March BEAT

EMINEM: AN ACTOR?

It’s reported that the often controversial rapper Eminem has been
offered the role of the leading villain in the soon to be in production
motion picture, “Lazarus.”

    The movie was originally being tagged as the latest in the ongoing
“Crow” film franchise, but it seems the “Crow” folks have distanced
themselves from the project.

   Rapper DMX, who did a great job in the film “Exit Wounds,” is also said
to be attached to the film. As in his current film, DMX reportedly will
again be playing the hero. From what I hear, the storyline is about two
young men who are brought back from the dead not unlike the biblical
character, Lazarus.
brand new films...

    Miramax has acquired the rights to the new movie, “Tangled.” It is a
psychological thriller about a violent competition between two college guys.
It stars Shawn Hatosy, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Rachael Leigh Cook, Estella
Warren, and Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”).

    While there is not much information out on it yet, word is that Mike
Myers has entered negotiations to make a third Austin Powers movie for New
Line Cinema.

    Britney Spears has begun production on her first feature film, “What Are
Friends For?” The Tamra Davis film, shooting in Georgia and Louisiana, has
Spears playing one of a trio of former friends on a cross-country road trip
heading to Los Angeles for a music contest.

     There are two new horror film spoofs are in the works. Do we really need
more? Wasn’t two of them two too many? Obviously Hollywood doesn’t think
so. The first is the sequel to “Scary Movie” and stars Andy Richter, Chris
Elliott, Chris Masterson, Tim Curry, Tori Spelling and Kathleen Robertson.

   Lacey Chabert and Eric Christian Olsen will star in the second spoof,
“Teen Movie.”

SISQO TO ACT...

   Sisqo has stepped quickly into celebrity after having only one album. The
Thong king is adding both film and television series star to his resume. For
his silver screen debut, he got the starring role in the film, “Get Over
It.” It’s a romantic teen comedy where he plays a high school student named
Dennis who helps his best friend over the heartache of being dumped.

    Sisqo and classic Chicago comedian Bob Newhart will then team up for an
NBC-TV sitcom pilot. Sisqo will play the young, star of a hot new TV show.
Huh...a TV show about a TV show?

MUSIC NEWS...

   One of the songs pegged to follow the smash title cut as a single release
from, Survivor, the sophomore album by award-winning Destiny’s Child, will be
a cover of the Bee Gees’ old ‘70s hit, “Emotion.” The Bee Gees are known
for their strong three-part harmonies and so is Destiny’s Child.

     In addition to the trio’s new group album, member Kelly Rowland has a
solo cut called “Angel,” on the new Chris Rock film, “Down To Earth” and
Beyonce’ Knowles has been working on her first film, “Carmen Jones,” for MTV.

NEW TALENT ALERT

   The WB series “Popstars,” which was the female version of “Making Of The
Band,” has chosen the final five lucky ladies who will make up the group,
which will be known as Eden’s Crush.

   The winners are: Ana Maria Lombo, Maile Misajon, Nicole Scherzinger,
Ivette Sosa and Rosanna Tavarez. Their first single is called, “Get Over
Yourself.”
    I want to give you a “heads up” on a new all-girl country/pop vocal
group coming our way called, 3 Of Hearts.

   The members – Blaire Stround, Katie McNeill and Deserea Wasdin – hail
from right here in the Midwest. The trio from have landed a major label deal
and will have their first full length CD on retail racks by early June. The
first single pegged from their self-titled debut album is titled, “Love Is
Enough.”

    Watch for Midwest BEAT writer Brad White to showcase the ladies of 3 Of
Hearts in a full feature in our June issue.

O-TOWN ROCKED...

    The O-TOWN concert at House Of Blues last month was a really good show.
The first act was a young Chicago woman named Ilana Wyce (check out my
interview with her on this page). Ilana did a great job getting the audience
pumped up..

   Next up on stage was 15-year-old Richard Lugo. His a powerful talent that
reminded me of a younger version of Ricky Martin. His songs pumped hard and
he was constantly moving to the rhythm. And while his music was great, I
would be remiss to not note that Lugo is darn cute!

   I missed the third support due to being back stage with Ilana and Richard.
I was so impressed with them both that I just had to stop backstage to tell
them.

    O-TOWN opened with “All For Love.” By it’s end, the audience of
screaming girls was nearly hysterical. One of the highlights of the concert,
was when member Ashley Angel pulled out a guitar and played during ‘Love
Should Be A Crime’.

O-TOWN sang most of the songs off their new self-titled CD and their encore
consisted of “Every Six Seconds” and their current hit single, “Liquid
Dreams.”

    All in all, it was a solid night of entertainment.

   That’s all for now. C-ya next issue!