Jeff Bridges

sorry for the delayed post, the snow has been a hinderence. 

A hippie colonel, a troubled musician, a penguin, A corporate villain, and now A bad ass Marshal from the wild west. These are just some of the memorable roles of one actor, Jeff Bridges. Bridges, a recent Oscar Winner for his role in Crazy heart also happens to be a previously established musician, when not on the big screen. The Oscar winner’s list of works shows that he isn’t only a true entertainer, but he sure knows how to pick characters with substance, and in the latest case, some “grit”.

Jeff Bridges stars as “Marshal Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn” in the latest Coen brother’s film, “True Grit”, based on the award winning 1968 novel of the same name. Along side Jeff Bridges; Matt Daemon, Josh Brolin, and Hailee Steinfeld fill the cast in this western film. 

                                              Check out the True Grit trailer here

Thanks for entertaining us Jeff Bridges.

And that does it for this week from People who entertain us!

My Muse

So MUSE recently hit up Sydney again last week at our very own Sydney Olympic Park, returning after their appearance at Big Day Out in January 2010.

For those who do not know them... (?!!?!!)

Muse is an English rock band from England, formed in 1994. The band consists of Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, keytar), Christopher Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, harmonica) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion, synthesisers, backing vocals, sampling). After the release of their 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations, keyboardist and percussionist Morgan Nicholls has performed live with the band.

They have released five studio albums: Showbiz (1999), Origin of Symmetry (2001), Absolution (2003), Black Holes and Revelations (2006), and The Resistance (2009).

Muse's primary genres are progressive rock, space rock, and alternative rock, but they also integrate parts of electronica, indie rock, rock opera, hard rock, and metal the band have cited artists such as Queen, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, David Bowie, The cure, Depeche Mode, Jeff Buckley and the Smashng pumpkins to name a few, as musical influences. Their songs are recognisable due to lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy's use of falsetto and vibrato influenced primarily by Jeff Buckley. Bellamy as a guitarist also utilises arpeggiator and Pitch-shift effects to create a more "electric" sound, with Jimi Hendrix and Tom Morello as influences for this method.

Anyway tabloids seem to be taking more interest in Muse these days as Bellamy reveals that his songwriting has been influenced by his relationship with Hollywood star Kate Hudson whom he has been dating since April when they met at the Coachella festival.

Check them out as we conclude our PWEU for the week!

Our Second podcast!

Hello and welcome to our second podcast

Here's the written version if you hate our voices ;)

The PWEU for today is Australian Youtube star Natalie Tran, better known as the host of the community channel. Now for those who still do not know who she is, I have a left you a couple of links for you. Her videos are vlogs about awkward and humorous situation through multi-role skits, using her sarcastic and self-depreciating humour to make it light hearted and entertaining. Tran plays most roles by combining multiple takes using split-screen compositing. Her videos include stream-of-consciousness commentary on social dilemmas, such as how much money to spend on gifts for friends and appropriate telephone etiquette.

Tran’s youtube channel has reached to a number of more than 720,000 subscribers and more than 268 million views. Trans most viewed video had over 20 million views in March 2010 and number of views has grown significantly since then. Her popularity has caught the attention of the The Sydney Morning Herald, Rolling stones, news.com.au, Western Australia Today, B&T Magazine, Venus Zine and Der Spiegel.

Tran was also one of the Australian YouTube celebrities invited to talk about the site at the launch of YouTube Australia in 2007. She is presently enlisted by The Sydney Morning Herald as a contributor and Real World Correspondent to their technology vlog Digital Life, complementing main presenter and journalist Séamus Byrne. Tran was nominated for "Best YouTube Channel or Personality" and "Funniest YouTube Channel" by Mashable in their 2009 Open Web Awards. Starting this year, the analytics firm TubeMogul placed Tran at #10 on their list of top ten earners from YouTube advertising (Click here to see top 10 youtube users!) According to TubeMogul, Tran earned $101,000 and had 138,871,829 views.

