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STEVEN SPIELBERG embraced modern "motion capture" technology for movies a fter he tried it out for fun in pal ROBERT ZEMECKIS’ film BEOWULF - and h is "guest shot" made it to the final cut.
The Jaws director admits he felt "depressed" when he saw Zemeckis’ 2004 movie The Polar Express, because he was convinced the latest technology was leaving him behind.
He later paid a visit to his fellow director while he was editing Beowu lf, and Zemeckis urged Spielberg to experiment with the new techniques.
So the Oscar-winning film-maker played around with the motion capture e quipment - and his work was so good, Zemeckis left it in the final cut of the movie.
Spielberg tells Empire magazine, "When I first went on the stage to wat ch Polar Express, I was terrified. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m an old man and life is passing me by. Bob’s (Zemeckis) got this whole new way of mak ing movies. I’ll never be able to fathom it. I’m not going to be able to get into it.’ I only stayed about half an hour and I went home very depre ssed.
"I got inspired to maybe want to dabble in this medium when I went back to Bob’s cutting room and Bob gave me this old, plastic, chunky Panasoni c camera and he said, ‘Come on Steve, make a shot! Make a shot!’ And he h ad this whole world on the screen and I moved around and the world change d. It was like a video-game. I saw Beowulf on a dragon so I brought the c amera up and started on his face. Bob hit ‘Play’… And suddenly I was li berated.
"I took my kids to the IMAX theatre on Broadway in New York to see Beow ulf the day it opened and I went like this to (my son) Theo, ‘That’s my s hot!’"

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Newly-married MEGAN FOX made her first public appearance since her secret wedding in Hawaii by turning out for the charitable VH1 Do Something Awa rds in Los Angeles on Monday night (19Jul10).
The ceremony, held to celebrate stars and young people who have contrib uted to social change, was hosted by Glee star Jane Lynch and saw perform ances from acts including Natasha Bedingfield and Gym Class Heroes star T ravis McCoy.
Fox took the stage as a surprise guest presenter to hand out one of the awards, marking her return to the spotlight after marrying fiance Brian Austin Green in Hawaii last month (Jun10). She was seen showing off her d iamond engagement ring and a wedding band.
Winners at the ceremony included Christina Applegate, who landed the Do Something Kick Ass for Survival award, Kellan Lutz, who scooped the Do S omething for the Animals prize, and Snoop Dogg, who triumphed in the Do S omething for the Kids category.
Leonardo DiCaprio was named the Do Something Movie Star, Glee landed th e Do Something TV Show trophy and Joe Jonas picked up the Jonas Brothers’ honour for Do Something Music Artist.

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TRANSFORMERS director MICHAEL BAY has thanked officials in Chicago, Illin ois for allowing his crew to take over swathes of the city last weekend ( 10-11Jul10) to film a massive action shoot for the upcoming sequel.
Production on the third robot movie transferred from California to Chic ago for a series of daredevil stunts and local authorities gave Bay and h is crew permission to fly helicopters low over the city as skydivers para chuted from the top of Trump Tower into the streets below. Many roads had to be closed off, while extra police officers were deployed to maintain order.
The shoot, which saw hordes of actors in camouflage gear charging aroun d town in epic battle scenes, caused traffic chaos in many areas, and Bay has thanked local residents for their understanding, as well as official s for giving them the go-ahead to bring Transformers to Chicago.
The director tells the Chicago Sun-Times, "The city’s been unbelievably amazing - from Mayor Daley all the way down to each and every police off icer helping us out. We don’t want to inconvenience people too much, so w e’ve been working hard to play ball with the fire department and the poli ce." And Bay reveals the footage they shot there will make up a crucial part of the new movie. He adds, "(This) is at the very end of the movie and t he city is under alien attack, so it’s very critical and important to the film’s climax… Something very bad has happened to America - and this i s at the very end of the movie."

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The Californian home where DENNIS HOPPER passed away in May (10) is set t o be sold off at auction on Friday (23Jul10).
The Easy Rider legend died at his estate in Venice, California at the a ge of 74 after losing his battle with prostate cancer.
The sprawling property, which comprises a main residence and three town houses, will go under the hammer at an auction and is expected to fetch a pproximately $6.2 million (=C2=A34.1 million).
The main building was specially designed by architect Brian Murphy to s howcase Hopper’s art and photography collection, while the three separate houses were used as office space and family dwellings, according to the Associated Press.

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Singer AUBREY O’DAY will star in her own reality TV show as she attempts to make her pop comeback.
O’Day shot to fame on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ MTV talent contest Making the Band in 2004, and was hired as the lead singer in girlband Danity Kane.
But her music career took a dive when the rap mogul fired her from the group in a 2008 episode after she appeared scantily-clad in a string of m en’s magazines.
Now O’Day is eyeing a return to the charts, and will document the proce ss in a new show for U.S. network Oxygen.
It is not yet known when the series, entitled The Aubrey O’Day Project, will be aired.

