Interview: Nicole Scherzinger Was Surprised To See This Celebrity On “Celebrity: X-Factor”

Nicole Scherzinger is no stranger to the “X-Factor” UK family. This year, she’s back on the judging panel with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh for “Celebrity: X-Factor”.

The former Pussycat Doll lead singer first joined the reality-singing competition in 2012 where she mentored the boys category. Her act James Arthur went on to win the show. She has since been on “X-Factor” UK for four seasons.

Check out the exclusive interview with here below:

How did Simon convince you to come back?

I’ve been a part of The X Factor family for many years now and honestly, I love the UK so much. They’ve always been so good to me, Great Britain is my second home. So, Simon called me personally and that always means a lot. We had a few discussions about what was going to happen and that was it really. I didn’t have any concerns about coming back, it’s in my blood to do this. I feel like I’m really good at this. Simon really wanted me back, so we made a pact and we made it work.

Where you pleased when you heard Louis was back?

There’s no one else that I would have wanted back more. I love him, he’s always been there for me. He is the best at what he does, so rightfully so, he should be there.

Oh, you have to have that trust. I think he goes back to us each time because he knows that he can trust us, we’re family.

A post shared by  Nicole Scherzinger (@nicolescherzinger) on Oct 10, 2019 at 4:32pm PDT

What did you think when you found out it was a celebrity version of the show this year?

I love that. Obviously it’s a lot shorter, which is the difference between The X Factor: Celebrity and the ones in the past. This one doesn’t have boot camp and all that jazz, and I loved that we just cut straight to the chase. I was really excited to see who the celebrities were going to be.

Was there anyone who you were really surprised they were doing it?

Martin Bashir. He’s my biggest surprise. We’re used to seeing him interview people like Princess Diana. He’s the kind of person people are not used to seeing in this light, and the way he spoke about why he did it, his voice and his performance, he was the biggest surprise to me, for sure.

A post shared by Tara Shakespeare (@tarashakespearemakeup) on Oct 13, 2019 at 3:25pm PDT

What was it like doing the auditions in Simon’s garden in Malibu?

It was really cool. It was unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and I don’t think Simon’s ever done anything like that before, at least not on that scale. I know he did judges’ houses there last year but that was small compared to this! It was amazing, because here we are in his beautiful home, right there in Malibu, the setting couldn’t be any more divine. We had tables filled with people, most of them were my peers and my mentors. These were the biggest heavy hitters in the industry. And so when I was there, I felt even more at home, because I saw them and realised, “My friends are here!” But at the same time, I felt a little bit of pressure as next I thought, “Wow, my mentors are here as well.” It made us up our game. I just thought it was a brilliant idea.

Did it increase the pressure for the celebs?

I told one of my friends, “I would not want to be auditioning in front of these people!” These were some of the biggest names in the industry, billions of record sales and they are judging! I was fortunate, because a lot of them are my friends, David Forster, Diane Warren, Tricky Steward and Dallas Austin. I won’t say who, but yeah, they had their say in who their favourites were!

Are we going to see you as competitive as always?

Oh always! You can’t take that out of me! I’m just going to be very supportive. This year I think the way Simon has done it is that we help them and support them. In the past when I did it, I was quite hands-on and did a lot. But I’m ready to see what they are going to bring to this show.

Reunited and it feels so good… ❤? Excited to be back on @thexfactor with these two. #TheXFactorCelebrity premieres tonight at 8:35pm on ITV and STV.

A post shared by  Nicole Scherzinger (@nicolescherzinger) on Oct 12, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT

What are you looking forward to about the live shows?

The performances, that’s my favourite part. You know how much fun I have when I’m so affected by the music and the performances. It gets me riled up. I think it’s going to be really fun and interesting.

The British fans are looking forward to having you back…

Oh, that’s really sweet. I can’t take for granted whatever is out there. That’s another reason – when Simon asked me to do this show, I realised how much I miss the UK. It’ll be great to be back. It’s so funny, because all my friends think I’m pretty much an adopted Brit, because every time they’re in London they’re like, “We’re in London! Where are you?” I’m like, “Guys, I’m in LA.” They normally just assume that I live there all the time. So, it’ll be great to go back and spend some time there.

A post shared by Nicole Scherzinger (@nicolescherzinger) on Oct 19, 2019 at 2:00pm PDT

“Celebrity X-Factor” airs on Sundays 7:55 pm only on Blue Ant Entertainment (Unifi TV Ch 473).

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#TheSims4: Official Trailer + What To Expect

Over the weekend, Maxis and EA’s new Sims game for an official launch trailer ahead of its official release. The trailer, which was uploaded on Saturday, says, “Create your own weirder stories in The Sims 4 on September 2nd, 2014.”

Despite the fanfare that surrounded the announcement, the game has drawn some criticism from some loyal fans because some of the much loved features from “The Sims 3″ were reportedly taken out. Furthermore, recently, the developers for the game confirmed that there will be “no family trees”.

TS4, a website dedicated to the game also posted an entry a few days ago to elaborate on what’s missing. The missing features ranges from “no normal careers” e.g. medical, business, law enforcement, to no story progression i.e. Sims in the neighbourhood age but do not have children, get jobs, move, or get married, without player intervention.

Also, there’ll be no Mac version of “The Sims 4” at the scheduled release date of the game. Not just yet, at least. So we guess Mac users will have to wait awhile. Other missing features (that were in “The Sims 3”) include:

On top of no aliens, no acne, no babysitters, no favourites (food, music, colour), no garage doors, no cemeteries, no cars, no bookstores, no burglars, and many many more.

In any case, despite the missing features, “The Sims 4” will still essentially have the same concept as its predecessor. Fans will still be able to control their Sims in various activities and form relationships as well as create their own game content. The focus of the game might’ve shifted for Maxis but we’re pretty sure that they have more exciting features to offer e.g. exploring different personalities, new ways for your Sim to die, Sims moodlets, and other social features.

Did that want to make you #hashtag #your (currently) #foreveralone #life #away #while #waiting #for #it #to #be #released? “The Sims 4” will be released on 2nd September (US) and 5th September (UK). As mentioned earlier, a Mac release is coming but no date has been announced yet.

For more information, visit their official website or their Facebook page.


Lady Reporter Willing To Strip Naked If M’sian Polo Team Wins; Retracts Statement

A beautiful young lady recently cause quite a stir on the internet when she made a bold claim.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday, 22nd August), Lala Rahim (real name: Nurul Adilla Abd Rahim)’s tweet went viral online. She tweeted that she was willing to strip naked should the Malaysian Polo team wins. That was how gung-ho she felt about our own athletes.

As some of you may know, Lala is an assistant producer and TV host for a local media company. “As someone who also works in the media industry, I don’t think this is appropriate to do on a public platform seeing as how this attitude reflects your company,” Twitter user Siti Najihah Hussin responded. This came after Lala stated that there was no point in deleting her controversial tweet since it has already been screenshot multiple times.

True enough, our home grown team beat team Brunei to a 12-4 score at the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. “I didn’t realise people would actually take my tweet seriously. I was only joking about stripping naked,” the 23-year-old Malaysian told mStar Online. She has since apologised for not being sensitive and vows to be more cautious moving forward.

On a brighter note, Malaysia is currently ahead with 93 wins (as at time of writing), including 40 gold medals. Good job, team Malaysia!

Sources: mStar Online, Hangat/ Featured image: Facebook.


Miss Universe Malaysia Wins Best National Costume After She Tripped & Fell Onstage

Our representative for Miss Universe, Shweta Sekhon, was among other contestants who found themselves in somewhat of an embarrassing situation during the swimwear segment of the live show.

Based on the photo as well as the video available below, it can be seen that Shweta was having difficulty walking the slippery runway in heels. As a result, the 22-year-old eventually tripped and fell while doing her walk on stage.

The incident not only impacted Shweta (full name Shwetajeet Kaur)’s catwalk, but other contestants from France, Indonesia, Malta and New Zealand also experienced the same fate as hers. A few staffs on duty immediately took action and wiped the floor after that.

Fans were left fuming upon seeing the video. In this case, many of them slammed the organisers for their negligence on not making proper inspection on the stage. On the other hand, the girls have received praises from netizens for their professionalism. Some crowd in attendance also gave standing ovation to show their support.

For those who are interested, check out the clip of the incident below:

In another news, it was recently revealed that Sheweta has managed to snag the “Best National Costume” category! For those who don’t know, the “Peranakan”-inspired dress was designed by renowned couture designer Carven Ong.

Despite the exciting news, there was a little controversy that happened surrounding both Shweta and Miss Universe Philippines representative Gazini Ganados. During the announcement, both the prompter as well as MC Steve Harvey wrongly announced Gazini as the winner instead of Shweta.

— GRASS HOOOOKER (@menimelvin3) December 9, 2019

Fix the damn telegram! Feeling the secondhand embarrassment for both Philippines and Malaysia, even for Steve who was only reading what the telegram shows him.

— angel kim ⁷ 🪞🥢 💙🪐 7⃣ rest (@kakekikooo) December 9, 2019

And on those times, it’s always Miss Philippines. I think they are using Philippines to trend. They know that the Filipinos are into this pageant, they know that they would make noise. So they make issues JUST TO TREND. Psh

— 𝓳ꫀ𝓲-ꫀꪑ ⚯͛ △⃒⃘ 🎀 (@jei3m11) December 9, 2019

Despite the prompter mishap, it was finally confirmed that the Kuala Lumpur-born starlet emerged as the winner in that category and brought home the glory.

.@IAmSteveHarvey had it right: Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados is the winner of the #MissUniverse2019 National Costume competition! Congratulations, Gazini. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/L8DpAyNL9I

— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 9, 2019

It was recently revealed today (Monday, 9th December) that Steve Harvey’s announcement was indeed accurate. In this case, the winner of the National Costume competition belongs to the Philippines and not Malaysia. Find out more here.

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Interview: Robbie Amell Had His John Wick Moment While Filming “Resident Evil”

“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” is currently screening in Malaysian cinemas. As mentioned in our movie review, this version harkens back to Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich’s rendition of the film franchise rather than the original game’s creative roots.

In this interview, Robbie Amell talks about his character Chris Redfield’s storyline and his sibling dynamic with Kaya Scodelario’s Claire, favourite scene to shoot, scary zombies, and more.

