The 2012 Cannes Film Festival opens today with Moonrise Kingdom directed by Wes Anderson. Europe’s largest film festival is welcoming a host of films from around the world that include special out of competition screenings.

Earlier in the day the festival was criticized by some media agencies for failing to nominate any female directors in its Official Selection category. The lack of female filmmakers in this year’s selection is a sticking point for the festival, as it has been 19 years since Jane Campion won the Palme d’Or for ‘The Piano’ in 1993.

Stars set to attend this year include the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Nicole Kidman, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. ‘Tess’, directed by Roman Polanski will also be one of many films to play at this year’s Cannes Classics.

The 2012 Cannes Film Festival is in it’s 65^th year and will honor Marilyn Monroe

Are you at the Cannes Film Festival? Which films are you heading out to see?

Liam Neeson has been in the ‘blockbuster’ spotlight ever since he challenged Christian Bale in 2005 hit ‘Batman Begins’, directed by Christopher Nolan. After a string of successful movies including the critically adored ‘Taken’ and the popcorn fun of ‘The A-Team’, Neeson once again becomes part of the action in this spring’s biggest budget thrill. Also, Neeson fans will be anticipating the 3rd and final outing of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, in which he also stars. It’s going to be a big, explosive year.

Check out our web exclusive of Liam Neeson’s interview for this month’s Ink Magazine which is out in stores today. Get a little sneak peak of Admiral Shane before he takes control of the fleet on May 18th. We salute you sir!

Liam Neeson interview: The Admiral takes control

Ink: How did you get involved in Battleship?

Liam: Pete Berg (Director) called me up and said, “Do you want to be the Admiral of the Fleet?”  I said, “What is that?”  He said, “You get to call the shots, you get to come to Hawaii for a few days, and everybody salutes you.”

Ink: Do you have any seafaring experience to draw upon?

Liam: Paul McCartney took me sailing and tried to give me a sailing lesson about ten years ago. It was one of those little skiffs, you know, those little plastic boats.

Ink: You have been in fourteen movies in the past two years. You’ve been working a lot in film lately.

Liam: It’s either feast or famine in our business. I believe in making hay while the sun shines. Work is work. To be honest, it’s great to have the opportunity.

Ink: How did you enjoy working with Brooklyn Decker?

Liam: Brooklyn was lovely. She plays my daughter, Sam. She’s a good actress.

For the full interview check out Ink

Today, Rihanna is one of the world’s most recognised names and her role in ‘Battleship’ could kickstart a big career in Hollywood putting her into the spotlight once again. Check out our web exclusive of Rihanna’s interview for this month’s edition of Ink Magazine released in stores May 15th. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective from her point of view and discover her acting inspirations. Best of luck to her!

Rihanna interview : First role in Battleship

INK: Who do you play in Battleship?

Rihanna: My character is named Raikes and she’s a bad ass. She’s really tough and she’s one of the boys. She can play just as hard as them, if not harder, although “Hopper” [Taylor Kitsch] is even more bad ass than she is.

INK: Did you have acting aspirations before Peter Berg asked you on board Battleship?

Rihanna: Doing movies and getting into acting is something that I always wanted to try and I never knew whether I would like it, hate it, or love it…

INK: Is it hard to go back and forth between music and film?

Rihanna:…on a film set you are just in one place for a long period of time, you start work every day at the same time, and you end every day at the same time. You get the weekends off, but it’s very routine, which was very different for me.

To get the full in-depth interview check out Ink Magazine for more details.

Battleship Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsieadPPvJE

‘Battleship’ starring Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgard and Rihanna will hit theaters on May 18th nationwide.

The film director applied for the Massachusetts film tax credit program and purposely inflated his expenses which resulted in a tax credit overpayment. He was subsequently sentenced Thursday to up to 3 years in a prison and faces an additional 10 years of probabation.

This particular case involved two films produced by Adams including ‘The Golden Boys’ and ‘the Lightkeepers’. Both films were over budgeted while providing Adams with a lucrative 25% tax break when his expenses were far lower.

It is reported that Daniel Adams is currently unable to foot the bill that the state requires and this particular ruling will be watched closely by other film institutions across America. Tax credits are currently seen as an incentive to bring inward investment at a state level, boosting employment. However, critics will argue that tax programs do not benefit the local economy long-term as film productions only shoot for a period of a few weeks.

After 18 years and 801 films in the Adult Film Industry, Benjamin Banks reveals himself as a classical filmmaker and a contemporary

“I think the idea that you have to do or be one thing in life is not realistic”.

Throughout his career, Benjamin Banks has not limited himself to one medium. As he has matured, he has chosen different paths which have enabled him to reach out and emotionally affect his public.

For Benjamin Banks, Independent cinema has always been of a particular interest granting full creative power both as a story teller and as a technical film maker.

“There are less people with thoughts and opinions that will try to water down your story with the aim of reaching a broader audience”.

Within this context, he is currently working on a co-production with Alexander Berberich and on a docu-drama about certain characters in the adult film industry.

Through such works Ben Banks examines human interaction through the medium of a screen. It is the reflection of people´s morals and the analysis of human behavior that create an enticing plot on screen:

“I like taking an abstract idea, bringing it to fruition and making it something that when someone else watches it they connect with it and an emotional exchange takes place”.

