Susan Sarandon reveals Hollywood ‘blacklisting’ over Palestine comments
Veteran actress, 78, was criticized over remarks at New York City rally last November
She was dropped by her agency and had projects canceled
Updated 10 November 2024
Arab News
LONDON: US actress Susan Sarandon has spoken out about being “blacklisted” by Hollywood following her comments at a pro-Palestine demonstration last year.
In an interview with The Times, the longtime activist, 78, said that she was dropped by her agency and had projects canceled following the New York City rally in November.
At the event, she told the crowd that a lot of people were “afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence,” The Independent reported.
Though she issued an apology following criticism over her words, Sarandon said that she had “been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.”
She added: “There are so many people out of work right now (since) November of last year … who have lost their jobs as custodians, as writers, as painters, as people working in the cafeteria, substitute teachers who have been fired because they tweeted something, or liked a tweet, or asked for a ceasefire.”
Sarandon’s agent also departed following the furore, she told The Times.
On whether she would ever be offered roles on big-budget films again, Sarandon said: “I don’t know. (Not) anything in Hollywood.”
Since the rally, the veteran actress has continued to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In her apology over the rally remarks, Sarandon said: “I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment.
“It was my intent to show solidarity to the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.”
The UN’s Human Rights Office this week said that almost 70 percent of confirmed Palestinian deaths in Gaza were women and children.
It accused Israel of failing to “comply with the fundamental principles of humanitarian law.”
Jude Law stars, but ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ lets kids take the lead
Showrunners and stars discuss the latest Disney+ TV show
Updated 55 sec ago
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: “Skeleton Crew” — the latest TV series from the “Star Wars” universe to land on the Disney+ platform — ignores the lofty narrative goals of previous efforts like “Andor” and “The Mandalorian” to offer something altogether simpler — and more fun: a children’s adventure story.
“I think there’s something beautiful in the eyes of the children being our eyes and seeing the world of ‘Star Wars’ in its complexity — the threat, the potential, the adventure, the potential for heroics, the potential for drama, the humor, the absurdity — through them. I just find that very refreshing, and I hope people embrace it,” series star Jude Law — who plays the mysterious cad Jod Na Nawood — said at a recent media roundtable at which Arab News was the sole regional representative.
“Skeleton Crew” introduces four young troublemakers: Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), who secretly dreams of being a Jedi one day; Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), Wim’s blue elephant-y best buddy and resident goody-two-shoes; Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), the rebellious, high-achieving daughter of a local official; and KB (Kyriana Kratter), Fern’s tech-whiz bestie.
When Wim discovers a mysterious object buried in the woods close to their neighborhood, the four kids are whisked off on a galaxy-spanning adventure as they try to make their way back home, crossing paths with the likes of Law’s Jod.
Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) in ‘Skeleton Crew.’ (Disney)
For 13-year-old Cabot-Conyers, Wim was easy to get a handle on; he said he has been fascinated by Jedis for as long as he can remember.
“Wim really desperately wants an adventure, because he’s stuck in the suburbs, he’s not exactly happy with it. He wants to be a Jedi. The idea of that, to him, is so fascinating. And I thought the Jedi were so cool too. That’s what actually drew me to the ‘Star Wars’ universe, Luke Skywalker interested me so much, and playing that into my performances as Wim really, really helped,” he said.
Series creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford have had the idea for “Skeleton Crew” for a while, they explained.
“Ford and I both love ‘Star Wars,’” said Watts, “and felt like we had a story to tell that worked well in that universe should we ever be given the opportunity.”
Ford added: “We had always talked about a Jude Law-like character named Jod — that’s probably why we thought of that name. And we couldn’t believe it, when we reached out to him, that no one has asked him to be in ‘Star Wars’ yet. We were the first ones to ask. And it turns out he’s a huge, huge ‘Star Wars’ fan. We gave him a little bit of a background of the project and his character, and he was all in.”
For Law, the original “Star Wars” movie, released in 1977, offered a new way of looking at entertainment. “I just have a recollection of the impact of this film on my life and on my family. No one had ever seen anything like it — the bravery of it, the vision and the realization of this incredibly imaginative universe.”
Aside from George Lucas’ sci-fi franchise, “Skeleton Crew” also owes a debt to Steven Spielberg’s early Amblin Entertainment movies, with comparisons already being made to the classic 1985 coming-of-age movie “The Goonies.”
“I don’t think we ever consciously thinking, ‘Oh, let’s make this like Amblin,” said Ford. “But what’s really amazing about the Amblin films — and a lot of the films from that time period — is that they weren’t afraid to let kids be the protagonists, and they didn’t talk down to the kids, and they weren’t afraid to put the kids in real danger. We grew up with those films and we knew we wanted to do something similar. I think it’s just always been in our DNA. When you’re trying to tell an authentic story about a group of kids, you know, you go back to the best films.”
