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HBO has debuted the first trailer for Donyale Luna: Supermodel, a documentary exploring the life, career and legacy of one of the first Black models to grace the cover of a Vogue magazine.

Often considered the “first Black supermodel,” Luna — who died in 1979 at the age of 33 — broke ground at a time when it was not only still rare to see Black women who weren’t white-passing in fashion but Black women on major magazine covers at all. Through her heyday in the late ’60s and early ’70s, Luna challenged the modeling world’s conventions and made history by becoming the first Black woman on the covers of both Harper’s Bazaar in 1965 and British Vogue in 1966.

“She broke the mold of using Black models in the ’60s,” one talking head can be heard saying in the more than two-minute trailer.

“Donyale Luna is the first Black woman to be on the cover of Vogue,...

Model Twiggy will be making her debut at the Cannes film festival.

Sadie Frost’s documentary feature Twiggy is wrapping production in Cannes.

The UK model is making her debut visit to the festival to film the final scene at Film Soho’s virtual production stage on Wednesday (May 17), which will double up as London’s Carnaby Street in the 1960s.

Twiggy is being produced by UK studio Film Soho, who is teaming up with virtual production specialist Disguise and metaverse company Hadean for the end of shoot.

Twiggy is UK filmmaker Frost’s second documentary as director, following Quant.

Real-life moments from Twiggy’s career will be recreated using virtual production, with Twiggy playing herself.

UK actor and filmmaker Sadie Frost’s feature documentary Twiggy has commenced production in London, with Studio Soho – part of the Film Soho group – set to release the title theatrically in the UK and Ireland in 2023, and Studio Soho also repping international sales.

Twiggy takes a comprehensive look at the life story of UK model and cultural icon Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, whose career kickstarted in the 1960s. It features interviews with Twiggy and her husband Leigh Lawson, as well as commentary from Erin O’Connor,...

Actor Sadie Frost turns director with Quant, an engaging documentary about the British fashion designer Mary Quant, showing at the London Film Festival. Known for her bold, vibrant designs and pioneering spirit, Quant became associated with the liberating fashions of the 1960s, ditching the style of the fitted ’50s and raising eyebrows along with hemlines.

Frost’s lively doc traces her journey with archive footage, talking heads and dramatized scenes featuring actor Camilla Rutherford as Quant. The latter touch is perhaps the biggest challenge, but is handled elegantly: rather than shooting Rutherford as if she is in a straight TV interview, Frost and Dp John Bretherton approach these brief segments almost like a fashion shoot, zooming in on her eyes or gestures, the dialogue not always in sync.

Given that Quant is now 91, it is unsurprising that she doesn’t take part directly, but versions of her words are used...

United Artists Eastern Theaters and Warner Bros. International Exhibitor Boss and film producer Salah M. Hassanein passed away on Friday, June 7 at his home in Del Mar, California. He was 98.

Born in Egypt in 1921, Hassanein came to the United States in 1945. He served in the Us Armed Forces from 1945 to 1947. He began his long career in the film industry as an usher at a movie theater in New York City and rose through the corporate ranks to become President of United Artists Eastern Theaters and subsequently President of Warner Brothers International Theaters. Fluent in several languages, Hassanein was responsible for creating a network of movie theaters in Europe, Japan and Australia for Warner Brothers. From 1994 to 2000, he was President of The Todd-ao Corporation, a sound-mixing studio in Los Angeles.

Hassanein was involved in several films including Kentucky Fried Chicken, as well as serving as Ep on George Romero’s Day of the Dead and Creepshow,...

If you love decorating and admiring Christmas trees, you have the British royal family to thank.

The Christmas tree, a popular German tradition by the early 1800s, was popularized in the United Kingdom in the 1840s after Queen Victoria‘s German-born husband, Prince Albert, famously brought in evergreen trees into the royal palaces and decorated them with ornaments and candles.

The history-making moment for the Christmas tree was in 1848 when The Illustrated London News published a drawing of Albert, Victoria and their young children gathered around a decorated tree in Windsor Castle. The widely-published drawing meant that the Christmas tree...

