wedding and visit Kevin's parents. However, Miss Hu clarified that there was nothing special about her trip as the actress flies to Hawaii every year during September to take a break and visit her mother. As for news whether Charmaine and Kevin did really broken up, Miss Hu shrugs noncommittally, "This is their own private affair and I can't speak for them." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Charmaine_Sheh_has_not_time_to_get_married_says_her_manager.htm 23rd Nov,2009 20 Nov, 2009 Former love rivals, Taiwanese television host Patty Hou and singer-actress Jolin Tsai cross paths once again as the former joins the latter as 7-Eleven's latest ambassador. Patty and Mayday vocalist Ah Xin will play a couple in a series of advertisements for 7-Eleven. Although Jolin is no longer the sole ambassador, her contract with 7-Eleven still out wins Patty's takings by at least more than once. Jolin's earnings amount to NT8 million (S$400,000). Both Jolin and Patty previously dated Taiwanese pop-idol Jay Chou. It was rumoured that Patty was the one who came between Jolin and Jay. Since then, Patty and Jolin have avoided each other in terms of work and appearances. However, the former rivals are forced to meet again thanks to this campaign. As 7-Eleven's ambassador, Jolin has anchored many of their major ad campaigns and products. Therefore, it came as a surprise when Patty was chosen to front the new ads. 7-Eleven's public relations officer explained, "This is because the pairing up between Ah Xin and Patty will give off a more intriguing effect." As ambassadors of hot beverages, Patty's laughter has left a very deep impression on a shy Ah Xin. She joked, "My laughter is more 'man' than Ah Xin's!" and even teased the singer, "Are you intending to fly solo? Why are you the only one in Mayday who is filming this ad?" On his impression of Patty, Ah Xin said, "My first impression of her was that she sounded just like a news anchor. In the beginning, talking to her is just like being interviewed. However, as the ad production started to drag into midnight, I saw another side to her, and realised that she is actually a very lively person." According to reports, 7-Eleven first approached Ah Xin before coming up with a list of possible female partners. Taking Ah Xin's opinions into consideration, Patty was eventually chosen as his female counterpart. 7-Eleven's public relations officer expressed that Jolin was not on the list. In the advertisement, both Ah Xin and Patty play two people who are "more than friends but not yet a couple" and there are many scenes of Patty being embraced in Ah Xin's arms. Response from viewers have been lukewarm with the main gripe being the scenes felt more like an older sister looking after her younger brother. This, despite the fact that Ah Xin is two years older than Patty. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Former_love_rivals_Patty_Hou_and_Jolin_Tsai_forced_to_work_together.htm 23rd Nov,2009 20 Nov, 2009 With the year drawing to an end, it is also time for singers to earn their last and usually biggest 'ang-bao' ('red packet') for the year at the annual countdown parties. By estimation, the most lucrative deal will be the countdown performance in Shanghai, with popular Taiwanese singer Show Luo earning a whopping NT5 million (about $250,000). Show's good friend, Jolin Tsai, may be missing out on the annual countdown but is definitely not losing out on earnings. She will be performing at "Hennessy Night" on the night before the countdown, and will be raking in NT8 million (about $400,000). Show's increasing popularity is opening more doors for him. The singer-actor is slated for the final performance before the countdown. Lasting for 40 minutes, Show will be performing a total of 10 songs, thus earning a total of NT5 million ($250,000). Taiwanese singers David Tao and Kenji Wu will be performing in Shenzhen, and will be earning NT3.21 million (about $160,000) and NT3 million (about $150,000) respectively. Jam Hsiao, who will also be performing in Shenzhen, will be earning RMB400,000 (about $80,000). Likewise, Taiwanese singer-actress Angela Zhang will join fellow songstress Christine Fan in the Shenzhen countdown and going by Angela's usual rates, her earning base will start from NT2 million (about $100,000). Even though the lucrative performances are held in China, many artistes still choose to perform in Taiwan. Taiwanese singer Wang Lee Hom, who performed in Shanghai last year, will be travelling via the Taiwan railway to get to three places, including Tai Zhong, Tao Yuan and Taipei for his performances. Each performance of his is estimated to rake in NT1.5 million (about $75,000). Both Wang Lee Hom and Taiwanese hit band Mayday are due to perform in Taipei for the countdown to 2010. However, as Mayday will be presenting a special performance to the Taipei City Government, they are estimated to rake in more than NT2 million (about $100,000). Similarly, Taiwanese trio SHE, who will also be performing in Taipei, will be taking in close to NT1.5 million (about $75,000). http://www.dmozsite.com/article/As_2009_comes_to_an_end_which_of_biggest_names_in_Mandopop_will_pocket_the_most_earnings.htm 23rd Nov,2009 20 Nov, 2009 Local TV host Charlyn Lin registered her marriage two days ago and throughout the joyous occasion, the new Mr and Mrs Charlyn Dong were filled with much emotions and teary happiness. The couple had originally planned to get married next year but decided to push their plans forward, as Charlyn's husband's grandfather had passed away in September. According to traditional Chinese customs, a couple has to register their marriage within the 100 days of an