stars, sex and nudity buzz : 05/22/2012

Sarah Wynter Joins Showtime’s ‘Californication’ As Recurring

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Wynter (24) has been tapped for a recurring role on the next season of Showtime’s dark comedy series Californication. The Australian actress will play the wife of rock star Atticus Fetch, played by another Aussie, Tim Minchin. Described as Bowie, Bono and Lennon rolled up into one, Fetch has been drafted to write the music for the Broadway musical A Crazy Little Thing Called Love, which is based on the hit romantic comedy of the same name adapted from Hank Moody’s (David Duchovny) breakthrough novel. Wynter, repped by Paradigm and Mosaic, is set to appear in at least six episodes. After scaling back work over the past four years to give birth to three boys, she is returning to acting full-time.

* 38-years old Sarah will likely join Maggie Grace on nudity band-wagon. The Aussie pretty much okay with stripping on-cam so it's going to be an interesting season.

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Selena Gomez Reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey'! What Will Justin Bieber Think?

Selena Gomez is slowly working on shedding her squeaky-clean Disney girl image with more daring film roles, but she is still basically a good girl. Her untarnished image has earned her the respect of her fans, young and old. But, that could soon change. Selena tweeted a picture of herself that will certainly have prudish moms saying, "tsk, tsk."

On Monday morning, May 21, Selena tweeted a picture of herself settling in with a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey. Yep, Selena was digging into the erotic fiction book that has taken the world by storm and become the talk of Hollywood. Everybody wants to know who will get to play the roles of Christian and Anastasia. Selena's name has been mentioned for the role, but nobody actually believes she would ever do something quite that risqué. Maybe they were wrong!

The caption, "Catching up on some reading with Funny or Die," could mean anything. Of course, the second half of her caption is a little more revealing, "Can't wait to show you the video we made tomorrow!" Selena Gomez may soon be blowing her good girl image right out of the water.

The book, which dabbles in the world of S-and-M, is not something anybody would imagine Selena reading. At least not in public, that is. Can you imagine Justin Bieber's reaction to the idea of his girlfriend reading one of the hottest adult books right now? He is a healthy teenage boy, so the reaction is probably pretty predictable.

Most likely, Selena is ready to put a funny spin on rumors she may star in a film based on the erotic novel. You will have to wait until tomorrow to see just what Selena has cooked up!

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11 Things About 50 Shades

Mary McCarthy

"The sex is great, and the writing sucks. Make your choice."

By now everyone is sick to death of hearing about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James. Well, too bad. Look, it took me awhile to get through all 1664 pages total-in-trilogy of this…. um… literaryyy… work?

When I updated my Goodreads page, the review I gave Fifty Shades of Grey was short and to the point:

“The sex is great, and the writing sucks. Make your choice.”

Eleven words to summarize 1664 pages. I stand by that initial review, but in case you haven’t had the time in your life to read the three books, I’ll enlighten you on what you’ve been missing.

Spoiler alert: if you haven’t read the books, and are legitimately worried about “finding out what happens” in this review, stop reading here, I guess. But dude, trust me, I’m probably doing you a favor by sparing you around 1663 pages worth of reading time. For the love of God, read something else. Anything else.

Here are 11 Things You Didn’t Miss If You Didn’t Read Fifty Shades of Grey:
 1.     Suspense. Besides the weakly crafted “cliffhangers” between books (ooh! Someone’s out to get one of the main characters!), any reader with an eighth grade diploma could see nothing particularly interesting is ever really going to happen in the ‘plot.’ (No. Eighth graders shouldn’t read it. Duh.)

2.     Plot. There isn’t one. If you’re a fan of books where nothing really happens except repeated, poorly written sex scenes, this trilogy is for you.

3.     Feminism. Though it’s so tempting, I am not going to launch a bra-burning 70s feminist rant here, but the issue of feminism with regards to the books is best summarized in the article “Anti Feminist Ideals in Fifty Shades of Grey” by Marina DelVecchio in which she observes the perpetuation of the following feminine myths: The Virgin vs. the Deviant, A Woman’s Love Can Change Men, and The Female Submissive.

Let’s just put it this way, folks. Gloria Steinem is probably tired of rolling her eyes every time she hears about this trilogy.

4.     Theme. Other than the alleged BDSM nature of the book, there is no real thread that ties the story together other than sex.

5.     Reality. Helicopters, real estate, luxury cars, endless wardrobes… these books are a playground for the rich. You won’t find any pesky grocery budgeting or checkbook balancing herein.

6.     Self respect.  Between sex scenes, both characters, Christian and Anastasia, are horrifically insecure and spend all three books being paranoid they are not good enough for one another.