With the publication of with his seminal 1977 book, White Trash, Christopher Makosburst on to the photography scene and made a name for himself as the first photographer to record the convergence of the “uptown” and “downtown” worlds, as Debbie Harry fondly remembers. This raw, beautiful volume chronicled the punk scene as it came of age on the street of New York. Interspersed in the mix are portraits of boldface names, including Andy Warhol, Man Ray, Tennessee Williams, Halston, John Paul Getty III, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Tom Verlaine, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Zandra Rhodes, Divine, Lance Loud, and Marilyn Chambers, among others. Over the years, the book became a cult classic, selling for up to $500 on Amazon. Glitterati Incorporated is...

Ten of Princess Diana's dresses are estimated to fetch over £800,000 when auctioned next month. The collection - to go under the hammer in London - includes a midnight blue Victor Edelstein midnight-blue silk velvet outfit which the late British royal wore when she danced with movie hunk John Travolta at a White House ball in 1985. That dress alone is valued at up to £300,000. Also included in the sale are another Victor Edelstein piece, a Bruce Oldfield black velvet gown, a Zandra Rhodes white chiffon cocktail dress and six evening gowns by Catherine Walker. One of the gowns is a pink silk item which was made for Diana's State visit to India in 1992, and is tipped...

Some of the gorgeous and historic dresses worn by Princess Diana are headed for auction - again! The most famous of the 10 dresses, which were originally sold by Diana in New York a few months before her death in 1997, is the midnight blue gown that Diana wore as she twirled around the dance floor at the White House with John Travolta in 1985. Diana graced the Victor Edelstein-designed velvet dress for the state dinner given by President Ronald and Nancy Reagan in honor of the princess's then-husband, Prince Charles. London-based auctioneer Kerry Taylor is selling the gowns, with the collection including...

Red State; Bluebeard; 30 Minutes or Less; The Art of Getting By; The British Guide to Showing Off

There are few spectacles more unedifying than that of a director who knows they have made a lousy film blaming critics for their failure. When Kevin Smith's Cop Out was justifiably trashed by critics, the director had the gall to liken the reviews for his lame, lazy Bruce Willis vehicle to the playground bullying of a "retarded kid'" (his words, folks). Yet for proof that Smith knew that he had sold out, one need look no further than Red State (2011, Entertainment One, 18), a low-budget throwback to the indie-spirited glory days of Clerks that marks a sparky – if haphazard – return to form. Believe me, no one who could make a film as ballsy as Red State could be under any illusions about the dreadful balderdash of Cop Out.

Made for a reported $4m...

The hunt is on! For 40 days and 40 nights London will be transfixed by the most astounding and exhilarating egg hunt it has ever seen. Launching on Shrove Tuesday, 21st February 2012, the English capital’s streets will become a thrilling adventure, a myriad of wonder, a world of inspiration.

Over 200 uniquely crafted eggs created by leading artists, designers, architects and jewellers will be displayed in central London. Join the hunt and journey through the city, picking up exciting clues along the way for a truly original and interactive Easter experience. Collect your map or download your app, gather your family and friends and get cracking, with a range of clues to suit even the savviest of Sherlocks. Many a special egg lays hidden and with online competitions bringing hunters together, are you up for the challenge?

Among the artists and designers involved are Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenburg, Sophie Dahl, Giles Deacon,...

The Small Steps Project will be holding the 2011 London Celebrity Shoe Auction and the premier of the new film at a fundraising evening at The Royal Society of Medicine on October 12.

From Sjp, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth, Ben Stiller and Bill Murray to Kate Moss, Zandra Rhodes, Russell Brand, Sienna Miller, Sophie Dahl, Michael Palin, Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais, Rachel Weisz, Simon Pegg, Sharleen Spiteri, Liam Gallagher, Helen Mirren, Colin Firth, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steven Gerrard, and Jason Donovan; Small Steps Project has collected celebrity support from both sides of the pond culminating in a fundraising Celebrity Shoe Auction at The Royal Society of Medicine, at One Wimpole St, London on October 12th 2011 at 7pm.

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Documentary The British Guide to Showing Off follows artist Andrew Logan and his outrageous Alternative Miss World Show. Verve has acquired the film for distribution on U.K. ground. Pic made its debut at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival his month. Alternative Miss World Show is an anarchic costume pageant hosted by Logan since 1972. Film London produced the Jes Benstock-directed docu with backing from the Film Agency of Wales and BBC Films as well as Skillset. The British Guide to Showing Off features Brian Eno, Zandra Rhodes, Grayson Perry and Richard O'Brien...

