Saturday, May 30, 2015

TV ALERT : PINEWOOD : 80 YEARS OF MOVIE MAGIC ... BBC 2 ... SATURDAY JUNE 6TH 2015 ..


Saturday 6 June
9.00pm-10.30pm
BBC TWO
In this special documentary, Jonathan Ross takes viewers on a personal tour behind the scenes of Britain’s most iconic studios, bringing the extraordinary Pinewood story to life and celebrating 80 years of British filmmaking.
In 1935 the original British movie maverick, flour magnate J. Arthur Rank, began work on his greatest dream: a British film studio that would be the best in the world. Eighty years on, Pinewood Studios has become one of the most famous in cinema, the beating heart of the UK’s film industry and an artery that runs through the story of British film heritage.
At the heart of the programme is Jonathan Ross’s exploration of this iconic studio. He tells the story behind some of Britain’s greatest film moments and reveals the magic behind the movies in some special sequences: he even gets behind the wheel himself to attempt an audacious car stunt, learns how to choreograph a musical sequence from The Muppets Most Wanted, before staging an ambitious underwater action sequence in the fabled underwater stage complete with burning wreckage and a damsel in distress! Jonathan will also encounter the ‘Pinewood people’, who have worked there past and present and the stars who helped make Pinewood great.
Barbara Windsor will take Jonathan on a golf buggy tour of the back lots to discover what it was like making classic comedy at Pinewood. Together they explore the exact sites where Barbara did some vigorous exercises for Carry On Camping and see how Heatherden Hall was transformed to a British Raj villa for Carry On Up The Khyber.
Inside the grand Hall itself Dame Joan Collins will reveal the secrets of J Arthur Rank’s determination to discover and nurture young stars as she returns to the very room where legendary publicity photographer Cornel Lucas spent weeks creating her iconic brand.
“I was very bohemian. I wore black polo necks, I wore no lipstick and black eye-liner with bags under my eyes,” Dame Joan tells a new documentary about the history of Pinewood film studios.
“I went to jazz clubs all the time and I smoked cigarettes.
So when they brought me to the studios and started to tart me up and put lipstick on me and do my hair I wasn’t really thrilled about that.
I would rub it all off, take it all off when I went home and put my civvies on.”
In Pinewood: 80 Years Of Movie Magic, Joan,  also recalls being shot by famed photographer Cornel Lucas.
Confronted with a picture of herself in a tight jumper, she exclaims: “That’s ridiculous, why did we do that?
What kind of bra is that? It’s really embarrassing.”
Jonathan will watch a special screening of Sir John Mills in Great Expectations with none other than his daughter Hayley Mills, who followed in her father’s footstep and began her own acting career as a child at Pinewood in films such as Whistle Down The Wind.
But of course no tour of Pinewood would be complete without a 007 moment; Jonathan is joined by the woman who keeps Bond in check, Miss Moneypenny herself Naomie Harris, before sneaking on the set of the latest Bond instalment SPECTRE, to meet the man behind the myth, executive producer Michael J Wilson.
Maverick director Matthew Vaughn will also share his own memories of the ambitious blockbusters he has created at the studio, from Kickass to Kingsman - he understands more than most why Pinewood remains the only studio of choice for epic productions.
With rare behind the scenes archive from the BFI, Pinewood: 80 Years of Movie Magic, is a shameless celebration of British cinema and the incredible survival story of a studio that constantly reinvents itself.

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterJonathan Ross
Interviewed GuestJoan Collins
Interviewed GuestBarbara Windsor
DirectorJohn Hodgson
Executive ProducerPauline Law

Broadcasts

  • Sat 6 Jun 201521:00
    BBC TWO EXCEPTNORTHERN IRELAND,WALES
  • Sat 6 Jun 201522:00
    BBC TWO NORTHERN IRELAND, WALES ONLY

EVENT ALERT : MOLLY MOON .. THE SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL .. MAY 30TH TO MAY 31ST 2015 ..

Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism

United Kingdom | 2015 | 98 minutes | Christopher N. Rowley

Based on the popular children’s fantasy novels by Georgia Byng, Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism is the story of a young English orphan girl who finds a mysterious book on hypnosis in the town’s library. Ages 6+
Schedule
May 30, 2015
Lincoln Square Cinemas  
1:00 PM Buy
May 31, 2015
SIFF Cinema Uptown Festival  
11:00 AM Buy

When curious orphan Molly Moon finds a mysterious book entitled “Hypnotism: An Ancient Art Explained” in her small town’s library, she has a sneaking suspicion everything at the run-down Hardwick House Orphanage is about to change. First step, test out her new skills on the headmistress’s grouchy dog Petula. Next up, convince the head chef to stop feeding them slop and start cooking exclusively delicious Italian dishes instead. Finally, use her new hypnotism powers to get to London, become famous, and find her best friend Rocky, who was adopted by a man and woman who couldn’t possibly replace her as his real family. If only that nutty, mustachioed crook would stop following her around trying to get his grubby hands on her book. Based on the popular children’s fantasy novels by British author Georgia Byng, Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism is a modern-day Annie with a magical twist, spinning a heartfelt and adventurous tale about what family really means.

Director Biography
Christopher N. Rowley is an American film maker who directed the 2006 star-studded road movie, Bonneville, starring Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange. Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism is Rowley’s third feature film.

Sponsored by KOMO-TV, Pagliacci Pizza, The Maxwell Hotel

Director: Christopher N. Rowley
Principal Cast: Emily Watson, Ann-Marie Duff, Leslie Manville, Raffey Cassidy, Joan Collins
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2015
Running Time: 98 minutes

Thursday, May 28, 2015

PRESS UPDATE : THIS IS OUR TOWN GUILDFORD .. MAY 28TH 2015 ..

Afternoon tea sees £45,000 raised for Shooting Star Chase


A Shooting Star Chase afternoon tea event, hosted by new Vice President Simon Cowell at The Dorchester in London, raised £45,000 for the leading children’s hospice charity.
Last week (May 22) the charity announced that the music mogul had accepted the offer of becoming their new Vice President as recognition of his tireless work in raising funds and awareness for the charity.
Cowell said: “It is a huge honour to have been asked to be Vice President of Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice. Everyone involved in the charity does an amazing job caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions as well as supporting their families.”
The Dorchester event marked the 10th anniversary of the opening of Shooting Star House in Hampton, one of two Shooting Star Chase hospices.
To raise funds for the charity, which needs £9.5 million a year to keep the care service running, a raffle and an auction was held, and the prizes included a box at the O2 Arena to see One Direction, a private film screening for 125 guests at a Cineworld cinema, and tickets in a box in the presence of HRH The Countess of Wessex for Lead Belly Fest at the Royal Albert Hall with Van Morrison, Jools Holland and special guests.
Attending the event was several celebrities including, the charity’s Patron, Dame Joan Collins; Brian McFadden and his wife, Vogue Williams; TV presenter Matt Johnson; Duncan James; Arlene Phillips; Sinitta and last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner, Collabro.
Karen Sugarman, Director of Fundraising at Shooting Star Chase, said: “The afternoon tea at The Dorchester was a fantastic event and we are eternally grateful to Simon for hosting, and to all our supporters and celebrity friends who joined our amazing families to celebrate Shooting Star House’s 10th birthday and raise crucial funds for the charity.
“We are so proud and honoured that Simon and Lauren have accepted their new roles at Shooting Star Chase. Their passion and commitment to our work is overwhelming and I know they will help us to continue to make a significant and lasting difference to what we do to help families in the most unimaginable of circumstances.”

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

EVENT UPDATE : THE ELEPHANT MAN ... VIP PREVIEW PARTY .. THE HAYMARKET HOTEL LONDON .. MAY 26TH 2015


Joan with George Hamilton.. Terry Allen Kramer.. Mila Mulroney & Peggy Siegel

A moving night of theatre with the highly acclaimed and much anticipated Broadway production of The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper, Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola.
“…sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams. Because it is.”
Jospeph Merrick, The Elephant Man
Joan with Bradley Cooper



Joan with Fran & Mercy Cutler



Joan with Terry Allen Kramer
Joan chats to the show's star Bradley Cooper

PHOTO OF THE DAY : TIMELESS JOAN IS AHEAD IN THE BEAUTY STAKES!