1) As a fan of the “Resident Evil” games, what drew you to them in the first place?

“It is actually one of my earliest video game memories. I remember sitting in my basement playing Resident Evil and dogs jumping through the window and scaring the hell out of me. And I just thought that was pretty cool.”

2) What were the scares of “Resident Evil” left such an imprint on you?

“I am sure a lot of people, like myself, loved the jump scares and the anticipation and fear. It was the first game of its kind and it resembles going to a haunted house or going to an amusement park or watching a scary movie and I had never experienced that in video game form. So that fear and danger while knowing that you are not actually in any danger, you get the adrenaline, the rush, but you are sitting in the comfort of your own home.”

3) Being a fan, how hard did you chase after this role when you knew this film was being made?

“I legitimately had no idea this movie existed until my agent told me. I had a one year old at the time and it was COVID and my wife and I just got back from Toronto and we were just living in our own little bubble. My agent phoned me and said hey, I’ve been talking to “Resident Evil” about you. I am going to send you the script. If you like it, we will set up a Zoom with the director. And I told him, set up the Zoom with the director. He’s like, you want to read it? I said, I do but I know the answer is yes.

So, I read the script, and then I sat down for an hour on Zoom and just geeked out over the games. I could see what a fan Johannes (Roberts – director) was and how passionate he was about this world, bringing it to life and making it a true adaptation of “Resident Evil” 1 and 2. Honestly, I would have done anything for the role.

At the end of the call, Johannes said, well, I would love to make this movie with you so we will be in touch. And he hung up and I was like, wait a second, is this role mine? I walked out and my wife is standing in the living room and I am like, I think I got it. It was just like one of those, right place, right time, right people involved. It was a dream come true for me.”

4) Even though Resident Evil has a set of parameters set up from the games, Johannes approached this film with a very collaborative and open approach. What was the experience like for you?

“Right from the beginning we were on the same page which was great. We both were huge fans of the games and talked about the way he was going to shoot it and the tone of the movie and the things that mattered the most to bring over from the game to the feature. Then other places where he would have to build out that connective tissue and get these characters’ backstories. I agree, it was super collaborative, but he was also the captain of the ship and he was the right person to do that. I knew the second I met with him that this was the guy who was going to make the “Resident Evil” adaptation that fans have been waiting for, the one that feels true to the games.

What he did that was so special was he took what everyone loves about the games and then he made the characters human beings and gave them flaws and made you care about them because at the end of the day if you don’t care about these characters, it doesn’t matter how much it looks like the video games, it’s just not going to matter.

Johannes was incredible and the detail is just unbelievable. Every day on set there was some new Easter Egg or a new thing that made me go, oh my God, this is so much like the game. And then he put together such a great cast that I think really embodied the characters from the games and I think people are going to be super excited to see them brought to life.”

A post shared by Robbie Amell (@robbieamell)

5) To then go into fitting and wear all of Chris Redfield’s gear, what was your first day like when all of that stuff was on you?

“It was unbelievable. The green Vietnam flak jacket. We tried on a few other vests and then we went to that one and it was kind of like, well, how could we not do this? This is just perfect. It’s iconic. It works the second I put it on.”

6) What about the first day you walked onto set?

“The first real day was walking into the Spencer Mansion. That front entrance way that you run through a thousand times playing the game, it looked so spot on and it was one of those surreal moments that I’ll never forget. I was back to my childhood playing the game, I’m just living it now. Everybody was so passionate and were such fans of “Resident Evil”, it just felt like we were making something special.”

7) How did you approach playing Chris, especially since the character has such a strong fanbase playing him in the games?

“I’m one of those fans! I had grown up playing the games. I’ve continued to play the games because I am still a gamer. I know this world better than most things that I read or auditioned for. It helps that I kind of look like the human being version of Chris Redfield.

Before I read the script, I knew that with video game adaptations, there’s that fine line to give the fans what they want but also make something fresh and something exciting for them to see. And I think Johannes did such a great job of that with the script.

In the games, Chris is a little bit flat. He’s a small-town super cop, by the books and punches boulders. I couldn’t really fit that into the movie anywhere. But the nice thing about this version in the movie is you meet him and he has flaws and he has regrets about how he’s handled things with his sister and he doesn’t have a great relationship with his old mentor Birkin (Neal McDonough) either.

Things aren’t amazing for him and he’s in this town that is falling apart. I think that that just makes him more of a complete human being than in the video games and it gives people something to reflect themselves and see themselves in. From an acting standpoint, that’s more interesting to play than a super soldier.

The nice thing was I always knew that the action scenes would come and that it would be fun to watch Chris fight the zombies as a badass, but getting there, from a character standpoint, was where I was going to be able to do things my own.”

8) Why do you think Chris drunk the Raccoon City Kool Aid and yet his sister Claire (Kaya Scodelario) returns convinced something is wrong with this town?

“I think as the older brother, Chris probably didn’t think that Claire was serious about her conspiracies and he just kind of brushed them aside. When she actually left, he is filled with regret mixed with anger, because not only does he regret how he handled things, but there’s also that anger of her leaving and abandoning him.

Chris tries to wrestle and come to terms with his childhood and forgive himself and also forgive Claire. After she leaves, he doesn’t have anyone anywhere else and he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. I think whether he drank the Kool Aid or whether he was just lying to himself, pretending everything was fine and slowly growing more unhappy over time, I think a lot of people can relate to that; it’s just getting stuck in this rut in this one place. And leaving sounds easy when you say it out loud but starting fresh somewhere with nothing is a big step for a lot of people.”

9) How fun was it when your fellow actors all showed up in character as a group?

“The first day that we all worked together, we did the helicopter scene. And just everyone hopping out of the helicopter and running into the woods towards the exterior of the Spencer Mansion. And I mean we have got the STARS helicopter and then everybody is hopping in and hopping out. It’s straight out of the game. We are in the middle of nowhere going through the woods and we have the exterior facade of the Spencer Mansion. That was the kind of pinch me moment where it was like, this is so sick.”

10) There is an amazingly tense sequence in the film where Chris is trapped in the Spencer Mansion with only a partially working flashlight, surrounded by zombies. Can you break down that extremely scary scene especially knowing that Johannes is a big fan of long shots?

“Thank you, it was my favorite to shoot. I talked to Johannes after I read the scene in the script and it was like this sounds really awesome. He explained that it was only going to be lit by muzzle flash and we are only going to see snippets of the zombies coming after you. He wanted the scene to be very visceral and very real. So, I spent a full day with the stunt coordinator and ten stunt players dressed as zombies and we just rehearsed and choreographed this fight from start to finish and we shot it as a oner a bunch of times. We ended up doing snippets of coverage throughout but that fight scene was me and stunt doubles ripping through in one take and it was awesome. It was kind of like a John Wick moment for me and I loved it.”

11) The production designers were leaving all these little gems for the fans to catch while watching the film, did you find any of them while on set?

“The fight scene in the dining hall has the picture behind me on the wall where in the game if you press X on it, it says, “two knights fighting” and I was like “are you serious? This is so cool.”

The attention to detail of Easter Eggs was something that surprised me. I mean it was something that I hoped for, but it still surprised me. Honestly a bunch of these ideas came from the crew who are just really invested in the project and care about what they are doing and are excited about making this true to the games. In the laboratory they had red, blue, and green herbs where I was like this is so obvious but at the same time good for you guys for actually doing this. I took a picture of it. Fans of the games are going to lose their minds and they are not going to catch everything on watch one. You can watch two, three times and you will find something new. The sets are unbelievable, I mean Johannes asked Capcom for the blueprints for the police station and the Spencer Mansion, they are unbelievable.”

12) The looks of the zombies get crazier and crazier.

“That was the thing. It was scary at first, and then one of them would be drinking a coke and that’s not really scary. But it was great. What was really beneficial to us were most of the zombies were stuntmen and women and so you could get more aggressive and not worry about hurting another actor. You could really stage these interactions so that it felt real and dangerous and authentic and where nobody was pulling any punches.

It’s definitely less scary to make a horror movie than it is to watch one. When you are just there, you are surrounded by a ton of people, it’s not as dark as it looks on screen. And someone yells cut and everyone is like are you good, are you okay, let’s go again. Everybody is just worried about one another.”

13) Kaya mentioned that she only had one day of daytime shoot during the whole period, was that the same experience for you?

“I would say it was half and half. Most of the daytime shoots were just interiors that we put covers over windows to shoot day for night. But it wasn’t atrocious night shoots for three months, everyone was still able to live some semblance of a normal life. I had a one-year-old at home so I had to keep up some kind of normalcy.”

14) How was working on “Resident Evil” different from other films you’ve been on?

“I have never worked with this level of special effects makeup before. I think the practical side of things on this movie were so great and it just works so much better than visual effects. Obviously when you want something bigger you need visual effects because it would be crazy to try and make an animatronic Birkin stage three zombie. I thought the practical side of things was really impressive and that was really cool to watch.”

15) There are a couple of sequences which pay tribute to the game. Can you talk about some of your favorites?

“One of the first zombies I encountered is the zombie in the white coat. That turn over his shoulder, that’s pulled straight from the game and it works so well. I think the nice thing was in the game when you are playing “Resident Evil” you know there are zombies, so you are not that scared in the first one, you are more like oh cool. And the difference is in the movie, Chris doesn’t know there are zombies, Aiken (Chad Rook) doesn’t know there are zombies, when this thing turns around, it’s like what the hell is this, what is going on?

There are a million things running through your mind and then the Chris Redfield side of things kicks in and it’s like okay, action, which is just fun to play with as an actor, is getting to have those natural reactions and then lean into the character and give people what they know and love from the video games.”

16) What was it like to see your colleagues play out these characters that you know so well from the games?

“It was awesome. I mean the big thing was Johannes just knows the story and the game so well. He casts people who are innately like those characters. Hannah (John-Kamen) is a total badass and is perfect for Jill Valentine, Avan (Jogia) is just awesome and has that sense of humor that you kind of need with Leon. Kaya is incredible, Tom (Hopper) is a big scary dude when he wants to be, which is great for Wesker because he should be this guy who becomes pretty villainous throughout this franchise. I just think that Johannes did such a great job of casting that everybody was just already kind of ready for those characters.”

