andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Michael Jackson’s death was officially ruled a homicide by the L.A. County Coroner, according to TMZ.com.

The cause of death was said to be acute Propofol intoxication. While Propofol and Lorazepam (Ativan) were said to be the cause of Jackson’s death, a host of other drugs were found in Jackson’s system including Midazolam (Versed), Diazepam (Valium), Lidocaine (topical anesthetic) and Ephedrine (used to treat hypotension associated with anesthesia), as listed on TMZ.

Although Jackson’s death has been ruled a homicide at the hands of his doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, it does not necessarily mean criminal charges. Murray is the target of a manslaughter investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times, but Jackson’s history of drug dependency will factor largely into any criminal trial.

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SPIKE LEE has called upon New York Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG to help him prepare for his new TV series about the prestigious position.

The director spent some time with Bloomberg at Manhattan’s City Hall on Wednesday to discuss his plans for M.O.N.Y (Mayor Of New York), which Lee will direct, the New York Post reports.

The show will be about an “an outspoken public advocate who becomes the interim mayor of New York.”

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Director SPIKE LEE gave students in New Orleans the chance to tell their story when he handed out video cameras for them to capture their lives on film in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The DO THE RIGHT THING filmmaker told the high school children to do this “for the world”. The footage is being aired to mark the second anniversary of the tragedy in August.

He said, “Let them know what’s happening down here, that everything isn’t okey-dokey. You’re doing this for the world. Remember it’s not just for yourself.”

Eleven students were told to film the trials and tribulations of their lives to show the full extent of the hurricane’s effects. They were also asked to share their thoughts on how the city is recovering and their future in New Orleans.

SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, co-host of the special series CHILDREN OF THE STORM, says, “We picked kids who represented a lot of different parts of the city. We really wanted to get a good cross-section.”

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Moviemaker SPIKE LEE is hunting for the perfect JAMES BROWN, so he can make a start on a planned biopic of the soul legend.

Lee, who was picked to direct the film by producer BRIAN GRAZER after he acquired the rights to Brown’s life, plans to act quick while the Godfather of Soul’s Christmas Day death is still fresh in people’s mind.

He says, “Now that he’s passed, it changes everything.”

But, despite the rush, the MALCOLM X director insists he won’t be hasty when it comes to picking the right actor to portray Brown – and he insists his star won’t be expected to sing.

He adds, “Whoever we have is going to be lip-syncing. We’re not trying to impersonate him.”

Grazer is confident the film will be an accurate biopic after securing the services of Brown’s best friend and confidante REVD AL SHARPTON, who was the first person told of the soul star’s death.

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Filmmaker Spike Lee’s new documentary about the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans will have its Canadian opening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts” traces the fighting spirit of individual victims of the disaster as they battle against the elements and their own government. The film weighs in at four hours long.

The movie was named to the Masters program of the festival yesterday.

The TIFF kicks off September 7 and lasts through September 16.