immediate relative's passing or wait for another three years. After their ROM ceremony last Tuesday, the newly-weds will throw their wedding banquet at Swissotel Fairmont on January 28 next year. In an interview, the gleeful bride gushed in excitement, "In the morning at six, I heard the crew arrive! I was curious but I could not see what was happening! The night before, we didn't sleep at all. I was busy with work right up till the night before I got married!" When the groom arrived with his band of brothers, he had to go through the various tests designed by Charlyn's jie mei ('bridal sisters'), who were led by her good friend cum fellow actress-host, Vivian Lai. The bride laughed as she recalled how her husband was forced to wolf down four different kinds of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy food items. "It was very scary! Adding small chilli on top of the agar-agar!" Despite the formidable tasks before him, the groom complied with the jie meis' tests and even performed a dance and song. When he was finally allowed into the house, Charlyn's bridesmaids made him declare his love for her before entering the room. Tears started to flow when he made his confession. "When I heard his voice, it sounded different from his usual voice. I knew that he definitely felt like crying, I was affected by it and started to tear too." As the couple wanted to invite relatives and friends to a meal to celebrate this blissful occasion, they held their ROM ceremony in a restaurant. Charlyn shared that the both of them chose to write their own marriage vows to each other. "When he started to read [the vow], tears started to well in my eyes because I know that he has not written anything in a long time." What touched the bride most was the phrase her husband used when he said, "Charlyn will always be my marathon partner in this lifetime." "I told him that I will accompany him no matter where he goes for his exercise. Also, he loves to eat the agar-agar made by me. I told him that I will make agar-agar for him for the rest of my life." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Charlyn_Lin_is_now_Mrs_Dong.htm 23rd Nov,2009 With the media constantly reporting her family rows and financial disputes, Taiwanese actress-singer Angela Chang said in an interview, "Regardless of what happens, these things should be handled personally by me. It does not really affect my work." Her management company decided to halt promotional activities for her latest and sixth music album, Fifth Season, after the discord between the singer and her parents continued to escalate. The 27-year-old was accused by her parents for abandoning them, and the singer once publicly stated that the relationship between mother and daughter has reached 'the end'. "It needs time. There is a need to communicate properly during this period of time. Perhaps it wasn't done well in the past. However no matter what happens, I should still try and attempt to handle it." When the singer was probed further about salvaging her relationship with her parents, she said, "I prefer to handle it myself. I would rather not talk about this part." She added, "I have always placed emphasis on my family. My family is very important." The Taiwanese pop singer, who migrated to Canada when she was 12 years old, bore the burden of supporting her family after her father was diagnosed with a heart problem when she turned 15 and took on two jobs washing cars and delivering lunch-boxes. She returned to Taiwan when a year later and set her sights on the music industry. Looking back on her past 10 years in showbiz, she poignantly said, "In the process of singing, I gained a lot and lost equally as much. I lost my freedom and my private matters are under public scrutiny." "Many things happen in life. Despite of how much I've experienced, the most important is to be supported by your family and friends. They will always be protective of you all the time, even in your setbacks." The petite singer commented on her siblings' opinion of her, "If they love me, they will support me in the things I do, in the things I love. Despite of the choice I make, they will always be supportive of me." "I am thankful to my brother and sister for accompanying me. Their mobility has allowed me to feel their warmth After going through so much, the ones who have been with you at the end of things are the ones who love you and are most supportive of you. It is very hard to meet family members who are devoted to you." After resting for a period of time, the rejuvenated idol expressed, "I am very happy to have time to rest and recuperate. There is new meaning in my life. After resting, I feel rejuvenated." Watch the video to find out more about Angela's expected qualities in a guy and for a sneak peek at her concert held at Max Pavilion. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Angela_Chang_My_family_is_very_important.htm 23rd Nov,2009 ATHENS, Greece – The chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment said Monday the U.S. should join France in cutting off the Internet connection of users who repeatedly download copyright-protected films. CEO Jim Gianopulos said Internet piracy is the single biggest threat to the film industry worldwide, and independent films are the hardest hit. "The bad news is that the Internet is big, and it's anonymous," Gianopulos told a news conference in Athens. But he said Internet service providers can track down subscribers whose IP address _ the unique number assigned to every computer that connects to the Internet _ has been spotted downloading films illegally and issue warnings. Gianopulos said punishing repeat offenders would help create "a