17) The previous “Resident Evil” movies has created such a legacy. What do you hope this version will accomplish for the fans?

“I am a big fan of the prior movies, I think Milla Jovovich is amazing. I have seen every single one of them. I think what’s really cool about our movie is that it is a totally different, true adaptation of “Resident Evil” 1 and 2 games. It’s just something new and something different. It can exist at the same time, but it is its own thing. As a gamer, I am really excited about bringing the video games to life and I think that it is the adaptation that fans of the games have been waiting for. At the end of the day, these things are subjective and some people will love ours and some people will love the other ones more or some people will love both and just kind of take in as much “Resident Evil” things as they can because it’s a great franchise. And I am kind of in that boat, I like both.”

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What To Look Out For During Netflix’s Virtual TUDUM Event

Netflix’s first virtual event, TUDUM, is happening this weekend and viewers can look forward to a ton of content. The spotlight will be on new and returning TV shows, exciting films, unscripted content, and all the biggest stars – all on one epic stage.

Having said that, TUDUM has 3 specific programs dedicated to Asian fans – namely with its Anime, Indian, and Korean content. Scroll down to find out what to expect, some insider sneak peeks, program timings, and how to watch right from your couch on the 25th of September!

There is SO MUCH in store for anime fans as Netflix unveils its anime lineup for the coming months. During this spotlight, fans will find out what’s new about “Aggretsuko”, “Bright: Samurai Soul”, “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie”, “Super Crooks”, and many more. Some of your favourite anime talents will also share some secrets about their shows if you listen hard enough! And finally, N-Ko, Netflix’s very own VTuber, will act as your guide and host during the program.

TUDUM: Anime Spotlight begins at 8pm MYT on 25th September 2021 on Netflix Asia and Netflix Anime YouTube channels.

A post shared by Netflix Malaysia (@netflixmy)

The Korean-content program is sure to get K-drama fans’ hearts fluttering with the amazing lineup of upcoming titles such as “Hellbound” and “My Name”. During this spotlight, fans will also get up close and personal with two of their favourite stars, Song Kang On What Fans Can Expect For “Love Alarm” Season 2 and Jung Hae-in, in an exclusive interview that can only be watched during this program. And if you love K-pop, the 30-minute Korea Spotlight program will be hosted by iconic K-pop stars including EXO’s Kai.

TUDUM: Korean Spotlight begins at 9pm MYT on 25th September 2021 on Netflix Asia and The Swoon’s YouTube channels.

A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)

Fans around the world will discover more reasons to fall in love with Bollywood during the TUDUM: India Spotlight. Witness iconic Indian actress Madhuri Dixit in a never-before-seen role in upcoming series, “Finding Anamika”. Discover more about “Heeramandi” from acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali during his panel, and for fans who love thrillers, there will be a special surprise just for you!

Get your popcorn ready, as you set to embark on a fun night with TUDUM. Tune in to TUDUM: Spotlight shows via the official Netflix channels:

The main TUDUM Global Fan Event will premiere at 12am MYT on 26th September 2021. The event will be broadcast across Netflix’s YouTube channels worldwide, in addition to Twitter, Twitch and Facebook.


“Pose” Star Billy Porter To Play Fairy Godmother In “Cinderella” Remake

Meet your new Fairy Godmother, Billy Porter, as he has confirmed he will be taking over the role in an interview he did in New Yorker Festival.

The Hollywood Reporter reported last week that the Emmy-winning “Pose” actor was in talks with Sony over the “Cinderella” role. Then on, Saturday of the same week Porter confirmed, “I have a couple movies that I’m working on. I’m gonna be playing the fairy godmother in the new Cinderella movie with Camila Cabello”.

Camila Cabello is set to take on the iconic role, while the evil stepmother will be played by “Frozen” star Idina Menzel. The rest of the cast for the upcoming movie have yet to be announced as the entire movie is still in pre-production.

Billy, 50, started as a Broadway star and is best known for his role of Lola in the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots”, which got him a Drama Desk and Tony award for best actor.

He would later star in more television and movies with his most recent role of Pray Tell in FX’s series “Pose” that gotten him an Emmy-Award. This made him the first black gay person to do so.

The new “Cinderella” live-action remake, is slated to be release on 21st February 2021. It will be directed and written by the multi-talented Kay Cannon, best known for writing and producing the “Pith Perfect” trilogy, with British television host James Corden.

Sources: Daily Mail, The Hollywood Reporter.

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JJ Lin Gets His Madame Tussauds Singapore Twin

Mandopop star JJ Lin met his “doppleganger” at the unveiling of his wax figure for Madame Tussauds Singapore on 22nd Dec.

The wax version of JJ Lin is the latest figure to be launched, following the opening of the museum in October. Other local icons featured in the museum include former minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew, singer Stefanie Sun, and actress Zoe Tay.

“The first time I saw the figure, I was like, ‘Whoah!’ I finally know what it’s like to have an identical twin,” said the Singaporean singer-songwriter at the press conference. “I am deeply honoured. It’s really unbelievable to have a wax figure on an international stage (like Madame Tussauds), and I am really happy.”

According to Madame Tussauds Singapore, the creation of Lin’s wax figure took a 4r-hour sitting, which involved the collection of measurements, photos, costume donations, a hand cast, hair samples, a signature and checks for eye colour matches. A typical Madame Tussauds figure takes about 4 months to make and costs about S$300,000.

And although Lin says he is really happy with his wax twin, he has one complaint.

“He’s too still,” he quipped. “I’m really active!”


5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About TGV Central i-City

TGV Central i-City recently debuted in Shah Alam, giving movie-goers nearby there a whole new meaning to entertainment.

“This marks a new beginning for TGV in redefining what a cinema should be! Our vision is to create an inspired entertainment destination, a comfortable and upscale environment for our patrons to experience the true magic of the movies and also a social gathering spot for our guests to interact, eat, drink and relax before and after their show,” TGV Cinemas CEO Yeoh Oon Lai said in a press release.

What’s so exciting about TGV Central i-City, you asked? Here are 5 fun facts about TGV’s 35th location:

In TGV’s own words, Deluxe seats are the new norm. The new cinema offers “comfortable new seating paired with crystal-clear digital projection and immaculately-tuned surround sound”.

Movie fans who visit TGV Central i-City will also get to experience an immersive escape with immersive movie experience paired with retail therapy. Current anchor tenants include Royal Selangor and Chatime, but fret not, more partners and retail brands will be coming onboard in the near future.

People living in Shah Alam and Klang can now enjoy the world’s most immersive cinematic experience without having to traveling too far. To quote TGV:

“It starts with a stunning floor-to-ceiling screen that offers 26% more visual real estate than any other big-screen format in the world, enhanced by ultra-high definition content that is gorgeous in colour, vividness and visual impact. Laser-aligned speaker placements in stunning surround sound bring movies to life better than ever, with the unique stadium-layout offering patrons a consistently excellent viewing experience across the entire hall.”

Said to be the largest Samsung ONYX cinema LED screen in the world, TGV Central i-City houses a 45.93 feet wide and 16.4 feet high Onyx Cinema LED screen. It’s the world’s first Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI)-compliant High Dynamic Range (HDR) LED theatre display that can deliver brightness levels of up to 146fL (foot-lambert) and colour vibrancy in cutting-edge 4K.

Parents are encourage to bring their tiny tots to the cinema during movie sessions. The new Family-friendly hall comes with an adjoining playroom and plenty of seating options. This is the place where kids are allowed to scream and shout, as well as entertain themselves.

Besides the aforementioned, TGV has plans to relaunch the all-new TGV MovieClub with brand new features, rewards and offers. Benefits will include earning MovieMovie on all transactions and access to Advance Sales on selected titles.

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8 Reasons Why These Bangkok Malls Can Give You Everything, All At Once

Tired of having to Google your way through exciting eateries when you travel? Don’t be that tourist. Why commute everywhere when you can get everything, all at once in these Bangkok malls? Now that national borders are now open, what other locations could be a better revenge travel destination if not Thailand? With the convenience, affordability, diversity of attractions and more importantly, undeniably delicious food, Thailand has jumped to the very top of many Malaysian travel bucket lists.

Avid shoppers, foodies and travel addicts, if you’re heading to Thailand, we have a list of exciting activities and more importantly mouth-watering food options for you. The Mall Group, which owns Bangkok’s leading shopping malls – Siam Paragon, The Emporium and The EmQuartier – have some exciting spots for you to explore authentic local Thai cuisines, luxury dining, street food whilst feeding your entertainment needs.

Since we’re approaching more public holidays during this time of the year, pack your things and take yourself, your friends and families to these malls!

Gourmet Eats is the trendy food court at Siam Paragon. This food court has been specially curated with the operators scouring the country to uncover the best street food vendors and gather them in one convenient and centralised location for all to try. Check out some of the available restaurant options throughout this article.

A post shared by ทิพย์สมัย ผัดไทย ประตูผี (@thipsamaipadthai)

Enjoy savoury, sour, mouth-watering Pad Thai at one of Bangkok’s most iconic eatery brands with nearly a hundred-year legacy of serving authentic Pad Thai featuring shrimp oil, deep sea prawns with springy rice noodles, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts, all wrapped in a toasty omelette.

A post shared by รสดีเด็ด สถานีสะพานควาย (@roddeededsaphankhwaistation)

Meat lovers! Head over to Rod Dee Ded, the famous beef noodle soup brand which has been around since 1969. The restaurant is renowned for its handcrafted noodles and premium-grade beef cuts.

Cautious of Halal Statuses? Don’t Worry, Here Are Some Options.

Those looking to satisfy their halal meat cravings while at Gourmet Eats can stop by at Jeerapan Grill Chicken to savour their famous yellow grilled Chicken that has been marinated for hours and grilled on charcoal creating a soft & tender texture. Are you drooling yet?

A post shared by The Quintessential Ice cream (@quintsicecream)

Do you have a sweet-tooth? Flip it around and just get desserts at Quints available at both Siam Paragon and The EmQuartier. Quints is an ice cream parlour featuring smooth and flavourful handcrafted ice cream in novel flavours such as popcorn and chrysanthemum.