7.     Dialogue. It’s awful. The characters say the same things to each other over and over and over again.

8.     Role Models. Do you really want your daughter to see you reading this book or hear you chatting it up with your friends? In a Huffington Post article by Dani Klein Modisett on the topic, she asks,

“How do you teach young American females to love themselves enough not to confuse yearning for some unattainable, controlling, inconsistent man/boy with a shaggy mane of hair he's constantly running his hands through, who makes you bite your lip and the "deepest, darkest part" of you "clench in the most delicious fashion" every time you see him, with real, meaningful, and yes, sometimes boring, love?”

9.     Narration. Anastasia Steele, the 24-year-old virgin heroine of the book, is a one-dimensional character who overuses phrases like “Oh my” so many times it makes your teeth hurt. Her “inner Goddess” and “subconscious” become “characters” you wish would come to life so you could punch them in the babymaker. Really? She needs a hobby that doesn’t involve obsessing over how to be the perfect woman for “her man.”

10.  Editing. What should have happened here is that the three books should’ve been edited down to one. With good editing, one book would have been enough and could potentially have been a perfectly fine read. The story being dragged out unnecessarily over the course of three books? Had everything to do with selling three books instead of one (see also: Twilight, Hunger Games).

11. A Variety of Sex Scenes. If the book is going to be #1-2-AND-3 on The New York Times bestseller list with a reputation as a book about sex, the sex should be fabulous, yes? And some of it is. Especially the first few times we read the same exact sex scene. But Ana referring to her vagina (the word is never once used in three books) as her “sex” or, even more teenishly, as “down THERE!”? And saying “he found his release” after every single orgasm (another unpopular Fifty Shades word)? It really gets boring. Even for the actual real-world bondage fans, there are only a few mildly “tie-me-up” scenes. All in all, the sex is hot, but it’s more often repetitive and eventually even vanilla.

All of this is probably too much information, right? Chances are, what you’ve been hearing from your friends (and a really hilarious Saturday Night Live skit) is that the books are hot.

In summary, I’m sticking with my original eleven-word review: “The sex is great, and the writing sucks. Make your choice.”

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Paoli Dam's sex scene in 'Thana Theke Aschi'

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Sexual Perversion and Gruesomeness Galore for AnnaLynne McCord in new 'Excision' Trailer

Pauline (AnnaLynne McCord) is an awkward and unkempt teenager about to graduate high school. Her tangled mane of hair and out-of-control eyebrows places her in an unsavory light with her peers, except that Pauline is so wrapped up in her own world, she could care less what everyone else thinks of her. Obsessed with the idea that she would make an excellent surgeon, Pauline indiscriminately experiments on the corpses of dead animals. And from her rampantly sexual dreams, we’re able to see that Pauline is turned on by blood and sex with dead or maimed things. Meanwhile, her emotionally estranged parents (Roger Bart and Traci Lords) are undecided about what to do with their strange daughter, distracted as they are by their superstar younger daughter’s cystic fibrosis. Pauline’s mother isn’t able to accept Pauline as she is, forcing her to go to therapy sessions with the local reverend (John Waters) and join Cotillion even though she’s just a tad too old for such an occasion. Between deciding she needs to lose her virginity and exacting physical violence against female enemies at school, Pauline decides that she must take it upon herself to perform her sister’s lung transplant, as she’s the best qualified.

Bates Jr. somehow managed to assemble an astounding supporting cast of colorful film icons, including a delightful Lords, a hilarious Waters, Malcolm McDowell as a high school teacher, Marlee Matlin as the Cotillion instructor, and Ray Wise as the principal. But best of all, Excision has a delightfully depraved center with a knockout performance from AnnaLynne McCord as the disturbed Pauline. There’s not been this much use of menstrual blood in teenage horror since Carrie (1976) and Pauline’s dreams are surprisingly effective in the intention to shock, including an exploding baby fetus and plenty of blood drenched sexual acts. Nearly every ten minutes of the 80-minute feature contain graphically bright fantasies (or nightmares for us) of Pauline mounting corpses, performing surgery or giving birth to a doomed fetus that, no doubt, will serve as the lithmus point for making a break for the exit. Boasting a superbly written script by Bates,’ Excision is a hilarious, character driven flick, and one that manages to climax with an effective chilly final shot

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Leo DiCaprio has definitely figured out this whole fame thing

Become famous. Use fame to get hot chicks to take their clothes off. Rinse, repeat. Leonardo DiCaprio has definitely figured out this whole fame thing. From the National Enquirer:

