Latest news with #EdinburghFilmFestival
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Viral primary school pupil hailed as budding TV success
Carly, 11, and her dad Ryan Pollock, better known on the video sharing platform as Daddy & Carly (or Wee Mary and Jimmy Boy), first started posting comedy sketches online during lockdown. Now, the pair have taken the app by storm with their 'Pilton Tea' videos and Carly's presenter-esque "hello, my lovelies" catchphrase. Talking to the Sunday National, Carly and Ryan shared how they ensure the youngster isn't exposed to trolling, the opportunities that have arisen from their online popularity, and Carly's hopes for the future. READ MORE: 'It's just great': Japan ambassador tries Irn-Bru on visit to whisky distillery 'It started during lockdown, when Carly wanted TikTok. Me and mum were a bit hesitant at first, thinking she was too young, then I was volunteered by mum to do it with her', Ryan explained. 'I thought 'och we'll just have a carry on with it', so we started putting our own twist on trends and doing sketches where Carly was dressed up as an old lady and pretending Nicola Sturgeon was her pal. It ended up going quite viral. 'We did shoutouts on our page for a bit and ended up raising about £1000 for the NHS.' When lockdown ended and Ryan went back to work, they stopped posting for a few years. A couple of months ago they started doing their 'Pilton Tea' series and from there, their popularity exploded. Their original account was deleted, but within two weeks the new account amassed around 190,000 followers — alongside 9.7 million views on one particular video, leading to a special shopping trip for Carly and her family. Carly said: 'There's so many more opportunities now. We got invited to Boots a few days ago and we have an agent now which is so cool. It's just amazing.' Because of Carly's age, the account is run by and heavily monitored by her parents. They don't let the 11-year-old read any comments or make videos by herself, and ensure that any hateful messages left under their videos are deleted and the users blocked from the page. Though she comes across as extremely confident and excitable online, the youngster described herself as actually being 'quite shy', noting that her on-camera personality is partially a character. She told the Sunday National that some boys were showing her videos through a window on her visit to a secondary school, but she seems to take it all in her stride. 'People from school watch my videos a lot, and sometimes it's a wind up, but most of the time they're being really nice. It's quite funny', she explained. READ MORE: Edinburgh Film Festival to conclude with Irvine Welsh documentary premiere The way she carries herself in her videos has led to an influx of comments demanding the TikTok star is given a slot on television, remarking she could be the next big thing à la Lorraine or Alison Hammond. High praise and growing celebrity haven't went to her head, however — Carly 'So I want to go to acting school and hopefully one day be on the telly like all the comments say. 'But if not, I go to a lot of youth centres and one day I want to be a youth worker, open my own centre and do drama classes for other kids.'
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Nepo baby with super-famous Hollywood A-list dad launches first ever film – but can you guess who she is?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEPO baby with a Hollywood star dad is set to launch her first ever film, following in the footsteps of her movie star parent. The eldest daughter of the hit screen star will showcase her movie - as well as a portrait display - in London and Edinburgh this summer. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 A Hollywood nepo baby is set to premiere her first movie Credit: Getty 5 The award-winning photographer and filmmaker, 33, is the eldest child of a top Hollywood actor Credit: Getty New York born Julie Pacino, 35, will juggle the launch of her "sexy and dangerous" psychological horror flick with her James Bond-themed portraits. For the latter, she consulted with her Godfather star dad, Al, 84, and they joined forces for the project. Julie, who is Al's sole child with Jan Tarrant, works as a film director after clearly inheriting her passion from her father. Her feature film I Live Here Now will air at the Edinburgh Film Festival before she promotes it in London. Meanwhile, she will also launch a photo portfolio capturing as many contenders for the next James Bond movie role as possible. It comes following frequent discussions about the casting of the role with her old man Al. Speaking of the project Julie said: "This isn't about casting James Bond, we could know about the chosen candidate by the summer, but I'd still be interested in doing their portraits. "For me, it's about exploring identity, power, and myth through the faces of the men who could very comfortably wear the tux. "Each portrait is a meditation on who we are drawn to, and why." So far, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taron Egerton, Regé-Jean Page, James Nelson-Joyce, and Olly Rix are already confirmed. The 'Godfather' cast reunite 45 years