By Rya Backer
A year ago, MTV News production assistants Rya Backer and Steven Roberts realized that their devotion to chasing stories was seriously getting in the way of their love lives. That's why they dreamed up "First Date," a regular feature that allows them to get up close and personal to some of our favorite [...]
Dienstag, 31. Mai 2011
'X-Men: First Class' Stars Talk 'Humanizing' The Mutants
'You take all of the effects out of the movie, you still have the basis for an entertaining story,' Kevin Bacon tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Eric Ditzian
Nicholas Hoult in "X-Men: First Class"
Photo: 20th Century Fox
The summer movie season of 2011 is poised to be one full of superheroes. Things have already been kicked off by the mighty God of Thunder, "Thor," but following quickly in his path are not one, but a whole pack of mutants-turned-superheroes in "X-Men: First Class."
When MTV News caught up with two of the actors who make up the mutant-tastic movie, January Jones and Kevin Bacon, we asked them to explain what separates this latest "X-Men" film from the rest of the DC and Marvel-based movies slated to open in the coming months.
"To me, I think it's the emotional content of the movie," Bacon said. "There's a lot of emphasis on humanizing these mutants. They're falling in love, they're having sex, they're angry with each other, they're getting drunk, they're acting childish and grown-up and learning things," he explained of the younger characters in the film. "You take all of the effects out of the movie, you still have the basis for an entertaining story."
Speaking specifically about the look and feel of their characters, who are inspired by a rich and lengthy history, Jones, who plays telepath Emma Frost, revealed she was happy to jump into the world of comic books, even if it meant wearing a bikini for most of the film.
"I was aware [of the costume]," she said. "I read the comics, I did my research. I'm more dressed in the movie than she is in the comics," she pointed out. "So I was actually quite relieved."
With regard to Bacon's character, the villainous Sebastian Shaw, we wondered if his nuanced performance might have been influenced by the evildoers in the James Bond franchise.
"No, I really didn't [draw from any of those films]," he said. "This was the first that I've even thought about Bond, but it's come up quite a bit. I love those movies," he revealed. "I grew up with those movies. They were very, very influential on me as a kid. My son, when he was about 10, he became a huge fan. We went back and watched them all again. If something feels Bond-ian, it was subconscious."
Check out everything we've got on "X-Men: First Class."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related Photos'X-Men: First Class' Stars Talk 'Humanizing' The Mutants
'You take all of the effects out of the movie, you still have the basis for an entertaining story,' Kevin Bacon tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Eric Ditzian
Nicholas Hoult in "X-Men: First Class"
Photo: 20th Century Fox
The summer movie season of 2011 is poised to be one full of superheroes. Things have already been kicked off by the mighty God of Thunder, "Thor," but following quickly in his path are not one, but a whole pack of mutants-turned-superheroes in "X-Men: First Class."
When MTV News caught up with two of the actors who make up the mutant-tastic movie, January Jones and Kevin Bacon, we asked them to explain what separates this latest "X-Men" film from the rest of the DC and Marvel-based movies slated to open in the coming months.
"To me, I think it's the emotional content of the movie," Bacon said. "There's a lot of emphasis on humanizing these mutants. They're falling in love, they're having sex, they're angry with each other, they're getting drunk, they're acting childish and grown-up and learning things," he explained of the younger characters in the film. "You take all of the effects out of the movie, you still have the basis for an entertaining story."
Speaking specifically about the look and feel of their characters, who are inspired by a rich and lengthy history, Jones, who plays telepath Emma Frost, revealed she was happy to jump into the world of comic books, even if it meant wearing a bikini for most of the film.
"I was aware [of the costume]," she said. "I read the comics, I did my research. I'm more dressed in the movie than she is in the comics," she pointed out. "So I was actually quite relieved."
With regard to Bacon's character, the villainous Sebastian Shaw, we wondered if his nuanced performance might have been influenced by the evildoers in the James Bond franchise.
"No, I really didn't [draw from any of those films]," he said. "This was the first that I've even thought about Bond, but it's come up quite a bit. I love those movies," he revealed. "I grew up with those movies. They were very, very influential on me as a kid. My son, when he was about 10, he became a huge fan. We went back and watched them all again. If something feels Bond-ian, it was subconscious."
Check out everything we've got on "X-Men: First Class."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosExclusive: T.I. Helps Families Of 14 Fellow Inmates Visit Correctional Facility
'Their families can't afford the trip, so I wanted to help out,' T.I. says in a statement to MTV News.
By Rob Markman
T.I.
Photo: MTV News
While most spent this Memorial Day weekend at BBQs, the beach or in the club, T.I. spent his behind bars. But he also found a way to give back. Tip, who is currently incarcerated at the Forrest City Correctional Facility in Forrest City, Arkansas, in the midst of an 11-month bid for a probation violation after an L.A. drug arrest, sponsored a bus trip for the 46 family members of 14 fellow inmates to visit the prison.
"I've been blessed to receive tons and tons of mail from my fans, family and friends, as well as get visits on a regular basis. Unfortunately some guys aren't as fortunate," T.I. said in a statement obtained by MTV News. "There are a lot of good dudes in here that haven't been able to see there loved ones in years. Their families can't afford the trip so I wanted to help out."
Family and friends who took part in the bus trip, dubbed "To See a Love One," boarded a chartered bus in Atlanta and Alabama on Saturday and visited the prison on Sunday and Monday (May 30).
T.I. turned himself in to authorities last November and reported to the Forrest City federal facility, the same place where he served nine months in 2009 after he struck a plea deal stemming from his 2007 gun case. The rapper was released in March 2010 and sent to a halfway house to complete his sentence. In September of the same year, T.I. and his wife were arrested in Los Angeles for a driving violation and charged with drug possession. L.A. authorities eventually dropped the charges against Tip, but the Grand Hustle CEO was found in violation of his probation and thus sent back to prison.
Related ArtistsNew 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows' Posters Focus On Voldemort, Snape And Draco Malfoy
It all ends July 15, 2011, as the bad boys of "Harry Potter" are here to remind you.
We already saw Harry, Ron, Neville Longbottom and Hermione looking terrified but ready for the final installment of the "Harry Potter" saga, but now Warner Bros has released new character posters for Snape, Voldemort and Draco Malfoy as [...]
We already saw Harry, Ron, Neville Longbottom and Hermione looking terrified but ready for the final installment of the "Harry Potter" saga, but now Warner Bros has released new character posters for Snape, Voldemort and Draco Malfoy as [...]
'Fright Night' Star Colin Farrell Finished Every Take With A Dracula Impression, Says Co-Star
by Stefan Doyno
He played the King of Macedonia in "Alexander," the super villain Bullseye in "Daredevil" and now he's Jerry Dandrige, the vampire next door in the upcoming remake of the 1985 cult horror hit "Fright Night." Colin Farrell stars as the anti-Edward Cullen, a menacing vampire who moves in next door to suspicious teenager [...]
