24 JANUARY 2008.- IN MEMORIUM 
Our Father, who art in heaven...
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GOODBYE, HEATH
THE PATRIOT producer Dean Devlin remembers the late actor who died yesterday at the age of 28
By DEAN DEVLIN,Published 1/23/2008
"Death is such an enormous event that we have no hope of understanding it with our minds. Our only chance of comprehension is with our hearts."
That sentiment was told to me at the time my parents passed away from lung cancer. It was true then and made more so in the light of the tragic passing of our friend Heath Ledger. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his death, the fact that he's gone is something we'll never wrap our heads around.
I had the privilege of producing Heath Ledger's first big mainstream Hollywood film, THE PATRIOT. He played the son of Mel Gibson in the Revolutionary War drama, directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Robert Rodat. He was cast in the film, not just because of his immense talent, but also because he had a maturity and gravity way beyond his years (he was 20 years old at the time).
Just as Mel Gibson had years before, Heath nurtured and developed his craft in Australia before hitting it big in Hollywood. This shared experience created a special bond between the film's two stars that transcended the characters and dialogue. The relationship on screen was fed from this connection and created an amazing screen dynamic which gave birth to two fantastic performances.
On set, Heath was a gentle, thoughtful and "down-to-Earth" soul -- kind and generous with others, yet intensely dedicated to his work. He didn't seem interested in the hype of surrounding stardom and judging from the decisions he made in his career after our film, I suspect he maintained that equilibrium throughout the rest of his short life.
His family was always the center of his life and the most important priority. I can only imagine the depth of sadness and loss felt by them. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to them.
Goodbye, Heath. You will be missed by us all. The time we spent with you was all too brief. Yet we're blessed with the gifts you left behind.
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28 JANUARY 2008.- MEL GIBSON, SECOND IN BUTTOCKS
Source: Toronto Sun
A new study commissioned by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery which surveyed 20,000 plastic surgeons in 84 countries revealed that Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's names came up more often -- and for more body areas to replicate -- than anyone else.
HERE are the top celebrity features female patients say they want:
- Breasts: The clear choice for breast look-alikes was Pamela Anderson, followed by Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen, pop princess Britney Spears and Xuxa, a Brazilian entertainer.
- Lips: Angelina Jolie was the overwhelming leader, followed by Julia Roberts.
- Buttocks: Jennifer Lopez was first in this category, followed by Juliana Paes of Brazil, Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock.
- Nose: Nicole Kidman's nose was a clear favourite, followed by Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Xuxa, Grace Kelly and Tasmanian-born Princess Mary of Denmark.
- Abdomen: Giselle Bunchen won, followed closely by Shakira, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and Mexico's Thalia.
- Eyes: Angelina Jolie was the number one choice for eyes, followed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Salma Hayek, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve and Greta Garbo.
- Cheeks: The most often referenced was Sophia Loren, followed by Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, and Marilyn Monroe.
- Legs: A three-way tie between Tina Turner, Sharon Stone and Cameron Diaz, followed by Jennifer Lopez.
- Chin: There was no clear cut winner in this category, but Sonia Braga, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts and Charlize Theron were prominent.
- Forehead: Leading selections were Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor and Oprah Winfrey.
HERE are the top celebrity features male patients say they want:
- Abdomen: Brad Pitt just beat out Matthew McConaughey. They were followed by action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme and soccer great David Beckham.
- Nose: This category was led by Brad Pitt, followed by George Clooney. Numerous doctors noted that patients expressed personal concerns that any procedure would not leave them looking like Michael Jackson.
- Eyes: The top three men referenced in this category were George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck.
- Chest: Arnold Schwarzenegger was the overwhelming choice followed by Brazilian Paulo Zulu.
- Chin: Many more doctors referenced celebrity influences on male chin procedures than women. The most admired were Clooney and Pitt followed by Kirk Douglas, Ricky Martin, Antonio Banderas and Errol Flynn.
- Buttocks: Here Brad Pitt had the clear lead with Mel Gibson, Ricky Martin and Paulo Zulu following.