after the movie was released Julie also works as a creative director and photographer. She has taken the lead on the creative direction, photography, and videography for several brand campaigns, most recently Hyatt, Fouquet's, AllSaints, ShoePalace, and Van Gough Museum. Her photography was also chosen by TIME Magazine as part of the Publication's famous TIMEPieces Build a Better Future: Genesis collection and recently had her photography featured in the exhibition Broad Strokes II at the Leica gallery in Beverly Hills. ROLE MODEL Julie, who has created short film Nowhere To Go, previously spoke out about her father's influence on her career. What is a Nepo Baby? A 'nepo baby' is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts. The term 'nepo' is short for 'nepotism', which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context. Key Characteristics: Inherited advantage: Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Access to networks: They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. Public perception: The term can carry a negative connotation, implying that their success is not entirely merit-based. Industries Affected: Entertainment: Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Business: Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Politics: Politicians who follow in the footsteps of their parents or other relatives. Examples: Children of famous actors who become actors themselves. Heirs to business empires who assume executive roles. Offspring of political figures who enter public office. The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy. Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed. She told Toronto Film Magazine: "I grew up on film sets so I was exposed to the artform at a very young age. "It was always so fascinating — this experience of stepping into an alternate reality, in a way. "One of my earliest memories is being on the set of The Devil's Advocate'and seeing a burned up prop corpse in the middle of a massive oriental rug. "I was by myself just staring at this thing and I remember thinking: 'This is awesome'. I must've been around five years old. "Maybe that's why some of my work can be a little twisted! The first movie I shot, I was 9 years old, I got a little DV Camera for my birthday. "My friends wanted to go outside and play but I begged them to play different parts in a horror movie I had come up with. They obliged and we had a blast." Yet she also told the New York Post: "I was always raised with perspective, and my mum always kept me in check and made sure that I never felt entitled or that I deserved anything because of something that my father did." 5 Julie is the daughter of Godfather star Al Pacino Credit: Getty 5 Julie will make her directorial debut on I Live Here Now, which will showcase at the Edinburgh Film Festival Credit: Utopia 5 Julie recently spoke about the impact of her father's movie star lifestyle on her childhood Credit: Getty
The Sun
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Nepo baby with super-famous Hollywood A-list dad launches first ever film – but can you guess who she is?
A NEPO baby with a Hollywood star dad is set to launch her first ever film, following in the footsteps of her movie star parent. The eldest daughter of the hit screen star will showcase her movie - as well as a portrait display - in London and Edinburgh this summer. 5 New York born Julie Pacino, 35, will juggle the launch of her "sexy and dangerous" psychological horror flick with her James Bond -themed portraits. For the latter, she consulted with her Godfather star dad, Al, 84, and they joined forces for the project. Julie, who is Al's sole child with Jan Tarrant, works as a film director after clearly inheriting her passion from her father. Her feature film I Live Here Now will air at the Edinburgh Film Festival before she promotes it in London. Meanwhile, she will also launch a photo portfolio capturing as many contenders for the next James Bond movie role as possible. It comes following frequent discussions about the casting of the role with her old man Al. Speaking of the project Julie said: "This isn't about casting James Bond, we could know about the chosen candidate by the summer, but I'd still be interested in doing their portraits. "For me, it's about exploring identity, power, and myth through the faces of the men who could very comfortably wear the tux. "Each portrait is a meditation on who we are drawn to, and why." So far, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taron Egerton, Regé-Jean Page, James Nelson-Joyce, and Olly Rix are already confirmed. The 'Godfather' cast reunite 45 years after the movie was released Julie also works as a creative director and photographer. She has taken the lead on the creative direction, photography, and videography for several brand campaigns, most recently Hyatt, Fouquet's, AllSaints, ShoePalace, and Van Gough Museum. Her photography was also chosen by TIME Magazine as part of the Publication's famous TIMEPieces Build a Better Future: Genesis collection and recently had her photography featured in the exhibition Broad Strokes II at the Leica gallery in Beverly Hills. ROLE MODEL Julie, who has