Dubai’s Murdoch University is offering aspiring young filmmakers the opportunity to learn their craft during the summer. The Future Filmmakers Summer Camp will give budding directors between the ages of 8 and 18 the chance to produce a movie from script to screen. The course will run from August 2 to 31, and will conclude with the Reel Cinemas Short Film Festival on September 3, where the completed films will be screened. The young filmmakers will also walk the red carpet at the event, which will be attended by VIPs and industry professionals who will present awards. – The National staff
Car park gives away singer’s car by mistake
New York City police have launched an investigation after hip-hop heavyweight Grandmaster Flash’s car was given away at a Manhattan parking garage. A New York Police Department spokesman said on Friday that the incident happened on July 16. Grandmaster Flash, whose real name is Joseph Saddler, had parked his 2014 Dodge Charger in the garage in Chelsea. When he returned more than an hour later, the attendant told him he had given the car to someone else. The attendant said he “made a mistake”, and thought the person he gave the car to was the singer. The vehicle is still missing. – AP
Swift and Minaj make up after Twitter row
Taylor Swift has apologised to Nicki Minaj over a Twitter spat about her MTV Video Music Awards nominations. Swift tweeted on Thursday that she thought she was “being called out” by Minaj. The singer added: “I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki.” Minaj replied: “That means so much Taylor, thank you”. Minaj and Swift had clashed on Tuesday on Twitter after MTV announced the nominees for the VMAs, in which Swift was the frontrunner with nine. “I’ve always loved her. Everyone makes mistakes. She gained so much more respect from me. Let’s move on,” Minaj tweeted. – AP
Ringo Starr movie jacket sells for $46k
The black wool double- breasted suit jacket that Ringo Starr wore in the 1965 Beatles movie Help! has sold at a Marvels of Modern Music auction for more than US $46,500 (Dh170,794). Boston-based RR Auction said that the jacket, which has "Ringo" sewn inside, was bought by "a top rock 'n' roll collector in Rhode Island". – AP
Jolie to direct Cambodia war film for Netflix
Actress-turned-director Angelina Jolie is set to make a film about Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime, as seen through the eyes of a war-scarred child, for video-streaming firm Netflix. The Oscar-winning Hollywood star will adapt First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, a harrowing memoir by Cambodian human-rights activist Loung Ung. "I was deeply affected by Loung's book," said Jolie. "It deepened forever my understanding of how children experience war and are affected by the emotional memory of it. And it helped me draw closer still to the people of Cambodia, my son's homeland," said the 40-year-old, referring to Maddox, her adopted son with actor Brad Pitt. –AFP
DiCaprio raises $40m to save the planet
Leonardo DiCaprio has raised more than $40million to help save the planet at an auction in Saint-Tropez, France, on Wednesday night. The second annual Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation fundraising gala included a live auction, with donated jewellery and artwork from the actor’s personal collection. Naomi Campbell, Orlando Bloom and Kate Hudson were among the guests at the event, which included performances by Elton John and John Legend. Other items in the auction included an estate on DiCaprio’s private Belize island, Blackadore Caye, and a travel package donated by Prince Albert II of Monaco. DiCaprio, 40, started the environmental foundation in 1998 to help preserve the environment and habitats of wild animals. The money funds grants, public campaigns and media initiatives supported by the foundation. – AP
Chris Brown allowed to leave Philippines after three-day delay
Chris Brown has finally left the Philippines but not without last-minute complications at the end of a three-day ordeal. The 26-year-old R&B artist sang at a packed concert in Manila on Tuesday, then was prevented from leaving the country because a fraud complaint filed against him and a promoter for a cancelled concert last New Year’s Eve. On Friday afternoon, Brown was finally able to obtain departure clearance, and invited Filipinos to join him at a party in Macau, where he performed at a nightclub that evening. “Manila, it was fun. I love y’all, man. If you can come to Macau, party tonight,” he said in a video posted on Instagram. But after he boarded, the flight was delayed for three hours because of a flight plan problem. Brown missed a concert in Hong Kong due to being stuck in the Philippines. The cancelled New Year’s Eve gig was due to be at an arena operated by a corporation owned by the politically influential Iglesia ni Cristo religious group. The complaint alleged Brown and promoter John Michael Pio Roda cancelled after being paid in full for a US $1 million contract. Organisers said they were told that Brown had lost his passport. Officials said Pio Roda was being held over allegations that he was working in the country without a permit and absconded from his debt. Because of that, Brown was required to obtain a departure clearance. – AP
