Hugh Jackman to host the Oscars
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Hugh Jackman, who stars opposite Nicole Kidman in Australia, has been chosen to host the 81st annual Oscars of 2009.The Oscar presentation will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. The choice was regarded as unusual since the hosting job has always gone to comedians previously. In an interview with Los Angeles Times, telecast producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon said in a joint statement, “Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star who has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. The Oscars are a celebration of movies, so who better to host than a movie star. ... Hugh can not only hold the screen, but he can hold the stage too, which is no small feat these days.” A native of Australia, Hugh Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Boy From Oz and has done major theater work, from Oklahoma! to Sunset Boulevard. He has served as host of the Tony Awards ceremony and has even won a Emmy for hosting them. Hugh’s latest movie Australia is an epic love story and is slated for release in India on January 1, 2009.
Disney’s Camp Rock on December 26
One of this year’s biggest international tween sensations - Disney’s Camp Rock - a celebratory, song and dance-filled Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) for kids and families premieres on Disney Channel on Friday, December 26 at 6 pm. Camp Rock is the story of a talented yet unsure girl, Mitchie who yearns to share her songs with the world, and of a young superstar who’s lost his passion for music and is sent to the camp by his band mates. Together, at a camp for aspiring young music artistes, they learn to believe in themselves and to value the freedom to be who they really want to be. The movie stars Platinum-certified Hollywood Records recording artistes and Top 40 and Radio Disney hit-makers Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin and Nick) and singer/songwriter/actress Demi Lovato (of Disney Channel’s “As the Bell Rings”). The movie is written by Regina Hicks (Girlfriends), Karin Gist (Disney Channel’s Jump In!), Julie Brown (Medusa Dare to be Truthful) and Paul Brown. Directed by Matthew Diamond (Great Performances: Dance in America), the movie is all set to enchant Disney Channel fans in India. The Camp Rock local album includes three re-created songs in Hindi with Indian instruments while nine others are re-recorded in Hindi.
