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Hollywood studios to create company to fight piracy
Xinhua

Los Angeles, Sep 20 (Xinhua) Six major movie studios in Hollywood, including Walt Disney, Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox, will create a technology company to fight piracy.

The non-profit research and development company will protect their films against electronic theft, the Motion Picture Association of America announced Monday.

The company, which is expected to create new technologies to protect the distribution of films particularly on the Internet, will be called Motion Picture Laboratories, or Movielabs, according to the association.

"Movielabs is a smart investment that will help the entertainment industry adopt new means of fighting piracy and protecting copyrights," said Dan Glickman, the association's president and chief executive officer.

The other founding owners of the company are Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros.

The company will have its office and staff in Los Angeles and will act as an outside management and technology consultant to the new venture, according to the film industry association.

"There are thousands of new concepts floating around the high-tech community about how to develop tools to fight piracy," Glickman said. "Researching and developing these technologies now will help save the major studios and other motion pictures producers and distributors money in the future." 

Indo-Asian News Service

Richards cannot spare time for Depp's film
Indo-Asian News Service

Los Angeles, Sep 20 (IANS) Oscar nominated actor Johnny Depp has missed out on the chance to act alongside Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards since the rocker is too busy with his world tour to spare time for the film.

According to Internet Movie Database, Depp had to go to great lengths to persuade Richards to appear in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest".

Richards was to make a cameo as the father of Depp's character in the film.

But Richards is too busy. Depp says: "It doesn't look like it will happen now. Keith is on tour so it's hard to fit into the timeframe we're working to."

Richards was the inspiration for Depp's character Jack Sparrow in the first movie.

Autograph ban on Harry Potter star
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Sep 20 (IANS) The school friends of the Harry Potter star Rupert Grint have been banned from asking for his autograph.

According to Internet Movie Database, the 17-year-old Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, was mobbed by students at his Richard Hale School. 

Students have been told they will be given detention if they ask for his autograph. 

A source said: "All the other kids were really proud of him and were asking him about the movies. Senior staff held an assembly, warning pupils not to bother Rupert. Anybody flaunting the rules gets a lesson long detention."

Anderson adept at changing accents
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Sep 20 (IANS) The "X-Files" actress Gillian Anderson has a habit of switching between British, Australian and American accents depending on whom she is speaking with.

According to contactmusic.com, the actress said she speaks in an English accent while in Britain but admits she portrays herself in many ways. 

She says: "It kind of bugs me actually. I can't help it. If I got a phone call right now from someone in the States I'd automatically go into speaking the American way. I have noticed that if I'm sitting with an Australian, I'll start to go into an Australian accent."

Beckham fights with dad over missed training
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Sep 20 (IANS) Football star David Beckham was outraged with his father for agreeing with his former coach Sir Alex Fergusson that he should not have missed training to nurse his sick child Brooklyn.

According to contactmusic.com, Beckham, who now plays for Real Madrid, had phoned in to tell Fergusson that he would have to miss practice since he had to look after his younger son. 

David's father Ted Beckham, in a new book, revealed that the incident with Brooklyn was a difficult time for him because he did not agree with David's course of action.

He says: "I think Fergie felt Victoria should have missed work to nurse (Brooklyn) and he went ballistic when David returned to training the next day. That was tough for me to deal with because deep down I agreed with Fergie."

But Ted says that he had to be honest with David even if he had to risk the relationship and said, "I think it was hard for David to accept criticism but I felt I had to say something."

McCartney slams Robbie and Madonna
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Sep 20 (IANS) The former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney says he can't stand the music of Madonna and Robbie Williams even though he thinks of them as nice people.

According to contactmusic.com, after Robbie Williams' song "Angels" was named the Best Song of the past 25 years, McCartney said: "I wasn't that convinced by 'Angels' winning the best song of the last 25 years. I think for an ex-boy group person, he's done well. He makes pretty good records for his audience. But I'm not a Robbie fan."

Speaking about Madonna, he said: "I've met her and she's a pretty cool person, but her records have never really turned me on."

Hewitt's new disclosures on Diana
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Sep 20 (IANS) Princess of Wales Diana's ex-lover James Hewitt has claimed that he started sleeping with her just a year after her marriage to Prince Charles.

According to contactmusic.com, Hewitt had previously stated that he started dating Diana in 1985 but now says that he first kissed her on a sofa in a friend's house in 1981 or 1982 after they met at a polo match. 

He also admits that he realised he was in love with Diana when they slept together shortly after.

But Hewitt also denies that he is the father of Prince Harry who was born in 1984. He says, "I can assure you I am not."

Singer Moby slams Bush
Indo-Asian News Service

Los Angeles, Sep 20 (IANS) The techno star Moby while playing a concert in Venezuela slammed US President George W. Bush and TV show host Pat Robertson.

According to newsweek.com, Moby while playing a concert in Caracas, Venezuela, apologized to the audience for the behaviour of Bush. He called Bush a "ignorante" and "un gringo loco" in Spanish which in English means - a crazy white guy.

Moby also spoke out against Pat Robertson, the host of the Christian TV show 700 Club who recently called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Moby called Robertson "malo y estúpido" - bad and stupid.

Moore goes over to help hurricane victims
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Sep 20 (IANS) Oscar winning director Michael Moore is in New Orleans to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

According to Pagesix.com, a source says: "He's doing wonders in terms of distributing provisions." There are no reports that he is filming anything.

Moore did raise speculations when he suggested he might make a movie about the hurricane.

Moore was angry that the government took a long time to respond to the victims. He said: "Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days?"