Leonardo Dicaprio's not just starring the "The Wolf of Wall Street," he's one of the flick's producers - and he's insisted on sitting in during casting auditions for gorgeous babes in their mid-20's who'll appear stark-raving NAKED in the film. Said My Backstage Spy: "For the initial audition, the girls will have to come in wearing sexy clothes that show off their bodies - but anyone chosen to screen test with Leo will have to play the scene in the nude." (Print Edition - 5/21)

This, my friends, is why we all strive to be on top of the Hollywood heap -- the "A-list," so to speak. Leo is really starting to come into his own (sort of a Johnny Depp-type with less range). Come on, we all know that Leo is gonna lay pipe to whoever gets the role, but that's a given. For a desperate actress, there's no shame in that. Nope, the humiliation comes when you have to take it from Leo in front of the director, producers, your agents, key grips, and the catering crew. It's so degrading, I'm getting stiff just thinking about it I'm surprised Lindsay Lohan's not camped out in front of this casting call.

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MPAA Taps Marc Miller As Web Piracy Exec

The MPAA is ramping up its efforts to combat movie piracy, appointing attorney Marc Miller as SVP Content Protection, Internet. Miller joins from Nintendo of America, where he was Anti-Piracy Counsel for Americas and Asia/Pacific. He will be based in the MPAA’s Los Angeles office and report to Michael Robinson, the EVP Content Protection and Chief of Operations for the major studio’s lobbying organization and trade group. Miller will oversee worldwide Internet content protection and enforcement, and work with the MPAA’s legal team in defining as well as enforcing the group’s litigation strategy. Prior to joining Nintendo, he worked on IP Litigation at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The MPAA is active in anti-piracy efforts in 27 countries in Asia/Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

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'The Concubine' transcends hype over nudity

The king (Kim Dong-wook) courts his sister-in-law (Jo Yeo-jung), as she tries to resist, in a scene from the new film “The Concubine.” It opens in theaters nationwide on June 6. Kim Dai-seung's period drama among the finest commercial films of the year Nude scenes in Jung Ji-woo’s “Eungyo” and Im Sang-soo’s “The Taste of Money” recently generated an obscene amount of media frenzy. Added to this is the new release “The Concubine,” the promotion of which has revolved around its graphic portrayal of sex and the naked lead actress Jo Yeo-jung (“The Servant,” 2010). However, this singular focus seems misguided and demeaning to a film that offers much substance. Instead of a predictable tale recounting the various escapades and insatiable sexual appetite of a king, we get a perplexing film noir that explores obsessive-compulsive needs and their moral consequences. Its psychological depths demand multiple viewings. The principal fault notwithstanding — women are given less complex roles than men by director/screenwriter Kim Dai-seung — the “Cocubine” is one of the best commercial films this year. Weaker female roles in Korean movies remain a conspicuous problem in the male-dominated domestic industry. The film begins with the queen mother and former concubine (Park Ji-young, “The Show Must Go On,” 2006) in a precarious position of having no blood ties to the childless king (Jung Chan). She schemes to replace him with his stepbrother and her submissive young son on the throne (Kim Dong-wook, “Take Off,” 2009). Indifferent to his mother’s plans, the timid prince falls in love with Hwa-yeon (Jo), an aristocrat’s daughter, who has already found love with Gwon-yu (Kim Min-jun, “Love,” 2007), a commoner. When her father decides to send her to the royal palace as a concubine, the two lovers try to elope but are caught after their first night together. She only gives in to parental demands in quid pro quo for his life. In the next five years, she produces a male heir, infuriating the queen mother. The latter poisons the king and finally puts her son on the throne, giving the ruthless matriarch firm control over the royal court. Hwa-yeon is moved to a closely-watched humble residence, but to save her child, she is willing to do anything. When reunited with her castrated former lover, who now works as a eunuch for her biggest nemesis, the queen regent’s brother, she begs for help. The story is like a compendium of outrageous royal intrigue and love stories — and it feels overwhelming. Added to stunning cinematography, silky costumes and most of all, the excellent acting of the cast members, are a lot to take in all at once. But the “Concubine’s” intense, multi-textured journey is certainly worth the effort. In his portrayal of the meek son who becomes a powerless king, 29-year-old Kim Dong-wook displays finesse and nuance. His naturalism convinces audiences as he transforms from a youth with a crush into one manically obsessed. His pitiful king wears an ill-fitting crown and makes endless mistakes. Kim Min-jun is given a much less interesting role but manages to shine in certain scenes, like the one on his deathbed, for instance. His character’s journey from wild bad-boy heartthrob to repressed eunuch is a transformation he does not handle too well, especially given that he speaks in a consistently low-toned voice. But his performance is adequate. Jo’s evolution into a monster is less convincing, but this is a fault of the screenplay. She should have been given more time on screen as Hwa-yeon the innocent girl. More energy is concentrated in portraying her conniving ways. She always seems to be hiding something; she always looks guilty. Park’s charismatic turn as the queen mother is also undercut by the screenwriters’ one-dimensional conception of the evil queen. Hwang Gi-sung’s lush cinematography is a winner. The scenes in the secret underground prison are exemplary. However, with so many plots and subplots proceeding in parallel, the narrative flow is awkward at times. The most obvious breaks to the rhythm are the hyped-up nude scenes, which are given too much emphasis. “Here is a nude scene,” the editing seems to shout. The finale, a slow zoom-out on a scene that mirrors one of Christianity’s famous images, The Pieta, is another case in point. “Here is my message,” the movie screams. The director said that it is a reference to salvation — or the lack thereof — in all the characters’ quests. Everyone ends up in self-destruction after a lifelong struggle to save themselves, their children or in the king’s case, his love. Finally, it must be noted that other allusions, like an official’s bleak report about the construction along the Nakdong river — an obvious critique of the current administration’s Four Rivers Project — is misplaced. With countless psychological disturbances splattered on- and off-screen, why venture into yet another complex but unrelated issue? “The Concubine” opens in theaters nationwide on June 6. Runs 122 minutes. Rated 18 and over. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment.

