Metrotainment

Author: Allen Parker

  • Harry Potter Franchise Turns 20

    Harry Potter Franchise Turns 20

    It would be hard to imagine that highly acclaimed J.K. Rowling franchise is 20 years already. After constant rejection by publishers the British writer finally published the first Harry Potter Novel (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) on June 26, 1997. The first novel made 107 million in sales worldwide and the sequels have all enjoyed remarkable success. The movie adaptation of the entire series has were constant box office hit worldwide. The cult following of the franchise has ensured made J.K. Rowling a multi-millionaire.

    Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born into a modest Chipping Sodbury, western England, family on July 31, 1965. She studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter before going on to teach English in Portugal where she started writing the Harry potter series. She was married to Portuguese television journalist, Jorge Arantesa, between 1992 and 1993 and the union produced a girl. She later married Scottish doctor Neil Murray and they have two kids together. In 2006 she was named Britain’s best living writer and made millions from the entire harry potter franchise

    During a train ride between Manchester and London Rowling got inspiration for the harry potter story which tells the tale of Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger who were students at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with Albus Dumbledore as the head master. Dumbledore later died in the series. The entire story revolves around the struggle of Harry potter against Lord Voldemort who was a dark lord of magic who killed his parent but couldn’t kill him because of his parent love for him.

    In celebration of the 20 year milestone, the author, J.K. Rowling is championing a Harry Potter exhibit which will be featured at The British Library. The exhibit would display Harry Potter Memorabilia. The exhibition would also display a lot of a lot of achieve materials provided for by Rowling and her publishers.

    The Harry Potter franchise has entertained kids and adults alike for twenty years. The franchise has also made a lot of stars in star actor Daniel Radcliffe and supporting casts Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. All in all the franchise has been an amazing success.

  • World’s Ugliest Dog Contest Sees Judges Crown Martha The Winner

    World’s Ugliest Dog Contest Sees Judges Crown Martha The Winner

    Every year, a contest is held to determine the World’s Ugliest Dog. This year’s competition was dominated by the old, the tiny, and the hairless. It was in this contest that the 3-year-old, 125-pound Neapolitan Mastiff according to sources took advantage of her lollygagging youth to trample its rivals to be named the 29th annual World’s Ugliest Dog.

    The Northern California crowd from the start showed much adoration for her right from the start. It was plopping down on her side on stage and anyone present couldn’t help but notice her droopy face spread across the ground during a moment when everyone expected her to be doing a show off. The biggest shock of the whole contest was the fact that the judge really didn’t need to hearken to her signature snore to give her what they thought she deserved-the annual reward.

    One of three judges who gave Martha the crown was called Kerry Sanders and is an employee of NBC News. With a broad smile and facing Martha she posed the question, “Do you know you just won the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest?”Martha’s handler by the name was quick to respond on behalf of Martha saying that she would gloat but at the moment she needed a nap.

    Reportedly, it is said that Martha lumbered away with $1,500, which as a matter of fact happens to be quite a flashy trophy. Asides from this, she also landed a trip to New York for media appearances and of course who doesn’t know she never cared for any of this?

    Moe was 16 years old and he clinched the second position. He was the oldest in the whole of this contest. Moe lost his hearing and ability as well as his ability to see long ago. However, he was lucky to maintain quite a strong sense of smell.

    The judges in the contest according to Foxnews.com were making their judgments in regards to first impressions, personality, unusual attributes and above all the audience reaction. A large number of the participating contestants were adopted. Some had acne and other had tongues permanently sticking out but in the contest these were important to get a win.

  • Bachelor in Paradise Scandal Takes New Turn

    Bachelor in Paradise Scandal Takes New Turn

    The Warner Bros. recently released a statement on the ongoing investigation at the Bachelor in Paradise revealing that the process has come to a conclusion and that there is no leading evidence on the alleged misconduct. The report on the investigation has ended the speculations that have continuously spread across the world about the assumed misconduct between DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios that led to the indefinite closure of the film production in Mexico.

    Several former members of the Bachelor Nation were more concerned that there is something critical being ignored in the whole scandal. An unknown source has disclosed to PEOPLE that Jackson was unfairly targeted in the whole controversy and the underlying problem is more about Jackson being a black man and Olympios is a white woman. The scandal unveils the racial injustices that continue to evolve even in this modern world.

    Both Jackson and Olympios have already issued their statements and sort the legal representatives with Jackson stating that his character and name ‘has been assassinated’ while Olympios claiming she’s a ‘victim’.