He played the King of Macedonia in "Alexander," the super villain Bullseye in "Daredevil" and now he's Jerry Dandrige, the vampire next door in the upcoming remake of the 1985 cult horror hit "Fright Night." Colin Farrell stars as the anti-Edward Cullen, a menacing vampire who moves in next door to suspicious teenager [...]
Matthew Vaughn Talks 'X-Men: First Class' And 'Kick-Ass' Sequels
It won?t be long before ?X-Men: First Class? is in theaters, and then we?ll see if it does well enough to make a sequel a real possibility. However, talk of sequels is already out there ? especially during our "X-Men: First Class" junket interviews ? and director Matthew Vaughn has an answer ready, too.
?You could [...]
?You could [...]
'Twilight: Eclipse' Is First MTV Movie Awards Spoof To Be Unveiled
The 2011 MTV Movie Awards are just days away, but before you cast your vote for Best Movie, how about looking at each nominee through a slightly different lens?
MTV News has teamed up with Starbucks Frappucino ® for the MTV Movie Awards Meme Mash-Ups, where we'll be spoofing each of this year's Best Movie [...]
MTV News has teamed up with Starbucks Frappucino ® for the MTV Movie Awards Meme Mash-Ups, where we'll be spoofing each of this year's Best Movie [...]
'Game Of Thrones' Recap: Episode 7, 'You Win Or You Die'
Episode Title: "You Win Or You Die"
Story: After attacking Ned Stark and killing his men, Jaime Lannister has fled King's Landing for Casterly Rock, the home of his father, Tywin Lannister, who gives him a lesson in getting the job done. Things aren't going very well for his sister Cersei in King's Landing, though, once [...]
Story: After attacking Ned Stark and killing his men, Jaime Lannister has fled King's Landing for Casterly Rock, the home of his father, Tywin Lannister, who gives him a lesson in getting the job done. Things aren't going very well for his sister Cersei in King's Landing, though, once [...]
Lady Gaga Fun Fact: She Makes A Mean Red Sauce
"Contrary to what some people may think about me, I'm quite traditional in the family sense," Lady Gaga said in the the new "Inside The Outside" documentary, which premiered Thursday night on MTV. And believe it or not, she's completely serious.
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
Annette Funicello Marloes Horst Dichen Lachman Guinevere Turner
'American Idol' Finale: Jim Cantiello's Live Blog
Baby lock them doors and turn the lights down low, because tonight the tenth insane season of "American Idol" is coming to a close.
It?s a cycle that brought us singing cleaning ladies, a scatting jazz freak, a galloping Nashville indie heartthrob, a growling sex kitten pi�ata, a pyromaniac rocker, a gospel lovin' spa [...]
It?s a cycle that brought us singing cleaning ladies, a scatting jazz freak, a galloping Nashville indie heartthrob, a growling sex kitten pi�ata, a pyromaniac rocker, a gospel lovin' spa [...]
Billie Joe Armstrong's Son Follows In Grand Offspring Tradition With Emily's Army
By Zachary Swickey
It?s hard to imagine what life would be like if your dad was the singer for one of the most successful punk band of all time, but that?s just a day in the life of Joey Armstrong, son of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. And somewhat fittingly, the 16-year-old drummer is now [...]
It?s hard to imagine what life would be like if your dad was the singer for one of the most successful punk band of all time, but that?s just a day in the life of Joey Armstrong, son of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. And somewhat fittingly, the 16-year-old drummer is now [...]
Anne Hathaway Melina Kanakaredes Koharu Kusumi Kay Panabaker
Montag, 30. Mai 2011
The NBA Finals, 'Powers' Updates, And Haunted Apartments In Today's Twitter Report
The Dallas Mavericks seem to be getting more love in our feed than the Miami Heat as the NBA switches gears from the playoffs into the finals. Bulls fans may hold a grudge against LeBron James, but Dallas is the only team left in his path this year.
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
The NBA Finals, 'Powers' Updates, And Haunted Apartments In Today's Twitter Report
The Dallas Mavericks seem to be getting more love in our feed than the Miami Heat as the NBA switches gears from the playoffs into the finals. Bulls fans may hold a grudge against LeBron James, but Dallas is the only team left in his path this year.
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week Starts Monday With 'Fright Night,' And We Want Your Questions!
Although there is still a little over a week until our beloved MTV Movie Awards decend upon the masses, broadcasting live from the Gibson Ampitheater Sunday June 5, the crafty powers that be here at MTV News are proud to present a week of special screenings designed to keep building the excitement for our annual, [...]
'Hunger Games' News: Amber Chaney Is Avox Girl
Non-speaking roles aren't usually fodder for big casting announcements, but then, those characters aren't usually mute because their tongues are missing.
Lionsgate announced today via Twitter that relative unknown Amber Chaney will portray a red-headed Avox Girl (later known as Lavinia) in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." For the uninitiated, Avoxes [...]
Lionsgate announced today via Twitter that relative unknown Amber Chaney will portray a red-headed Avox Girl (later known as Lavinia) in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." For the uninitiated, Avoxes [...]
Kyra Sedgwick Rebecca Curci Natalie Bassingthwaighte Bristol Palin
Kris Allen Talks New Music, Shares 'American Idol' Secrets
By James Dinh, with additional reporting by Jim Cantiello
TLC, Beyonc� and Lady Gaga were just some of the star-studded names that graced the "American Idol" stage on Wednesday night, but there were also a slew of former season contestants in the house too, including season-eight winner Kris Allen.
Always a friend to MTV News, the [...]
TLC, Beyonc� and Lady Gaga were just some of the star-studded names that graced the "American Idol" stage on Wednesday night, but there were also a slew of former season contestants in the house too, including season-eight winner Kris Allen.
Always a friend to MTV News, the [...]
Lady Gaga Fun Fact: She Makes A Mean Red Sauce
"Contrary to what some people may think about me, I'm quite traditional in the family sense," Lady Gaga said in the the new "Inside The Outside" documentary, which premiered Thursday night on MTV. And believe it or not, she's completely serious.
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
'Hangover Part II' Director Todd Phillips Is 'Willing To Do' Another 'Hangover' Sequel
No lessons were learned the first time around in the Las Vegas-based "Hangover," and so the wolf pack is back for more antics and debauchery in "The Hangover Part II." Given the excitement around the Thailand-set flick, opening this Memorial Day weekend, is there any chance that Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis could [...]
Giovanna Ewbank Daniela Katzenberger Ethel Barrymore Maximilian Schell
'Hunger Games' Rounds Out Katniss' Prep Team With Nelson Ascencio, Kimiko Gelman
Production may have already begun on the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games," but casting news continues to pour in through Lionsgate's official Twitter feed. The latest? Two beautifiers have rounded out Katniss' prep team, which already includes Lenny Kravitz as Cinna and Brooke Bundy as Octavia?Nelson Ascencio has been cast as Flavius and Kimiko [...]