For those who know her, she has recently embarked on a global odyssey sponsored by Lonely Planet, i will leave you some links!

Click here for her lonely planet adventure.

p.s M would post his own script in his next posts so that he can leave you some links as well. Keep close for more updates!

Accomplished Australian story board, and concept artist Peter Pound gives his first ever interview.  He has worked on films such as Australia, and the upcoming Mad Max sequel, Fury Road. Peter Pound gives an intrueging insight into what it takes, and how he got to where he is as an artist in the film industry.

                 

                                        Peter Pound hard at work.

We're also given Peter's own personalised perspective of where the future of Australian art in film is heading, as well as the impact of technology. For those interested in art, the film indsutry or a combination of the two, this interview is essential listening.

Link in the Podcast box on the right -->

Oprah Winfrey in Oz

So, Oprah Winfrey is taking 300 viewers with her to flying across the world and coming down under to Australia! Winfrey announced her visit on her talk show premiere episode of the farewell season and the 300 "ultimate viewers" will be flown from the US to Australia for the eight-day, all-expenses-paid holiday by celebrity pilot and Pulp Fiction actor John Travolta.

Winfrey will film at least two episodes of her talk show in her australian visit, including an episode at the iconic Sydney Opera House on the Dec 14, when it will shall be known as the sydney OPRAH house. Aussie fans of will get their chance to be in the audience of her Sydney shows when tickets are offered in an Olympic Games-style public ballot. Stars that are expected to make an appearance are Oprah's favourite Aussie guests, including chef Curtis Stone, gardener Jamie Durie and actor Hugh Jackman.

VICTORIA is to put about $500,000 in to bring billionaire TV star Oprah Winfrey to Australia, including a shopping trip to Melbourne. Recent reports reveals that Oprah would prefer to stay with an Australian family and had her producers scour the country searching for a suitable regular Australian family with whom she can stay during her two-week tour in an attempt to "immerse herself in the Aussie culture". In addition, more reports have reveal that Oprah's broadcast at the Sydeny Opera house on dec14 would showcase the good deeds of Oz heroes and a "most helpful person" would be crowned! Darwin bloke Matthew Bakunowicz is one helpful person Oprah has been focusing on and he could end up a $100 k richer!

Thats my person who entertain me this week, keep close for updates! And look out for our podcast soon!

Oh Hilton

I'm pretty sure that photo is self explanatory as to why i've picked her as the PWEU for the week. Yes she is entertaining alright, in a good way? well... i guess more in a i-will-laugh-at-you-not-with-you-cos-it's-funny. And of course, she is never short of silly controversial situations and as she describes herself "I'm the closest thing to American royalty anyway."

There's just so much about her that entertains me, so much so i hardly know where to start but well, since the latest reports on her were about lawsuits i shall do a couple of them.

So she just got her hallmark moment recently when reports revealed that she reached a settlement for the 2007 lawsuit against Hallmark - the greeting cards manufacturer for using her image without permission. The hotel heiress sued Hallmark, claiming they used her picture and her catchphrase “That’s Hot!” on a card with the caption: “Paris’s First Day as a Waitress.” She alleged that the cards likens itself to a scene from her reality show "The Simple Life" thus claiming her publicity rights had been violated. Last year, a federal appeals court ruled against Hallmark’s position arguing the card was a parody and entitling the company to free-speech protections. And although that settles that...

On the latest news! She is countersuing a hair extension company who reportedly sued her 35 million for failing to promote the product. Reports reveal that the hair extension company paid Hilton, $3.5 million by Hairtech International in 2007 to be the face of their Dream Catchers range of clip-in locks but failed to promote the product and instead wore extensions made by a competitor (which was probably not intentionally.. c'mon i mean, it's Hilton)

Now,Paris has filed her own suit and is asking for is asking for $2.1 million in damages, at least $400,000 in punitive damages and attorney fees, and $500,000 in declaratory relief. Well, i hopes it works out...