A post shared by SNOW ( สโนว์ )❄☃🇹🇭 (@wnb_snow)

A post shared by SuPerNAN👸🏻 รับเทรนลดน้ำหนัก (@supernanf)

If you’re on the lookout for world-class cuisine, The EmQuartier has just the thing with the 4-time Michelin Star recipient restaurant, LukKaiThong. The restaurant features Chinese cooking with a Thai twist and offers close to 140 different menu items to select from. Forget your Instagram stories. A luxury meal like this deserves to be on your feed!

While at The EmQuartier, visitors will also get a chance to spiral their way down the Helix, a signature spiral dining paradise spanning 4 floors. Talk about Insta-worthy. The unique structure is home to Thong Smith, a highly popular boat noodle shop and its sister Thai dessert outlet called Thong Sweet.

A post shared by DROP BY DOUGH (@dropbydough)

Can’t get enough of desserts? Drop by Dough at The EmQuartier is sure to impress. The premium doughnut joint offers a unique combination of flavours that have wowed travellers including the tangy Berry Rose and the savoury Bacon & Cheddar Cheese doughnut.

Siam Paragon houses over 7,500 brands from luxury, fashion, beauty, leather goods, food and more. The interconnected combo of premium malls, The Emporium and The EmQuartier, on the other hand offer true shopping highlights of both international calibre and local popularity. There’s something for everyone at these malls. You would not regret checking them out!

For more information on Siam Paragon visit: https://www.siamparagon.co.th/ To check out The Emporium visit: https://www.the Emporium.co.th/en/ For detail about The EmQuartier visit: https://www.the EmQuartier.co.th/en/ For details about The Mall Lifestore visit The Mall Lifestore

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“The Way To The Heart Is Through The Tummy”: 6 Valentine’s Day Noms Ideas

It may sound like a tiny issue, but we know well that deciding where to eat is one of the biggest problem in a relationship. Sometimes, you just can’t come to an agreement on the topic.

However, for this Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to worry about that because we are here to narrow down you and your partner’s options for your date night. Here’s a list of date nights for the both of you to feel special on Valentine’s:

Location: No 6, Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur

If you want to spend your Valentine’s full of class, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur is offering a La Vie En Rose date night with their Valentine package. Enjoy a French-Italian 4-course dinner at Nizza’s in a romantic al-Fresco setting.

If you and your date feel like eating big, then opt for their dinner buffet at Kwee Zeen that features a crustacean bar with a Parisian theme. But if you want a date that’s more on the cozier side, Sofitel also offers you a Valentine’s High Tea session so that you and your date could bond one on one.

Locations: Bangsar, Damansara Perdana, or Subang Jaya

Want to dine with the best steak or Lobster Thermidor in town? Then look no further, because Maria SteakCafe will satiate you and your partner’s cravings this Valentine’s with their four course meal. The set meal starts with a Scallop dish served with Tomato & Olive Salsa and Mushroom Truffle soup. The main has several options, ranging from Japanese Miyazaki A5 Loin, Australian Wagyu 9 or 7 Rib Eye, Lobster Thermidor, Atlantic White Cod to New Zealand Lamb Cutlet. Last but not least, a Cheesecake served with Berry Coulis will be the dessert to end the romantic evening.

Location: 50A, Changkat Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur

Want to take you and your partner’s senses to another level this Valentine’s Day? Then we have just the place for you. Dine In The Dark is where you can explore all of your other senses for the night by shutting down one of the most vital one, your sight. If that already excites you, wait until you hear there’s pre-dinner games, free gifts, and a free glass of wine. Fun, adventurous and gastronomical? What more could you ask for on Valentine’s!

Location: 78, Jalan Sultan, Kl City, 50000 Wilayah Persekutuan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Spend your Valentine’s this year in an exclusive oriental setting with your special someone. Not only does Crane KL offers you amazing fusion food, but also great ambience that sets the mood for intimate conversations with your partner. Their 5 course meal is inclusive of either a bottle of house wine or 4 mocktails of your choice.

A post shared by Pullman KLCC (@pullmanklcc)

Location: Pullman KLCC, Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Treat your significant other on a romantic dinner buffet in Pullman KLCC this Valentine’s to warmth the love between the two of you even more. And sweeten it at the end of the night with desserts, then fizz the romance up like the bubbles in a bottle of champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve that they offer.

If you feel like having an intimate and private night in for V-Day instead of going out, then satiate yourself with ShopeeFood! ShopeeFood is offering you a chance to enjoy an all-day deals up to 50% off vouchers with a minimum spend of RM15 at participating outlets. Order to your heart’s contents and enjoy loving not only your partner, but also yourself today!


#GDA Artiste Profile: HyunA

Born Kim Hyun-a in 1992, today, she’s better known as HyunA. She’s an idol, singer, songwriter, dancer, rapper, model, and also a member of Cube Entertainment’s girl group, 4Minute.

4Minute consist of five members, Ji-hyun, Ga-yoon, Ji-yoon, HyunA, and So-hyun. They were first introduced to the world when they released their first single, “Hot Issue” in 2009. Since then, 4Minute has released one Korean full-length album, three Korean mini-albums, one Japanese full album, six Japanese singles, and various Korean singles. They’ve also gone on to win a few awards at notable award shows such as the Seoul Music Awards and the Billboard Japan Music Awards.

In 2010, HyunA released her first solo single, “Change”. It debuted high on various online charts and sold 2,469,354 copies. That very same year, she released “Love Parade” and “Outlaw in the Wild” – all of which instantly catapulted her into becoming one of the South Korean music industry’s hottest topics. Her reputation held strong when she finally released her first solo mini album, “Bubble Pop!”. The music video for its title track of the same name, “Bubble Pop!” was flagged for “racy content” due to HyunA’s dance routine and gyrating in the music video but it still became a fast favourite.

By the end of 2011, Cube Entertainment revealed a grand plan for both HyunA and labelmate Hyun-seung (B2ST). The duo became “Trouble Maker” and they went on to release their first mini album. The album consists of a dance track, an emotional ballad, HyunA’s solo, and Hyun-seung’s solo. But the song that got everyone’s attention was its catchy title track, “Trouble Maker”:

[youtube id=”zRAQmKUkI” width=”600″ height=”350″]

On top of that, HyunA is also currently in the running to bag the “Song of The Year” award for “Trouble Maker” at “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur”!

Here’s another fact: HyunA is slated to make an appearance at “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur” (GDA).

To purchase tickets, hit up TicketPro or any of their participating outlets right now! Tickets are priced at RM999 (Samsung GALAXY Zone) and RM688 (Rockpit). We hear that tickets are going to go fast so hurry!

For more information, visit their official website.

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The Batman: Which Of These 6 Actors Could Play Young Bruce Wayne?

Ever since it was announced that “The Batman” will focus on a younger Batman/Bruce Wayne storyline, which led to Ben Affleck’s departure, many have been wondering who would land the role of the titular character.

With Matt Reeves in the director’s chair, Warner Bros. is currently on the hunt for potential candidates who can bring the popular DC character to live in the upcoming solo superhero movie. Here are the current top contenders to portray The Dark Knight:

Pros: Known for his versatility, this British actor has not only starred in mega popular franchises (“Harry Potter”, “Twilight”) but has also branched out in indie films and other challenging roles including his powerful performance in “Good Time”. It doesn’t hurt that he looks good in a tuxedo.

Cons: After all these years, the shadow of sparkly vampire Edward Cullen still clings onto Robert Pattinson. This may be a little too much for hardcore fans.

Pros: Bruce Wayne is suave, so is the handsome Henry Golding. Every time he smiles, those in proximity become puppies traipsing at his side. All he needs are some karate lessons and we’re positive he can pull off a majestic yet terrifying transformation of Batman.

Cons: He’s a newbie in Hollywood. The responsibility of donning this iconic superhero may require a more seasoned actor.

Pros: Armie Hammer was previously cast as Batman in 2007 for George Miller’s cancelled “Justice League: Mortal”. Thanks to his Oscar-nominated film “Call Me By Your Name”, he’s become a fan favourite among movie-goers.

Cons: Name us an action film where he played the lead, that was successful at the box office. Go on.

Pros: Known for playing Robb Stark on “Game of Thrones” and Prince Kit in Disney’s “Cinderella”, Richard Madden has been killing it for his turn in Netflix’s “Bodyguard”. Many fans would like to see this Scottish actor play a superhero role.

Cons: At 5’10”, he may be a bit short to play Batman. But then again, so was Michael Keaton.

Pros: The Dark Knight is often view as broody, dark, and handsome. The 22-year-old son of director Peter Hedges not only has the look, but he’s shown some serious acting shops in indie hits like “Manchester by the Sea”, “Lady Bird”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “Boy Erased”.

Cons: The studio is looking for a young actor, but we think Lucas Hedges may be a tad too young.

Pros: Jack O’Connell skyrocketed to fame when he stared in Angelina Jolie’s hit WWII drama “Unbroken”. He hasn’t signed on to any big franchise, so maybe the DCEU could be it?

Cons: The 28-year-old actor has been very picky about his roles, often opting for smaller dramas. A blockbuster like “The Batman” is probably not his cup of tea.

“The Batman” is currently scheduled to debut on 25th June 2021 with Joe Manganiello and Jeremy Irons returning to reprise their roles.


(UPDATE) #AmcorpMall: Fire Near Taman Jaya LRT Station Due To Explosion/Bomb?

We just got word that there was “an explosion” near Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya barely an hour ago.

As seen in a short video footage posted up on the PJ Community Alert Facebook page about half an hour ago, a few cars parked near the Taman Jaya LRT station appeared to have caught fire. At first, it was unknown whether it was caused by a bomb or because one of the vehicles burst into flames.

Several Facebook users have also taken the liberty to share a couple of photos from the scene:

However, Malaysia’s Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has quickly taken to his Twitter to address the issue and squash the “explosion” rumours. He confirmed that the incident was due to mischief as someone set a car ablaze on purpose.

He also added that the police are aware and are currently looking into it.

Someone set a car ablaze at parking of Lrt Taman Jaya, Pj. There was no bomb explosion. @PDRMsia is investigating a case of mischief by fire

— Khalid Abu Bakar (@KBAB51) December 21, 2015

According to The Star Online, a total of 6 cars were damaged in the incident but no one was hurt. The Fire and Rescue Department said they took about half an hour to extinguish the flames.