Maite Perroni Estelle Lefébure Serena Williams Martine McCutcheon
Afrojack Brings Out Tommie Sunshine For Show At Pacha NY
By Akshay Bhansali and Kunal Merchant
My, how the Big Apple savors a visit from jolly Saint Nick. No, we're not referring to the affable silver-haired bestower of gifts that visits at Christmas each year (although there was a different silver-haired guest present), rather a crowd pleaser of another kind.
In fact, as has now become customary, [...]
My, how the Big Apple savors a visit from jolly Saint Nick. No, we're not referring to the affable silver-haired bestower of gifts that visits at Christmas each year (although there was a different silver-haired guest present), rather a crowd pleaser of another kind.
In fact, as has now become customary, [...]
Kim Chiu Audrey Kitching Kelsey Grammer Mark Anthony Fernandez
MTV Movie Awards Meme Spoofs: Best Movie Nominees Get Parodied!
The 2011 MTV Movie Awards are just around the corner, but before you cast your vote for Best Movie, how about looking at each nominee through a slightly different lens?
MTV News has teamed up with Starbucks Frappucino ® for the MTV Movie Awards Meme Mash-Ups, where we'll be spoofing each of this year's Best [...]
MTV News has teamed up with Starbucks Frappucino ® for the MTV Movie Awards Meme Mash-Ups, where we'll be spoofing each of this year's Best [...]
Lady Gaga Is 'Bigger Than Life,' MTV Documentary Director Says
Davi Russo had the distinct pleasure of directing the new MTV documentary "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," airing Thursday at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, which focuses on Gaga's rise to fame and the moments and people who gave her the strength to become Lady Gaga.
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
Lady Gaga Fun Fact: She Makes A Mean Red Sauce
"Contrary to what some people may think about me, I'm quite traditional in the family sense," Lady Gaga said in the the new "Inside The Outside" documentary, which premiered Thursday night on MTV. And believe it or not, she's completely serious.
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
Sonntag, 29. Mai 2011
Zach Braff Joins James Franco For 'Oz The Great And Powerful' In Today's Casting Call
When James Franco sets sail for the wonderful land of "Oz," he won't be alone.
Deadline reports that "Scrubs" star and "Garden State" mastermind Zach Braff is joining the cast of Sam Raimi's "Oz the Great and Powerful," the Disney reimagining of the classic L. Frank Baum tale. He'll play, curiously enough, Frank, Oz's loyal yet [...]
Deadline reports that "Scrubs" star and "Garden State" mastermind Zach Braff is joining the cast of Sam Raimi's "Oz the Great and Powerful," the Disney reimagining of the classic L. Frank Baum tale. He'll play, curiously enough, Frank, Oz's loyal yet [...]
Edita Sopjani Maite Perroni Estelle Lefébure Serena Williams
Lil Wayne Says New Single 'How To Love' Gives Him 'Goose Bumps'
'The song is gonna take me somewhere that I've never been musically,' Weezy says.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV News
"The Block Is Hot," "Go DJ," "Fireman" and "Lollipop" — Lil Wayne has had a lot of singles, but none like his newly leaked "How to Love."
"I can tell you that I've never had a single like it, and it's an amazing song. It's an amazing song," Wayne told Sway when the two sat down after the taping of Wayne's upcoming MTV "Unplugged" special, which will air June 12 on MTV2.
"How to Love," which surfaced online on Thursday (May 26), is produced by Detail and features Weezy singing over an acoustic guitar and drum backdrop. On the song's hook, Wayne remains sincere and loving, singing to his main squeeze: "You had a lot of crooks try to still your heart, never really had luck, couldn't never figure out how to love." He continues to serenade the object of his affection, assuring her that she "deserves the best" and reminding her that she is beautiful.
For some time, members of the Cash Money camp have been hinting that a big Tha Carter IV single was on the way. In May, Young Money president Mack Maine told MTV News that an upcoming single from the album would have mass appeal, and on Thursday, he confirmed that "How to Love" is the song that YMCMB have been talking about.
"When I listen to it I get goose bumps," Weezy said. "And I feel like the song is gonna take me somewhere that I've never been musically."
Tunechi, who recently extended his I Am Still Music Tour through September, is looking to diversify his live show, and "How to Love" would help him do that. "You know that if you come to a Lil Wayne show two years from now, you already know that 'I'm gonna get rap — some of the best rap — I'm gonna get some guitar, I'm gonna get some singin', I'm gonna get some dancin', I'm gonna get some old-school music, and I'm goin' to a show tonight.' And I think that's where this song is directing me to."
For Birdman Jr., rap just isn't enough anymore. "I am a musician, and a few years back, I noticed that I wasn't just a rapper. And I noticed that I didn't want to do this just to rap," he said before clarifying his point. "I do want to go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time, but I also want to go down as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
"When you think about it, Tupac is just known as a great rapper; Biggie is just known as a great rapper, Jay-Z — just known as a great rapper," he continued. "I want to be known as that rapper that turned it all the way up and became the face of the music."
Actually, Wayne looks to epitomize the word one day. "When they make a billboard and put whoever they gonna put up there to define the word 'music,' I wanna be there."
What do you think of Lil Wayne's "How to Love"? Tell us in the comments!
Related ArtistsLady Gaga Is 'Bigger Than Life,' MTV Documentary Director Says
Davi Russo had the distinct pleasure of directing the new MTV documentary "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," airing Thursday at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, which focuses on Gaga's rise to fame and the moments and people who gave her the strength to become Lady Gaga.
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
Is Taylor Swift Ready To Act Again?
Taylor Swift always plays some sort of memorable character in her music videos (with accompanying smoking hot co-star!), and her latest effort is no exception. For "The Story of Us" Taylor plays an Ivy League student who falls in love and then out of love with her latest bit of eye candy. We have to [...]
'Hangover Part II' Director Todd Phillips Is 'Willing To Do' Another 'Hangover' Sequel
No lessons were learned the first time around in the Las Vegas-based "Hangover," and so the wolf pack is back for more antics and debauchery in "The Hangover Part II." Given the excitement around the Thailand-set flick, opening this Memorial Day weekend, is there any chance that Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis could [...]
'Twilight' Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Is Pregnant
The child will be the second for Howard, who played evil vampire Victoria in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.'
By Eric Ditzian
Bryce Dallas Howard
Photo: Junko Kimura/ Getty Images
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" star Bryce Dallas Howard is pregnant with her second child, a rep for the actress has told Us Weekly.
Howard and actor husband Seth Gabel ("Fringe") had their first son, Theo, in 2007. Details about how far along she is in her pregnancy or the sex of the child were not disclosed.