This sensational shot was taken backstage at QVC on Sunday between Joan's sell out 'Timeless Beauty' presentations .. Thanks to Mark Cain for sharing ...

Monday, May 25, 2015

TV UPDATE : THE PAUL O'GRADY SHOW ... ITV1 .. MONDAY MAY 25TH 2015 ..

Joan with Paul and Ricky Hatton
Joan enjoyed her appearance on today's edition of 'The Paul O'Grady Show' .. Thanks to Alyn Waterman for the shots!
Paul salutes the Dame!

TV UPDATE : TIMELESS BEAUTY ON QVC UK .. SUNDAY 24TH MAY 2015 ..

Joan had a sell out appearance on QVC UK earlier, looking sensational as ever..
Joan with Alison Keenan
Joan with Jill Franks

Sunday, May 24, 2015

TV ALERT : THE PAUL O'GRADY SHOW .. ITV1 .. MONDAY 25TH MAY 2015 ..

Paul knows how to treat a Dame in this 2011 appearance on his show..
Joan will be Paul O'Grady's special guest on Monday's edition of his teatime chat show on ITV1 at 5:00pm...

PRESS UPDATE : I AM WOMAN .. STEPHEN MATTHEWS PERFUME BLOG.. MAY 24TH 2015

I AM WOMAN ... Hear me purr Stephan Matthews
Fifteen years after the launch of her last perfume, Spectacular, Joan Collins returned to the stage with I AM WOMAN. The fragrance premiered on 28th February 2014, so a year on I think it's time to revisit and see whether the lady has aged gracefully.

The perfume is part of a wider range called "Joan Collins Timeless Beauty", which also includes makeup and skincare, and was initially exclusively sold through QVC. Don't pull that face, QVC is now a major cosmetics outlet and companies ignore it at their peril; they can launch, maintain and promote any brand which takes their fancy.

Described as "a declaration of the power and strength of femininity", this is no shoulder-padded scent from the eighties like Spectacular, instead we meet a beautifully fresh floral with a silklike trail.

You are hit straight away by the most exquisite citrus blend of fruits, zest and peel. There is no fruit-juice sharpness here but rather a mouthwatering freshness. The delicate peach, and it really is delicate, helps to draw you down to the floral heart which again is perfectly balanced. You don't get an overtly floral rush because it is tempered with a clever aromatic blend, before you're pulled down to a glorious sandalwood and cedar.

Don't be deceived by its classification as an Oriental Floral, this scent has a wonderfully dry woody quality which sits happily alongside the amber base. It also contains musk, vanilla, tonka bean and a carefully measured patchouli.

You have all the qualities of a beautifully modern feminine fragrance, but the addition of the moss and the overdose of cedar adds a definite boldness to the blend. It is a perfect interpretation of Joan Collins' take on femininity ... An absolute lady, but underneath there is a strength and a bite that means she is always in control.

It is available as a 12ml and 50ml EDP from her website and

TV ALERT : THE PAUL O'GRADY SHOW ... ITV1 .... MONDAY 25TH .. 5:00PM...

Paul knows how to treat a Dame in this 2011 appearance on his show..
Just to mention that Joan will be Paul O'Grady's special guest on Monday's edition of his teatime chat show on ITV1 at 5:00pm...

Saturday, May 23, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN ..... THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DAME!


Today we celebrate the birthday of a truly iconic Star as our very special leading lady made a spectacular entrance in Bayswater nursing home, in north west London, to Joe and Elsa Collins. Joan's South African born dad was a well respected theatrical agent and ran the Collins & Grade agency with partner Lew Grade, who would one day be a Sir and the most famous agent and entertainment producer in  London. Joan's parents lived in a flat in Maida Vale, which was close to Regent's Park. She made her stage debut in a production of "Why The Fairies Cried" and she joined Cone-Ripman theatrical school at aged twelve and soon after was chosen to appear in a London production of Ibesn's "A Dolls House". Joan was determined to be an actress and longed to make it on stage, but dad Joe knew how difficult the business of show is and wanted her to be a secretary. Joan however was adament and wanted  to join the legendary RADA ...Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and persuaded him to let her audition for a place in the school. If that failed she would take up a position as a secretary! Needless to say
Joan was accepted and the rest they say is history! From her first screen appearance, albeit fleetingly in "Lady Godiva Rides Again" to her upcoming release "Molly Moon", Joan is rarely out of the limelight and hopefully the best is yet to come! Whatever the project, be it a film, television, stage, book or product, it will almost certainly have that gloss of glamour we come to love and expect from a true legendary star of stage and screen. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAME JOAN!