    According to the Warner Bros., the videotape of the incident does not indicate any alleged misconduct that led to the suspension of the production. The statement reveals that the film will resume soon but some changes will be implemented on the policies and procedures of the show to ensure the safety and security of the participants.

    The great news brings some light to the future career of the victims and especially Jackson whose character has been tainted. Some people believe the accusations were really unwarranted and unjust to the young man who is just starting his career. Hopefully, he will recover from the scandal and continue with his life regardless of the bad image he has encountered.

    Throughout the period of investigations, Jackson has remained in high spirits and confident that his ruined reputation will soon be cleared. From the investigations, the truth has been revealed and it’s now confirmed that Jackson was actually accused falsely and the reports that have gone viral especially in the social media were all rumors to dampen the young man’s career prospects.

  • Corinne Olympios’ Boyfriend Jordan Gielchinsky Refuses To Be Swayed By Media Propaganda

    Corinne Olympios’ Boyfriend Jordan Gielchinsky Refuses To Be Swayed By Media Propaganda

    It is just a matter of days before Bachelor in Paradise starts filming once again. Some time back, it had been accused of misconduct. However, it has been cleared of allegations. That did not mark the end to the controversy. One former contestant has continued to hit headlines in a major way. Corinne Olympios will be described by many as a woman with one of the most loyal lovers.

    In fact, her boyfriend Jordan Gielchinsky is currently being observed in a completely different light. A lot of people have been seeking to strike an understanding in regards to what he thinks of the whole controversy.

    While speaking to a number of top journalists, he said, “I have known Corinne for over 10 years and as a friend or boyfriend, she will continue to receive my unwavering loyalty and support until I decide that there is a legitimate reason not to give it.”

    According to Eonline.com , Jordan has rubbished the media saying that it at times ruins relationships with propaganda. He claims that he has known his girlfriend for a long and she is used to paying little attention to media and won’t let it affect his relationship with his lover.

    As a matter of fact this is not the first time a controversy is being experienced in the filming industry. In fact there have been a series of cases involving misconduct. A number of the female actors have been calling upon the industry to look into their plight.

    They have been facing challenges during filming where some of the male actors as well as a part of the team members subjected them to what they refer to as unethical and below the dignity of any actor.

    The filming industry seems to have been quite slow in making its move. To this moment, controversies continue to sprout amid the complaints being aired out. It goes without saying that indeed the female actors need to be protected from abuse though that is not to say that the male actors are not entitled to their rights.

    A lot of people wait in much anticipation to find out how the celebrity’s relationship gets through this. In the recent cases, some couples saw a split up as the best way forward while others were as forgiving as Corinne Olympios’ boyfriend.

  • Sprint Planning To Ride On Jay-Z 4:44 Album Success

    Sprint Planning To Ride On Jay-Z 4:44 Album Success

    Sprint is about to turn in a fortune from its $200 million investment in music streaming service Tidal. Music lovers wishing to gain access to Jay Z’s, upcoming album 4:44 legally will have to switch to the network or subscribe to one of Tidal’s packages

     Sprint-Tidal Project

    The much-awaited album will be the first major project between Tidal and Sprint. The agreement is reminiscent of the release of the rapper’s 2013 album ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ that was exclusively available to Samsung Galaxy devices for some time.

    The length of time that the album will be available to Tidal and Sprint customers is still unclear.  It is also unclear the kind of impact that the move will have on the album’s ratings, given that Sprint and Tidal don’t command huge user bases compared to other platforms. However, it underscores how serious the fourth largest carrier in the U.S is, about pursuing growth opportunities in the music industry.

     Free Tidal Subscription Offer

    Sprint push into the music industry is taking shape the company having unveiled a six-month Tidal free trial subscription to its users. The service normally costs $19.99 a month. Once the six-month free trial ends, customers will have to pay $10 a month to access any premium Tidal content.

    “More than two-thirds of mobile subscribers stream music an average of 45 minutes per day, making our partnership with Tidal a natural fit for Sprint. [..]We’re providing our customers and anyone who signs up for Sprint a complimentary six-month trial of Tidal HiFi so they can experience all the unique and exclusive content Tidal has to offer,” said CEO, Marcelo Claure.

     Sprint partnership should help Tidal bolster its subscription base as it continues to push for market share against the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. However, Jay-Z upcoming album remains the real deal in the two companies push to strengthen their customer bases. Some of the top selling artists whose content are exclusively available on the music streaming service include Beyoncé, Alicia Key and Kanye West.