The 30-year-old actress, the daughter of director Ron Howard, has starred in "The Village," "Spider-Man 3" and "Terminator Salvation," in which she played a pregnant woman not too long after giving birth to Theo. But Howard is perhaps best known for playing the vampire Victoria in "Eclipse" — and for the circumstances under which she took on the role.
In July 2009, Summit Entertainment made a sudden announcement that it had decided to replace Rachelle Lefevre, who originated the part of the evil vampire in "Twilight" and its first sequel, "New Moon." Howard then stepped in. "It was actually a really unfortunate circumstance where the actress who everyone really cared deeply about, who has done an amazing job in this role, was unavailable," Howard told MTV News that December. "They were looking for someone to fill that slot. It was right before production actually happened, so of course there was intimidation there and feeling a huge responsibility to do my best."
This summer Howard appears opposite Emma Stone in "The Help," an adaptation of the New York Times #1 best-seller about segregation in '60s-era Mississippi. MTV News will actually be talking with Howard and Stone on Thursday as part of our MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week, a five-day extravaganza in which we'll be debuting footage on MTV from some of this summer's hottest films and then sitting down for extended conversations online. So if you've got any questions for Howard, just tweet @MTVNews using the hashtag #spw.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
James McAvoy Was 'Worried' About 'X-Men: First Class'
Now that the actors of ?X-Men: First Class? are finally able to see the finished product, they can add their own reviews to that of critics. Both James McAvoy (Professor X) and Michael Fassbender (Magneto) love it, which is a relief, because they admitted to being a little scared of the final product early [...]
Is Taylor Swift Ready To Act Again?
Taylor Swift always plays some sort of memorable character in her music videos (with accompanying smoking hot co-star!), and her latest effort is no exception. For "The Story of Us" Taylor plays an Ivy League student who falls in love and then out of love with her latest bit of eye candy. We have to [...]
'Hunger Games' News: Amber Chaney Is Avox Girl
Non-speaking roles aren't usually fodder for big casting announcements, but then, those characters aren't usually mute because their tongues are missing.
Lionsgate announced today via Twitter that relative unknown Amber Chaney will portray a red-headed Avox Girl (later known as Lavinia) in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." For the uninitiated, Avoxes [...]
Lionsgate announced today via Twitter that relative unknown Amber Chaney will portray a red-headed Avox Girl (later known as Lavinia) in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." For the uninitiated, Avoxes [...]
'Kung Fu Panda 2' Showdown: It's Po Versus The World!
Who expected "Kung Fu Panda" to be as charming as it was? Dreamworks had a shaky history of 3-D films that were big on star power and small on substance, but one barely noticed all the celebrity voices in between the tightly polished jokes and immaculate animation. Especially fun was how the movie paid righteous [...]
Rachel Sterling Sendhil Ramamurthy Adam Baldwin Sophie Okonedo
Lady Gaga 'Started To Cry' When She First Heard 'Marry The Night'
'Imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is,' she says of Fernando Garibay-produced Born This Way track.
By MTV News staff
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga has been working with producer Fernando Garibay for years, with the first fruits of their labor being the Fame Monster deep cut "Dance in the Dark." But, as Lady Gaga put it in MTV's "Inside the Outside" documentary that premiered Thursday, the pair had yet to "conceive" a hit record when she began work on Born This Way.
That all changed when Gaga heard the church-bell-filled sounds Garibay had concocted while on the road for the Monster Ball Tour.
"He goes, 'Your show is a religion and your fans are a cult,' " Gaga recalled. "It's this epic music. It's just so big. And I started to cry. He said, 'What's wrong?' And I said, 'I can't believe that you hear me so big.' "
Gaga sat down, and lyrics for what would become the Born This Way track "Marry the Night" just started pouring out: "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life."
"It's like Whitney, but imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is," she said. "And that was it! We made a baby. Finally. After all that fornication, miserably long and tedious, Fernando and I finally conceived."
When MTV News sat down with Garibay, he told his side of the "Marry the Night" conception. "I just kind of got on the American leg of the tour — this was after Australia — and she goes, 'I want to write another song that can define where I'm at with this album and my life.' "
So Garibay listened again to their first collaboration, "Dance in the Dark," and tried to top that energy. "I remember being backstage and hearing the concert start, so I go out there and hear 'Dance in the Dark' open up the whole concert, and I wanted to outdo that feeling. I wanted to outdo that moment that opens up the show. I'm just that way."
Garibay did his thing while Gaga was onstage doing hers. "I go back to the studio bus; I'm just like working on parts, working on parts, and then, two hours later, she comes offstage, and she goes, 'Do you have something to play me?' " he said. "And I go, 'I do, actually. It's a little different, but I think you'll like it.'
"So I played her the instrumental for 'Marry the Night,' and she goes, 'I love it, but can you change this?' So she starts changing around a few chords, and then she goes, 'Open up a mic.' ... She starts laying down the whole song, like, off the cuff. She didn't have time to live with it. She kind of meditated a few minutes, and then it's like, 'OK, I'm ready. Let's go.' And right offstage, using the energy of that crowd and going into the studio, it was amazing. I can't compare it to anything."
That incomparable feeling was exactly what Gaga was aiming for with Garibay: "I kept saying to him, 'I don't want to do anything I've done before, I don't want to sound like anything I've done before, I don't want to feel like anything I've done before. I want it to be new.' "
Do you think "Marry the Night" tops "Dance in the Dark"? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsThe NBA Finals, 'Powers' Updates, And Haunted Apartments In Today's Twitter Report
The Dallas Mavericks seem to be getting more love in our feed than the Miami Heat as the NBA switches gears from the playoffs into the finals. Bulls fans may hold a grudge against LeBron James, but Dallas is the only team left in his path this year.
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
The comics twittersphere had loads of other matters [...]
Rosemary Clooney Natsuko Tatsumi Randy Quaid David Hasselhoff
Samstag, 28. Mai 2011
Lady Gaga Is 'Bigger Than Life,' MTV Documentary Director Says
Davi Russo had the distinct pleasure of directing the new MTV documentary "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," airing Thursday at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, which focuses on Gaga's rise to fame and the moments and people who gave her the strength to become Lady Gaga.
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
In the special, Gaga wears a leather [...]
We Get Sweet On Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. For 'First Date'
By Rya Backer
A year ago, MTV News production assistants Rya Backer and Steven Roberts realized that their devotion to chasing stories was seriously getting in the way of their love lives. That's why they dreamed up "First Date," a regular feature that allows them to get up close and personal to some of our favorite [...]
A year ago, MTV News production assistants Rya Backer and Steven Roberts realized that their devotion to chasing stories was seriously getting in the way of their love lives. That's why they dreamed up "First Date," a regular feature that allows them to get up close and personal to some of our favorite [...]