Kratter believes the show has something for everyone, age no bar.
“‘Skeleton Crew’ is kind of like a perfect ‘on ramp’ for a new generation of ‘Star Wars’ fans,” she said. “And not only that, it’s also going to be great their parents, because of its Amblin style, and hopefully they can get a sense of nostalgia from watching the show and also get to see a bunch of Easter eggs in there.”
Ed Sheeran to headline Abu Dhabi’s Offlimits Music Festival in 2025
Updated 04 December 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is scheduled to headline Abu Dhabu’s Offlimits Music Festival on April 26, 2024.
The popular performer — known for his electrifying live performances and chart-topping tracks such as “Perfect,” “Shape of You,” and “Photograph” — will bring his biggest tracks and charisma to the Offlimits stage.
Joining Sheeran will head a lineup of yet-to-be-announced international and regional talent. Whether you are a fan of pop, indie, hip-hop, or electronic, Offlimits aims to provide something for everyone.
The festival — brought to Abu Dhabi by Theory Eleven Entertainment, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Miral — also promises to deliver “cutting-edge visuals and immersive art installations.”
KARACHI: For over seven decades, the Bundoo Khan Restaurant has been a culinary landmark in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, delighting generations of food lovers with its signature kebabs, sizzling chicken tikkas and crunchy parathas.
Founded in 1948 by Al Hajj Bundoo Khan, a migrant from Meerut in present day India, the restaurant began as a humble barbecue stall on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, then known as Bandar Road, using family recipes passed down from a maternal uncle.
While the eatery was a hit from the beginning, it gained visibility when its innovative approach to grilling and marinating caught the eye of General Ayub Khan, who served as the president of Pakistan from 1958 until his resignation in 1969. Becoming a favorite of the president turned the small eatery into the talk of the town, and it began to draw large crowds from all walks of life.
“My father can be called the founder of barbecue [in Karachi],” Akber Bundoo Khan, the founder’s 62-year-old son, told Arab News.
“No one knew how to make tikka [like him], how kebabs were made, how parathas were made or how halwa was made.”
Indeed, barbeque has become synonymous with the Bundoo Khan name in Karachi, cementing its reputation as a must-visit destination for the city’s residents and a gathering place for politicians, government officials, actors and singers.
“This brand has been around for 76 years,” said Waqar Mehmood, Bundoo Khan’s grandson who oversees a branch in the city’s Sindhi Muslim area.
“When we first set up an exhibition [during the first few decades], the first person to visit was [Pakistan’s former president] Ayub Khan who gave us the first prize and a gold medal for our barbecue.”
Mehmood spoke about visits to the restaurant by General Ayub Khan’s family, as well as Pakistan’s former first lady Ranaa Liaquat Ali Khan, ex-premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the now jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Legendary Pakistani actors like Muhammad Ali, Zeba and Waheed Murad were also loyal patrons and iconic singer Noor Jehan continued to request Bundoo Khan’s food until her last days before she passed away in 2000.
“Every day, I would personally take her double-spiced chicken tikka and six kebabs to the hospital,” he said.
The restaurant’s influence has also been immortalized in Pakistani music, with songs like Ahmed Rushdi’s 1954 hit “Bandar Road Se Keamari” and Mehdi Hassan’s 1977 track “Makhan Jesi Larki,” both mentioning the eatery.
Pakistani TV and film actor Behroze Sabzwari recalled childhood memories of visiting the original branch on MA Jinnah Road and meeting the restaurant’s founder, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 105.
“I lived and grew up in the area right behind the Bundoo Khan [Restaurant] in Jacob Line,” he told Arab News. “It wasn’t much, but you could get tikka for just 10 or 15 rupees [$0.05] and everything else as well. And believe me, the taste from those days of that halwa, that tikka, those kebabs, that paratha still lingers with me to this day.”
Asad Sohail, an engineer and regular customer, also recalled visiting Bundoo Khan as a child with his father and grandfather, saying dinner at the restaurant was a must after a night out at the movies.
“We used to come here with my grandfather, wearing shorts, when we were little. Then, as kids, we came with our father,” he said.
“Their barbecue, I haven’t tasted anything like it anywhere in Pakistan. It’s truly unique. Their kebabs are so tender, the marination is perfect, and the tikka, what can I say? It’s completely different from anything else.”
Today, while the restaurant keeps attracting new customers at all its branches in Karachi and across Pakistan as well as in Dubai and Madinah, the first branch on MA Jinnah Road has seen a decline in clients in recent years due to a rise in crime in the area.
Still, Akber Bundoo Khan’s son insists the original location will never shut down.
“This is our asset,” he said. “The flavor that started here has spread all over the world. It’s because of this taste that we’re famous ... Our identity, our entire legacy, has been built from here.”