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ENRIQUE IGLESIAS stunned the audience at a concert in Las Vegas by grabbi ng a fan’s camera and taking a saucy picture down his trousers.
The singer was performing in Sin City over the weekend (17-18Jul10) whe n a devotee handed him a digital device. Photographs taken at the concert show the star then pointed the lens down his pants for the cheeky shot.
Iglesias then handed the camera back to the fan, according to TMZ.com.

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Rapper DIZZEE RASCAL has teamed up with a British tabloid to launch a com petition to find newspaper columnists of the future.
The hip-hop star is backing The Sun’s new contest which gives young peo ple the chance to launch a career in journalism.
The Column Idol competition is open to youngsters aged between 16 and 2 1 and the winner will see their work published in the paper, and Dizzee R ascal is convinced the scheme will help kids embrace their creativity.
He says, "Anything which gets kids to focus and use their creative juic es is great. A newspaper like The Sun is informative and entertaining so that is exactly what your column needs to be.
"It is the same with music, you want to entertain people but tell them something at the same time.
"I reckon writing a column for The Sun is a bit like writing a pop song .. People probably think it is easy but it’s not. It is easier to write so mething for a specialist audience, but hard to write something for a mass audience which everyone can understand and enjoy.
"It really isn’t that different from writing lyrics, because it involve s expressing your thoughts in a way that entertains."

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SIMON COWELL is adamant he won’t let his THE X FACTOR co-star CHERYL COLE return to work until she is fully fit - even though the malaria-stricken talent show judge is "on the mend" and "really looking forward" to resum ing her place on the panel.
The Girls Aloud star was struck down with the tropical disease earlier this month (Jul10) after reportedly contracting the mosquito-borne illnes s during a recent trip to Tanzania.
She has cancelled all of her work commitments for the foreseeable futur e, including her judging duties on Cowell’s British talent contest.
And although Cowell admits Cole is recovering, he’s determined to make sure she is fit and well before she heads back to the show.
He tells Britain’s GMTV, "I had a few text messages from her over the l ast few days. Listen, it was serious. She was ill.
"We didn’t realise how ill but judging by the text messages I’ve had, s he’s definitely looking forward to coming back to work. I think our job i s to make sure she sure doesn’t come back too quick (sic) because I think she is bored out of her mind and going crazy.
"The worst is over. The texts are getting increasingly feisty so she is on the mend."

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The mother of LIAM GALLAGHER’s 12-year-old daughter has poured scorn on t he rocker’s claims he’s "a top dad" - insisting he has deliberately staye d "out of" their child’s life.
The Oasis star boasted about his parenting skills during an interview w ith British newspaper The Sunday Times last weekend (17-18Jul10), telling the publication he takes his nine-year-old son Gene to school every day.
Gallagher admits he rarely sees his daughter Molly, by his ex-girlfrien d Lisa Moorish, but is adamant it’s "the best way" because the former cou ple argues whenever they meet.
But singer/songwriter Moorish has now hit back - she claims Gallagher, who she has dubbed ‘The Man from Manchester’, was "very angry" when she d ecided to go through with the pregnancy in 1997.
Taking to her Twitter.com page, she writes, "In response to an article.
… involving my daughter; 14 years ago I had a two year on/off relationsh ip with a man from Manchester, as a result of that I became pregnant and had a beautiful daughter. The man from Manchester was very angry that I d ecided to go ahead with the pregnancy and decided to stay out of her life .. I felt sad about it but accepted it. He agreed to pay his way. She is n ow 12 and the most amazing girl, loved by all around her.
"She is also old enough to catch wind (of) articles which mention her. My only wish is that she has a good relationship with me and her father w hich is between them and I would NEVER get in the way of that… I’ve mad e the best of a bad situation and will continue to do so." In addition to Gene - whose mother is Gallagher’s wife Nicole Appleton - and Molly, the rocker also has a 10-year-old son, Lennon, by his ex-wif e Patsy Kensit.