created short film Nowhere To Go, previously spoke out about her father's influence on her career. What is a Nepo Baby? A 'nepo baby' is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts. The term 'nepo' is short for 'nepotism', which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context. Key Characteristics: Inherited advantage: Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Access to networks: They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. Public perception: The term can carry a negative connotation, implying that their success is not entirely merit-based. Industries Affected: Entertainment: Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Business: Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Politics: Politicians who follow in the footsteps of their parents or other relatives. Examples: Children of famous actors who become actors themselves. Heirs to business empires who assume executive roles. Offspring of political figures who enter public office. The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy. Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed. She told Toronto Film Magazine: "I grew up on film sets so I was exposed to the artform at a very young age. "It was always so fascinating — this experience of stepping into an alternate reality, in a way. "One of my earliest memories is being on the set of The Devil's Advocate'and seeing a burned up prop corpse in the middle of a massive oriental rug. "I was by myself just staring at this thing and I remember thinking: 'This is awesome'. I must've been around five years old. "Maybe that's why some of my work can be a little twisted! The first movie I shot, I was 9 years old, I got a little DV Camera for my birthday. "My friends wanted to go outside and play but I begged them to play different parts in a horror movie I had come up with. They obliged and we had a blast." Yet she also told the New York Post: "I was always raised with perspective, and my mum always kept me in check and made sure that I never felt entitled or that I deserved anything because of something that my father did." 5 5 5 Al Pacino's most iconic roles Michael Corleone (The Godfather trilogy, 1972–1990): Pacino's portrayal of the calculating and ruthless mob boss remains one of cinema's most iconic performances. Tony Montana (Scarface, 1983): As the ambitious and volatile drug lord, Pacino delivered a career-defining performance, cementing his place in pop culture. Frank Serpico (Serpico, 1973): His role as the whistle-blowing NYPD officer earned him critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Scent of a Woman, 1992): Pacino won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of the blind, charismatic, and fiery retired officer. Vincent Hanna (Heat, 1995): Starring alongside Robert De Niro, Pacino's intense performance as a driven detective became a standout in the crime genre. Roy Cohn (Angels in America, 2003): In this acclaimed miniseries, Pacino portrayed the controversial lawyer with gripping complexity.
The Irish Sun
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Nepo baby with super-famous Hollywood A-list dad launches first ever film – but can you guess who she is?
A NEPO baby with a Hollywood star dad is set to launch her first ever film, following in the footsteps of her movie star parent. The eldest daughter of the hit screen star will showcase her movie - as well as a portrait display - in London and Edinburgh this summer. 5 A Hollywood nepo baby is set to premiere her first movie Credit: Getty 5 The award-winning photographer and filmmaker, 33, is the eldest child of a top Hollywood actor Credit: Getty New York born Julie Pacino, 35, will juggle the launch of her "sexy and dangerous" psychological horror flick with her James Bond-themed portraits. For the latter, she consulted with her Julie, who is Al's sole child with Jan Tarrant, works as a film director after clearly inheriting her passion from her father. Her feature film I Live Here Now will air at the Edinburgh Film Festival before she promotes it in London. Meanwhile, she will also launch a photo portfolio capturing as many contenders for It comes following frequent discussions about the casting of the role with her old man Al. Speaking of the project Julie said: "This isn't about casting James Bond, we could know about the chosen candidate by the summer, but I'd still be interested in doing their portraits. "For me, it's about exploring identity, power, and myth through the faces of the men who could very comfortably wear the tux. Most read in Celebrity "Each portrait is a meditation on who we are drawn to, and why." So far, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taron Egerton, Regé-Jean Page, James Nelson-Joyce, and Olly Rix are already confirmed. The 'Godfather' cast reunite 45 years after the movie was released Julie also works as a creative director and photographer. She has taken the lead on the creative direction, photography, and videography for several brand campaigns, most recently Hyatt, Fouquet's, AllSaints, ShoePalace, and Van Gough Museum. Her photography was also chosen by TIME Magazine as part of the Publication's famous TIMEPieces Build a