BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A new independent film recounts the faith and unity of a Birmingham high school football team in the years after integration and the movie’s co-director said he hopes its message resonates with current students and helps them realize the power of perseverance. Andrew Erwin, co-director of the film “Woodlawn,” was on … Continue reading
Author Archives: lanayalewis
The Weeknd, ‘Uptown Funk’ duo lead Soul Train nominations
NEW YORK (AP) — The Weeknd and the duo behind “Uptown Funk,” Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, are tied for five nominations each at the Soul Train Awards this year on Nov. 6. All three share nominations for Video of the Year, Song of the Year and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award. The Weeknd … Continue reading
Willie Nelson cancels, reschedules shows due to illness
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country star Willie Nelson has rescheduled two shows and canceled another due to an unspecified health issue. Nelson and Merle Haggard were scheduled to perform Thursday and Friday, but South Carolina and Virginia dates were rescheduled and a show in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Saturday was canceled. A statement on his Facebook … Continue reading
Oprah Winfrey explores faith and spirituality in ‘Belief’
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey is hoping people will find common ground, no matter what or who they believe in, with her new documentary series “Belief,” about how religion is viewed across the globe. “We live in a world where when your belief isn’t the same, you literally can get your head chopped off,” … Continue reading
Randy Quaid to face fugitive charge in Vermont
ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) — Actor Randy Quaid is expected back in a Vermont court on a charge that he left the country five years ago after being accused of vandalism in California. Quaid and his wife Evi were arrested Friday while trying to enter the United States from Canada. They’ve been held on $500,000 … Continue reading
A loving resurrection of the Twin Towers opens NY Film Fest
NEW YORK (AP) — In the months and years after Sept. 11, the World Trade Center was swept out of the movies. The Towers were removed from such films as “Zoolander” and “Serendipity” that were shot before the tragedy. Since then, the skyline where the Towers once formed the “H” in the poster for Woody … Continue reading
Fordham, Marquette rescind honorary degrees they gave Cosby
NEW YORK (AP) — Fordham and Marquette universities have rescinded from Bill Cosby his honorary degrees amid allegations from women accusing the comedian of sexual assault. In Milwaukee, Marquette’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution Thursday rescinding an honorary degree presented to Cosby in 2013. The degree was immediately rescinded, the school said. Fordham’s Board … Continue reading
In Philadelphia, Madonna gives ‘Popey-wopey’ her blessing
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A woman with plenty of experience tangling with the Vatican has given Pope Francis her endorsement during his first U.S. visit. At her concert Thursday night in Philadelphia, where Francis is scheduled this weekend to make the last stop of his tour, a tongue-in-cheek Madonna dedicated a section of her show to … Continue reading
‘Room’ wins Toronto Film Festival audience award
NEW YORK (AP) — The top award of the 40th Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday went to Lenny Abrahamson’s “Room,” an emotional tale of a captive mother and her five-year son. The film took the festival’s People’s Choice award, determined by audience voting. Starring Brie Larson and 8-year-old Jacob Tremblay, “Room” is adapted from … Continue reading
Warner Bros. to make Chinese-language films in HK venture
BEIJING (AP) — Hollywood studio Warner Bros. and a Chinese investment company said Sunday that they will jointly produce Chinese-language movies for the international market, as entertainment companies in the world’s two biggest movie markets increasingly collaborate. Warner Bros. and China Media Capital announced their Hong Kong-based joint venture two days before the start of … Continue reading
CNN hires foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward from CBS News
NEW YORK (AP) — Award-winning foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward is joining CNN, the network announced Monday. Her move concludes a four-year stint at CBS News, where she reported for all of that network’s news programs, including “60 Minutes” and the “CBS Evening News,” and played a notable role in its hard-news mission. At CNN, she … Continue reading
‘Maze Runner’ sequel outpaces ‘Black Mass’ at box office
NEW YORK (AP) — “The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” edged out Johnny Depp’s “Black Mass” at box office, as the two films split young and old moviegoers in half on the first weekend of the fall movie season. 20th Century Fox’s sequel to “The Maze Runner” earned an estimated $30.3 million, according to studio … Continue reading
A silver anniversary for Jerry Springer
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — As his talk show celebrates its silver anniversary on Monday, Jerry Springer knows better than to wheel a cake onstage with him. No sense tempting fate. He didn’t anticipate he’d be fighting back tears as he addressed his audience. “Know this,” said Springer, who wore a tuxedo for the show’s taping. … Continue reading
Soap star tweet-blasts Viola Davis’ Emmy win, and apologizes
NEW YORK (AP) — Viola Davis’ history-making Emmy win and call for more diversity on TV thrilled most viewers of Sunday’s Emmycast. But not soap star Nancy Lee Grahn. Instead, the long-time cast member of “General Hospital” had a Twitter fit. “Emmys not venue 4 racial opportunity,” she declared in a tweet later deleted. This … Continue reading
South Africa: Zulu Reed Dance disrupted by “evil spirits”
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s annual Zulu Reed Dance ceremony was disrupted by hallucinating girls who swarmed the country’s president, a Johannesburg newspaper reported on Monday. Teenage girls dancing in the annual cultural festival heard voices and rushed toward the area where President Jacob Zuma and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini were seated during the Saturday … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 