     Sprint stock was down by 3.23% in Friday trading session to end the week at $7.80 a share.

  • Obama Describes His Bond To Jay Z

    Obama Describes His Bond To Jay Z

    Jay Z has become the first hip-hop artist to make it into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jay Z was presented with the award by U.S’s first black president Barack Obama. As mentioned in his speech, the two share a lot of similarities and share what Obama termed as special type of friendship.

    The most outstanding and immediate thing that perhaps the two have in common is the fact that neither of the two was physically present at the event. Obama used a prerecorded video to give his speech. Obama name and passed a message of congratulations to all the inductees before he finally turned to Jay Z who he termed as “a true America original.” “I like to think Mr. Carter and I understand each other,” Obama said. “Nobody who met us when we were younger men would have expected us to be where we are today.” Obama went on to highlight some of the problems that affect both of them who how, in their own ways managed to overcome them.

    Obama admitted that they are both family men and so much into their daughters. In reference to Beyoncé acknowledged the close relationship she has with Michelle Obama adding that the two even seem to be more popular than Obama himself and Jay Z.

    It is particularly interesting and surprising to see Obama speaking about Jay Z. The two are not only close friends, but have a lot of respect for each other. Obama admitted that he could be the only U.S president who brought Jay Z’s music to the Oval Office. He also admitted sampling several of Jay Z’s lyrics to use in many of his speeches. “My President,” in which Jay Z raps, “Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk/Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run/Barack Obama ran so all the children could fly.” Additionally, in a tweet, Obama said he used several of Jay z’s lyrics while putting final State of the Union address.  He closed by saying he drew a lot of inspiration in what Jay Z said about initiating change and staying true to oneself.

  • Bat-Signal Illuminates Los Angeles To Remember Adam West

    Bat-Signal Illuminates Los Angeles To Remember Adam West

    The late Adam West will be honored on June 15, by lighting an iconic bat-signal in Los Angeles. Mayor Eric Garcelli together with Chief Charlie Beck of the Police Department in L.A. will carry out the colorful event in tribute to the late Dark Knight star. The public is encouraged to attend the event, which will commence from 9 p.m. tonight at the City Hall grounds.

    West was pronounced dead on June 10 at the age of 88 years. The bat-signal that will be lit is a spotlight with a symbol of Batman’s emblem that has wings and is revealing on the night sky to signal for Batman’s help. The event is likely to attract many people from all walks of life.

    Batman was mostly referred as the ‘Dark Knight’ but his children have stated that he has always wished to be called ‘The Bright Knight’. For the superhero’s fans that will not make it to the occasion, the family of the late West is inviting them to give their donations through the Adam West Memorial Fund which was established by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The contributions can also be taken to the Camp-Rainbow Gold, a charity organization based in for children living with cancer condition.

    West was loved by many people across the globe. The iconic TV actor who featured the Batman from early 1960s didn’t take himself seriously but his fans made him become too serious with the act. Since then, the star has become the most favorite on TV programs.

    The moment the news of his death broke out on Saturday morning the social media platforms were flooded with fans sending their condolence to his family. The actor is mourned by many people all over the world. Along with other heartfelt condolence messages from both his fans and colleagues there are tributes going viral in the media which are Batman related.

    From the event of lighting bat-signal to West greeting Christopher Reeves in Heaven, there has been pretty much attention to the superhero’s achievements ever since he died.

  • Megyn Kelly Decides To Interview Alex Jones Amid Chaos

    Megyn Kelly Decides To Interview Alex Jones Amid Chaos

    NBC is defending Megyn Kelly’s decision to interview Alex Jones despite the public calls to abscond the show. Most of the relatives of the victims who lost their lives during the 2012 Sandy Hook shootings have decided to embarrass Kelly on Twitter but NBC has decided to defend her.

    NBC plans to air the full interview on Sunday and one of the show executive producers is pleading with people to withhold their judgment until the interview is over. People are being urged to give it a chance so that they can air their views only after watching the whole program in its full context.

    Kelly has also tried to defend her upcoming show despite the criticism that people are taking on Alex Jones. Some people have raised concern that Kelly is giving a podium to a conspiracy theorist who had earlier referred to the 2012 massacre, which occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School as a ‘hoax’.

    Most people feel that giving Jones a platform would mean he is unchallenged by any means. Some people are also questioning the source of his theories and information. Jones has been influential in the social media, and his radio show reaches millions of fans. His own website, the Infowars.com attracts more than five million new visitors each month.