Rapid KL also took to their Twitter account to ensure LRT commuters that the Taman Jaya LRT Station was not affected by the fire. Read their official media statement below:

That having said, we hope that they’ll find the culprits. Poor cars though :( We’ll update this post with more details as soon as we get more information.

Oh, such fiery jealousy! Apparently, the Amcorp Mall car park blaze was caused by one woman’s jealous ex-husband. According to The Star Online, the ex-husband showed up at the car park where his ex-wife’s boyfriend was working.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din said the boyfriend, 20, was walking to the car when the ex-husband showed up on a motorcycle and approached him.

“The boyfriend realised that the man was about to throw the bottle at the woman’s car which had the door open, as she was cleaning up the inside. Thankfully, the woman managed to jump out before the flames engulfed the car,” Mohd Zani Che Din said.

The ex-husband fled the scene, leaving behind his slippers and helmet. The police are currently looking for him.

Sources: Malaysia’s IGP Khalid Abu Bakar’s Twitter, The Star Online, Rapid KL’s Twitter.

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#TaeTiSeo: A Comeback Around The Corner

The girls first stormed into the K-Pop industry as part of SNSD Girls’ Generation in 2007. 5 years later, they formed a subgroup called, “TaeTiSeo” (TTS), made up of the first syllables of Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun.

After releasing several teasers, TTS released their debut single, “Twinkle”. It proved to be a mainstream success as the music video gained over 10 million hits on YouTube in just a week! The mini album of the same name was released too, an EP that was packed with 7 songs. Oh, and in case you’ve never seen the “Twinkle” music video (which we highly doubt), here it is:

Fun fact: EXO members Sehun, Kai, and Chanyeol, who were still trainees at that time, made special appearances in the above video. Did you spot them?

2 years have come and gone since “Twinkle” was released. We were wondering if we would ever hear from TTS or see them as a trio again. Our hopes were almost dashed until Tiffany mentioned on OnStyle variety TV show “Jessica & Krystal“, where she made a cameo appearance alongside fellow SNSD Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon, that TTS was recording material for a new album!

She further confirmed it in the August issue of Korea’s InStyle Magazine when she said, “In return for all the fans that waited so long and in order to give you even better music, we have poured our heart and soul into this second album.”

The news was also reported by The Korea Herald, citing an SM official who said, “TaeTiSeo is currently working on a new album and preparing for a comeback. The release date has not been confirmed yet, but will be announced in the future.”

Nevermind that there’s no exact date just yet. It sounds like TTS’ long awaited comeback could be happening just around the corner. Perhaps before the year ends? We wonder what kind of music concept the girls are going to go with this time! Will they also have their own show (like “Jessica & Krystal”) to promote their comeback?


#AnswerTime: Tumblr Announces Q&A Feature To Take On reddit’s AMA

Oh boy, it looks like popular blog platform Tumblr is ready to go beyond just “reblogs” and take on reddit’s popular “Ask Me Anything” aka AMA feature. Now, as most of you might already know, the AMA series is one of reddit’s strongest features, having hosted not only your average reddit addict but also other popular people like, oh you know, celebrities and sitting US presidents.

But now, Tumblr is about to give them a run for their money as the blog service has just announced its own question and answer (Q&A) platform called, “Answer Time”.

According to Tumblr’s blog post, “you’ll be asking musicians, artists, actors, politicians, and internet personalities exactly whatever you want to ask them”, “they’ll be answering right on their Tumblrs”, and “it’s going to be a little bonkers in the best possible way”. And the first celebrity to take on an “Answer Time” session?

None other than American band Fall Out Boy.

In fact, here’s a bunch that just opened right this second:

We must add that eventhough both Q&A features are similar, the approach is slightly different. reddit’s AMA is totally open, in the sense that just about anyone with a reddit account can start an AMA whereas Tumblr’s “Answer Time” appears to be more focused on celebrity Q&As.

But who knows? That might evolve once the momentum picks up :)

Meanwhile, check out what went down with Diplo recently took on reddit’s AMA to field questions from fans.


Uh Oh! Whatsapp Is Now Blocked In China

Popular messaging service Whatsapp has largely been blocked in China.

This is not new though as China has a history of blocking or limiting access to many social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and many other Google services. While Whatsapp was previously partially-blocked (functions such as video chats weren’t working), the whole service doesn’t seem to be working this time around.

Since Sunday (24th September), Whatsapp users in mainland China have been experiencing heavy disruption. Now even text messages are completely blocked. The block has caused many Chinese users to switch to WeChat, another popular messaging app in the country. However, the chat service is known to provide all user’s personal data to the Chinese government.

It is understood that the heightened censorship coincides with the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party taking place next month. The sensitive gathering happens once every 5 years where the government selects leaders and determine policy priorities.

Of course, people can still have access to the aforementioned social networks through virtual private networks (VPN) or other tools that help disguise internet traffic. Having said that, the Chinese government has launched a crackdown on VPNs too.

It remains to be seen if the block on Whatsapp will be lifted moving forward.

Sources: CNN, The Verge/ Featured image: Sahrzad.

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The “Transformers” Facts You Never Knew About

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. With the likes of Mark Wahlberg (so bad ass!), Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, and Kelsey Grammer on board, the film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn. Although the world was saved, the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

Are you prepared to find out what it is? Do you think that the bad guys deserve to win at least just this one time? How anxious are you to see an entirely new cast this time around and more importantly, the Dinobots?

To prod at your excitement just a little bit more, we’ve compiled some fun facts from the “Transformers” franchise films. Yes, including some from “Transformers: Age of Extinction”.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009)

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)

Bonus: Megatron is the only Transformer to have a different alternate mode in each film.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” opens in cinemas nationwide on 26th June (Thursday)! For more information, visit their official website or their Facebook page.


Ryan Reynolds Is Ready To Play #Deadpool

…and he just couldn’t wait to share the news!

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” actor Ryan Reynolds announced that he will be playing the titular role in 20th Century Fox’s film adaptation of Marvel’s “Deadpool” by posting up a picture of Deadpool via Twitter:

Uh… It's Chimichanga Time. pic.twitter.com/ZlknW4HOtj

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 4, 2014

*PS: Chimichanga refers to Deadpool’s favorite food – deep fried burritos

Deadpool solo film is sort of a dream come true for Ryan Reynolds as he has previously planned to collaborate with David S.Goyer to produce the film with New Line Cinema in 2003. However, the project fell apart but he was able to portray Wade Wilson/Deadpool in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”.

Set to be a spin-off film for the “X-Men” film series, “Deadpool” was already in development since the release of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. Fox eyed Ryan Reynolds to reprise the role but the film will be ignoring the events that took place in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. As such, a new backstory will be provided for his character.

Earlier in August, a test footage of “Deadpool” was leaked and heavily circulated on the Internet. The test footage was created by Blur Studio back in 2011 when Tim Miller was developing the project. As the film has been in development for some time, some of the studio’s employees took pride of their work and shared the clip on social media as well.

However, the posts were quickly removed after Miller sent a notice to all personnel, asking them to take down the video. Comic book creator Rob Liefeld also said in an interview that Fox studio “take leaks very seriously and carry a severe penalty for all involved”.

Fox and Marvel Studios have confirmed that Tim Miller will be directing the Deadpool movie with Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel’s Kevin Feige producing the film. Deadline reports that Ryan Reynolds is closing a deal with Fox to play the lead role, based on a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Production begins in March but no details have been given about its filming locations yet. “Deadpool” is scheduled for release February 12, 2016 while Bryan Singer’s “X-Men Apocalypse” will be released on May 27, 2016.

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“Man Of Steel”: New Nokia Trailer With Tons Of Footage!

The world’s most famous superhero “Superman” celebrates his platinum anniversary this month with the new film of the famous series, “Man of Steel” hitting the theatres. The character was imagined by a pair of Jewish teens from Cleveland about three-quarters of a century ago and since then he has fought for “truth, justice and the American Way”, the New York Daily News reported.

One of the best-known portrayals of Superman was by Christopher Reeves, who starred as the Kryptonian in four feature films during the 1970s and 1980s.

Clark Kent/Kal-El is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to Earth from Krypton, a highly advanced, distant planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question, “Why am I here?”. Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha and Jonathan Kent, Clark discovers having extraordinary abilities means making difficult decisions.

When the world is in dire need of stability, an even greater threat emerges. Clark must become a Man of Steel, to protect the people he loves and shine as the world’s beacon of hope – Superman.

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Starring: Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Henry Cavill, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe

For more information, visit the movie’s website.


#Hallyu: Kang Gary & Jessica Jung To Perform In Penang This September

Wait, what? Kang Gary (개리) and Jessica Jung (정수연) are coming to Malaysia, again? Apparently so!

Organised by Warriors Music Evolution and co-organised by Galaxy Group, the “KPOP Sensation 2017” Concert will be held at 8pm on 16th Sep 2017 (Saturday), at Setia SPICE Arena. And yes, it will feature former “Running Man” star Kang Gary as well as former SNSD Girls’ Generation singer Jessica Jung.

Note: Jessica Jung was last in Malaysia in April 2017 as an award presenter and performer for Influence Asia 2017 while Kang Gary was initially scheduled to perform at his first concert in Malaysia last month but unfortunately, the event was cancelled.

Prior to the concert, Kang Gary will be meeting his fans up close and personal during the “Promote Tour” event at 6pm on 27th June 2017 (Tuesday) at Festive Square of Gurney Paragon Mall (outdoor) in Penang.

Offline ticketing for “KPOP Sensation 2017” Concert will be available from 27th June 2017 (Tuesday) onwards while online ticketing will be available from 28th Jun 2017 (Wednesday) at 12pm onwards via www.buytickets.com.my. Online purchase will allow you to choose your seat(s).


Coheed & Cambria Talks Concepts & Culture Shock

Last week, American rockers Coheed and Cambria were in town for the Rockawayfest Showcase held at Bentley Music Auditorium at Mutiara Damansara. Though they seemed intimidating (to us, at least) at first, we managed to ease ourselves into an interview with the band a few hours before their show!

First things first, what questions do you hate being asked?

“Um, what questions do we hate being asked? We’re pretty sure there are a few but just shoot away!”

