‘Blue Beetle’ unseats ‘Barbie’ atop box office, ending four-week reign
NEW YORK — The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” led weekend ticket sales with a modest $25.4 million opening, according to studio estimates Sunday, dethroning “Barbie” from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters colored pink for a month.
Oprah, Stevie Nicks, Paris Hilton: Celebs are shellacked for responses to Maui disaster
Following the devastating wildfires that started in the Lahaina region of the Hawaiian island of Maui, several celebrities have been criticized for how they have responded to the historic tragedy.
Wiwo‘ole Maui benefit concert to be livestreamed Saturday
Maui, HI – Wiwo‘ole in native Hawaiian means ‘fearless, brave, bold, and courageous.’ In this historic occurrence of unprecedented and catastrophic loss, the unifying and healing power of mele (music) has summoned Maui’s celebrated recording artists and halau to gather for the Wiwo‘ole Maui Benefit Concert (Livestream) on Saturday, August 19, 2023 live-streamed from Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Wiwo‘ole #MauiStrong is dedicated to raising essential disaster relief funds urgently needed to support and sustain the victims of the August 8 Maui wildfires that affected communities across the island and devastated the historic town of Lahaina (traditionally known as Malu’ulu’olele).
Fiction writers fear the rise of AI, but also see it as a story to tell
NEW YORK — For a vast number of book writers, artificial intelligence is a threat to their livelihood and the very idea of creativity.
Hip-hop turns 50, reinventing itself and swaths of the world along the way
It was born in the break, all those decades ago — that moment when a song’s vocals dropped, instruments quieted down and the beat took the stage. It was then that hip-hop came into the world, taking the moment and reinventing it. Something new, coming out of something familiar.
William Friedkin, Oscar-winning director of ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The French Connection,’ dead at 87
LOS ANGELES — William Friedkin, the generation-defining director who brought a visceral realism to 1970s hits “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist” and was quickly anointed one of Hollywood’s top directors when he was only in his 30s, has died. He was 87.
Dungeons & Dragons tells illustrators to stop using AI to generate artwork for fantasy franchise
The Dungeons &Dragons role-playing game franchise says it won’t allow artists to use artificial intelligence technology to draw its cast of sorcerers, druids and other characters and scenery.
‘Barbie’ joins $1 billion club, breaks another record for female directors
Greta Gerwig should be feeling closer to fine these days. In just three weeks in theaters, “Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who helmed “Wonder Woman.”
Actor Mark Margolis, murderous drug kingpin on ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul,’ dies at 83
NEW YORK (AP) — Veteran character actor Mark Margolis, who had a breakout role as a mobster in “Scarface” but became best known decades later for his indelible, fearsome portrayal of a vindictive former drug kingpin in TV’s “Breaking Bad,” has died. He was 83.
Kona dance and performing arts dances into 8 years of excellence
HAWAII ISLAND- Kona Dance and Performing Arts is about to begin their 8th season in Kealakekua as one of the premier performing arts centers on Hawai’i Island. This Saturday August 5th, they are holding a keiki friendly open house from 10am to 4pm offering free classes, performances, crafts, and face painting. This season they will offer an average of 25 classes for ages three to adult in 2 main sessions and fill an average of 182 class slots in each session. Kona Dance’s mission is to provide high quality education and instruction in dance and performing arts to the local youth and the Big Island Community. Their vision is empowering families through dance and performing arts.
Bill Jaeger is Kailua Village Artists featured artist in August
The Kailua Village Artists featured member artist for the month of August is stained glass artist Bill Jaeger.
Blue Sea Artisans featured artist in August is Chad Gray
The Blue Sea Artisans Gallery featured artist for the month of August is reclaimed wood artist Chad Gray.
Santana tribute featuring Larry Dupio coming to Palace Theatre
A Tribute to Carlos Santana featuring Lightning Larry Dupio is on August 12, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Hilo Palace Theatre. He will be backed by a group of the Big Island’s finest musicians: Yumbel Marassi, Noa Eads, Josh Timmons, Trevor Veilleux, Leo Brayman, Reggae McGowen and Jason Sherbundy.
The stars of Broadway’s ‘Back to the Future’ musical happily speed into the past every night
NEW YORK — When actor Casey Likes watched “Back to the Future” growing up, his mom would always say he reminded her a lot of the film’s star, Michael J. Fox. Something in the universe agrees: He’s taken on Fox’s classic movie role on Broadway.
Pee-wee Herman actor and creator Paul Reubens dies from cancer at 70
LOS ANGELES — Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian whose Pee-wee Herman character — an overgrown child with a tight gray suit and an unforgettable laugh — became a 1980s pop cultural phenomenon, has died at 70.
The ‘Barbie’ bonanza continues at the box office, ‘Oppenheimer’ holds the No. 2 spot
NEW YORK — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Musicians deal with stingy streamers and AI threats, too. So why aren’t they on strike?
LOS ANGELES — Every day, Joey DeFrancesco hears from fellow musicians who see actors and screenwriters on strike, and wish they were on a picket line too.
Aloha theatre presents toil and trouble
Aloha Theatre will present Lauren Gunderson’s Toil and Trouble on stage at the Aloha Theatre for three weekends in August. Toil and Trouble is an unexpected, fantastical, and funny take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
How David Bowie, long thought ambivalent to country music, became a writer on a Chris Young song
LOS ANGELES — Country star Chris Young’s latest single, “Young Love &Saturday Nights,” is a vivid love letter to summertime weekends, old trucks, dive bar bands, and crushes. And it might sound immediately familiar: The guitar lick that opens the track is lifted directly from David Bowie’s 1974 hit “Rebel Rebel.”
‘Barbie’ takes the box office crown and ‘Oppenheimer’ soars in a historic weekend
”Barbenheimer” didn’t just work – it spun box office gold. The social media-fueled fusion of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer ” brought moviegoers back to the theaters in record numbers this weekend, vastly outperforming projections and giving a glimmer of hope to the lagging exhibition business, amid the sobering backdrop of strikes.