Documentary The British Guide to Showing Off follows artist Andrew Logan and his outrageous Alternative Miss World Show. Verve has acquired the film for distribution on U.K. ground. Pic made its debut at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival his month. Alternative Miss World Show is an anarchic costume pageant hosted by Logan since 1972. Film London produced the Jes Benstock-directed docu with backing from the Film Agency of Wales and BBC Films as well as Skillset. The British Guide to Showing Off features Brian Eno, Zandra Rhodes, Grayson Perry and Richard O'Brien...

Documentary The British Guide to Showing Off follows artist Andrew Logan and his outrageous Alternative Miss World Show. Verve has acquired the film for distribution on U.K. ground. Pic made its debut at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival his month. Alternative Miss World Show is an anarchic costume pageant hosted by Logan since 1972. Film London produced the Jes Benstock-directed docu with backing from the Film Agency of Wales and BBC Films as well as Skillset. The British Guide to Showing Off features Brian Eno, Zandra Rhodes, Grayson Perry and Richard O'Brien...

View the original post Rebecca Ferguson starts spending her X Factor cash on Unreality TV

Rebecca Ferguson was splashing the cash during a shopping trip in Liverpool this week.

The X Factor runner up has earned thousands of pounds since leaving the ITV show, most of the money came from personal performances and fifteen minutes gigs in UK clubs and pubs. Having reportedly signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco, there will be more money on the way and the mum of two wisely invested some in developing her style and extending her wardrobe!

The Liverpool Echo reports that Rebecca was spotted shopping in Boudoir Boutique and bought a coat, a headband designed by Hayley Marsden, two dresses and a Zandra Rhodes handbag.

Owner Amy Keating told the newspaper:

“Rebecca was lovely and very complimentary about the store. She kept saying how much she loved the Darling and...

Tracey Emin, Zandra Rhodes, Martin Clunes, Vic Reeves and Bear Grylls are just a few of the famous names to have contributed to an anonymous postcard art auction, being held this Saturday (11 September) in aid of Margate Rnli.

Margate Harbour Arm Gallery is staging the auction of 100 postcard-sized pieces of work, which have been kindly donated by celebrities, professional artists and amateurs from Kent and beyond.The name of the artist behind each piece of artwork remains undisclosed until all the works have been auctioned, so bidders will not be sure whether they’re bidding on a Tracey Emin original or a piece by an unknown.

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Look To The Stars’ UK Correspondent Richard Barker attended a special charity event in London recently, and filed this report.

The weather is improving and the legendary Zandra Rhodes has injected some colour back into my life. I was lucky enough to attend the launch of My Favourite Dress at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.

This unique event was hosted by Zandra Rhodes OBE and Suzy Menkes Cbe Fashion. Various members of the fashion elite turned out to support the new title published by Acc Publishing Group, with 10% of proceeds being donated to Save the Children.

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Celebrities, art world stars and London high society all love to attend the Serpentine Gallery's Summer Party. Celebrities such as Thandie Newton, Erin O'Connor, Lily Collins, Zandra Rhodes and Paloma Faith attended the swank party this year.

Celebrities were hot for Donna Karen, with model Erin O'Connor spotted wearing a low cut teal dress from the designer, while hostess Malin Jeffries was also seen wearing Donna Karen.

Everyone who attended helped to contribute to a good cause. A portion of the ticket sales go to the Serpentine's education program for hundreds of schoolchildren.

Celebrities, art world stars and London high society all love to attend the Serpentine Gallery's Summer Party. Celebrities such as Thandie Newton, Erin O'Connor, Lily Collins, Zandra Rhodes and Paloma Faith attended the swank party this year.

Celebrities were hot for Donna Karen, with model Erin O'Connor spotted wearing a low cut teal dress from the designer, while hostess Malin Jeffries was also seen wearing Donna Karen.

Everyone who attended helped to contribute to a good cause. A portion of the ticket sales go to the Serpentine's education program for hundreds of schoolchildren.