Prominent artworks at Riyadh Metro stations blend daily life, creativity
Masterpieces transform the daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture and creativity
Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has seamlessly integrated art into the urban fabric
Updated 03 December 2024
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: Riyadh Art, one of the world’s largest public art programs, has unveiled four monumental public artworks with the launch of the Riyadh Metro, transforming stations into cultural landmarks.
At the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, designed by the internationally acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects, Alexander Calder’s “Janey Waney” takes center stage.
The lofty and colorful sculpture exemplifies Calder’s pioneering spirit in kinetic art, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors.
Nearby, Robert Indiana’s “LOVE (Red Outside Blue Inside)” — one of the world’s most recognizable artworks — captivates visitors with its vibrant interplay of color and universal themes of connection and hope.
Together, these masterpieces transform the daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture and creativity.
At the Qasr Al-Hokm Downtown Metro Station, designed by the renowned architectural firm Snohetta, Ugo Rondinone’s “The Sun” makes a striking golden centerpiece, symbolizing energy and renewal.
Complementing this is Zaman Jassim’s “When the Moon is Full,” a reflective and poetic piece inspired by Riyadh’s cultural heritage.
“These permanent artworks embody our vision of transforming Riyadh into an open-air gallery that enriches the quality of life and fosters a deeper connection between people and art,” said architect Khalid Al-Hazani, executive director of Riyadh Art.
“By collaborating with some of the most creative minds of our time, we’re not just adding art to public spaces — we’re creating cultural landmarks that inspire and engage generations,” he added.
Al-Hazani told Arab News: “The beautiful thing is that there is a specialized program under Riyadh Art dedicated to installing artworks in all 85 stations that we’ve already selected, which will be produced and placed within the upcoming year.”
Led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Riyadh Art is championing cultural innovation and economic diversification, and positioning the Kingdom’s capital as a global center for contemporary art and culture.
Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has seamlessly integrated art into the urban fabric, displaying over 500 artworks by more than 500 local and international artists, hosting more than 6,000 community engagement activities, and engaging more than 6 million visitors.
As the program continues to expand, the number of artworks and initiatives is expected to grow significantly, fostering a sense of community, enriching the city’s identity, and elevating Riyadh’s standing as a global arts destination.
Billboard Arabia Music Awards to present more than 40 prizes in Riyadh this month
Updated 03 December 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: The inaugural edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards — which will take place on Dec. 11 at the King Fahad Cultural Centre, as part of the first edition of Riyadh Music Week — will present awards in more than 40 categories, organizers announced.
Some of the categories include Top Artist, Song of the Year, Best in Dialect Charts, and Top New Artist of the Year.
With 210 nominations and 96 artists covering top songs, artists, composers, songwriters, and producers, Al Shami leads the nomination count with 14, while other prominent stars such as Assala Nasri, Ahmad Saad, Tamer Ashour, alongside Elissa, Dystinct, Ayed and Tul8te, are also nominated.
The event will feature musical performances by some of the most prominent artists in the region and the world, including Elissa, Dystinct, Ahmed Saad, Ayed and Tul8te, among others.
The event celebrates established and emerging regional talents, as well as the songs that have gained wide popularity on the trusted Billboard Arabia charts, including the “100 Artists” and “Hot 100” charts, and genre-specific and dialect-specific charts.
Billboard Arabia and the inaugral Billboard Arabia Music Awards is a result of a partnership between SRMG and Billboard. With Saudi Arabia’s live events market projected to surpass $1 billion by 2025 and streaming platforms in the region experiencing annual growth rates of between 10 percent and 15 percent, Billboard Arabia is poised to shape the regional and global music scene, driving economic growth and fostering creative expression.
Mike Van, the president of Billboard, expressed pride in the strategic partnership with SRMG, saying in a statement: “The Billboard Music Awards is globally recognized as the pinnacle of musical achievement, celebrating artists for their chart success and industry impact. We are excited to bring this legacy and vision to the MENA region, shining a spotlight on the incredible talent and musical excellence of local artists. This collaboration provides them with a unique platform to amplify their presence on a global stage.
“Winning a Billboard Arabia Music Award is a significant milestone in an artist’s career, one that can significantly accelerate their journey and open new doors for success,” he added.
Rami Zeidan, managing director of Billboard Arabia, described the event as historic: “Shaping new cultural trends in music has always been a fundamental part of Billboard’s pioneering philosophy.”
He highlighted that “the Billboard Arabia charts reflect our steadfast commitment to empowering the next generation of musical talent and celebrating the music that deeply influences listeners’ tastes and shapes the evolving music landscape.”
Zeidan further stated that “the music industry in the MENA region is experiencing unprecedented growth and rapid expansion, making it a focal point for global music platforms.”
