andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Nicole Kidman is not pleased with the way Hollywood portrays women, reports Oh No They Didn’t.

The Oscar-winning actress, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, stated that she thinks Hollywood has contributed to violence against women by representing them as weak sex objects in so many blockbuster films.

Before the “International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions” hearing at Rayburn House Office Building started, a crowd of people lined the hall and around the corner to hear the film star speak.

Kidman said she is not interested in acting in such roles, when she testified before a Foreign Affairs subcommittee. This committee is considering legislation to combat violence against women overseas through humanitarian relief efforts, as well as grants to local organizations addressing the problem.

READ MORE »

In a year littered with celebrity passings, one more soul was added to the list today as Houston-born actor Patrick Swayze died- after a nearly two year battle with pancreatic cancer.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 57-year-old Dirty Dancing star passed away with family at his side.

“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” said a statement released Monday evening in Los Angeles by his publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were given.

Swayze first came forward about his diagnosis in spring 2008, but decided to undergo treatments at the Stanford University Medical Center and still continue working at the same time-most recently on A&E’s now cancelled series The Beast. The actor was told he had Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN), a rare stage IV pancreatic cancer.

READ MORE »

Eight seasons running. A cult in Canadian pop culture. Winners of the Gemini, Teen Choice and Directors Guild of Canada Awards.

And now Degrassi: The Next Generation finally boasts its first red-carpet TV movie.

But known as a “show of the people”, the season 8 finale Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood premiere last Wednesday night at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema, allowed tons of lucky special-bracelet-wearing fans bask in Degrassi glory. A free-for-all for snagging autographs and pictures from their favorite cast members, and what’s more- the opportunity to enjoy the movie side-by-side with them too.

And the word got out not only to lucky fans. Among a packed-to-the-brim theatre audience was Camp Rock 2 stars Jordan Francis and Matthew “Mdot” Finley, So You Think You Can Dance Canada winner Nico Archambault, MuchMusic VJ Devon Soltendieck and MTV Live’s Nicole Holness.

READ MORE »

For the second time in three months, Lindsay Lohan’s Hollywood home was robbed, according to E! Online. Perhaps she could consider locking all her doors.

Early Sunday morning, three burglars gained access to Lohan’s property and entered her home through an unlocked door. Once inside, they apparently ransacked the house but didn’t nick her more expensive goods. Instead, Lohan posted on Twitter they stole only items of personal value – “just things that a certain old friend knew meant a lot to me,” Lohan Tweeted.

READ MORE »

The kids of “Degrassi: The Next Generation” are going to Tinseltown for the series’ first-ever movie.

Titled “Degrassi Goes Hollywood,” the movie follows the characters Manny (Cassie Steele) and Paige (Lauren Collins) from the popular Canadian series as they try to launch acting careers in L.A.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz will show up in cameo roles.

READ MORE »

Rumours have been flying everywhere that Disney stars like Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus and “Twilight” actor Robert Pattinson will make appearances during the Academy Awards on Sunday February 22.

“High School Musical” star Zac Efron and his girlfriend and “High School Musical” co-star Vanessa Hudgens are rumoured to be presenting the award for Best Original Song according to E! Online.

On Monday, rumours started about “Twilight’s” Robert Pattinson and if he would present an award. However, there has been no confirmation of this, or if co-star Kristen Stewart will present the award with Pattinson.

Last year, “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus made an appearance at the Academy Awards, and although there has been no confirmation if Cyrus is scheduled to take the stage, it has been reported by E! Online that she will be at the Oscars in support of the animated flick “Bolt,” which is nominated under the Animated Feature category.

Adam Sandler and his former “Saturday Night Live” co-stars Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade are planning a comedy flick alongside “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” actor Kevin James.

The film will follow five high school buddies who reunite on a July 4 holiday weekend after 30 years. Sandler co-wrote the comedy that will be directed by “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” director Dennis Dugan according to Variety.

In other news, rapper Snopp Dogg has sealed a deal with MTV to host a variety show called “Dogg After Dark.” The show will feature celebrity interviews, performances by artists and sketch comedy. “Dogg After Dark” will air for seven Tuesdays consecutively starting February 14, according to E! Online.

Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Oscar nominee Josh Brolin are set to join an ensemble cast for Woody Allen’s next movie. The film written by Allen will start filming this summer in London.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame Committee has announced that 25 celebrities, ranging from Felicity Huffman to the Village People will get stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame next year.

The committee chose nominees which were later approved by their board of directors.

According to MSN.com, other celebrities who will receive stars include singer Shakira, John Stamos, Cameron Diaz, Robert Downey Jr., Kenneth “Baby Face” Edmonds, Tim Burton and Tinkerbell.

It looks like another Hollywood strike may be around the corner

Talks between Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have come to a standstill once again, fueling rumours that an agreement may not be reached by the June 30th deadline.

Hollywood studios walked away from the bargaining table Tuesday.

Both sides could not agree on how much actors would be paid for shows streamed online, the types of web programs that would be covered under the contract and the use of clips on the Internet without actors’ consent.

The studios also turned down SAG’s demands for a larger cut of DVD revenues and higher pay for guest stars and other performers.

SAG is accusing the studios of focusing on talks with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a smaller actors union, in order to pressure SAG into an agreement.

AFTRA covers actors on a few prime time shows while SAG covers movie, TV and commercial actors. Both unions share 44, 000 members, but after a year long feud, AFTRA broke off its joint bargaining agreement with the Guild.

The studios have offered to resume talks with SAG on May 28th in the hopes that they can come to an agreement before the fast approaching deadline.

Best-selling author Eric Schiffer is turning his focus to acting.

Schiffer is in discussions to appear in an action comedy film with TK Carter (Dr. Detroit, Domino and Showtime’s “The Corner”). The buddy flick would also feature a well-known actor.

Schiffer recently signed up for an independent release – a Charles Bronson remake currently titled “Death Wish Returns.”

Filming will begin in December 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland, and will be released some time in 2008.

This is not his first foray into the entertainment business, however.

He appeared in “Yesterday’s Target” with Daniel Baldwin and LeVar Burton, and “Boys Klub” with Beau Bridges. He has directed such actors as Faye Dunaway, Rachael Hunter, Corbin Bernson and Robert Wagner.

Schiffer is also producing the upcoming film “Asylum Hill.”

His book, “Emotionally Charged Learning,” was released in 2003 and he has been featured on the cover of such publications as The Saturday Evening Post and Entertainment Today.

“In this fast-moving and captivating book, Eric Schiffer…defines a new vision he calls Emotionally Charged Learning,” says fellow author Bob Nelson. “This book will help you integrate what we know with what we feel. It will help you merge understanding with experience– and enjoy doing it in a way you never imagined possible.”

Sponsored post: Hollywood News Entertainment Service.