Okay! Since most of your albums’ concepts are based on comic books, which comes first? The music or the story?

“The music. When we write the songs, it’s usually more from a personal standpoint as to opposed to conceptual. It’s very much about life, sort of identity and love. Those are big themes and things that we endure every day in our lives.”

Coheed and Cambria has released about seven albums to date. Do you have an end in mind for the saga?

“Well, there is an end. I mean, if you’re talking chronologically, ‘The Afterman’ just sorta goes back into the past and tells the story of the namesake of the album. You know, I don’t know if I see an end in terms of like, stopping from writing concept records. I don’t really see that happening.”

Do you guys still get nervous before you go on stage? Are there any rituals that you guys do before you go on stage?

“Sometimes. Sometimes, yeah. Rituals well, a lot of stretching. Travis paces! The rest of us..just busy stretching. It sounds like a simple thing but really you know when you put on your uniform to go to work? It’s kinda like that. We all kinda have our own little things that we do. We don’t do like a huddle and pray or anything like that.”

Have you guys ever experienced culture shocks from when you tour? Have there ever been difficult moments because of the differences?

“Certain places do have a certain more culture shock than others. Where did we go that was completely just..culture shock? Hard to think of anywhere – we’re pretty used to traveling. You know, Australia was certainly not culture shock although things are slightly different there but it’s just interesting. Singapore was really wild – that was something else. That wasn’t culture shock but we’ve never seen anything like that. We can’t think of a place that we’ve been that was just out of control and crazy and just totally weird. Maybe language barrier? We haven’t dealt with that on this trip (to Malaysia) but some places, we deal with it a lot more. As much as we love going to France, for instance, or Germany, sometimes it can be tough.”

Were you surprised that people in Malaysia speak English?

“Yeah! Even the first time we came here it was just like, wow, there’s no real language barrier problem. Even in Singapore, they answered the phones in English. You guys speak better English here than they do at home. We’re aware that we’re really far away from home so what a trip it is to be so far away from home and yet there’s a sense of home here.”

Aww. Did they just say that there’s a sense of home here, in Malaysia? Really? Let’s hope they keep coming “home” then. Thank you for taking time off to speak to us, Coheed and Cambria! And thank you, Livescape Asia for making the interview happen.

For more information on Coheed and Cambria, hit up their official website.

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9 Stargazing Sites In Malaysia That Will Leave You Star-Struck

Malaysia is known for many great things. People from all around the world visit the country for its luscious forests, beautiful beaches, delicious food, and diverse cultures. But did you know that our nation is also one of the best places in the world to see the stars?

Thanks to its position on the Equator, Malaysia is actually an ideal location to watch the stars of both the Northern and Southern skies.

Source: The Unbounded SpiritTo those who do not own any special equipment (i.e. telescope), be sure to take a blanket or a camping mat to lie on as this helps avoid neck ache while you stargaze. Besides that, you can also download astronomy apps like Star Walk or Google Sky to your smartphone because these apps will tell you what stars you can see from your current location.

Without further ado, here are 9 stargazing sites in Malaysia that you should visit at least once in your life:

Source: Fwu Kai Quah via flickrFormerly known as the Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, Penang National Park is the smallest national park in the world and it is found in Teluk Bahang – a small town in the northwestern point of Penang Island. As the remote park is far away from the city, it has become a go-to spot for many astrology lovers. Penang National Park is also home to several pristine beaches, as well as a variety of flora and fauna.

For more information, hit up Tourism Malaysia’s website.

Source: Hafidz Abdul Kadir via flickrKuala Kubu Bharu (or KKB for short) is a hilltop town with traditional charms from the colonial area. Filled with quaint shophouses, temples, and monuments, the town is a great choice for stargazers who are looking for a short and stress-free getaway as it has little to no light pollution. Furthermore, KKB is easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur via KTM Komuter.

Fun fact: In case you didn’t you, the original town (Kuala Kubu) was actually destroyed by a flood in 1883. That’s why it is called Kuala Kubu Bharu (or Baru, which means “new” in Malay).

Source: Hakiim Mislam via The Smart LocalIs stargazing on a desert on your bucket list? Then Padang Pasir Klebang in Melaka is the right place for you! Known as “the white desert” by many, the exotic-looking lot is actually a reclaimed land by Melaka developers. As it is just a 20-minute drive from the state’s city centre, it has become a must-visit spot for tourists.

According to The Smart Local, the perfect time to visit Padang Pasir Klebang is from 5am to 6am as patrons will be able to see the stars and catch the glorious sunrise.

Source: chrono13.blogspot.myPerhentian Islands are a group of coral-fringed islands at the south of the Thai border. While the main islands are Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil, there are a few uninhabited islands (e.g. Susu Dara, Rawa) near Pulau Perhentian Kecil. Besides the clear blue water, the getaway is a stargazing paradise that will leave all aspiring astronomers in awe.

Fun fact: The name “Perhentian” means “stopping point” in Malay. This is because the islands became an assembly point used by merchants who were traveling from Malaysia to Bangkok.

For more info, visit Pulau Perhentian’s website.

Source: Malaysia Truly AsiaPulau Gem (otherwise known as Pulau Gemia) is a hidden gem, literally. Located just off the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the small secluded island can be reached by boat from Marang Jetty in Dungun. Although it’ll take some effort to arrive at Pulau Gem, it’s all worth it when you see the sparkling night sky while relaxing by the beach. Besides that, other activities on the island include snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, island excursion trips, kayaking, and many more.

Source: Gradient Lok via YouTubeDubbed “Little England” among locals, Fraser’s Hill is another spot to add to your list of stargazing sites. Featuring picturesque hiking trails and perfect spring weather, Fraser’s Hill is also a popular venue for bird-watching. Thanks to its array of resorts and hotel, star lovers are able to observe the Milky Way in the comfort of their cozy accommodations.

Source: Miri Photography Society (MPS) via The Borneo PostFamed for being Shell’s first oil well, Canada Hill has now been declared a national monument. Not only is the hill a historical landmark, the well-known tourist spot features magnificent views of Miri city and the sea. Although the trails are difficult to hike, the hill offers an amazing view of the night sky. Also, be sure to visit the Old Lady and the Petroleum Museum when you are at the top of Canada Hill.

Source: Harris Jeffrey via Star2Tawau Hills Park (otherwise known as Taman Bukit Tawau or No.4 Gudang) is another popular stargazing spot in East Malaysia. Aside from camping sites and outdoor picnic areas, patrons can choose to stay at the park’s well-managed chalets. Moreover, the retreat has a rugged volcanic landscape, a sulphur hot spring, as well as several deepwater pools and waterfalls (i.e. Air Terjun Bukit Gelas, Table Waterfall).

For more info, hit up Sabah Parks’ official website.

Source: Christianto Soning via Star2Situated at the tip of Borneo and roughly 190km away from Kota Kinabalu, Kudat is known for its pristine beaches and fresh seafood. As the coastal town has little to no light pollution, Kudat offers stargazers a dazzling view of the Milky Way from mid-February to early October. The sky is so clear that you won’t need any special equipment to observe the stars! And that’s not all, other tourist attractions include the central market, fish market, Sidek Esplanade, and the Kudat Golf Club.

Fun fact: The name “Kudat” comes from the Rungus (a sub-group of the Kadazandusun) dialect “kutad” – a type of coarse grass that grows abundantly in the town.

Got any personal favourite places that you think should be added to the list? Feel free to share with us ;)

Sources: TripZilla, The Borneo Post, The Smart Local, My Dark Sky, Star 2 / Featured image: The Unbounded Spirit.

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Marvel In Advanced Negotiations To Shoot #DoctorStrange In UK

Despite a slight hiccup in casting the lead actor, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” is definitely a go.

Previously, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed with Total Film at Barcelona’s CineEurope that the film will start shooting in Spring 2015. However, no announcement was ever made about the shooting date. But now, Screen Daily is reporting that the studio has entered its final stage of negotiations to shoot “Doctor Strange” at Pinewood-Shepperton in England next year.

The Screen Daily also confirmed the release date for “Doctor Strange” as Marvel has reportedly dated the film’s release for 8th July 2016. The production team is all set to move to Shepperton before the unconfirmed shoot date in May 2015. As of now, Marvel’s upcoming film “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is in its post-production stage while Ant-Man is currently shooting at Pinewood’s new Atlanta studios in the US.

So far, it has only been confirmed that Deliver Us From Evil director Scott Derrickson will direct “Doctor Strange” while Prometheus screenwriter Jon Spaihts will rewrite the script. The cast has not been confirmed but it was reported that Joaquin Phoenix is still in final negotiations to get the lead role.

Now, it seems like the unconfirmed cast and the filming location have become the deal-breaker for “Doctor Strange”. If Joaquin Phoenix is not going to be Doctor Stephen Strange, who do you think will take the lead role?


Nickelodeon’s 26th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards Nominees!

Finally, the nominees for Nickelodeon’s 26th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards! We already know that Hollywood’s biggest kid, Josh Duhamel, will be hosting the slime-fest. Now, let’s find out which of your favourite celebrities will be vying for the sought-after blimp awards and hopefully avoid getting slimed in the process.

The mega-stars that are currently in the running to snag the Nickelodeon trophy are such as Adele, Justin Bieber, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr., Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, One Direction, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lawrence, Adam Sandler, Will Smith, and more. Taylor Swift scored three nominations: one for “Favourite Voice from an Animated Movie” (The Lorax), “Favourite Song” (“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”), and “Favourite Female Singer”.

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Cast your votes in 22 categories, including the newly introduced nominations for “Favourite App” and “Favourite Villian” across all of Nickelodeon’s digital outlets including Kids’ Choice Awards 2013 and Nickelodeon Asia. The nominees are:

The celebrity-filled live telecast will air live from USC’s Galen Center and is tape delayed for West Coast, and will air on Nickelodeon SEA on 25th March 2013 (Monday) at 6pm.

For information about Nickelodeon in Asia, visit their official website.


#JYJ: Jaejoong Requests To Quietly Enlist In The Army

In less than a week, Jaejoong of JYJ will go on a 2-year hiatus from his music career as he will be entering the Korean army on 31st March. He is the first member of the K-Pop trio to be enlisted in the army.

