Lorde is set to have the first single in the newest
Shortland Street off to new shores
Shortland Street is moving to Fiji – at least for this year’s series climax.
Fiji Airways said in a statement today it had signed a partnership with South Pacific Pictures to have New Zealand’s most popular drama shooting in Suva and Nadi.
The storyline would revolve around the Fred Hollows Foundation, which treats eye disease, and the Fiji travel industry.
The regime-owned carrier said it would fly key crew and cast members including Michael Galvin (Chris Warner), Sam Bunkall (Boyd Rolleston), Ria Vandervis (Harper Whitley) and Kerry-Lee Dewing (Kylie Brown) to film a plot.
Fiji Airways chief executive Stefan Pichler said since Shortland Street began screening in Fiji in 1994, it had been a firm favourite and one of Fiji’s most popular shows.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for both Fiji Airways and Fijians, and we are thrilled to be able to host the cast and crew of Shortland Street in our country,” Pichler said.
Shortland Street’s producer Simon Bennett said he was delighted.
“Viewers can be assured the scenes will have a distinctly Fijian feel, as well as all the dramatic elements Shortland Street fans know and love,” Bennett said.
Tying in with the Fred Hollows Foundation demonstrated the commitment Shortland Street had to telling stories that reflected important social issues, he said.
Galvin said he was pleased to escape the cold.
“We rarely get to leave ‘Ferndale’ so we’re all very excited to get out there and meet some of our international Fijian fans.”
It is not the first time Shortland Street has been filmed in Fiji. In the past big crowds have formed around anything to do with the series.
While it had long been the top-rated soap in Fiji, a couple of Bollywood soaps now rate higher.
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The world has turned on shirtless Leo
April was the cruellest month for Leonardo DiCaprio who found himself, one northern spring morning, splashed all over the interwebz in a video that shocked the world. Was it drugs Women A
Lorde to pick Hunger Games soundtrack
New Zealand’s reigning queen of pop Lorde has been asked to curate the soundtrack to the upcoming Hunger Games film.
The Royals singer, real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor, will choose the songs that will feature on the soundtrack to Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One.
Lorde will also write and sing the soundtrack’s first single.
The Grammy-winning singer’s involvement was announced after the film’s first official trailer was launched.
Director Francis Lawrence said Lorde “innately understood” the vision for the film.
“Her immense talent and keen understanding of Mockingjay’s characters and themes not only have enabled her to create a song of her own that completely captures the film’s essence,” Lawrence said. “But her insight and passion for our project make her the perfect creative force to assemble the other songs on our soundtrack.”
The film will be the penultimate in a franchise based on a book trilogy by young adult fiction author Suzanne Collins.
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Holmes’ White Drip sold for $80,000
A famous New Zealand painting that managed to both criticise Sir Paul Holmes and earn a spot in his treasured art collection has sold last night.
Charles Minnow at Webb’s Auction House said the painting went for around $80,000, iincluding commission.
White Drip II, painted in response to Holmes’ 2003 “cheeky darkie” comment, features isolated white paint drips on a black background.
Its painter, Ralph Hotere, dedicated the piece to Holmes’ after his infamous comment against then-United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan on a radio show.
Instead of Holmes’ taking offense he bought the work, adding it to his prized collection at the Mana Lodge in Hawke’s Bay, where he died February last year.
Rotere was known for his social commentary, said Minnow.
“This is a mature piece of work where he cast his eyes on current affairs and while on the surface it’s about Paul Holmes it is really about a much bigger conversation regarding race relations in New Zealand and the world.”
Holmes said in 2008 he thought buying the work was “rather a gas”.
“The other reason I bought the painting, apart from the fact that it related to something specifically I had done, is that I think it’s a beautiful work. I suppose it was a chance to take something positive out of the whole miserable experience of those few weeks.”
The auction’s highest bid of the night was the $281,000 splashed out on landscape painting North Otago Seven by
Kiwi directs Katy Perry This is How We Do video
Katy Perry’s new music video released overnight was directed by a Kiwi.
The video for This is How We Do was directed by Aucklander Joel Kefali, of Doomsday Entertainment.
It features a montage of Perry on various sets, sporting an array of colourful hair, makeup and outfits.
It includes footage of her in a bubble bath and eating a giant piece of fake watermelon.
Kefali was also behind the music videos for Lorde’s hit singles Royals and Tennis Court.
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Lorde to choose Hunger Games soundtrack
New Zealand’s reigning queen of pop Lorde has been asked to curate the soundtrack to the upcoming Hunger Games film.
The Royals singer, real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor, will choose the songs that will feature on the soundtrack to Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One.
Lorde will also write and sing the soundtrack’s first single.
The Grammy-winning singer’s involvement was announced after the film’s first official trailer was launched.
Director Francis Lawrence said Lorde “innately understood” the vision for the film.
“Her immense talent and keen understanding of Mockingjay’s characters and themes not only have enabled her to create a song of her own that completely captures the film’s essence,” Lawrence said. “But her insight and passion for our project make her the perfect creative force to assemble the other songs on our soundtrack.”
The film will be the penultimate in a franchise based on a book trilogy by young adult fiction author Suzanne Collins.
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Chris Hemsworth’s biggest challenge
Chris Hemsworth says playing a female Thor could be his biggest challenge yet.
The Aussie actor spoke to Collider and other media at Comic-Con in San Diego, where he was prompted about Marvel’s recent decision to have a woman take over the role of Thor in the comics.
When asked whether he would consider playing the hammer-wielding hero if they decided to also change Thor to a female in the movies, Hemsworth said, “sure”.
“It could be my biggest challenge yet,” he joked.
“And maybe an Oscar award nomination I reckon.”
Hemsworth was at the fan convention for his part in the highly anticipated sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron, along with castmates Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Evan (Captain America) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye).
They debuted the first footage from the upcoming superhero sequel, including a comical scene where the gang try to lift Thor’s hammer from a coffee table, and a barrage of action shots with glimpses of the dangerous robot Ultron.
Hemsworth says although there’s a bigger threat and lots of action, writer/director Joss Whedon has kept all the spark and banter between the characters that fans love.
“That’s what makes it special. It is the humour and is the way these guys interact,” he says.
“They’re the most enjoyable scenes to film – not the action, it’s that stuff. It’s throwing it back and forth with those guys.”
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