YouTube is about to make it a lot easier for independent filmmakers to reach fans by partnering up with the Sundance Film Festival to make five indie films from the 2009 and 2010 festivals available for rental starting this Friday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 31.
Unfortunately only users in the United States will be able to view the award-winning movies. According to YouTube’s blog, an additional “collection of rental videos from other U.S. partners across different industries, including health and education, will be made available in the weeks ahead.”
The five films that will be available for rental are The Cove andChildren of Invention from 2009 as well as Homewrecker, One Too Many Mornings, and Bass Ackwards from 2010. Watch the trailers after the jump.
In the face of increasing criticism about the mishandling of monies, musician Wyclef Jean defended his the motives behind his non-profit organization, Yele Haiti, and also address his beloved compatriots on the island during a press conference yesterday.
Wyclef’s organization came under fire after TheSmokingGun.com reported that Yele Haiti misappropriated money by paying the former Fugees’ member and a business partner “at least $410,000 for rent, production services, and Jean’s appearance at a benefit concert.”
A tearful Wyclef responded to the allegations by saying “I started the charity with my own funds. I wanted to make sure that Yele would not just be a foundation but it would actually be an NGO on the ground in Haiti… Have we made mistakes before? Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefits? Absolutely not, Yele’s books are open and transparent, and we have been given a clean bill of health by an external auditor every year since we started.”
In the mist of NBC’s late night quagmire TheWrap.com is reporting that the network is reportedly negotiating a $30 million buyout with Conan O’Brien to vacate the Tonight Show’s 11:35 p.m. time slot.
Conan and NBC have been taking shots at each other since the network revealed its intentions to move Jay Leno back to 11:35 after the ill-fated decision to move the host to 10 p.m. exploded in their face.
For their part, the two late night hosts have also been taking volleys at one another this week. On Monday night Conan mocked Leno and NBC’s indecisiveness saying, “This weekend no one was seriously hurt, but a 6.5 earthquake hit California. The earthquake was so powerful that it knocked Jay Leno’s show from 10 o’clock to 11:35.”
Jay returned the diss by explaining that the Tonight Show’s ratings had increased since the controversy started, “So you’re welcome [Conan]!”
FOX is reportedly interested in attaining Conan’s services once he and NBC part ways – stay tuned.
If you love graphic horror films full of guts and blood then you’ll be happy to know the annual horror film festival After Dark Horrorfest is coming back to selected theatres nationwide with its fourth installment of “8 Films to Die For.”
The festival, which features eight independent horror flicks distributed by After Dark Films each year, is scheduled to run from Jan. 29 through Feb. 4. The movies on deck during this year’s Horrorfest are: Dread, The Final, The Graves, Kill Theory, Lake Mungo, Hidden, The Reeds and ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction.
Check out the festival’s trailer underneath. For information on viewing locations in your city or to watch the “8 Films to Die For” at the 4th annual After Dark Horrorfest visit HorrorfestOnline.com.
BET is set to premier its unprecedented series The Michael Vick Project on Tuesday, February 2 where the network takes an in-depth look at the beleaguered quarterback’s trials, tribulations and triumphs.
The “docu-series” follows Vick’s trek back to redemption after a two-year stint stemming from his involvement in a dog fighting ring. Cameras will capture footage from both his personal and professional life while also focusing on the football star’s life prior to that prison sentence.
Viewers will be given an unfiltered and personal experience of Vick as he restores his past and starts fresh for the future. Check out The Philidelphia Inquirer sneak peak into the 8-episode series.
Rest in peace to legendary R&B singer and sex symbol Teddy Pendergrass who passed away yesterday at the age of 59. Teddy’s cause of death has not been disclosed, however, his family said it was related to complications he sustained after a car accident in 1982, which left the singer hospitalized for six months.
Known best for his splendid love ballads like “Turn off the Lights” and “Love TKO,” Teddy started his career with The Cadillacs in the late 60s. He later became the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes with who he recorded the classic record “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” before going solo in the mid-70s and 80s.
Teddy’s accomplishments include multiple Grammy nominations, Billboard’s 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award and an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978. (Listen to some of Teddy’s hits after the jump).
Jay-Z once rhymed, “It’s a secret society, all we ask is trust.” With those words was Hova trying to tell us more than what meets the eye or was it just clever wordplay from Hip Hop’s greatest emcee?
Some conspiracy theorists insist that Jay’s new video to his hit single, “On to the Next One,” is laden with Masonic symbolism and are boldly accusing Jigga of practicing Masonry and even Luciferiancism – whatever the hell that is, no pun intended. Yeah, shit sounds deep.
Nothing surprises me any more but truth be told I’m not going to look much into this. What do you think?