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Veteran rocker PAUL WELLER will go head-to-head with artists including DI ZZEE RASCAL, CORINNE BAILEY RAE and LAURA MARLING for the coveted 2010 Me rcury Prize.
The Jam star’s latest album Wake Up the Nation has made the shortlist o f 12 records which are under consideration for Britain’s most prestigious music trophy.
Hip-hop star Dizzee Rascal landed a nod for his popular Tongue N’ Cheek album, which has spawned four chart-topping singles, along with Corinne Bailey Rae’s The Sea, Foals’ Total Life Forever and xx by The xx.
Other acts to be nominated include Mumford and Sons’ Sigh No More, whic h will see band member Marcus Mumford compete against his girlfriend, Lau ra Marling, whose own record, I Speak Because I Can, also made the list.
Wild Beasts (Two Dancers), Biffy Clyro (Only Revolutions), Villagers (B ecoming a Jackal), Kit Downes Trio (Golden) and I Am Kloot (Sky at Night) will also battle it out for the prize, which will be presented at a cere mony in London on 7 September (10).
Early reports suggest bookmakers have Dizzee Rascal and The xx as joint -favourites at 4/1.
Simon Firth, chairman of the Mercury judging panel, says, "This year’s Mercury list includes musicians from all stages of their careers and from contrasting parts of the British Isles. It features music that is urban and rural, light and dark, joyful and profound. The records have wit, an abundance of musical energy and their own distinct voices. There is music here to make you laugh, cry, dance and sing." Last year’s (09) Mercury prize was won by rapper Speech Debelle. (LR/PR

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RICKY GERVAIS has jokingly asked the U.K.’s Prime Minister DAVID CAMERON to help promote his new DVD to balance out his massive tax bill.
The funnyman has made a fortune through the syndication of his hit TV s hows The Office and Extras, and is forced to pay a huge amount in income tax in his native U.K. - where workers who earn more than $250,000 (=C2=A3 150,000) have to hand over 50 per cent of their income.
Gervais is hoping to recoup some of his lost cash, and he’s asked the B ritish leader to encourage the public to buy his comedy DVDs - so he will have to pay even more tax.
In a post on his blog, he writes, "Dear David, I understand that I have no say in where my tax money goes. That’s fine. I’m sure you see the big ger picture, and can distribute my hard earned cash in the best way possi ble.
"You will give it to emergency services, defence, education and Nationa l Health. I am not only very patriotic, but am also all in favour of help ing people less fortunate than me.
"Would it be possible to let those people know that it was my money tha t helped them so they might buy one of my DVDs? I think that’s fair. I’m forking out millions."

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STEPHEN FRY has accepted a new TV job with Britain’s BBC, just a month af ter he criticised the network for producing "infantilised" content and sh ows which are comparable to cheap junk food dinners.
The comic spoke out against the BBC last month (Jun10), insisting the c orporation has become known for childish programming rather than hard-hit ting dramas, documentaries or factual shows.
He said, "I’m not saying TV should be pompous and academic, but it shou ld surprise and astonish. The only dramas the BBC will boast about are Me rlin and Doctor Who, which are fine but they’re children’s programmes. Th ey’re not for adults…
"They are like a chicken nugget. Every now and again we all like it… (British television is) children’s television, it’s entirely infantilised .. It’s not grown up." Fry has now signed up with the corporation to produce a new five-part d ocumentary series called Planet Word which will explore the origins of la nguage.
He tells Britain’s Radio Times, "I haven’t seen a good documentary abou t language, where it comes from, how we speak it, the variations of it, w hether languages are dying, whether we are better at speaking than we wer e. There are so many questions.
"It’s a bit of a secret but the BBC have commissioned me to do a five-p art series on language, called Planet Word…
"I’m going to Beijing to interview the man who invented Pinyin, a phone tic version of the Chinese language. He’s 105 years old… if he dies on me I’m going to be so annoyed."

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO’s sci-fi thriller INCEPTION has scored a dream opening weekend in the U.K. - the film has shot straight to the top of the Britis h box office.
Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, which follows a team that infiltrates dreams, topped the American movie charts this weekend (16-18Jul10) and fo llowed suit in Britain by taking a top-earning $8.9 million (=C2=A35.9 mi llion).
The total also marks the highest ever opening for a DiCaprio film in th e U.K. - even surpassing the actor’s 1997 hit Titanic.
The haul puts Inception above a string of sequels including Shrek Forev er After at number two with $6.2 million (=C2=A34.1 million) and The Twil ight Saga: Eclipse at three with $5 million (=C2=A33.3 million).
The top five is rounded out by horror/action reboot Predators’ $1.3 mil lion (=C2=A3893,439) and Get Him To The Greek with $660,423 (=C2=A3440,28 2).

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CAMERON DIAZ kept her distance from her rumoured boyfriend ALEX RODRIGUEZ at a birthday bash on Sunday (18Jul10) - by spending the whole night mix ing with the wives of his New York Yankees team-mates.
The actress has gone to great lengths to keep her reported romance with the sports ace out of the public domain, but recently referenced their r elationship in a magazine interview, saying, "I grew up with the (Los Ang eles) Dodgers, but now I’m a Yankees fan." And the pair kept a low profile at a party for baseball player CC Sabat hia’s 30th birthday in New York - Diaz arrived separately from Rodriguez and they spent most of the evening apart, according to New York Post goss ip column PageSix.
The publication reports the Charlie’s Angels star was a huge hit with h is team-mates’ partners - because she didn’t attract attention like his p revious Hollywood girlfriend Kate Hudson.
An insider tells the publication, "Cameron doesn’t cling to A-Rod like Kate Hudson, whose front row antics didn’t go down well with the wives. C ameron kept it low-key and hung with the girls. She and Alex stayed on op posite sides of the room but they kept glancing and smiling. He didn’t lo ok at another girl." Rodriquez split from Hudson in December (09).