- Cheeks: There was a tie in the category between Clooney and Pitt. Tom Cruise and Paulo Zulu followed.
- Lips: Clooney and Pitt led, followed by Antonio Banderas and Korean movie star Dong-Kun Jang.
- Hair: Tom Cruise led followed by David Beckham.
- Legs: David Beckham led, followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Forehead: Cruise and Pitt tied in this category.
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28 JANUARY 2008.- A CRUEL JOKE
Source: MyFoxNY.com
Someone who called Fox 5 is adding lies and confusion to a terrible tragedy.
The call came into Fox 5 just 2 days after Heath Ledger's death.
A man claiming to be Kim Ledger, the actor's father, was on the line. From the beginning Fox 5 had big doubts about the caller but recorded the conversation.
Fox 5 never aired the interview but did some digging and found out a con man posing as Heath Ledger's dad had also reportedly called a bunch of A-list celebrities...like Mel Gibson....and Halle Berry.
Sources say he was fishing around for information and wanted to contact other celebrities.
And that's just the beginning. Sources tell Fox 5 that he was able to talk his way into the inner circle of investigators on the case, calling the NYPD several times and the medical examiners office for information.
He even contacted the funeral home, each time posing as the actor's dad and looking for key details. One think he was looking for was information about how Ledger's body would be shipped to Australia.
The District Attorney's office has started an investigation
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30 JANUARY 2008.- BRIGITTE
MEL GIBSON, FIRST IN HEARTS OF GOLD
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Source: Peru.com
Mending Kids International, sponsored by Mel Gibson and his wife, is going to change the life of a little girl from Ayacucho (Peru). Brigitte Dayana Quicaño Rivera will be brought to California in order to be operated and receive treatment for epilepsy.
Brigitte suffers an intractable epilepsy with delay of psychomotor performance development. The illness causes her around 40 violent fits a day.
The girl will have to stay at least two months in USA.
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4 FEBRUARY 2008.- MAKING MOVIES
The Bronte sisters are backed by Mel Gibson´s production company
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Source: Examiner (UK)
A HOLMFIRTH film maker is shooting a £5m movie about the Bronte sisters that could become a global hit thanks to film star Mel Gibson.
Nick Wild and his Film Squared production company are due to start filming Bronte in May.
But funding cuts means they are £350,000 short and are now offering local companies and investors a slice of the action.
Bronte is being backed by Mel Gibson's Icon Entertainment production company at the Berlin Film Festival next month.
It will be directed by Charles Sturridge who won a Bafta and an American Emmy award for Brideshead Revisited.
Actress Kirsten Scott-Thomas, Golden Globe nominated actress Evan Rachel Wood and actor John Hurt, who starred in the Harry Potter films, will feature.
And if it is as successful as the recent Miss Potter and Becoming Jane films, it could bring huge benefits to the region.
Nick Wild, managing director of Film Squared, said: "I am really excited about this project, it's a great thing to work on.
"The project is an important media project for Yorkshire that will boost the local economy and stimulate tourism.
"If you look at the benefits the Miss Potter film had for the Lake District, the tourist office reported a 35 per cent increase, so I think we could see something similar here."
Mr Wild lives in Holmfirth and wants to showcase the best of Yorkshire in Bronte.
The film's production office is expected to be in Huddersfield with filming in Saddleworth and Barnsley.
But due to the funding problems, the team may be forced to relocate some filming to a more cost-effective location, possibly abroad.
Nick added: "We are in a great position compared to a lot of other films, we have distribution and global rights for the project.
"It is all hands to the pump now to ensure we get more funding and sponsorship for the film.
"We've had some great feedback from large companies wanting to get involved and of course, investing in films has great tax advantages.
"There are sizeable down stream benefits both for tourism and the economy for the region - this could be a real boost."
Mr Wild is a former music producer and has 25 years media experience. He has close links to the Media Centre in Huddersfield.
Producer Alistair Maclean-Clark said: "We believe Bronte is set to become another great film building on the current successes of the British film industry.
"It would be tragic for it to be shot anywhere but Yorkshire."
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