An industry somewhat misunderstood

While Ben Banks is proud of the successful career that the adult film industry has provided him with, he has turned a new chapter and is now focusing on his current projects. However, despite his wishes to remain discreet, he is often recognized from his sex scenes as the porn actor “Steven St.Croix”. When faced with this award winning actor, people often make the most of brief encounters in order to find an answer to their curiosities. In response to this inquisitive nature, Ben Banks has decided to satiate people’s appetite by writing a book called:

“Everything you wanted to know about the Adult Film Industry but didn´t dare to ask”.

As well as a lack of knowledge available about the industry, Benjamin Banks also explains that people do not realize how the industry has changed over the years.

“Before it was a rebel´s thing to do and not many people knew much about it. It was an environment that helped the ego and paid well”.

In reference to his choice of the Adult Film Industry over Hollywood he states

“I guess I thought it was better to be a bigger fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond”.

Arriving on French soil

A long way off from a life that he used to lead, Benjamin Banks now finds himself often in the historic part ofGrasse,Coted´Azur, where he has opened his art gallery. With the slow-paced lifestyle, beautiful country landscapes and it´s huge variety of food, Ben Banks lovesFranceand what it has to offer. He highlights the importance of a culture that does not limit itself to Twitter, Facebook or the TV.

Still with many ideas that he wants to materialize, Ben Banks´s dream is to shoot a Parisian film. Now that he is getting underway with a new chapter in his life, he is excited and eager to start his new projects.

If you wish to learn more about this intriguing character, his memoire is soon to be published along with his revealing book about the Adult Film Industry.

Check out our Exclusive full length interview with Ben Banks

With the pressures of religious views on same-sex marriage and the divisions within America about gay and lesbian couples, news of Obama’s official support has created a huge response from across the whole entertainment industry.

Celebrities tweeted this afternoon their views about Obama’s revelation, media outlets gave their views, and people have begun digesting its significance. Strong supporters and advocates of gay-marriage righs have campaigned for years about marriage equality, and today it looks like their voice has been heard.

Media Reactions to Obama’s ABC interview

The Huffingtonpost highlights the reactions of leading political figures in both Democratic and Republican camps.

The Hollywood Reporter shares top tweets from entertainment industry supporters of gay marriage with their personal messages to Obama.

Mike Bloomberg releases a statement about marriage equality in a press release

CNN tells the story behind Obama’s message, and how it will impact the 2012 election.

LAtimes covers Republican San Diego mayor Jerry Sander’s message to Obama about the decision.

John Travolta has been hit with fresh allegations of sexual battery from 2 male masseurs. The ‘Grease’ star is being sued for more than $2 million in seperate lawsuits for groping, assault and sexual harassment.

According to a report in Radar Online, this is just the first of many potential lawsuits, numbering up to 100 individual cases according to Okorie Okorocha, the attorney representing the unidentified masseurs.

Despite this, Travolta’s attorney Marty Singer has strongly denied the accusations and will likely countersue for ‘malicious prosecution’.

Due to the nature of this lawsuit it is impossible to verify the legitimacy of the claims without having firsthand information however, it would seem that Travolta was not even in the state at the time of the alleged assault, according to several online journals

Stars are frequently accused of sexual harassment, misconduct and other crimes. In 2011 singer P Diddy was sued for $1 trillion by a woman who accused him of plotting the 911 attacks. It’s unfortunate that people go to these lengths to sue others, however stars are not always proven innocent. We will wait to see how this develops.

Avengers 2 has been given the green light after just two weeks of a global box office run that has seen the Avengers accumulate $700 million worldwide. Its success has beaten all expectations and continues to defy critics and enlighten fans.

In addition to Avengers 2, Bob Iger also announced a string of blockbuster sequels including Iron Man 3, Captain America 2 and Thor 2. The superhero overload has finally become a reality, and Marvel will be at the centre of the industry’s innovation for these upcoming films.

In an online report, it was revealed that the product placement within the first Avengers boosted revenue for the studio as top brands were featured in the story. Product placement is not a new incentive, however, for a big blockbuster movie, product placement is a way to boost revenue, even for multiple sequels.

Could we see product placement featuring more prominently in shorter films with big audiences like in music videos?

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is about to defy ‘UN sanctions, hitting screens this month as General Aladeen in ‘The Dictator’.

Featuring a bullet barrage of human rights violations and sensationally offensive dialogue, ‘The Dictator’ is set to give audiences a thrill of slapstick comedy mixed with dark witty jokes that poke fun at Middle Eastern dictators.

Starring Megan  Fox, Anna Faris and Ben Kingsley, the film features a diverse cast that promises to entertain and over-emphasize the cliché’s of dictators past and present. However, for those who have been oppressed under such regimes in the past, this might be too much. While we can laugh at the jokes in this movie, the stories of human rights abuses in other countries will be a painful memory.

Will you go under the cover of darkness to watch this movie against your will?