Better Future: Genesis collection and recently had her photography featured in the exhibition Broad Strokes II at the Leica gallery in Beverly Hills. ROLE MODEL Julie, who has created short film Nowhere To Go, previously spoke out about her father's influence on her career. What is a Nepo Baby? A 'nepo baby' is a colloquial term used to describe individuals who have gained opportunities or success in their careers primarily due to familial connections or the influence of their well-known or wealthy parents, rather than solely through their own talent, skills, or efforts. The term 'nepo' is short for 'nepotism', which refers to favouritism granted to relatives or close friends, often in a professional context. Key Characteristics: Inherited advantage: Nepo babies often benefit from their family's established reputation, wealth, or industry connections. Access to networks: They typically have easier access to influential networks and resources within their chosen field. Public perception: The term can carry a negative connotation, implying that their success is not entirely merit-based. Industries Affected: Entertainment: Many actors, musicians, and other performers are often labeled as nepo babies if they have famous parents. Business: Individuals who inherit or are given significant roles in family-owned businesses. Politics: Politicians who follow in the footsteps of their parents or other relatives. Examples: Children of famous actors who become actors themselves. Heirs to business empires who assume executive roles. Offspring of political figures who enter public office. The concept of nepo babies is often debated, with some arguing that it undermines the notion of meritocracy. Meanwhile, others believe that it is natural for families to support and help each other succeed. She told "It was always so fascinating — this experience of stepping into an alternate reality, in a way. "One of my earliest memories is being on the set of The Devil's Advocate'and seeing a burned up prop corpse in the middle of a massive oriental rug. "I was by myself just staring at this thing and I remember thinking: 'This is awesome'. I must've been around five years old. "Maybe that's why some of my work can be a little twisted! The first movie I shot, I was 9 years old, I got a little DV Camera for my birthday. Read more on the Irish Sun "My friends wanted to go outside and play but I begged them to play different parts in a horror movie I had come up with. They obliged and we had a blast." Yet she also told the 5 Julie is the daughter of Godfather star Al Pacino Credit: Getty 5 Julie will make her directorial debut on I Live Here Now, which will showcase at the Edinburgh Film Festival Credit: Utopia 5 Julie recently spoke about the impact of her father's movie star lifestyle on her childhood Credit: Getty Al Pacino's most iconic roles Michael Corleone ( The Godfather trilogy, 1972–1990): Pacino's portrayal of the calculating and ruthless mob boss remains one of cinema's most iconic performances. Tony Montana ( Scarface , 1983): As the ambitious and volatile drug lord, Pacino delivered a career-defining performance, cementing his place in pop culture. Frank Serpico ( Serpico , 1973): His role as the whistle-blowing NYPD officer earned him critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade ( Scent of a Woman , 1992): Pacino won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of the blind, charismatic, and fiery retired officer. Vincent Hanna ( Heat , 1995): Starring alongside Robert De Niro, Pacino's intense performance as a driven detective became a standout in the crime genre. Roy Cohn ( Angels in America , 2003): In this acclaimed miniseries, Pacino portrayed the controversial lawyer with gripping complexity.
New York Times
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Short Film, a Long Wait, a Happy Return
Almost two decades ago a pair of fresh-faced British sketch comedians armed with a good idea and an able director with a cache of film stock made a charming short film called 'The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island.' The 25-minute outing won a prize at the 2008 Edinburgh Film Festival, was nominated for a BAFTA and announced the arrival of Tim Key and Tom Basden. The two spent the intervening years turning their penchant for absurdist humor into sketch comedy shows, radio episodes, stand up poetry tours and sidekick roles in film and television. But they never returned to Wallis island. Until now. Older, grayer and maybe a little wiser, the friends, onetime roommates and longtime collaborators have expanded their initial concept into a feature film, 'The Ballad of Wallis Island.' The film, which ruminates on love and loss, revolves around a musician who is hired by a two-time lottery winner to perform a private gig on an isolated island. It feels like it could have been created only by filmmakers with a little road beneath their feet. 'I don't really regret us not making it 17 years ago, because we just might not have been able to do it right,' said Key, who wrote the script with Basden and plays the rich eccentric, Charles Heath, who prattles through conversations with a stream of nonsensical puns. 