    To most people, Jones remarks on the Sandy Hook massacre are not only unjustifiable but also careless, distasteful and downright strange. Jones also presumes that the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers was an ‘internal plan’ and that people tend to create the ‘animal-human hybrids’ hence no one can be trusted.

    Jones has been portrayed as one of the controversial public figures though it would be good to give him a chance for the interview. According to NBC, it’s necessary to interview any potential newsmakers and influential people regardless of their perspectives on life in general.

    Though the affected people who lost their loved ones called Kelly to cancel the interview, it’s likely that with the support from NBC and other key people in the society, the interview could go ahead as planned.

  • Delta Pulls Funding For ‘Julius Caesar’ Theater

    Delta Pulls Funding For ‘Julius Caesar’ Theater

    Delta Airlines and Bank of America announced to withdraw their financial support for the ‘Julius Caesar’ plays that has sparked controversy over the responsibility of the corporate sponsors involved in the public theater acts. The New York theater production that engages Julius Caesar as the Trump-esque edition of the ruined Roman statesman portrayed a bad picture of the sitting president.

    Some people have condemned the theater terming it as wicked and morally wrong. The principal corporate donors also expressed their disapproval of the theater stating that regardless of ones political viewpoints, the theater has not reflected their ethics and values. However, some game players reacted negatively against the sponsors’ decision.

    Beau Willimon, a creator and playwright at ‘House of Cards’ expressed his disappointments in both Delta and Bank of America. He claims that they should support the freedom of thought and expression for all people and not punish the company. By doing that, they are encouraging a culture of fear among the Americans.

    Though Delta has withdrawn its financial support for the New York Theater firm that has portrayed Julius Caesar President Trump, the airline did not consider pulling its funding from another theater that depicted a similar scenario and same role. But the only difference between the two plays is that the other theater illustrated the then President Barack Obama in 2012.

    For a long time, Delta has generously supported the Guthrie Theater, which produced ‘Julius Caesar as the Obama in 2011 to 2012 period. Delta continues to be listed as the company’s corporate sponsor on their website donating between $100,000-$249,000 every year.

    The recent controversy about the New York Public Theater production ignited reactions that went viral on the social media podiums as people pointed out the dissimilarities between the current chaos and lack of argument in 2012 episode.

    Donald Trump Jr. reacted to the story by tweeting criticism and questioned whether the theater was funded by the tax-payers money. The pressure from all corners, especially from the current government, might have pushed the corporate sponsors to take the decision of withdrawing their sponsorship just to save their face. The people of United States of America need to understand that President Trump is different.

  • ‘The Mummy’ Takes Home $52 Million At China Box Office Opening

    ‘The Mummy’ Takes Home $52 Million At China Box Office Opening

    The Mummy has won the Chinese Box Office opening with $52 million. The gain was considerably better than the poor performance the film got in North America over the weekend. The film played about 105,000 screening each day in China from Friday to Sunday.

    The film, which features Tom Cruise scored $17.5 million on Friday, $19.1 million on Saturday, and $13.9 million on Sunday. The total score topped up by another $1 million from the previews, came to the seventh highest opening rank of the year. The film trailed slightly ahead of the Beauty and the Beast, Logan, and the Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2.

    The Wonder Woman won the weekend’s domestic box office in the United States for the second time straight with an approximate $57 million. The film has at the moment brought about the $205 million domestically. The Wonder Woman buried The Mommy but the performance was decided even before the weekend came closer.

    The Indian-based film Dangal won $5.06 million in six weeks. For 17 days, the Pirates has attained $162 million a score that both The Mummy and Wonder Woman are not likely to match. The top Chinese box office opening was the romance movie How Are You. It scored $4.30 million in its fifth position.

    One of the latest movies the Doraemon managed by the Japanese animation franchise got the sixth place with a score of $1.7 million even though it suffered a huge slump. In only 13 days, the movie has accumulated about $19.7 million. There was no other title that attained over $1 million over the last weekend. Other movies such as the China’s Haunted Graduation Photo scored $310, 000, and the Love Without Words scored $280, 000.

    The latest film in the “Doraemon” Japanese animation franchise took sixth place with $1.87 million, albeit suffering a big slump. After 13 days it has a cumulative of $19.7 million. The Mummy is expected to perform fairly in the international markets. The film has scored high in the South Korea and the race could increasingly scale higher it enters other foreign countries.