Hollywood Week: AMC Revenue, Oscar Presenters Named, Pro Ball Rapist Sentenced, Richard Lewis, Iris Apfel

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Category: Entertainment News
Published on Saturday, 02 March 2024 11:43
Written by Janet Walker

The concert films Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé were so successful they spawned the return of the concert film, which are expected to fill theaters during the same holiday season 2024.

AMC Revenues Q4 2023 Boosted by Beyonce, Tayler Swift Concert Films

Who Runs the World? According to AMC CEO, Adam Aron in Q4 2023 the concert films by Beyonce and Taylor Swift accounted for driving the recovering movie chain into huge gains, and spawned the return of the concert film, which is expected to fill theaters during Q4 2024 and 2025.

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Fans will be able to, once again, relive the rock and roll concert fantasy with their favorite musical artist, in IMAX, and the full theatrical experience.

'"What is particularly noteworthy is how much AMC benefited from our trailblazing industry leading efforts with our highly successful distribution of two concert movies Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé," Aron wrote in the press release," reported The Hollywood Reporter.

AMC, which suffered deep concerning losses during the height of the pandemic due to closures beginning nationwide March 2020 with many across the nation remaining closed for one year, has experienced a steady growth in each quarter of 2023 fueled by major blockbusters, including Greta Gerwig's Barbie, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, and the Tom Cruise starrer Dead Reckoning Part One, and Louis Leterrier's Fast X, followed by the concert films, and a steady return of theater goers.

Oscar EPs Announce First Round of Presenters

The showrunner and executive producers for the Academy Award telecast have announced this week some of the stars that will be presenting during Hollywood's biggest night of the year, the Academy Awards.

Announced celebrities presenting during the telecast include Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Lange, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong'o, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Yeoh, Zendaya, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate McKinnon, Rita Moreno, John Mulaney, Catherine O'Hara, Octavia Spencer and Ramy Youssef.

Musical talent performing include Jon Batiste, Becky G, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, Scott George and the Osage Singers, and Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson

The Academy Awards will air live Sunday March 10, 2024, at 7:00pm EST and 4:00pm PDT.

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Former Pro Baller Sentenced for Serial Rapes

Former Pro Basketball player, Rashid Byrd, was sentenced to 90 years to life in a State Prison for a series of sexual assaults committed by the pro-development player from 2015 to 2020.

"The LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division's Special Assault Section began an investigation after a victim came forward to report that she had been sexually assaulted in 2019. During the course of their investigation, detectives discovered Byrd had been arrested for sexually assaulting a young woman in the state of Washington in 2005 and had been convicted of a sexual assault involving a different victim in 2010, police said," MyNewsLA.com reported.

The victim's explained he presented himself as polite and charming, attempting to leverage his pseudo-celebrity status, and then would rape the victims.

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Comedian Richard Lewis Dies

Comedian, author, and actor Richard Lewis passed away this week. He was 76.

For a new generation of fans, he played himself, angst-ridden and dour comedian, on the hit Larry David, show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm." For others, Lewis will always be the second man in black, an anguished and tormented comedian who reached a generation of weary adults, now in midlife, wondering what, if anything was next. His grim humor served as a warning to a younger audience on the trial and tribulations of midlife.

"Neurotic and self-deprecating, typically dressed all in black, Mr. Lewis paced the stages of comedy clubs, hanging his head, pulling at his shock of black hair, riffing on his struggles in life and love. He called himself the "Prince of Pain," and so did his legions of fans," reported The New York Times.

The cause of death was attributed to a heart attack, although Lewis announced several years ago, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

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Iris Apfel, Fashion Icon, Dead at 102

Iris Apfel, who transformed herself into a fashion icon in her 80s, with Mr. Magoo glasses, and a combination of mismatched and brightly colored patterns, some paired with several strands of oversized chunky, costume, jewelry, has died this week at 102.

Apfel, whose incredible well-lived life was documented, was considered an accidental icon.

"She was 84 when the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art launched an exhibition showcasing her extensive collection of garments and costume jewelry, earning her global recognition and adoration. She was 93 when she starred in her own documentary, "Iris," from filmmaker Albert Maysles. His portrayal of Apfel was "graced with an unforced but unmistakable charm," wrote Times film critic Kenneth Turan in 2015," Yahoo.com reported.

For many these milestones, during a time when tradition dictates certain age-appropriate behaviors, Ms. Apfel, continued breaking barriers and at 96, yes, 96, she signed with IMG Models, the same modeling agency as Kate Moss and current runway stars, Gigi Hadid. Say what? She published her self-titled book, "Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon."

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light," which begins the poem "Do not go gently into that good night," by Dylan Thomas, personifies the life of Iris Apfel.

Fierce until the end, Apfel passed away of natural causes.