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Analysts fear rising programming costs will hurt distributors

By Joe Flint

May 21, 2012

BOSTON -- Rising programming costs are the biggest headache facing the cable industry, a group of industry analysts said Monday.
"That is a very genuine and legitimate concern that imperils the entire ecosystem," said Craig Moffett, vice president and senior analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein Co. Moffett was speaking on a panel at the National Cable and Telecommunications Assn. convention in Boston.
Moffett said prices for programming have gotten so high that it is getting tougher for smaller distributors to cover their costs, and warned that further consolidation could be a result. Smaller cable operators, he explained, lack the scale of a Comcast Corp. or Time Warner Cable -- two of the industry's largest distributors -- to have any leverage in negotiations.
Although no specific channels were mentioned as being too expensive, sports in general was mentioned as the primary culprit.
"Sports is about half of all programming costs," Moffett said.
Moffett's concerns were echoed by Marcy Ryvicker of Wells Fargo and Douglas Mitchelson of Deutsche Bank.
Ryvicker went so far as to suggest that cable should just become a "dumb pipe" delivering broadband-based services to consumers but steering clear of programming. Even if customers can't afford the programming, she said, "people will still use the pipe."
The panelists also expressed doubt about Netflix's push into original programming and whether the company will become more of a competitor to cable. Referring to Netflix's new political drama"House of Cards," Moffett cracked, "at least they chose the right name."
Interestingly, the panel was moderated by Time Warner Cable Chief Financial Officer Irene Esteves. Normally, an analyst might interview cable executives about the challenges facing the industry, but in this case the executive was looking for answers from the analyst. Well, that's one way to make sure there are no tough questions.

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ContentMode live with Kate Mara
By Jaimie Kourt

Working over half her young life, Kate Mara is an accomplished veteran actress and among her generation’s most exciting faces to watch. Starring in critical and box office successes (127 Hours and Happythankyoumoreplease), she is a passionate and focused player in her craft. Audiences can look forward to seeing more of her spirited performances in the upcoming film Deadfall, out this spring, and House of Cards, an exciting television project directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker David Fincher (set to be released in 2013). When it comes to fashion, Kate has an almost fantasist nature, charging ahead with a big imagination and a playful sense of style.

You have such an ethereal and dreamlike nature in this shoot. How did you and the creative team work together to arrive at capturing such images?

The location was the perfect setting to keep up the natural, ethereal vibe that we were going for. It’s always so much more comfortable to shoot at a private house rather than a studio. I automatically felt at ease and calm. Kate and Mara (yes... my makeup and hair team has my name. I swear it wasn’t on purpose) both worked on making the look natural but still use pops of color and a little romance.

Can you talk a bit about the clothes you are modeling and how they helped you work?

Deborah and I spoke about what designers and looks I am attracted to, so we had a bunch of great options to choose from. I love the current trend of the high-waisted skirt with a bralette top, where just a small amount of skin is showing. It feels like it belongs in another era. There’s something so sweet and demure about it, but [it’s] also sensual.

You come from a pretty high-powered family. Was there ever, even at some level, a pressure to excel? Did your family encourage your choice to become an actress?