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MEL GIBSON is selling off the California home he once shared with his ex- girlfriend OKSANA GRIGORIEVA.
The Braveheart star has hit headlines in recent weeks amid a string of lurid allegations about his turbulent romance with the Russian singer, mo ther of his young daughter Lucia, which ended in April (10).
Tape recordings have been released which purportedly feature Gibson hur ling abuse and vile threats at his former lover during phone calls. A pic ture of the singer with two front teeth broken also surfaced on Friday (1 6Jul10) amid allegations the actor struck his partner during a heated bus t-up in January (10).
And now the home the former couple once shared, Lavender Hill Farm in Malibu, California, is up for sale.
Gibson’s expansive property, which features six bedrooms and six bathr ooms, fruit orchards, a tennis court and a pool, has been put on the mark et for $14.5 million (=C2=A39.7 million), according to Trulia.com.
The news comes just weeks after Gibson finally sold his Connecticut est ate, which spent three years on the property market before a buyer was fo und.

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HAYDEN PANETTIERE has dismissed rumours of problems on the set of the upc oming SCREAM sequel, insisting speculation about cast changes and argumen ts over the script is "untrue".
The fourth movie in the horror franchise has been filming in Detroit, M ichigan and sees original stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courten ey Cox reprise their roles alongside new additions including Panettiere a nd Emma Roberts.
Rumours of onset troubles have been rife ever since production began, w ith actress Lake Bell dropping out just days before filming was due to be gin and online gossips alleging Panettiere had fallen out with producers over the script.
But the Heroes actress is adamant the reports aren’t true - because she ’s having a "really good time" working on the slasher picture.
She tells Access Hollywood, "I don’t know whether it’s somebody project ing or, who knows where it came from, but ultimately it was very untrue a nd I love my character… I’m having a really good time doing it. It’s a really great cast." And Panettiere reserves extra praise for the film’s director, Wes Crave n, adding, "Wes Craven is an amazing human being and such a nice guy. It is such a pleasure to work with him… you can feel the crews at ease. Th ey’re able to have fun - it’s not like twisting their arm to come to work .. They actually really, really enjoy it, so it’s been a blast thus far."

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LILITH FAIR co-founder SARAH MCLACHLAN is adamant the touring all-woman f estival will have a successful future, despite a series of setbacks this summer (10).
Organisers of the event were forced to scrap a handful of summer dates due to poor ticket sales, while Norah Jones, Carly Simon, Kelly Clarkson and the Go-Go’s have all abandoned the 2010 tour for various reasons.
But Canadian singer McLachlan isn’t letting the problems put her off pl anning future Lilith Fair events - and she’s insistent they will overcome the "tricky time" they’ve faced this year.
She says, "I should preface everything I say by saying, ‘I=E2=80=99m a live-in-the-moment kind of girl!’ We=E2=80=99re planning on doing it (tou r) next year, talking about a five-year plan.
"Do any of us know where we=E2=80=99re going to be in 15 years? We=E2=80 =99re all here right now, and that=E2=80=99s sort of where I=E2=80=99m at .. We=E2=80=99re sort of trying to figure out what all the possibilities a re this year.
"We came out loud and proud with a huge roster, with a lot of great art ists and a lot of diversity. And came into a tricky time in touring." (KD

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British singer MYLEENE KLASS has scrapped plans to marry her fiance over fears an official commitment will ruin their relationship.
The former Hear’Say star-turned-TV-presenter has dated former security guard Graham Quinn for 10 years and the pair has a two-year-old daughter, Ava.
They originally postponed their wedding after Klass fell pregnant in 20 07, but she has now given up plans to exchange vows - because she’s conce rned about the number of married celebrity couples splitting up this year (10).
She tells Britain’s Closer magazine, "You do wonder if it (affairs) cou ld happen to you. I get offers and I’m not so blind as to think Gray (Gra ham) doesn’t - he’s a catch. My mum keeps asking me when I’m going to get married, but I don’t think it’s going to happen any more! "When I look at all the celeb couples splitting up, I think it’s time t o return to the basics. It’s much more important to just love and respect each other than have a ring on your finger." Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock divorced husband Jesse James last month (Ju n10) following revelations of an affair, while golfer Tiger Woods, Take T hat’s Mark Owen and Boyzone’s Ronan Keating’s marriages have all been roc ked by cheating claims.

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