level playing field" for filmmakers. "If we can do that, it would be a big victory against piracy," he said, cautioning that taking away the small percentage of profit many films make threatens the industry. Gianopulos said that it is equally important to inform young people about the problem of piracy. "It is important to show them that there is a connection between what they're doing and theft, and what they're doing and people's jobs," Gianopulos said. He was in Greece for a lecture, and talks with Greek film industry professionals. France has already created what it says is the first government agency to track and punish online pirates. The European Parliament initially opposed efforts by European Union governments to cut off a user's Internet connection without a court order _ but the two sides reached a compromise this month and EU lawmakers and governments agreed on new rights for Internet. Film and record labels have heavily lobbied the 27-nation bloc, demanding better enforcement of copyright rules to protect profits that are shrinking in the face of online file-sharing, in which people swap music files without paying. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Fox_CEO_wants_US_to_join_France_on_Internet_piracy.htm 23rd Nov,2009 LONDON (AFP) - – British reality TV singing sensation Susan Boyle's debut album went on sale Monday, having already become the most pre-ordered CD in the history of online retailer Amazon. The worldwide success of "I Dreamed a Dream" has astonished retailers. "Just eight months ago, no one was aware of the talents of Susan Boyle. Now, she has generated more Amazon pre-order CD sales globally than any other artist," said Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk. "That is an incredible achievement and is testament to the fact that she has captured the hearts of people all over Britain, America and the rest of the world." Amazon declined to give sales figures. On the eve of the release, Boyle, 48, performed a cover of the Rolling Stones' hit "Wild Horses" on British TV show X-Factor. She then flew to New York where she will perform at the city's Rockefeller Plaza and make media appearances. The Scottish church worker revealed a soaring voice behind her frumpy appearance when she appeared on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent" in April. Video of her singing "I Dreamed A Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables" on the TV show became a YouTube hit, with at least 100 million viewings. Although she came second to dance act Diversity in the competition, she won over fans worldwide. She initially struggled with her sudden rise to fame, and checked into a clinic suffering from exhaustion following the show. Boyle, who has undergone an extensive makeover since becoming a star, revealed last week that she was bullied at school and teachers failed to understand that she was a slow learner. "You're looking at someone who would get the belt every day. 'Will you Shut up, Susan!' -- whack!" she said in interviews in British tabloid newspapers. "I was often left behind at school because of one thing or another. I was a slow learner." http://www.dmozsite.com/article/British_TV_star_Susan_Boyle_s_album_goes_on_sale.htm 23rd Nov,2009 By Ingrid Melander ATHENS - 20th Century Fox will make a profit with James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic "Avatar," Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman Jim Gianopulos said in an interview, and dismissed reports the movie cost $500 million as "ridiculous." Blending computer-generated characters and live actors, Avatar tells the story of a former Marine who infiltrates the native Na'vi people on a far-away planet to help corporations extract a mineral, but ends up fighting for the alien race. It will be released worldwide on December 18, in the competitive holiday season. Media reports have estimated the bill for the movie, including marketing costs, at about $500 million, and some have argued it could be hard for Fox, owned by media conglomerate News Corp, to make a profit. "That's a ridiculous number," Gianopulos told Reuters on Monday during a visit to Greece. "It has actually no relationship to the actual cost of the movie." "People keep repeating a number, which was as if you added the cost of building the studio 80 years ago to the cost of Avatar." Gianopulos said the actual budget was some way away from the reported figure, but he declined to give a specific number. "The movie was quite expensive, there is no question about that. But viewed now, from the perspective of its completion and having seen it, it's a formidable work and money well spent," said Gianopulos, who chairs Fox's movie and television production together with Tom Rothman. 3D SCREENS Based on an idea Oscar-winning director Cameron developed 15 years ago, at a time when technology was not yet ready, Avatar does not enjoy the kind of fan base that comes with movie adaptations of novels like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. But asked if the movie would make a profit Gianopulos said: "I have no doubt about that." He said the film would play on over 8,000 3D screens worldwide and more than double that number in 2D. Movie goers generally pay a significant premium for tickets to 3-D pictures. Gianopulos said private equity companies Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Media were invested to a substantial degree in sharing the cost of the movie, but gave no figure. The New York Times, quoting unnamed sources briefed on the film's economics, said the companies would pick up 60 percent of the production budget. The global crisis had in some ways benefited the movie industry by boosting box office receipts, he said, with the public looking for relatively cheap forms of entertainment. The outlook for DVD and Blu-ray sales has been less positive, although Gianopulos said declines in the sector were not as bad as some figures suggested. "There has been a drop in the volume of DVD sales," he said. "It's off about 13 percent, I think ... but the rental of DVDs is up because people are staying home more and renting more, so as a result it's a single digit decrease in the overall revenue, which is bearable when you are in a crisis this bad." News Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit earlier this month as gains at its film divisions and Fox cable network helped offset declines at TV stations and newspapers. The company's movie operations posted a 56 percent gain in operating income. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Fox_says_will_make_profit_with_sci-fi_epic_Avatar.htm 23rd Nov,2009 LOS ANGELES - A Chicago insurance man pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he peeped into television sports reporter Erin Andrews' hotel room when she was nude, took video of her and tried to sell the footage. Michael David Barrett, who is free on $100,000 bond and was charged in federal court in Los Angeles, faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted. He is accused of secretly shooting videos of Andrews through peepholes at hotels in Nashville, Tennessee, Columbus, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and posting the footage on the Web after trying to sell it to celebrity site TMZ.com. Investigators say that at a hotel where Andrews stayed last year, the peephole in the door was altered and that Barrett specifically requested and stayed in the room next to Andrews. Andrews is a reporter for U.S. cable sports network ESPN, which is owned by the Walt Disney Co. An attorney for Andrews has said she had "no idea her privacy was being invaded." U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Turchin has ordered Barrett to serve house arrest under electronic monitoring and have no Internet access. His trial is scheduled to start January 12. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/Man_pleads_innocent_to_taping_Erin_Andrews_nude.htm 23rd Nov,2009 LOS ANGELES – The vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" put the box office into orbit with a $142.8 million opening weekend. The sequel took in twice as much as "Twilight" in its first three days a year ago. It was the third-best opening weekend ever. The "New Moon" total climbed $2.1 million higher than distributor Summit Entertainment had estimated Sunday. The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are: 1. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," Summit, $142,839,137, 4,024 locations, $35,497 average, $142,839,137, one week. 2. "The Blind Side, $34,119,372, 3,110 locations, $10,971 average, $34,119,372, one week. 3. "2012," Sony, $26,410,206, 3,408 locations, $7,749 average, $108,131,263, two weeks. 4. "Planet 51," Sony, $12,286,129, 3,035 locations, $4,048 average, $12,286,129, one week. 5. "Disney's a Christmas Carol," Disney, $12,275,024, 3,578 locations, $3,431 average, $79,836,002, three weeks. 6. "Precious: Based On the Novel `Push' By Sapphire," Lionsgate, $10,881,772, 629 locations, $17,300 average, $21,277,521, three weeks. 7. "The Men Who Stare at Goats," Overture, $2,829,031, 2,056 locations, $1,376 average, $27,680,089, three weeks. 8. "Couples Retreat," Universal, $1,943,075, 1,712 locations, $1,135 average, $104,992,030, seven weeks. 9. "The Fourth Kind," Universal, $1,747,085, 1,648 locations, $1,060 average, $23,359,890, three weeks. 10. "Michael Jackson's This Is It," Sony, $1,617,417, 1,640 locations, $986 average, $70,258,545, four weeks. 11. "Law Abiding Citizen," Overture Films, $1,606,053, 1,327 locations, $1,210 average, $70,018,193, six weeks. 12. "Pirate Radio," Focus, $1,460,592, 883 locations, $1,654 average, $5,184,068, two weeks. 13. "Paranormal Activity," Paramount, $1,401,112, 1,902 locations, $737 average, $106,082,922, nine weeks. 14. "An Education," Sony Pictures Classics, $826,755, 303 locations, $2,729 average, $4,268,905, seven weeks. 15. "Where the Wild Things Are," Warner Bros., $688,060, 1,010 locations, $681 average, $74,665,359, six weeks. 16. "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," Apparition, $599,257, 204 locations, $2,938 average, $3,552,730, four weeks. 17. "The Box," Warner Bros., $494,345, 965 locations, $512 average, $14,503,106, three weeks. 18. "A Serious Man," Focus, $444,008, 198 locations, $2,242 average, $7,476,004, eight weeks. 19. "Astro Boy," Summit, $406,074, 724 locations, $561 average, $18,621,561, five weeks. 20. "Kurbaan," Utv Motion Pictures, $403,678, 83 locations, $4,864 average, $403,678, one week. ___ On the Net: http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice ___ Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.; Sony Pictures, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and Paramount Vantage are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is a division of The Walt Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox Atomic are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a consortium of Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, Sony Corp., Comcast Corp., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC Films is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp.; Rogue Pictures is owned by Relativity Media LLC; Overture Films is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. http://www.dmozsite.com/article/New_Moon_rises_to_blockbuster_with_142_8M.htm 23rd Nov,2009