Entertainment

‘I’d never work in Hollywood’: Mexico star director Michel Franco

Published

8 months ago

September 9, 2023

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'I'd never work in Hollywood': Mexico star director Michel Franco

He has piled up awards and looks set for even greater acclaim with a moving new drama starring Jessica Chastain, but Michel Franco has no interest in being lured to Tinseltown.

“Memory”, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, packs more moral conundrums into its 100 minutes than many directors manage in an entire career.

Featuring Chastain as a recovering alcoholic who meets a dementia patient, played by Peter Sarsgaard, it tackles buried trauma, the weakness of memory and the rights of disabled people to control their own lives. Franco wrote and produced “Memory”, as he has all his films.

Still just 44, he has covered a wide range of vital topics in his work, from a nightmarish military coup in “New Order” (which won the Grand Jury prize in Venice in 2020) to terminal illness in “Chronic” (best screenplay at Cannes in 2015), to teenage bullying in “After Lucia” (winner of the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2012).

The latter attracted renowned actor Tim Roth (“Pulp Fiction”), who has since appeared in two of Franco’s films, “Chronic” and “Sundown”.

But despite now working with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in Chastain, Franco is determined not to follow fellow Mexican directors like Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu to Los Angeles.

“Where I feel comfortable is in Mexico City. There are fewer rules,” Franco told AFP in Venice. “What is very interesting about the United States are the actors. In Mexico there are good actors, but the big leagues are in New York, in Los Angeles,” he explains.

“I would never work in Hollywood,” he said. “I would never work for a studio where I don’t have the final cut of my film.” Nor is he a fan of streaming services, which he describes as “the enemies of cinemas”.

Speaking ahead of the premiere of “Memory”, Franco told AFP he had to delve deep into his anxieties for the script. “One of my biggest fears is losing my mind. That’s why I’m interested in exploring dementia,” Franco told AFP.

But he insists his films are not born from a desire to tackle a particular theme. “‘Chronic’ came out from seeing the nurse who cared for my grandmother, I had her right there in front of me every day.”

For “Memory”, the initial spark was imagining someone being followed home from a high school reunion, which is how the main characters meet. “I didn’t know why or who they were. But that was the first thing that occurred to me,” Franco said.

Parents often fail their children in Franco’s films, but he says: “I try not to see them as villains because then it’s uninteresting. “I am interested in broken people, who have not completely finished inventing themselves. People with insecurities, with fears, give me more confidence than those who think they have everything clear,” he added.

His scripts are brutally precise but never weighed down with explanatory dialogue, preferring to let performances and visual details do the work. “The more I can achieve without dialogue, the better. The rule is ‘less is more’,” he said.

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Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

Published

16 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

The India actor is accused of not speaking out against genocide in Gaza.

Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Alia Bhatt is in the headlines after her Met Gala 2024 appearance as she has been receiving hatred for keeping mum on the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt has been making the headlines for her stunning appearance at the Met Gala 2024.

The actress’ popularity has skyrocketed after her show-stopping appearance on the red carpet, with everyone talking about her surreal look.

However, now, Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Like many other Hollywood celebrities, Alia Bhatt has allegedly been accused of keeping mum about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
And now, her name has popped up in the ‘Blockout 2024’ movement, which has been going viral on TikTok.

For the unversed, netizens have started this phenomenon on social media, wherein they are ‘blocking’ celebrities who have been indifferent to the plight of the people of Palestine and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.

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Entertainment

Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Published

16 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Appearing on a podcast, showbiz star Inaya Khan has said she does not bother reading comments from male followers on her Instagram posts, because most of their messages pertain to marriage.

Inaya Khan revealed that despite having a significant number of male followers on Instagram, she only pays attention to comments from her female followers, with her cousins informing her about them.

Khan shared that she often receives messages from male followers claiming her as their wife, to which she humorously responded that she is currently single and content.

While marriage is not her current focus, Khan expressed her admiration for the saree, a clothing item her mother taught her to wear and manage.

In a previous appearance on the same show, Khan admitted to having crushes on A-list actors Mikaal Zulfiqar and Feroze Khan, particularly praising Zulfiqar’s personality and character traits.

Khan, known for her roles in dramas such as ‘Khoat’ and ‘Mere Apne’, detailed the qualities she desires in a life partner, emphasizing loyalty and a caring nature.

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Entertainment

Is Ayeza Khan retiring from showbiz?

Published

16 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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As the last episode of drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ is just around the corner, fans want to know about the future of Ayeza Khan who in a message on Instagram had said ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ was her last project.

Ayeza Khan, celebrated for her stunning performances, has been a part of several hit dramas.

With a career spanning over a decade, Ayeza has charmed audiences with her acting prowess.

Currently, Ayeza is making headlines for her role in the popular drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan,’ where she stars alongside Hamza Ali Abbasi.

The show has garnered immense popularity, captivating viewers in both Pakistan and India. As many as 38 episodes have aired so far and the last episode is just around the corner.

However, amidst the drama’s success, fans are left wondering about Ayeza’s future projects.

Her Instagram story that she posted in November 2023, hinting at a possible departure from the industry, resurfaces.

In the said post, Ayeza referred to ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ as her ‘last project,’ sparking rumours about her retirement from acting.

Ayeza Khan’s journey in the entertainment world began with her debut in ‘Tum Jo Miley’ in 2009.

However, it was her portrayal of ‘Farah Ibrahim’ in the 2013 drama ‘Pyarey Afzal, opposite acclaimed actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, that propelled her to fame.

As speculations regarding Ayeza’s future in the industry go viral, fans eagerly await confirmation about her next move. Whether ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ marks the end of Ayeza Khan’s acting career or simply a pause in her journey remains to be seen. Only time will tell.

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