Friday, May 22, 2015

EVENT UPDATE : THE SHOOTING STAR CHASE AFTERNOON TEA .. THE DORCHESTER .. MAY 22ND 2015 ..

Joan was the star guest at a charity afternoon tea in aid of Shooting Star Chase at The Dorchester earlier... Joan who is patron of the charity was joined by other celebrities including Simon Cowell .. Sinitta .. Arlene Phillips and others... 

TV ALERT: TIMELESS BEAUTY ON QVC UK .. SUNDAY MAY 24TH 2015 .. 6PM & 10PM ..

Don't forget to tune into QVC UK this Sunday as Joan will be presenting her Timeless Beauty Range with some fabulous new additions including a new lipstick & nail laquer 'Katrina' named after the sultry chanteuse cum spy Katrina Pertrovna in the 1986 miniseries 'Monte Carlo'...

Thursday, May 21, 2015

PHOTO OF THE DAY : EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED FROM THOSE COLLINS GIRLS!

Joan discover 'A Girl Can't Always Have Everything' in this scene from 'Tales of the Unexpected' with Pauline Collins, who will also star alongside Joan in the upcoming film. 'The Time Of Their Lives'..

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

PHOTO OF THE DAY : THE LOOK FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE GOWN AND OUT!

This sensational shot features the ladies of 'The Opposite Sex' from the MGM film release in which Joan played the ultra vixen Crystal Allen which was a remake of the Joan Crawford film 'The Women'.. Also in the shot is June Allyson .. Dolores Gray ... Anne Sheridan .. Ann Miller & Joan Blondell ...

PHOTO OF THE DAY : IT'S A SET UP FOR JOAN AND ORSON!

This rare shot features Joan on set of the 1972 tv play 'The Man Who Came To Dinner' with co-star Orson Welles.. You can see the crew setting up the scene..

Sunday, May 17, 2015

EVENT ALERT : ONE NIGHT WITH JOAN .. SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS .. ARIZONA .. FEBRUARY 13TH 2016 ..

One Night With Joan Collinsperf-15-16-40th-celebrate

Sat, Feb 13, 2016
8:00 pm 
 
 

 
Buy Four: Save $4 on each ticket when you buy four or more eligible events in one order.
Member: Duet members and above save $6 off single premium tickets. Member tickets not available online; call 480-499-TKTS (8587) to join and order tickets.

About This Event

Joan Collins possesses a star quality that circles the globe. In five decades, she has come to define what it means to be a living legend. As an accomplished actress, author, producer, humanitarian and entrepreneur, she has built a career that places her in the unrivaled ranks of international superstar and icon. In this candid and highly entertaining one-woman show, Collins, as glamorous as ever, shares behind-the-scenes stories and videos, including rarely seen outtakes, from her amazing showbiz career.
A Golden Globe winner, Collins has appeared in more than 65 feature films and dozens of television series, including creating the role of Alexis Carrington onDynasty, one of the most highly rated television dramas of all time. Her novels and memoirs have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 30 languages. She is recognized world-wide as a fashion maven of timeless beauty, and is a regular diarist for The Spectator and a contributor to The Daily Mail,The Telegraph, The Times and Harper's Bazaar. On stage, Collins has performed on Broadway, the West End and in national tours in the United Kingdom and North America. On the humanitarian front, she is devoted to the well-being of women, children and families, and regularly lends her support and celebrity to causes that include finding a cure breast cancer and empowering children with learning disabilities. In 1997, in recognition of a lifetime of contributions to the arts, culture and charitable causes, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II honored Collins with the title Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.).
“Glamorous Joan Collins is as gorgeous onstage as she is offstage ... It was a wonderful, charming and humorous one-woman show. She held the audience in her hand captivated by her stories, secrets and scandals. Nobody wanted it to end; it was that fabulously fascinating.” – Las Vegas Sun
perf-15-16-40th-celebrate