Sendhil Ramamurthy Adam Baldwin Sophie Okonedo Stacy Ferguson
Billie Joe Armstrong's Son Follows In Grand Offspring Tradition With Emily's Army
By Zachary Swickey
It?s hard to imagine what life would be like if your dad was the singer for one of the most successful punk band of all time, but that?s just a day in the life of Joey Armstrong, son of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. And somewhat fittingly, the 16-year-old drummer is now [...]
It?s hard to imagine what life would be like if your dad was the singer for one of the most successful punk band of all time, but that?s just a day in the life of Joey Armstrong, son of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. And somewhat fittingly, the 16-year-old drummer is now [...]
'Carrie' Remake Draws Lindsay Lohan's Attention And 'Fright Night' Gets R-Rating In This Week's Horror Bites
by Alison Nastasi
There's a lot of anticipation brewing in this week's Horror Bites, which reports that one upcoming remake is already causing a bloody battle between two of Hollywood's most talked about stars: Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are both reportedly vying for the same role in a remake of "Carrie."
Meanwhile, a popular zombie tale [...]
There's a lot of anticipation brewing in this week's Horror Bites, which reports that one upcoming remake is already causing a bloody battle between two of Hollywood's most talked about stars: Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are both reportedly vying for the same role in a remake of "Carrie."
Meanwhile, a popular zombie tale [...]
Lil Wayne Says New Single 'How To Love' Gives Him 'Goose Bumps'
'The song is gonna take me somewhere that I've never been musically,' Weezy says.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV News
"The Block Is Hot," "Go DJ," "Fireman" and "Lollipop" — Lil Wayne has had a lot of singles, but none like his newly leaked "How to Love."
"I can tell you that I've never had a single like it, and it's an amazing song. It's an amazing song," Wayne told Sway when the two sat down after the taping of Wayne's upcoming MTV "Unplugged" special, which will air June 12 on MTV2.
"How to Love," which surfaced online on Thursday (May 26), is produced by Detail and features Weezy singing over an acoustic guitar and drum backdrop. On the song's hook, Wayne remains sincere and loving, singing to his main squeeze: "You had a lot of crooks try to still your heart, never really had luck, couldn't never figure out how to love." He continues to serenade the object of his affection, assuring her that she "deserves the best" and reminding her that she is beautiful.
For some time, members of the Cash Money camp have been hinting that a big Tha Carter IV single was on the way. In May, Young Money president Mack Maine told MTV News that an upcoming single from the album would have mass appeal, and on Thursday, he confirmed that "How to Love" is the song that YMCMB have been talking about.
"When I listen to it I get goose bumps," Weezy said. "And I feel like the song is gonna take me somewhere that I've never been musically."
Tunechi, who recently extended his I Am Still Music Tour through September, is looking to diversify his live show, and "How to Love" would help him do that. "You know that if you come to a Lil Wayne show two years from now, you already know that 'I'm gonna get rap — some of the best rap — I'm gonna get some guitar, I'm gonna get some singin', I'm gonna get some dancin', I'm gonna get some old-school music, and I'm goin' to a show tonight.' And I think that's where this song is directing me to."
For Birdman Jr., rap just isn't enough anymore. "I am a musician, and a few years back, I noticed that I wasn't just a rapper. And I noticed that I didn't want to do this just to rap," he said before clarifying his point. "I do want to go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time, but I also want to go down as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
"When you think about it, Tupac is just known as a great rapper; Biggie is just known as a great rapper, Jay-Z — just known as a great rapper," he continued. "I want to be known as that rapper that turned it all the way up and became the face of the music."
Actually, Wayne looks to epitomize the word one day. "When they make a billboard and put whoever they gonna put up there to define the word 'music,' I wanna be there."
What do you think of Lil Wayne's "How to Love"? Tell us in the comments!
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"Contrary to what some people may think about me, I'm quite traditional in the family sense," Lady Gaga said in the the new "Inside The Outside" documentary, which premiered Thursday night on MTV. And believe it or not, she's completely serious.
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
How do we know? Well, because she's immensely proud of her Italian heritage, something she [...]
'Twilight' Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Is Pregnant
The child will be the second for Howard, who played evil vampire Victoria in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.'
By Eric Ditzian
Bryce Dallas Howard
Photo: Junko Kimura/ Getty Images
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" star Bryce Dallas Howard is pregnant with her second child, a rep for the actress has told Us Weekly.
Howard and actor husband Seth Gabel ("Fringe") had their first son, Theo, in 2007. Details about how far along she is in her pregnancy or the sex of the child were not disclosed.
The 30-year-old actress, the daughter of director Ron Howard, has starred in "The Village," "Spider-Man 3" and "Terminator Salvation," in which she played a pregnant woman not too long after giving birth to Theo. But Howard is perhaps best known for playing the vampire Victoria in "Eclipse" — and for the circumstances under which she took on the role.
In July 2009, Summit Entertainment made a sudden announcement that it had decided to replace Rachelle Lefevre, who originated the part of the evil vampire in "Twilight" and its first sequel, "New Moon." Howard then stepped in. "It was actually a really unfortunate circumstance where the actress who everyone really cared deeply about, who has done an amazing job in this role, was unavailable," Howard told MTV News that December. "They were looking for someone to fill that slot. It was right before production actually happened, so of course there was intimidation there and feeling a huge responsibility to do my best."
This summer Howard appears opposite Emma Stone in "The Help," an adaptation of the New York Times #1 best-seller about segregation in '60s-era Mississippi. MTV News will actually be talking with Howard and Stone on Thursday as part of our MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week, a five-day extravaganza in which we'll be debuting footage on MTV from some of this summer's hottest films and then sitting down for extended conversations online. So if you've got any questions for Howard, just tweet @MTVNews using the hashtag #spw.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Death Cab For Cutie's Guide To Seattle: Watch A Preview Here!
Our 'Death Cab for Cutie: Seattle Sonics' series kicks off Tuesday on MTV.com, the same day Codes and Keys hits stores.
By James Montgomery
Death Cab for Cutie's Nick Harmer and Ben Gibbard
Photo: MTV News
Death Cab for Cutie originally formed sometime around 1997, in the idyllic college town of Bellingham, Washington (unofficial nickname: "The City of Subdued Excitement"), but it was in a city 90 miles south where they'd really make their mark: Seattle.
Most of the band had grown up in towns surrounding the Emerald City during the height of the so-called "grunge explosion," and their teenage years progressed somewhat accordingly — Ben Gibbard, who was raised in Bremerton, would take a 55-minute ferry trip across the Puget Sound to watch bands play at the now-defunct OK Hotel in downtown Seattle — so, when they decided to make the move from Bellingham to the proverbial big city to try their hand at becoming a real rock band, well, it was sort of the stuff of dreams. Only, things didn't quite work out the way they had planned.
