It’s All in the Family: Hollywood Nepotism

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking,

In most places of business, nepotism is frowned upon. In Hollywood, it’s part of standard casting policies. Why is it okay for La La Land to offer opportunities to unknown - but well-connected - actors, when hiring regulations are in place for every other industry in the country? Let’s dip our toes into the Tinseltown gene pool and see how many family trees we can count.

If you haven’t heard by now, Will Smith’s son is going to become the next A-list, must-have child star. He’s starring in the new Karate Kid reboot (a movie that’s unnecessary at best), and now he’s putting his rapping abilities on display in a movie soundtrack tie-in. Like it’s not already great being Will Smith’s kid, Jaden, 11, is now forging a strong career in the “family business.” Which just happens to be multi-million-dollar movie and recording contracts. Nice.

Is Jaden Smith the most talented kid for the movie role? Are his rap skills so superior that he deserves the outpouring of press he’s been getting for his involvement with the film’s theme song?

Frankly, it doesn’t f&*^ing matter. The Karate Kid reboot (which, we hate to break it to you, does

feature karate) is produced by Will Smith and from its inception was intended as a Jaden Smith vehicle. No one else ever auditioned for the role of the Karate Kid, not that anyone else had a snowball’s shot in hell of landing it anyway.

Hollywood has always been the land where dreams come true…if you’ve already got an “in.”

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Tori Spelling Terrified of Phones

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Independent, Comedy, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,

Kiss the Bride star Tori Spelling has a phobia of phones.

The former Beverly Hills 90210 star admits she can’t communicate by regular telecom systems and has to rely on her Blackberry to keep in contact with friends and family (wait, isn’t that a phone?).

“I don’t like the phone. I know I’m an oddity, but I’m terrified of the phone. I communicate with my Blackberry—it has saved my life. My husband Dean hates it, but I have to have it with me at all times.”

Tori, who is mother to son Liam, two, and 16-month-old daughter Stella, also revealed she no longer has the money to continually spoil her children.

The blonde actress, who was left a derisory amount in her late millionaire TV producer father Aaron Spelling’s will, said, “Given my financial situation, as it stands, the only thing I can really spoil them with is love—and that’s the most important thing, so I have no worries with that! Family dinner is extremely important to me. Our schedules are so chaotic right now, but I’m really trying.”

In Theaters This Week: August 20, 2008

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, MGM, Sony, Universal, Action, Documentary, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Mystery, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Once again, theatergoers will have new options to choose from this Wednesday:

• Death Race (R): starring Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson (directed by Paul W.S. Anderson)
• The House Bunny (PG-13): starring Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone (directed by Fred Wolf)
• The Longshots (PG): starring Ice Cube, KeKe Palmer (directed by Fred Durst)
• The Rocker (PG-13): starring Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis (directed by Peter Cattaneo)

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In Theaters This Weekend (4/18)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Magnolia, MGM, Lionsgate, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Documentary, Drama, Horror, Period, Political, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• 88 Minutes (R): starring Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski (directed by Jon Avnet)
• The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13): starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Yifei Liu (directed by Rob Minkoff)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R): starring Jason Segal, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis (directed by Nicholas Stoller)

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