The Dictator trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgbhyjuhbX8

The Dictator opens nationwide on May 16th

Hitting theatres this coming week is Kirk Jones’ love ride comedy turned baby surprise starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Chace Crawford and Elizabeth banks.

What you might come to expect from a title such as ‘What to expect when you’re expecting’, is a light-hearted romantic ‘chick flick’ with an absurdly unserious plot about romance and giving birth. Following 5 interconnected couples, the film is delivering a formula we have seen time and time again. However, this doesn’t mean that it can’t be a fun ride, and with Cameron Diaz’s hugely successful outing in ‘Bad Teacher’, she seems to have a knack for starring in movies that get audiences giggling whatever she says.

So without further ado, check out the trailer below and bring a big bucket of popcorn and all your girlfriends to watch this.

What to expect when you’re expecting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wuIltIHQXY

”What to expect when you’re expecting will be released at cinemas on May 18th

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ on to our screens today as the new trailer is uploaded to the web.

Over the past few months there has been widespread speculation about the characters that will feature in Christopher Nolan’s final Batman film. After a whirlwind surrounded the previous Batman outing, and the untimely death of ‘The Joker’ added to the suspense of the release, does this new trailer match fans expectations or more mystery to come?

Featuring a dark, sombre and eery onset, “There’s a storm coming”, are the first words ushered by Anne Hathaways character. We are introduced to the villain, Bane, but the tone of the trailer suggests an underlying theme. The choice of music is symphonic, but not an adrenaline overload. Will Christian Bale deliver his ultimate performance, against an impecabale enemy? The fans await the dawn…

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ will be released nationwide in theaters on the 20th July. Where will you be?

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8evyE9TuYk

Website: The Dark Knight Rises Film

With so much content available online, and most of it free, why should readers even bother buying a magazine with film reviews or gossip columns when everything is available 24/7 without having to pay a dime for it?

One great example of how the value of magazines have fallen to toilet paper prices is a year’s subscription to Entertainment Weekly for only $25. That’s nearly 90% off it’s old $200+ asking price, and the quality supposedly hasn’t gone down. That’s 52 editions and a lot of paper! The crisis is evident. How can journalists, film magazines and the rest make money when we are literally paying just for the cost of printing?

Some have tried the’ paywall strategy’ on websites but that simply won’t work nor cover the cost of selling our ‘bathroom edition prints’. There’s too much content online competing with that idea to make it even thinkable to click to pay to read something. It’s hard to see a way out because people are so used to not paying. Should advertising  be the sole business model to replace the lost magazine revenue or is it time to reach out to toilet paper manufacturers and say “Hey guys, we need you to print our magazine on your rolls to keep us in business”?

The film, which stars one of Britain’s most controversial actors is based on a ficticious dictator who risks his life to make sure democracy is never allowed in the country he has so perfectly oppressed.

Cohen’s depiction of General Aladeen in ‘The Dictator’ bares resemblance to some of the late Middle Eastern dictators including Saddam Hussein and Colonel Gaddafi. As we have seen in the past year, the Arab Spring has been central in the news, and the timing of this release takes place a year on from the start of this movement.

Earlier this year at the Oscars, Cohen made a ‘splash’ on the red carpet by pouring ashes out of an urn he had been carrying. He was later escorted off the red carpet, which subsequently needed some cleaning.

The film will be released on May 16th in Theaters nationwide.

From reporters to celebrities,  this year’s White House correspondents dinner will be a major media event. Stars set to attend the annual extravaganza include Charlize Theron, George Clooney,a host of film industry personalities as well as publishers and TV icons. This is the ‘White House red carpet’ affair all over again. Can it top last year’s epic evening?

This year’s Correspondents’ dinner takes place Saturday 28th April. Jimmy Kemmel will headline this year’s event. Check the White House Live Feed from 9.40pm EST.

For more news related to White House entertainment you can visit the official White House Correspondents’ Association

A Belgian TNT cable channel recently launched a video on youtube called ‘A Dramatic Surprise on a quiet square’. Since it was uploaded it has became one of the most viral sensations we have ever seen.

The concept of the video draws the viewer into the intrigue, as the introduction sets the scene, with an ‘epic’ soundtrack, a gameshow style button, and a comedic ‘push to add drama’ arrow. After a cyclist hits the red button in the middle of the quiet square, the energy of the short turns into a Jerry Bruckheimer production. It’s one big over the top, non-stop adrenaline filled live performance that pushes the surprise barrier way past what anyone was expecting.

After just 2 weeks on youtube the video has attained more than 30 million views, and is likely to be one of the most viral videos of all time.

Analysis. Why was it so successful?

The introduction of the short video gives us an anticipation of something big, and perhaps funny, as the credits give us a hint to the style of the video. Everything is set in motion, and the viewer is invested in this odd, but amusing setting. On top of that, being set in a small town in Belgium, in this unusually ‘uninteresting setting’, it’s even more funny, so we’re hoping for something ‘dramatic’.

What happens next is very entertaining, and just so over the top, that people want to share it. It’s the concept and the surprise that makes you think “this is so silly and cool I want my friends to see it.”

A Dramatic surprise on a Quiet Square Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316AzLYfAzw

What do you think? Why did you share this video? Did you enjoy it?