What follows is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.
Chris Rock will be the first comedian to perform live on Netflix
Netflix Inc said Thursday that comedian Chris Rock will be the first artist to perform live on the streaming platform. Netflix plans to launch more live streaming options soon, starting with unscripted series and stand-up specials. Rock’s live performance is the first to be presented by the entertainment service.
Disgraced former UK health minister seeks redemption in reality TV jungle
The only vote Britain’s humiliated former health minister is likely to win these days is being nominated to perform repellent tasks for food on a reality show set in the Australian jungle. Matt Hancock, who resigned from government after breaking his own COVID-19 distancing rules when he was caught kissing an attendee, is on “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” — where participants are tested with spiders and snakes and eating kangaroo testicles.
From prison to beating depression, rapper Fat Joe shares new memories
Recording artist Fat Joe shares the ups and downs of his life in his new book “The Book of Jose: A Memoir.” Born Joseph Cartagena, the rapper began his career in the early 1990s and found success with numerous hit songs including “Lean Back,” “What’s Luv?” and “All the way up”.
Alec Baldwin files lawsuit over fatal shooting on ‘Rust’
Actor Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit Friday against the gunsmith and three other crew members in the deadly shooting on the set of the western movie “Rust,” in which a gun Baldwin was using during rehearsal killed the director. of photography Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin’s lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court as a crossover lawsuit stemming from an earlier lawsuit in which a different crew member named Baldwin and the others as defendants.
Stories of trauma and resilience highlighted at a Palestinian film festival
The fate of a Palestinian girl forced into exile during Israel’s 1948 war of creation is unknown. But her story was given new life in a film about her experience that captured the big screen at this year’s Palestine Cinema Days festival. Hundreds of spectators flocked to the closing ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday to see “Farha,” a coming-of-age film inspired by true events of the conflict more than 70 years ago.
Disney plans to freeze hiring and cut some jobs, memo shows
Walt Disney Co plans to freeze hiring and cut some jobs as it works to make the Disney+ streaming service profitable amid economic uncertainty, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Friday. Chief Executive Bob Chapek sent the memo to Disney leaders, saying the company is instituting a targeted hiring freeze and anticipates “some small headcount reductions” as it seeks to manage costs.
(With contributions from agencies).