DCFC's early years were a struggle, marked by lousy, low-paying jobs and thinly attended gigs. When Gibbard took up residence in a tiny apartment on Corliss Avenue, working as what could charitably be described as a medical tech (he basically washed testing equipment), there were times when he thought about packing it in and heading back home. It seemed simpler than striking out as a rock frontman.
But he didn't, and slowly, people began paying attention. Released on Seattle's Barsuk Records, early efforts like We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (most of which was written in that apartment on Corliss) and The Photo Album were met with much acclaim, and Death Cab for Cutie were on their way. Only, in a lot of ways, they've never really left ... Seattle is, was, and probably always will be their spiritual home.
And those sentiments are readily apparent on the band's May 31 album, Codes And Keys, Codes And Keys, which is about several things, most of which seem to be about the eternal longing for home, no matter how far away from it you may be. So, in celebration of the new album, earlier this month, we asked Death Cab to show us around their adopted hometown of Seattle ... the venues they haunted as teens, the places they worked before they made it big, the studio where they recorded parts of the new album. But it's much more than a guided tour; it's also a history lesson, both in terms of the band, and the Seattle music scene too.
We're calling it "Death Cab for Cutie: Seattle Sonics," and it begins Tuesday on MTVNews.com. But as we head into the long weekend, we figured we'd give you a taste of what's to come. Click on the teaser clip featuring Gibbard and bassist Nick Harmer recalling the glory of all-ages OK Hotel shows, and the havoc parent-mandated curfews wrecked on those magical nights. Enjoy, and make sure to check back on Tuesday, when the history lesson truly begins.
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'Grease' Actor Jeff Conaway Dies At 60
In recent years, Conaway was known for being treated by Dr. Drew on 'Celebrity Rehab.'
By Kara Warner
Jeff Conaway
Photo: MTV News
Troubled actor Jeff Conaway, star of TV and film classics "Taxi" and "Grease," has died. The 60-year-old actor passed away Friday morning (May 27) at the Encino Tarzana Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized in a coma since May 11.
E! Online reports that Conaway's family members, including his sister, decided Thursday to have doctors remove the feeding tube and ventilator that had been essentially keeping the actor alive. Conaway's longtime girlfriend, Vikki Lizzi, reportedly objected to the family's decision and went to court to try to block the move, but the family did not relent.
Conaway was found unconscious and was hospitalized following a suspected drug overdose that involved pain pills. Dr. Drew Pinsky, who worked with Conaway during his time on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" to treat his drug and alcohol addictions, took to his Twitter account last week to refute claims that Conaway's condition was due to an overdose.
"Just visited Jeff Conaway," Pinsky tweeted. "He is stable & looks like he will recover from his pneumonia. Not an OD like press is alleging & certainly not dead."
Conaway's manager Phil Brock told The Associated Press that the actor was a "gentle soul" but one who has been unable to "exorcise his demons."
Conaway is perhaps best known for his portrayal of high school bad boy Kenickie in 1978's hit movie adaptation of the "Grease" musical, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. He also appeared in the Broadway version of "Grease" and played struggling actor Bobby in the sitcom "Taxi," alongside Danny DeVito and Tony Danza, from 1978 to 1981.
Share your thoughts for Conaway's friends and family in the comments.
Lady Gaga 'Started To Cry' When She First Heard 'Marry The Night'
'Imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is,' she says of Fernando Garibay-produced Born This Way track.
By MTV News staff
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga has been working with producer Fernando Garibay for years, with the first fruits of their labor being the Fame Monster deep cut "Dance in the Dark." But, as Lady Gaga put it in MTV's "Inside the Outside" documentary that premiered Thursday, the pair had yet to "conceive" a hit record when she began work on Born This Way.
That all changed when Gaga heard the church-bell-filled sounds Garibay had concocted while on the road for the Monster Ball Tour.
"He goes, 'Your show is a religion and your fans are a cult,' " Gaga recalled. "It's this epic music. It's just so big. And I started to cry. He said, 'What's wrong?' And I said, 'I can't believe that you hear me so big.' "
Gaga sat down, and lyrics for what would become the Born This Way track "Marry the Night" just started pouring out: "I'm gonna marry the night/ I won't give up on my life."
"It's like Whitney, but imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is," she said. "And that was it! We made a baby. Finally. After all that fornication, miserably long and tedious, Fernando and I finally conceived."
When MTV News sat down with Garibay, he told his side of the "Marry the Night" conception. "I just kind of got on the American leg of the tour — this was after Australia — and she goes, 'I want to write another song that can define where I'm at with this album and my life.' "
So Garibay listened again to their first collaboration, "Dance in the Dark," and tried to top that energy. "I remember being backstage and hearing the concert start, so I go out there and hear 'Dance in the Dark' open up the whole concert, and I wanted to outdo that feeling. I wanted to outdo that moment that opens up the show. I'm just that way."
Garibay did his thing while Gaga was onstage doing hers. "I go back to the studio bus; I'm just like working on parts, working on parts, and then, two hours later, she comes offstage, and she goes, 'Do you have something to play me?' " he said. "And I go, 'I do, actually. It's a little different, but I think you'll like it.'
"So I played her the instrumental for 'Marry the Night,' and she goes, 'I love it, but can you change this?' So she starts changing around a few chords, and then she goes, 'Open up a mic.' ... She starts laying down the whole song, like, off the cuff. She didn't have time to live with it. She kind of meditated a few minutes, and then it's like, 'OK, I'm ready. Let's go.' And right offstage, using the energy of that crowd and going into the studio, it was amazing. I can't compare it to anything."
That incomparable feeling was exactly what Gaga was aiming for with Garibay: "I kept saying to him, 'I don't want to do anything I've done before, I don't want to sound like anything I've done before, I don't want to feel like anything I've done before. I want it to be new.' "
Do you think "Marry the Night" tops "Dance in the Dark"? Let us know in the comments!
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Lady Gaga Fans Get Emotional About 'Inside The Outside' Special
'This interview was so sweet, I cried. She gives me hope for humanity,' one fan tweets about the MTV doc.
By James Dinh, with additional reporting by James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
As her quest for world domination proceeds, Lady Gaga teamed up with MTV for an exclusive sit-down chat about her extraordinary journey to pop music royalty for the "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" documentary, which premiered on Thursday night. In it, Gaga discusses her early career struggles and whirlwind rise to fame, a tale that has all of her Little Monsters abuzz after watching it.
Reactions to the hour-long special have been strong, with an overwhelming response coming in from fans who were selected to attend our special after-show live stream, users on the MTV News site and the social networks in between.
One of those Monsters chosen to visit MTV studios Thursday night was Adrianna, who told MTV News that she was personally touched by Gaga's account of her bullying incident. "I was been bullied all through high school, and I kind of want to thank those people in an awkward way because I wouldn't be the same person, just like Lady Gaga wouldn't be the same person," she shared. "We wouldn't be as strong and confident with ourselves if it wasn't for those people."
