Entertainment wRap: Porn, Oscars, Hitler

MANILA, Philippines – Some entertainment news from around the world from the week of January 6 to 13:

Porn film makers outraged at new condom requirement for actors

US porn film makers are outraged at a new Los Angeles law requiring adult movie actors to wear
condoms on set.

Porn giant Vivid Entertainment, Califa Productions and actors Kayden Kross and Logan Pierce filed a
lawsuit against Los Angeles County saying the law is unconstitutional.

Measure B, as the law is called, aims to protect actors from getting HIV/AIDS but members of the US
porn industry say it will only undermine the already effective system the industry uses to protect its
actors and actresses from sexually-transmitted diseases.

“Overturning this law is something I feel very passionate about,” said Steven Hirsch, founder of LA-based
Vivid Entertainment. “I believe the industry’s current testing system works well.”

They also believe Measure B violates their right to free expression as protected by the First Amendment.
In 2011, production of porn films in California were suspended after an actor tested positive for HIV.

Directors and actors of Oscar Best Picture nominees react

What does it feel like to be nominated for an Oscar? Here are reactions from directors and actors of the
9 Best Picture nominees after the announcement last Thursday of the nominations for the 85 th Academy
Awards.

Steven Spielberg, director of “Lincoln” enthused, “It’s been an absolutely thrilling morning. I was awoken
by (my publicist) telling me about our multiple nominations. It’s the best wake-up call I’ve had in 14
years! I’m always surprised by recognition. I’m deeply grateful.”

Ang Lee, director, “Life of Pi” said all of the nominations “deeply honored” and “overwhelmed” him,
adding, “Everything about this movie was an uphill battle. And it was a very difficult movie to make, so I
didn’t really get to celebrate when we finished. I felt more like Pi, lost and exhausted.”

Hugh Jackman, who plays the lead character in “Les Miserables” reacted, “It’s very exciting but all a bit
surreal, and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. This is a brilliant awards year that has been defined by an eclectic
list of stories that have been told by incredibly talented and courageous filmmakers.”

Alan Arkin, who starred in Ben Affleck’s “Argo” said, “It’s thrilling. ‘Argo’ is a brilliant film in every
way, brilliantly directed. It’s really the work of an old master, rather than a young director. It’s about
important things — solving an international crisis with creativity, without a single shot fired in the
process.”

But Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained” director admitted to the BBC: “I don’t think we’re going to win
best film. But the recognition, being invited to the party, is a lot of fun.”

Seth MacFarlane cracks a Nazi joke while unveiling Oscar nominees

Seth MacFarlane, set to be the host for the 85th Academy Awards night, is the latest attempt of Oscars
organizers to attract younger audiences.

At the announcement of the Oscar nominees last January 10, the creator of Emmy-winning “Family Guy”
and director of “Ted” gave viewers a preview of his hosting.

About the short lists for one of the technical categories, he joked, “These are adapted screenplays, keep in mind, so that means the writers just copied stuff from Microsoft Word and pasted it into Final Draft.”

But it was his wise-crack about best film and foreign language film nominee “Amour” that made some
people cringe: “I read ‘Amour’ was co-produced in Austria and Germany. The last time Austria and
Germany got together and co-produced something it was Hitler, but this was much better.”

ABC programming chief Paul Lee came to MacFarlane’s defense. “Look, I’m a huge Seth fan. What he
brings first is a sense of joy. He wants to be there,” he said to Washington Post after being asked about
the Hitler joke.

“He brings a lot of energy to it… He’s coming to the Oscars with a great sense of respect, but
brings a really contemporary feel,” he adds.

But it’s up to MacFarlane to proove himself on Oscars night itself on February 24 in the Dolby Theatre,
Hollywood.

Oldest and youngest vie for Best Actress Oscar

It’s a battle of the ages in the Oscars Best Actress category as the oldest and youngest nominees for the category vie for the same award.

85-year-old French actress Emmanuelle Riva, nominated for her performance in “Amour” is up against
9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, nominated for her role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

Riva is only 2 years younger than the oldest person to ever be nominated in an acting category: 87-year-
old Gloria Stuart, nominated for best supporting actress for her role in “Titanic” in 1997.

According to the IMDb movie industry website, Wallis had to lie about her age when she auditioned for
“Beasts.” She was 5 at the time when the minimum age to be considered was 6.

But director Benh Zeitlin thought she was perfect for the role and changed the script to accommodate
her “strong-willed” personality.

The other nominees up for best actress are Jessica Chastain for “Zero Dark Thirty,” Jennifer Lawrence
for “Silver Linings Playbook” and Naomi Watts for “The Impossible.”

Affleck, Bigelow, DiCaprio, Mirren snubbed in Oscar nominations

The Oscar nominations surprised many by not including names of expected contenders such as Ben

Affleck for “Argo” and Kathryn Bigelow for “Zero Dark Thirty” for Best Director nominations.

“Les Miserables” director Tom Hooper, who had already won a Best Director Oscar for “The King’s
Speech,” was also snubbed by the Academy.

So was Quentin Tarantino who directed the gory spaghetti Western homage, “Django Unchained.”

Notable among actors passed over for acting nominations is Leonardo DiCaprio who played a ruthless
plantation owner in “Django Unchained.” He has already been nominated 3 times in the past without
ever winning an Oscar.

Marion Cotillard, a favorite of many for her performance in “Rust and Bone,” is not in the list. She had
already proved her acting mettle when she won Best Actress in 2008 for playing the tragic French singer
Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose.”

Helen Mirren, who won Best Actress for “The Queen” in 2007, was also passed over this year despite her
strong performance in “Hitchcock.” – Rappler.com