Maradona would cut off 'Hand of God' for Julia Roberts & other: June 2008

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Acclaimed Hollywood film effects artist dead

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pioneering special effects and makeup artist Stan Winston, a four-time Oscar winner who transformed Arnold Schwarzenegger into "The Terminator" and brought dinosaurs to life in the "Jurassic Park" films, has died at age 62, his studio said on Monday.

Winston, whose studio's work was on display in the high-tech armored suits worn by Robert Downey Jr. in the current superhero blockbuster "Iron Man," died at home in Malibu, California, on Sunday surrounded by family.

He had fought a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of blood plasma cells, a spokeswoman for the Stan Winston Studio said.

Winston, a collaborator with such filmmaking giants as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Tim Burton, was best known for his landmark physical effects and animatronics, and later for blending them seamlessly with computer-graphics imagery.

Winston crafted some of modern cinema's most breathtaking creatures, including the terrifying monsters of "Aliens" and the killer cyborgs of "The Terminator" and its sequel for Cameron.

In the makeup department, Winston worked with Burton to create the bizarre, shear-fingered looks of Johnny Depp in "Edward Scissorhands" and Danny DeVito's grotesque Penguin guise in "Batman Returns."

But Winston's most celebrated creations were the prehistoric reptiles he brought to life in Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."

The design and construction of the life-size, robotic dinosaurs, including a two-story-tall tyrannosaurus rex in "Jurassic Park," were heralded as a pioneering technical feat in movie magic.

Monday, 9 June 2008

Gary Dourdan - Csi Star Pleads Guilty To Drug Possession Charges

Actor Gary Dourdan has pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine and ecstasy possession having been arrested last month.

The CSI star was arrested in Palm Springs, California, on April 28th after being discovered asleep at the wheel of a parked car and was detained when officers found narcotics.

Though he had been charged earlier this month with felony drug possession having reportedly been found with heroin, as well as cocaine and ecstasy, the heroin charge was dismissed at Wednesday's hearing in Indio, California.

His lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley said the actor has been given "diversion" or a drug treatment programme which he must complete for all charges to be dismissed.

"He very much regrets what happened and he's very embarrassed by what occurred, but he's looking forward to moving on and getting back to work," he told reporters.

"He is very grateful to the court for being understanding and giving him an opportunity to resolve the issue and move forward."

While the guilty plea sees Dourdan avoiding possible jail time, he will instead be required to complete a 16-class treatment programme.

The 41-year-old actor had said he was "obviously... embarrassed" at the arrest.

"I am profoundly grateful to everyone for their support," he added in a statement.

Having made his name in Cosby Show spin-off A Different World, Dourdan won the part of forensics expert Warrick Brown on CSI, CBS' Emmy award-winning crime show.

His character is scheduled to leave the show at the end of the eighth season.

29/05/2008 08:42:37