Rock star Mick Jagger and film director Martin Scorsese have teamed up for a new music-based drama series. Debuting on HBO in 2016, Vinyl is set in 1970s New York and follows the rise of the fictional record label American Century Roads in the vibrant disco and punk era. Bobby Cannavale of Boardwalk Empire fame, House star Olivia Wilde and Jagger's son James will also be a part of the project. The Sopranos and The Wolf of Wall Street writer Terence Winter has been hired to work on the script. The project marks Jagger's and Scorsese's second collaboration after the 2008 Rolling Stones music documentary Shine a Light. – The National Staff
New animation festival coming to Dubai in December
The dates for the first edition of Animate Dubai, the GCC's first international festival of animation, have been announced, following a postponement earlier in the year. The festival will now take place from December 3 to 5 in Dubai's new Design District and promises a weekend packed with animated films, talks, fun activities for all ages and a chance to meet animation pioneers from around the world. The festival is the brainchild of Lina Younes, founder and director of Dubai's Animation Chamber. "In the past three years, we have grown and looked after a dormant sector here in the UAE, cropping up considerable talent and stimulating creative potential across a range of animation practices and techniques," she said. "The time has come to bring a punctual, tangible showcase of quality animation to UAE-based makers and fans alike." Animate Dubai is supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and has partnered with d3, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Film and TV Commission, and some of the world's greatest animation festivals, such as Annecy (France), Ta7rik (Tunisia), and Cyber Sousa (China). Animate Dubai will also work with UAE universities to encourage the participation of emerging local talent. Submissions are open until August 20. Visit www.animatedubai.com. – The National staff
Mission: Impossible 6 in the works
With the fifth instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise due to release in the UAE on Thursday, Tom Cruise has already confirmed that a sixth instalment is on the way. Speaking on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Cruise said: "We're starting to work on it now. We'll probably start shooting it next summer." There is no word yet on who will take the director's chair for the new film. The Mission: Impossible movies boasted a new director for each part with Brian De Palma, John Woo, J J Abrams, Brad Bird and, most recently, Christopher McQuarrie at the helm for each version, respectively. Check out Arts & Life on Thursday for our review and an interview with the cast of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and director McQuarrie. – The National Staff
Paul McCartney praises the late Cilla Black
Tributes have poured in honour of British singer and television personality Cilla Black who passed away on Sunday. Paul McCartney, who first met Black following a Beatles performance at Liverpool's famed Cavern described her as possessing "a fun-loving dignity that made her a great pleasure to be around". Sir Cliff Richard said: "I will always think of her as outrageous, funny, incredibly gifted but above all full of heart." After establishing herself as a music star during the 1960s, Black went on to host popular and long running entertainment programs in the United Kingdom such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. She passed away at the age of 72 in her home in Spain. – The National Staff.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to make screen comeback
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is returning to the big screen after a five year break with Sanjay Gupta's Jazbaa. The actress praised the cast for making her feel at home after her long absence. "You will see me more often now," she said when asked about her reason of not doing films for so long. Bachchan was in Mumbai to walk the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra at the grand-finale of Amazon India Couture Week. "It's lovely working with everyone in Jazbaa as the cast is so wonderful. From Irrfan Khan to Shabanaji (Shabana Azmi), everyone was lovely. I never felt the gap," added Aishwarya, who took a four year- break from the big screen to raise her daughter Aaradhya. The actress was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish in 2010. — IANS