I was really lucky to grow up in the family that I did, because even though I was the first person that ever really expressed [an interest in] wanting to become an actor, they were always 100 percent supportive and encouraging. I used to leave notes on my mom’s pillow every night, from the time I was about 12 until I was 14, begging her to help me get an agent. I finally got one when I was 14, but before that she would drive me an hour into the city to buy Backstage magazine to see what Broadway shows were casting. It was all I thought about, so I really credit my mom and dad for always doing everything they could to help me fulfill my dreams. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that support system in their lives, and it certainly makes things a lot easier.

You recently attended Paris Fashion Week. Was that your first experience in PFW? What was it like?

I recently went to Paris to attend the Miu Miu fashion show, which felt like such a fairy tale. My friend KC and I roamed the streets shopping during the day (eating chocolate croissants and being totally cliché) and then had these delicious meals with the Prada team at night and it felt like such a dream. I am so grateful to have been invited to one of my absolutely favorite designer’s shows and to have been surrounded by such lovely people. 

Your fashion choices are very chic. Where do you think your sense of style comes from?

I am inspired by costumes in films and usually find most ideas [by] looking through magazines. I love the effortless style of Diane Kruger and Zoe Saldana. They can do no wrong.

Who do you like to shop for clothes with? Why?

I like to shop with my mom because she can spend just as long in a store as I can, so there’s no time pressure. But I do really well shopping on my own. It’s a good time to zone out.

What’s the most coveted item in your wardrobe?

I just bought this amazing vintage Louis Vuitton beaded jacket in NY. I was walking around Bowery and just wandered into this little shop. That’s always the most exciting way to buy something: when you’re not looking and find an amazing deal

If you were accidentally locked in Bergdorf’s for an hour to choose any fantasy head-to-toe look you wanted to, what would you come out wearing?

Something inspired by the Sex and the City Paris episode when SJP was walking the street of Paris and eating macaroons! A short Oscar de la Renta or Valentino dress with some high Louboutins and an amazing Chanel jacket. I love hair accessories as well, so I’d try to find an amazing brooch or something to put in my hair.

Being raised in Upstate New York, did you go to Manhattan often? How do you think your upbringing influenced your life today?

My mom used to take my sister and I to see Broadway shows all the time. I think it’s definitely where our passion for acting stems from. I still get so excited to take the train into the city from Bedford and see a show. Because of my upbringing, I have a desire to live both in the country and in the city. I go back and forth between the two, so in a perfect world I will do both. 

Does where you live inform your style?

My uniform definitely changes depending on what city I am in. I probably dress more girlie when I am in LA — sundresses and flats. But in NY I tend to wear more jeans and boots. I love wearing layers, hats, and have a slight jacket obsession, so I prefer to be in a city with a little weather.

Can you speak a bit on what it’s like to work with David Fincher and how your role in House of Cards came about?

I had heard that David Fincher was creating this show with Kevin Spacey and how fantastic the script was, so I read it back in June. David and Laray (the casting director) called me in for a meeting back in September. He told me that he wanted me to play the role of Zoe, which I could not have been more excited about. He is a director that can do no wrong in my eyes, and someone I have always respected so much. I’ve gotten to know what a great person he is through my sister, so it makes it that much more special to work with him now. It’s also such a wonderful challenge to work alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, who I can learn so much from.

House of Cards is a remake of a British television miniseries dealing with very intense political plots and players. Are you a political person? Did this project give you any insight into political culture that may have changed your views of elected representatives and/or the world of government?

I am not a political person but I have always loved films and shows that deal with politics. I’ve only read the first three episodes and didn’t want the scripts to end. I’m sure I will learn a lot about the world of reporting as well, which should be interesting.

Will audiences get to hear more of your singing in the future? Any ambition to further that aspect of your talents?

I would love to do a movie musical or play a role where I get to sing. It’s always been a dream of mine to do a show on Broadway, so hopefully I’m lucky enough to do that one day.

Your burgeoning career must be very rewarding, but I imagine certain aspects of what comes with it can make a person feel somewhat off balance from him or herself. What do you like to do when you are not working? What is calming or meditative to you? Where or what is your favorite getaway?

I have an incredible family that keeps me very grounded and stable in my life no matter what’s going on with my work. When I’m not working, I go on a lot of walks with my dogs and see tons of movies. I always feel calm after I’ve worked out and it’s very meditative to me, so I try and do that almost every day. I switch between working out with my trainer and going to bar method classes.

Do you have a strong sense of direction for your future endeavors — personally, professionally, creatively, intellectually, etc.? Or is life just good for you as it comes?

I’m happy going with the flow. I don’t tend to plan a lot for the future — I feel more at peace when I’m living in the moment.

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