And that's my PWEU for this week, catch you next week!

Duncan Jones

The son of David Bowie turns out to be an amazing film maker. Having seen Moon when it came out in 2009, starring the very Talented Sam Rockwell, and being no less than blown away. The person we're talking about is ofcourse Duncan Jones. For those unfamiliar, or a bit confused by why his name doesn't end in "Bowie" it is from his grandmother, and more than likely adopted in order for him to be able to try his own hand at success without being judged on his father's credit. This is so respectful, and my choice for this week's PWEU.

For those who have seen Moon, or are curious as to what else hes done with himself, his latest project is an intense looking sci-fi, drama by the name of Source Code.

                            I'm on the edge of my seat just looking at the poster!

Source code stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga, a really strong cast for Duncan Jonse's second feature film. For those who are yet to see the trailer, or want to just watch it again, it can be found right here!

Thanks Duncan Jones for entertaining us this week.

Harry Potter casts its magic

With the 7th Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hitting us over the weekend, this week's PWEU who entertain us shall of course be, the Harry Potter cast! Deathly Hallows have been reported(RTT News) to have already brought in $205 million in theatres outside of the USA, bringing its worldwide total to be $330 million and counting, making it perhaps the most lucrative franchise in history. (beating Star Wars and also predicted to beat Toy story 3)

It has been no secret that the HP franchise is making a heaps load of money and so is the cast. However, here's a HP cast fun fact:

According to Daily Mail Although Daniel Radcliffe has been paid $250,000 for HP and the Sorcerer's Stone, $3 mil for Chamber of secrets, $11 mil for Goblet of Fire, $14 mil for the Order of the Phoenix and $50 million for the final two HP films, he is still not the highest paid actor. Keanu Reeves beats him with an estimated $160 million for The Matrix Reloaded/The Matrix Revolutions and Bruce Willis with over $100 million for The Sixth Sense.

Fun fact 2 (Not really such a fun fact but just to reiterate how wealthy they are) :

Rupert grint reveals in a interview awesome things he got to buy with his wealth, namely a ice cream truck, pigs (?!) and a hovercraft.

Being all that successful, having all that fame does come with its pros and cons and here's a little video of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton which i found on how HP has stolen our casts' youth. It's a little video on a quiz that was presented to the cast members as a challenge and well, it sure entertained me! There's a winner of the quiz so... Click Here lol

And thats it for the PWEU this week!

I'mma let you finish

The man who has been called a "Jackass" by the president himself, who believes his contribution to music is the "voice of my generation" and is an internet meme thanks to his overbearing attitude towards public speaking is this weeks person who entertained us.

                                            He told you so.

The single "Runaway" is perhaps the biggest representation of any one person's Ego. The 34 minute Music video, that is based around 1 song only reinforces the fact that theres a clear distinction between pride in your work, and a complete narcissistic insanity. To clarify... there is in fact two 34 minute music videos based around 1 song. And an extended version (just for good measure)

But it's not his ability to reproduce the same song in 4 forms that has entertained me, the song does have its own merits, which I cannot detract from. It is the live performances, the ones he spends ever so much money on, and performs in such a way that is confusing and unfortunately reinforces alot of anti-hip-hop/rap proposals that they have little to no idea about music. Take a look at how excited and awkwardly K. West presses those keys! It's like hes losing his keyginity!

regardless, Kudos to you Kanye for being a person who entertains us!

-M

Welcome, gather 'round

Welcome to "People who entertain us", a blog determined to entertain you by finding the people who entertain us. The often elusive process behind the production of mediums of entertainment, such as movies, music, and radio require many more people than those who we see, and because of that it is our goal to find, and interview them.  You can expect numerous interviews in transcript, and podcast formats, as well as information that will bring you up to scratch with who, what, and how.

Keep a close eye on this spot, more to follow.