Decked out in Gaga-like leather gear, Adrianna explained that Mother Monster is a role model to those who may still endure bullying, and that ultimately she is an inspirational star.
MTV News' Facebook page was also flooded by a wave of Little Monsters who couldn't help but gush about the doc. Users like Jimmy Aleman got emotional watching the special, saying, "I saw it :) It made me cry. She is a true woman." And Rossi Ruska Coles appreciated the pop star's defiant story, writing, "Thank you for this great one hour, the true and real Gaga! Love her and her self-identity!"
Chifi55 also got in on the fun by commenting on MTV News' site, saying, "She's so honest and true ... You just can't believe how amazing and loving and kind she is. She was nothing and became the world's greatest pop star ... There is no one who deserves it more than her!"
Despite the 140-character limit, Gaga fans were also quick to hit us up via Twitter to share their thoughts on "Inside the Outside." Superfan Ryan Lee tweeted, "I cried watching the special. Whoever made it should win an award because they captured the beauty of the angel that is Lady Gaga."
HausOfKels revealed she also couldn't hold back tears, writing, "This interview was so sweet, I cried. She gives me hope for humanity. Her message changed my life + made me stronger. xo #MTVGAGA."
And it wasn't just Little Monsters who tuned in to the MTV special, but also some non-fans, including sayjay41297, who admitted she's been transformed. "I didn't know all that much about Gaga, but now I'm really inspired and I think I've just became a Little Monster. #mtvgaga," she wrote.
Like sayjay41297, RickG63 shared a similar reaction to the doc, but had one minor complaint, tweeting, "Fantastic show, but her interviews are never long enough. Thank you for the show. It was great to see. Now you know why we love Gaga."
Did "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" shed a new light on the pop star for you? Share your comments below.
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Taylor Swift Explains How Her Songwriting Has Grown
Since recording her first album at 16, what's changed most is 'the kind of things you say when you're hurt.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Taylor Swift and Sway
Photo: MTV News
Taylor Swift's musical evolution has been pretty clearly aligned with her age. While she's writing about love and heartbreak, as she did when she was a teenager, the way she expresses that joy and pain has grown from the puppy-love lyrics to more mature reflections.
Back in the day, on her self-titled debut album, she was writing odes to country superstars, like in "Tim McGraw," and using metaphors to try to understand emotions that she hadn't yet fully experienced. With a career in full swing and a highly publicized love life, three albums later, it's apparent that Swift drew on real-life experiences for Speak Now.
When she sat down with MTV News earlier this week during "MTV First: Taylor Swift" Sway asked what she felt about her musical coming of age. "I don't know," she said. "I think retrospect will tell a lot. Years from now [and] I'll look back and go, 'I didn't know anything then.' "
Swift said the biggest difference between her teenage songs and her current ones is "the kind of things you say when you're hurt."
"I had this song called 'Picture to Burn,' that's talking about how 'I hate your truck,' and 'I hate that you ignored me,' 'I hate you,' " she explained. "Now, the way that I would say that and the way that I would feel that kind of pain is a lot different."
But Swift has no regrets about her earlier songs. "But I think that my first record came out when I was 16, the next one, Fearless, came out when I was 18 and this one came out when I was 20, so I think there's a lot of personal growth.
"I look back on the record I made when I was 16, and I'm so happy I made it," she continued. "I got to immortalize those emotions that when you're so angry, you hate everything. It's like recording your diary over the years, and that's a gift."
What do you think about Swift's growth as a musician? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsRobert Pattinson In 'Cosmopolis': First Look!
RPattz and co-star Sarah Gadon appear to be in the back of a cab in photo from David Cronenberg movie.
By Eric Ditzian
Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis"
Photo: Caitlin Cronenberg's Twitter
Robert Pattinson spent eight months on the set of "Breaking Dawn" and was immediately pulled from the set to begin his whirlwind press duties for "Water for Elephants" last month. After perhaps just enough time to take a quick nap, RPattz is now back on a new set: "Cosmopolis," director David Cronenberg's adaptation of the slim Don DeLillo novel.
With production under way, Cronenberg's daughter has posted the first look at Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in character. The photo appears to capture the duo in a cab, though the great majority of the action, or lack thereof, in the book takes place in a limousine. Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a young and rich asset manager who, over the course of one day, manages to lose millions of dollars yet remain oddly detached from it all as his limo plods through horrendous New York City traffic. Gadon portrays Elise, a rich and beautiful heiress who is married to Packer but who doesn't seem to care for him very much at all and who certainly won't sleep with him.
"I had read the script about eight months ago and thought, 'Wow, this is something that hasn't been made in a long time,' "Pattinson told MTV News in March. "Which I think, like 'Water for Elephants' as well, I'm just trying to find that kind of stuff, because what else is the point? There's so much generic, everything's the same. So you might as well attempt to try something different."
When we caught up with him again in April, Rob revealed that he'd been working with a dialect coach to achieve a "very specific accent." But he still hadn't spoken with Gadon about the upcoming project. "I've seen a couple of things she's done," he said. "She's really good."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'Twilight' Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Is Pregnant
The child will be the second for Howard, who played evil vampire Victoria in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.'
By Eric Ditzian
Bryce Dallas Howard
Photo: Junko Kimura/ Getty Images
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" star Bryce Dallas Howard is pregnant with her second child, a rep for the actress has told Us Weekly.
Howard and actor husband Seth Gabel ("Fringe") had their first son, Theo, in 2007. Details about how far along she is in her pregnancy or the sex of the child were not disclosed.
The 30-year-old actress, the daughter of director Ron Howard, has starred in "The Village," "Spider-Man 3" and "Terminator Salvation," in which she played a pregnant woman not too long after giving birth to Theo. But Howard is perhaps best known for playing the vampire Victoria in "Eclipse" — and for the circumstances under which she took on the role.
In July 2009, Summit Entertainment made a sudden announcement that it had decided to replace Rachelle Lefevre, who originated the part of the evil vampire in "Twilight" and its first sequel, "New Moon." Howard then stepped in. "It was actually a really unfortunate circumstance where the actress who everyone really cared deeply about, who has done an amazing job in this role, was unavailable," Howard told MTV News that December. "They were looking for someone to fill that slot. It was right before production actually happened, so of course there was intimidation there and feeling a huge responsibility to do my best."