'I think when we came back to it, we were more ready to make a decent fist of it.' The original director, James Griffiths, returns, and the main conceit of the short remains: The musician, Herb McGwyer (Basden), arrives at the harborless, fictional Wallis Island (portrayed in and around Carmarthenshire, Wales) to perform a concert for his eager audience of one (Key's Heath). To build out the story, Basden and Key introduce Nell Mortimer, played by Carey Mulligan, McGwyer's former singing partner and lover from their short-lived duo McGwyer Mortimer. When she shows up on the island unbeknown to McGwyer — whose solo career hasn't gone as planned — the film gains its emotional heft. 'You get a window into what they were like when they were young and into the way that life has or hasn't messed with their expectations as young people in the music industry, and as a young couple in love,' said Basden, who also wrote the songs for the film. 'When you engage with that meaningfully, I think you're always going to end up having to write about the loss, the heartbreak and the regret that goes with relationships in your 20s.' The result is a charming crowd-pleaser that evokes John Carney's music-driven films such as 'Once' and 'Sing Street,' yet is careful not to strike any of those chords too fiercely. 'Wallis Island' has been making the rounds of the U.S. film festivals, delighting audiences at both Sundance and SXSW before being released in New York and Los Angeles this weekend. (It will go wide on April 11.) We caught up with the stars at SXSW the night after the film screened and Basden took to the stage to play a song from the film. The moment reminded Mulligan why she isn't a singer in real life, but only plays one in films. 'I don't know how you did that,' Mulligan said to Basden the next morning over a plate of fruit, harking back to her press tour for 'Inside Llewyn Davis,' when she was put onstage to sing alongside Patti Smith, Gillian Welch and a handful of other musical professionals. 'It was the scariest thing I've ever done, above anything else. It's so exposing, opening your mouth and trying to make melodic sounds in front of people.' In contrast, Basden, now 45, has been doing it for decades. He and Key, 48, first met as members of a Cambridge University improv group, the Footlights. Basden was a student. Key pretended to be one. (His imagined area of study: an advanced degree in the Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol.) That work turned into a sketch comedy group called the Cowards, where they wrote and performed skits. The two made three short films together and regularly appeared in each other's work. In one live stand-up pop-up called 'Freeze,' Key played the bully to Basden's earnest singer-songwriter character, cutting him off as he played and mocking his singing. 'It was a very good dynamic, because I was really unreasonable with him and quite aggressive, and the audience could see that he was really talented,' Key said. In his bathroom, Basden has hung a framed note from a concerned audience member, urging him to part with Key. 'He's really bad and he's so mean to you,' the letter reads. Key and Basden find themselves becoming rather emotional as they tour around the U.S. with 'Wallis Island,' moved that the film has resonated with American audiences. 'It does feel quite dreamlike to be able to make this feature,' said Key, best known to Anglophiles as the sidekick to Steve Coogan's inept broadcaster character Alan Partridge. 'Tom and I enjoy doing things together, but this was sort of the pinnacle, something to aim for,' he added. 'So we suddenly have it all — all at once — it's quite overwhelming.' Part of the emotion is based on just how long it took to regroup on a feature film. Key, Basden and Griffiths had spent years developing a script, only to have it die in development, a process Griffiths refers to as, 'a long walk up a windy beach to a cafe that's closed.' He added, 'We all felt there was a potential to make something together again, and we saw it slip through our hands a little bit.' Mulligan, for one, was able to help make 'Wallis Island' happen, courtesy of her husband, Marcus Mumford, the lead singer of the band Mumford & Sons. Mumford, says Mulligan, is an 'obsessive' fan of Key's Late Night Poetry show and reached out to Key via Instagram. 'It's framed in my bathroom,' Key joked. Mulligan then followed up, asking Key if he'd emcee the couple's event for the charity War Child (Mulligan is a global ambassador for the group, which aids children in war-torn countries). Key declined. 'I'd have been absolutely petrified,' he said. But he did hold onto Mulligan's email and after they crafted the role of Nell, Mulligan stood at the top of their list for the part. Key reveled in telling his collaborators he had a direct line into their future — and much more famous — co-star. Until he realized what was at stake: 'This was an enormous fork in the road, a massive loss of trust from both of them if they thought I was lying about Carey Mulligan,' he said with a laugh. 'I think I spent more time on that email than the script for the feature. It was like a three-month project. It went through development.'