His talent agency C-Jes Entertainment revealed in an official statement that Jaejoong requested to enlist in the army without the fanfare of a press conference and media coverage.

Earlier in March this year, C-Jes Entertainment confirmed that he will be enlisting in the army on the same day as Sungmin, the newly married Super Junior member.

However, similar to Super Junior’s Shindong, Jaejoong’s agency released an official statement and revealed that Jaejoong wishes to quietly enter the army:

Kim Jaejoong has strongly expressed his wishes to enter the military quietly, so as his agency will respect this.

The agency further revealed that his entrance will be a private event away from the media.

Jaejoong made his debut as a member of SM Entertainment’s TVXQ in 2003. He filed a lawsuit against the company with Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu before leaving the company to form JYJ in 2010. He then debuted as a solo singer and pursued his career as an actor. He recently starred in the KBS drama “Spy” as Kim Seo Nu, a South Korean spy who is unknowingly the son of a former North Korean spy.

The JYJ member will bid his fans a final goodbye through his last fanmeeting concert titled “Kim Jae Joong Concert in Seoul – The Beginning of The End” on 28th and 29th March at HwaJung Gymnasium in Korea University.

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#Uber: Yay! Ride-Sharing Service Uber Is Now Available In Ipoh

Uber has just turned 2 in Kuala Lumpur and in celebration of its 2nd year anniversary here, Uber has expanded its operations to Perak’s capital city throughout the month of February.

This comes just in time for Chinese New Year! For those traveling back to Ipoh with no transportation to get around, you can now opt for an Uber ride instead.

“We know that many of you will be travelling back to your hometowns over this period, and Uber is here to provide you with a smarter mobility option, and alleviate the increased burden of congestion, parking and also reducing the risk of drink driving incidents. So whether you’re looking to get home from the train station after taking the KTM to Ipoh, or get around after a few rounds of yam seng, look no further – your Uber is here!” said Uber in a statement.

Since Uber Ipoh is just hitting the streets, availability may be limited so do take note that you may have to wait slightly longer than usual.

As for the Uber rates, the base fare starts at RM 1, followed by RM0.25 per minute and RM0.50 per kilometre.

The cancelation fee will be RM5. Instead of braving through the jam later this week, you can avoid highway jams by taking a KTM train to Ipoh and getting around via Uber Ipoh. Genius, no? :)

Uber Ipoh is currently the 4th city in Malaysia that the ride-sharing app service is operating in. Besides Kuala Lumpur, Uber is also available in Johor Bahru and Penang.


The Newly Appointed Mayor In California Has Malaysian-Vietnamese Roots

The new Mayor of Eastvale in California, Jocelyn Yow, has made history by becoming the youngest woman of colour to serve as a mayor in California.

The 25-year-old mother to a six-month-old baby boy, was born to a Malaysian father and a Vietnamese mom – who migrated to the United States around the 1990s.

Yow was elected to the Eastvale city council in 2018, before serving as Mayor pro-term last year. She was officially appointed as the new Mayor of Eastvale following the city council’s meeting last Thursday (10th December).

It was reported that Yow’s father moved to the States in 1980s to further his studies, before marrying his wife, who was a Vietnamese refugee. Nevertheless, Yow’s family had to move back to Malaysia in 1996 due to some family issues.

A post shared by Councilmember Jocelyn Yow (@jocelyn_yow)

Earlier this year, she took to Instagram for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, where she stated in the post, “In 1996, we had to move to Malaysia when my paternal grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, and I ended up spending 10+ years there, allowing me to learn more about our family history, heritage, and culture.”

“I am honored to be my parents’ daughter, and I am proud to be a Malaysian Vietnamese Chinese American,” she said. According to MalaysiaKini, Yow lived in Kedah for over 10 years, where she had attend SMJK Keat Hwa in Alor Setar.

It is reported that Yow, a UC Berkeley graduate, is currently pursuing a masters degree in government at Harvard Extension. Moreover, she has worked as a district representative for the California State Senate and was also an aide for the United States House of Representatives.

As per Malay Mail, Yow stated that she wants to empower other young women with her example. She said, “While I will be the youngest woman of colour and one of the very few young mothers to serve as Mayor in the state of California, I am hopeful that more young women and mothers will follow suit.”

In other news, a 13-year-old girl from Sabah has made the nation proud by becoming the world’s youngest horse trainer. Click here.

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#BSBLiveinMsia: As Long As There’ll Be Music, They’ll Be Comin’ Back Again

It’s true, Backstreet Boys’ (BSB) fans have all grown up now. But hey, so have Kevin, AJ, Howie, Brian, and Nick.

When we first heard that BSB was coming to Malaysia as part of their “In A World Like This” tour, we were over the moon. After all, they were the boyband “Gods” of the 90s, in a time before perfectly choreographed K-Pop idol groups. Or at least for us Malaysians, because the Hallyu wave only hit us in the late in the mid 2000s.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

The last time they were here for a full concert, it was 1994. I was still that young teenager who plastered her bedroom walls with various group shot as well as individual shot (just Nick Carter, to be honest) posters of the boyband. Sure, I got a glimpse of the boys during 2013’s Twin Towers Alive, where they performed on the same stage (not together) with YG Entertainment’s K-Pop idol girl group, 2NE1. It wasn’t the same though. Almost unfulfilling because it wasn’t a full concert.

As a young teenager, I missed the opportunity to witness a full-fledged BSB event. Imagine my excitement when I heard that they were coming back! Maybe it was my obsession with the simpler times of cheesy 90s pop, maybe I’m still secretly obsessed with Nick Carter whether or not my pride will let me admit it. I just knew that I wasn’t going to pass up on it again. So off I trodded to Stadium Negara in the heart of Kuala Lumpur on a Sunday (3rd May) evening over a convenient long weekend for the sold out show.

Did they give their fans (read: me) what they wanted? Oh, that and so much more.

The “In A World Like This” concert at Stadium Negara opened with a bang as the boys emerged singing, “The Call”. Following which, Kevin addressed the crowd and asked, “Malaysia, are you ready to party like its 1999?”, to which the crowd responded with resounding screams. I didn’t know then but quite frankly, I would later discover that those screams won’t actually pipe down even after an hour of hit songs.

What Kevin said was true though, that we were all in for a treat as BSB took us for a long walk down memory lane while belting out one hit after another, including the likes of “All I Have To Give”, “As Long As You Love Me”, “Show Me The Meaning (Of Being Lonely)”, and “I’ll Never Break Your Heart”.

Although, I was kinda bummed that they didn’t whip out the iconic folding chairs for the “As Long As You Love Me” dance! Just saying ;)

Seeing BSB live in concert for the first time in a long time was really about reliving a forgotten “good old days of boybands” era and letting loose while shamelessly fangirling (or fanboying) over the boyband “Gods”. There was an undeniable hint of magic in the air as the crowd sang along to every single song – even the newer ones – word for word.

I knew that we Malaysians were truly in for a treat when the boys whipped out musical instruments and decided to perform a special stage of both a capella and acoustic versions of their songs. In fact, I am still absolutely fanning my face over their acoustic rendition of “that song where everyone was topless and singing in the rain” aka “Quit Playing Games With My Heart”!

Of course, Nick was super delighted that it was mad storming outside Stadium Negara as the concert was happening!

Isn’t it cool that there’s a storm going on outside? Like, during “Show Me The Meaning (Of Being Lonely)”, just as we sang it, the thunder went BOOM and Kevin was like, YEAH!

But all jokes aside, during the concert, the boys reiterated that this “In A World Like This” tour was a significant milestone for them because not only was it named after their 8th album, it also marked a comeback of sorts for the group. After all, it is BSB’s first world tour and album since 2006, when Kevin left the group.

On top of that, the concert tour is also in celebration of the boys’ 22nd anniversary. 22 whole years! Count ’em ;)

They also mentioned the release of their docu-movie, “BSB The Movie”, a heart wrenching documentation of the rise and fall of the group. More details about that here.

And of course, how could the boys go without sweeping their fans off their feet with “I Want It That Way”, the song that nearly blew the roof off Stadium Negara, nevermind the storm outside. We managed to sneak in a quick fancam of “I Want It That Way” so if you missed the concert, lap this one up!

Backstreet Boys’ “In A World Like This” concert tour in Malaysia then came to a beautiful end when the boys returned to the stage for an encore of “Backstreet’s Back”. Super befitting, if you asked us, because oh my god, they’re definitely back again. And to be perfectly honest, we already can’t wait for them to come back already!

Special thanks to our friends from Livescape Asia for making this happen!

For more information, visit the Backstreet Boys’ website or Facebook page.

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Janelle Monáe Wants To Portray Storm In The Upcoming “Black Panther” Film

Janelle Monáe is what you would call a triple threat in Hollywood – singer, songwriter, actress.

The multi-talented star currently has her eyes set on an iconic X-Men character. Speaking with Empire Magazine, the 34-year-old hasn’t been shy about her campaign to play Storm in an upcoming Marvel movie.

Thanks to the merger of Fox and Disney, Kevin Feige has confirmed that fans can expect a “X-Men” movie in the near future. Although a “X-Men” standalone movie probably won’t appear until 2024, it’s not too far-fetched to think that the female heroin could appear in “Black Panther 2”.

When asked whether she had approached director Ryan Coogler about potentially having a part in the Wakanda world, Monáe replied, “I definitely have thrown it out there.” She added, “One of my dreams has always been to play Storm. I don’t know if she comes in Black Panther, but it would be a dream to have her in it. I don’t know where they are with that. A lot of women have played Storm and they’ve done an exceptional job, and I would love to be in that line of artists and get to do Storm justice.”

As you may know, Ororo Munroe a.k.a Storm was once married to King T’Challa – making her the Queen of Wakanda. Rumour has it that there are plans to introduce popular X-Men characters in separate projects before bringing the whole group together for an “X-Men” team-up film. Besides, another famous Marvel mutant – Namor the Sub-Mariner – is also expected to appear in the “Black Panther” sequel.

If Oscar winner Mahershala Ali was successful in pitching the role of Blade to Feige, it would be remiss if Monáe didn’t throw her hat in the ring for Storm as well.

Featured image: The Direct/ Source: Empire.