This summer Howard appears opposite Emma Stone in "The Help," an adaptation of the New York Times #1 best-seller about segregation in '60s-era Mississippi. MTV News will actually be talking with Howard and Stone on Thursday as part of our MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week, a five-day extravaganza in which we'll be debuting footage on MTV from some of this summer's hottest films and then sitting down for extended conversations online. So if you've got any questions for Howard, just tweet @MTVNews using the hashtag #spw.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Rick Ross Explains Why He Took Maybach Music To Warner Music Group
'We needed a situation that understood that we could make music at a much quicker rate than a lot of people do,' Ross tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Wale, Rick Ross, Pill and Meek Mill
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images
They don't call Rick Ross the Boss for nothing! When it was time to secure distribution for his Maybach Music Group, instead of signing his label over at Def Jam, where he already has a solo artist deal, Rozay made an executive decision and took MMG over to Warner Music Group.
"You know, as a boss you gotta make certain things happen and that's what I was able to do. Me, as a solo artist, we're still at Def Jam Records, I have another album or two. But me being an executive, me being a boss, Maybach Music, I had an opportunity to sow my royal oats," Ross told Sway on Wednesday's "RapFix Live."
Rozay weighed his options and in the end needed a distributor that could keep up with his musical output. "We needed a situation that understood that we could make music at a much quicker rate than a lot of people do. And I wanted to put out music at that same rate," he said. "I think it's obviously, since we closed the deal, maybe a little more than two months later, here we are today, Self Made in stores.
"It's constant meetings and discussions and attorney hours. I got great relationships over at Def Jam, so I was pretty much getting my words across. It basically just came down to what was best for Maybach Music and Warner."
With label offers from Cash Money and Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records, the Teflon Don decided to take his imprint over to WMG in February. After getting new signees Wale, Meek Mill and Pill in place, the Boss put the label's first compilation, Self Made, on the fast track. Ross wasn't able to bring his group Triple Cs over to WMG, however. Due to a previously signed contract, the three-man group consisting of Gunplay, Torch and Young Bleed will remain over at Def Jam but will still rep MMG.
The MMG CEO finds inspiration in the speed in which he was able to secure the deal and release Self Made. He expects a busy future for Maybach Music and Warner. "Us executing this album the way we did and the way we have is a great example and something to build on as a company and something to look forward to," he said.
Related Videos Related ArtistsRick Ross Talks 'Great Relationship' With Lil Wayne, Cash Money
'It's really like me being at home with my brothers when it comes to Birdman and Lil Wayne,' Ross says.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Rick Ross
Photo: Sohyung Kang/ MTV News
Through the years, Rick Ross has developed a strong relationship with Cash Money and Lil Wayne. This year Ross toured with Wayne on the first leg of his I Am Still Music Tour, and he's already kicked around the idea of a joint album with Birdman and appeared on his fair share of songs with the YMCMB roster.
During this week's "RapFix Live," the Boss spoke to host Sway about his relationship with Wayne and his favorite memory from his I Am Still Music run. "The very first night the tour kicked off, just being backstage and me having a great relationship with Cash Money," he revealed. "So it's really like me being at home with my brothers when it comes to Birdman and Lil Wayne."
Rozay and Weezy currently appear together on DJ Khaled's brand-new "I'm On One," Ross' "9 Piece (Remix)" and, of course, Wayne's Tha Carter IV street single "John." For "John," Wayne found inspiration in "I'm Not a Star," the opening track from Ross' 2010 Teflon Don.
"When [Wayne] first came home [from jail] he was like, 'That '"I'm Not a Star," that's one of my favorite joints, let's do something in that vibe,' " Ross recalled. "I'm like, 'Easy.' He actually gave me the track and I was like, 'Wow, this is too easy.' "
With Tha Carter IV scheduled to drop on June 21 and the Colin Tilley-directed "John" clip in rotation and video outlets, Ross is excited for the future. "Sitting in the studio at the Hit factory in Miami, I remember him just playing joints off his album and us constantly going back to that joint and I was just like, 'It's gonna be a hot summer.' "
What's your favorite Ross and Weezy track? Tell us in the comments!
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'Kung Fu Panda 2': The Reviews Are In!
One reviewer calls sequel 'both meditative and immensely entertaining.'
By Eric Ditzian
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Over at MTV Movies Blog, we've already laid out the five reasons you need to see "Kung Fu Panda 2." From Jack Black's manically hilarious turn as Po to some wickedly creative fight scenes, this sequel is a ton of fun.
But hey, don't just take our word for it. Reviewers are riding high on this animal adventure, a follow-up to DreamWorks' 2008 animated hit, celebrating the lush visuals and the top-notch voice performance Black delivers. Dissenters are few and far between, and their criticisms read more like nitpicking and fail to acknowledge that kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of this flick.
The Story
"Deepening the surprising maturity of its predecessor, the movie successfully takes story beats from classic kung fu stories and dials back on the humor without letting things get too dark and dramatic, creating a work that is both meditative and immensely entertaining. Picking up where the first film left off, Po (Jack Black) has eased into his position as the Dragon Warrior, when the world of kung fu is threatened by the return of Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a villain who has built a weapon of mass destruction. What Po doesn't know, however, is that Lord Shen holds the key to his history and the knowledge of who he really is. Working with the kung fu masters known as the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, David Cross, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and Jackie Chan), Po is not only on a mission to save China, but on a journey of self-discovery." — Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
The Performances
"Aside from crisp visuals and no-fat way with martial arts movie traditions, the biggest achievement of the 'Kung Fu Panda' movies is how they distill their star's very Jack Black-ness down to its most bearable form. Always the wildest guy in the room, Black has turned into a living 'Gulliver's Travels.' Yet here, as in the first 'KFP,' he gives a charmingly vulnerable but sly vocal performance, with plenty of sass and a decent side order of soul." — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
The Visuals
"Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson's background in design and animation seems to have informed the best parts of 'Kung Fu Panda 2' — its splendid palette of color and detail, rich but crisp and balanced (Guillermo del Toro served as a creative consultant, and one of Po's murky, indelible nightmares bears his distinctive mark); and that palette's harmony with both the engaged use of 3-D and the witty and well-defined battle sequences." — Michelle Orange, Movieline
The Dissenters
"This one plays with some unusually dark and upsetting material. Its escalation of evil messes up the high-spirited sweetness that was the most winning feature of the first movie. Po's clumsy, goofy eagerness no longer seems quite as amusing now that he is a psychologically damaged warrior. And his action-team entourage, drawn from various species of animal and movie star — praying mantis, tiger, monkey, etc; Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, etc. — do more to crowd the picture than to enliven it." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times
The Final Word
"There is a price to be paid for the visual razzle-dazzle — wonderful complexity against a simple story that could have benefited from some bulking up (layered, not longer). Still with Black shelving his usual snark for Po's self-deprecating charm, Jolie making Tigress terrifyingly overqualified for everything as only she can do, Rogen's Mantis showing the actor's growing facility for voicing animation and [Dustin] Hoffman, as ever, the guru everyone wants, they've brought this warrior's tale to kicking, spinning, bone-crunching, feather-flying life." — Betsey Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
Check out everything we've got on "Kung Fu Panda 2."
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