The Real Hard Work Behind “Men In Tutus”

Last week, we were invited to a special preview of “Men in Tutus” at PJ Live Arts. While the preview was all fun and games, we got down to business in our interview with the cast of “Men in Tutus”. Here’s where we discovered the real hard work behind putting the show together and how they’d usually best prepare themselves for it.

Victor, tell us, how did “Men in Tutus” originally start?

“Well, the art form was put together a long time ago in the 70s by a man who used to be a wardrobe master for the American Ballet Theatre. He loved ballet and he made beautiful costumes so he grabbed a bunch a group of his friends and made beautiful costumes and then they went into a theatre called La Mama which was a tiny, experimental theatre. But it’s not heavily dance, it’s more theatre. Later, ‘Men in Tutus’, I mean, trained dancers started coming in to do this type of work so I decided to create a whole company of trained dancers to do this. The technical side of the dancing became stronger so that people will not just laugh but also leave with the appreciation of the dance.”

What do you guys usually do to, sorta, calm your nerves before you go on stage?

“We do a class to warm up, to get our bodies ready. But mentally everyone kinda does different things – some of us like noise and music, some of us like silence. We try to separate into different rooms so that we can mentally prepare for the show. Everybody came here with different experiences. I’ve been dancing to this kind of stuff for a long time. When I first started, before I step out to do a difficult role, I’d get very nervous but now..not anymore. Like Walter, he’s always very excited when he dances because he’s a very upbeat person. And that’s the wonderful thing about this company, you know, each person brings their own personality to the stage and I kinda encourage that.”

You know, people don’t know this for a fact yet so..is this a full-time job or a hobby?

“It’s a full-time job although there are opportunities for people to work at other jobs and other dance jobs because this is not all-year round. We’re all full-time dancers and this is our professional jobs. Walter is a costumer, and he’s also a makeup artist so you know, they have other skills. Like me, I’m a choreographer.”

What do you think is the most common misconception about “Men in Tutus”? Because, you know, men in tutus is a little bit..unorthodox..

“I think that maybe people believe that we’re not serious about dance. That we’re just a bunch of clowns putting on costumes and making jokes. But everybody is a trained dancer – everybody in the company is a dancer first. That’s their foremost career. I don’t hire people who aren’t interested in being dancers. It’s unorthodox, definitely, but this art form has been around now for over 30 years and it still continues to develop. As any art form, when it’s young, people weren’t very good dancers but it has evolved and has become a career that a lot of people are considering to do seriously. Dancing in pointe shoes is such a challenge – it’s like learning how to roller-skate or ice-skate. It’s not like just dancing on your regular feet. You have to master it.”

Come and enjoy men in pink tights and, of course, in tutus.

* “Men in Tutus” will play at various venues within Peninsular Malaysia from 2nd – 23rd June 2013. Show times vary at different venues.

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For more information, visit this website.

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#DegoRide: Malaysia’s First Bike Taxi Still Operating Despite Warning

Dego Ride Malaysia has been making headlines lately. In case you didn’t know, this ride-sharing app is Malaysia’s first motorcycle taxi service.

However, The Star reported that Dego Ride has been deemed illegal because the company has yet to obtain any permit or licence from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to offer its services to the public.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has stated that legal action would be taken if the operator continued with the service. “The Transport Ministry does not agree that Dego Ride be given a licence to ferry passengers using motorcycles,” he said.

“In terms of road safety, this type of service will not help reduce the high number of motorcycle accidents that occur every year. I am asking Dego Ride not to challenge Malaysian laws. We have specific laws, such as Section 23 in the Road Transport Act, which states that motorcycles cannot be used for commercial purposes or to ferry passengers,” Liow added.

Having said that, the founders of Dego Ride will continue operating as there are no legal provision to stop them. Since its debut last November, the motorcycle taxi service has been gaining popularity as a cheap and fast alternative to travel around the city.

To find out more, visit Dego Ride Malaysia’s website here.

Sources: The Star, MMO, Free Malaysia Today.


#PiratesOfTheCaribbean5: First Look At Paul McCartney As A Greasy Pirate

Ever wondered what Sir Paul McCartney has been doing when he’s not making music?

The Beatles rocker will be portraying a pirate in the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”. To excite fans even more the music legend has unveiled his character poster on social media.

According to a cast list, McCartney is playing a jail guard in the 5th instalment of Disney’s popular “Pirates” franchise. Although the 74-year-old singer is seen holding a hand of cards while clad in full pirate costume, it is believed that his role would be no more than a cameo.

Several fans have pointed out that the character’s impressive pirate beard and dreadlocks resembles that of Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp), but we all know that Jack Sparrow’s father – Captain Teague – was previously portrayed by another British musician, Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards.

Having said that, we’re still stoked to see McCartney in action on the big screen. This will be the first time the iconic entertainer has played someone other than himself.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” will set sail to cinemas on 25th May 2017.


World, Make Way For Crooner Yannick Bovy

The Flemish Michael Bublé is what he is invariably called. And there are worse people to be compared to. But for 25-year-old Yannick Bovy, the comparison is hardly far-fetched; he has the looks and the voice. Which means that the chances of this young Belgian crooner soon becoming a national and international rising star are very strong.

On the comparison, Yannick said, “I take it as a major compliment and in a way it’s logical, there aren’t that many young crooners around. The timbre of my voice resembles Michael’s, but it’s not a matter of conscious imitation. I just feel completely at home in this genre. There’s a good reason that my motto is It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”.

With his debut album released in February, Yannick Bovy is taking another major step forward in his career, after his singles, “She’s Even More Beautiful” and “She Don’t Know It” received major airplay on national radio and were very positively received.

The album features a mix of timeless songs including special remakes of “All My Loving” (by The Beatles), “I Wanna Be Around”(Tony Bennett), and “Under My Skin” (Sinatra) as well as brand-new pop songs composed especially for Yannick by some of the best in the industry from the US and the UK.

It’s certainly just a matter of time before Yannick Bovy becomes a household name in Belgium and the rest of Europe.”’I hope that Flanders is ready for this genre”, adds Yannick. “Bringing this music to the people live, that’s something I’m truly looking forward to”.

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For more information, visit his official website.

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Justin Loses His Sh*t, Hits A Paparazzi

What was supposed to be some romantic day out in Calabasas, California turned ugly when a pesky paparazzi stuck his lens too close to Justin Bieber’s and Selena Gomez’s faces.

The couple had just finished catching a flick as Calabasas Commons and had every intention to spend a little quality time together since Selena Gomez had just returned to Los Angeles. But the usually calm and collected Bieber appeared to lose his temper when a shutterbug wouldn’t leave them alone.

Though no one knows exactly what was exchanged in words, witnessed saw Bieber get involved in an altercation with the paparazzi. Failing to keep calm like he always does, his 19-year-old girlfriend Selena ran to his aid and appeared to be saying something to keep his nerves in check.

According to onlookers, she seemed to be desperately offering words of comfort and gently touching his arm, with a genuinely concerned look on her face. She then helped him pick up his baseball cap and one of his high top trainers after they flew off during the scuttle.

Justin, however, kept his darkened face on while putting his shoe back on before walking away with his head in his hands. Embarrassed?

Just as the Fire Department and Police, and the Los Angeles County paramedics were about to pull up, Justin made a dash for his van with Selena. The couple then left the scene while medics attended to the paparazzi for what appear to be a blow to the face. Word has it that he has since filed a report with the police.

Nothing has been confirmed yet, however, about how the issue would be resolved moving forward.


Everybody’s Talking About Neon Trees

Those of you who were lucky enough to catch Neon Trees when they were in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for MTV World Stage 2011 at I-City in Shah Alam would know this better than anyone else – they’re not just a band, they’re not just musicians, they’re also awesome performers. By virtue of being awesome performers, we had high expectations for “Picture Show”.

Our take? Who cares if it’s already year end? Because summer stylin’ and vibin’ is still alive and kickin’ with Neon Trees’ “Picture Show”.  What, you thought they were just going to stop at “Animals”?

In fact, the first single that was released off the album is bursting at seams with energy:

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Like its title, “Everybody Talks” has definitely gotten everybody talking. And singing. And bobbing. And dancing, if they can’t help it. The song is perhaps one of the most uncomplicated poppy tunes you can squeeze out of the band – yet it’s catchy.  Plus, how can you not hand it to Neon Trees for coming up with cute lyrics like these:

Neon Trees hasn’t failed to explore marrying various types of sounds such as alternative rock with synths and pop. The next single off the album is testament to that. Introducing, “Lessons in Love”:

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Sure, the song is whole lot less energetic compared to “Everybody Talks”, but all is forgiven because we’re drawn to the layer of sounds that date back to the 80s in this. You can’t deny how the bass lines sticks with you after a few listens. We would know – we can still hear it in our heads.

Ah, we see what they’ve done there. Musiception, people.

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“Teenage Sounds”, however, is as the title would suggest – filled with teenage angst. Pretty sure it’s something most of us can relate to, no? “I’m tired of everybody trying to be a DJ. Yeah I can also pick my favorite songs and press play. I’m sick of people saying Rock n Roll is dead, learn how to play guitar and save yourself instead. To all the cool kids on my block, where’s the original thought, tell me?”

After listening to “Picture Show”, we’re aching to hear them live again! For now, we’re going to have this one on repeat because how can you say no to fresh sounds? Right?

“Picture Show” is out now at a music store near you so hurry on up and go grab yourself a copy. Alternatively, you could also purchase their album off iTunes here. For more information, visit Neon Trees’ official website. There are also a couple of live videos that we’d highly recommend for you to check out via their VEVO.

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Introducing, Madonna’s “Face Gear’

So, what would you do if you’re wandering at the park with your man and yet you don’t want to be disturbed by the press? Easy, put a scarf around your face and you’re good to go. At least that’s what Madonna did!

While strolling at the park with her hottie “boy toy”, Brahim Zaibat, Madonna covered her entire face with a scarf thinking she could hide from all of the paparazzo. Things didn’t go as planned as the press was still following them. Later that day the twosome had a sumptuous meal at the Soho Beach House in Miami.

The 54-year-old Madonna seemed shyer than she ever was that night. Well, probably she wanted some time alone with her man? Oh, and just so you now, her “knight in shining armor” aka Brahim is only 24 years old and he works as a dancer.

And Madonna, better luck next time with the disguise!