Latest news with #Goldblum
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local star shines in new global Pepsi campaign
Despite a slowdown in local commissioning, Goldblum said the industry is still very much alive. He's not your stereotypical up and coming showbusiness star. Instead, Dean Goldblum is the kind of guy who has an insatiable curiosity about the world around him, and the people in it. The kind of person everyone wants at a dinner party, because he's just that chilled. In his instance, nice guys cross the finishing line first. And he's well on his way with several notable roles under his belt and now, a spot in a Pepsi Zero Sugar ad set for global release. The ad is a fast moving musical collage that focuses on expressions, consuming and interacting with the soft drink. And while nobody in the cast had a speaking part, just being in a major league soft drink add instantly conjures peers like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Britney Spears. It's a small part but a big deal. 'It was incredible,' Goldblum said. 'We shot the Pepsi ad for six days, and every moment was special.' Filmed in Cape Town with an international crew and managed by Ridley Scott's production house, the campaign is big-budget stuff. Goldblum described the shoot as a masterclass. 'Working with the director, the camera persons, and then the company handling local production, everyone was at the top of their game,' he said. 'You learn so much just by being around people like that.' All South African cast The entire Pepsi ad cast was South African, and most of the crew too. 'It's a big deal,' he said. 'A project like that showcases our talent on a global stage and brings huge investment into the country via the production. And millions of people are going to see it.' ALSO READ: Man of influence still a player? But starring in a Pepsi ad is not the beginning and end of his career, nor his first international pitstop. Goldblum has stacked up roles with credits in Darby and the Dead, The Kingdom, Tali's Joburg Diary, Die Onderonsie, and South Africa's first Amazon Prime Original, The Shakedown. Later this year, he stars in Pretty How Town, directed by Alan Shelley, and he's also been cast in Muzzle: City of Wolves opposite Aaron Eckhart. But the CV isn't what defines him. There's no pushiness. No hustle-for-the-sake-of-hustle vibe at all. Instead, Goldblum comes across as a gentle, kind human. This is also how he approaches his work. 'I started drama classes when I was about six,' he said. 'Helen Holden used to put me in shows. It was small stuff, but I loved it. Then music got me deeper into performance, and it all grew from there.' First, he was a 'Little Star' His first screen role came at 13, on SABC's Little Stars. By high school, he'd already appeared on South Africa's Got Talent. 'I was still figuring out if I wanted to study law or act,' he said. 'I was passionate about human rights. Still am.' The turning point came in a school production of Big Fish. 'That experience changed everything,' he said. 'I realised I could probably have more impact as a performer than I would as an attorney. That connection between people, that energy. It felt more immediate, more alive,' he said. Goldblum studied drama at UCT but worked professionally during his holidays, jumping between television soaps and student life. 'Generations, Rhythm City and the like. I'd come back to Joburg during the breaks and shoot, then return to class,' he said. 'It was just luck, really. Good timing.' He's been fortunate enough that his work has started finding him. 'A lot of international work is being shot here' Despite a slowdown in local commissioning, Goldblum said the industry is still very much alive. 'A lot of the international work is being shot here,' he said. 'The film and television world has become so globalised. I've done American work without ever leaving South Africa.' The challenge, he said, lies in local productions, funded at home. 'Funding is hard. The DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) rebates to producers and the way rules change makes things unpredictable. But people are still doing it, still finding a way to create.' Goldblum has found his way. His slate's busy, and the casting couch has never intimidated him. Instead, it's like a fresh start every time. 'I've always felt calm in castings,' he said. 'I try to approach them like I would a conversation. No performance, no pretence. Just connect.' And then, when he gets a role, he goes for it completely and throws everything he has at it. 'Every encounter is a chance to uplift someone, or to learn,' he said. 'Every second we've got here matters.' NOW READ: Meet the man who has performed at 3800 weddings
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Big Rock Burning,' Documentary On Devasting L.A. Wildfires, Being Shopped In Cannes
EXCLUSIVE: Buyers in Cannes are getting a look at a documentary on the L.A. wildfires directed by Conscious Contact CEO David Goldblum, a resident of the Big Rock community in Malibu that was devastated by the runaway blazes. Production just wrapped on Big Rock Burning: An Untold Story of the 2025 LA Fires, executive produced by actor Mark Hamill, Oscar-winning director Bryan Fogel (Icarus), Secret Sauce Media founder Julie Parker Benello, Trevor Burgess (The Dating Game, The White House Effect), and Marilou Hamill. More from Deadline L.A. Wildfires: Newsom Sends More National Guard Personnel To LA To Halt Looters, Fires – Update Tenacious 'T': Filmmaker Ondi Timoner And Family Rebound After L.A. Wildfires Destroy Their Homes Iranian Director Saeed Roustaee's 'Woman And Child' Gets 10-Minute Ovation In Cannes Debut 'The film captures the raw aftermath of a harrowing night when residents were left to fend for themselves after officials deemed the area too dangerous to enter,' notes a release. 'With no help coming, neighbors turned into first responders — some fighting back flames with garden hoses, others forced to flee through walls of fire.' Goldblum, who narrowly escaped his own home 'with nothing but his life, began filming within days, determined to preserve the stories of survival, loss, and unanswered questions.' The Palisades Fire erupted January 7 in extreme Santa Ana wind conditions, 'spreading at an unprecedented rate of five football fields per minute,' tearing through Pacific Palisades, and parts of Topanga and Malibu. The Eaton Fire broke out to the east that same night; it took more than three weeks to completely extinguish the wildfires, which destroyed over 60 square miles — an area larger than the city of San Francisco. 'In the weeks leading up to the disaster,' the release states, 'multiple warnings from scientists and fire officials went unheeded. Fire hydrants ran dry. Resources were stretched thin. Communication broke down.' 'People are grieving, but they also want accountability,' Goldblum said in a statement. 'How was a city like Los Angeles so catastrophically unprepared for something we were warned about again and again?' Over two dozen fire-impacted residents contributed to the film, 'offering firsthand accounts of the fire and its aftermath.' Big Rock Burning is being produced by Goldblum and James Costa (The Dating Game, Welcome to Chechnya) through his Bird Street Productions. Co-producers include Jyoti Drummond, Colin Drummond, and Wade Major, who also lost their homes in the fire. Additional funding support was provided by the Around The Table Foundation. Goldblum's recent producing work includes Grassland, executive produced by Common; Sell/Buy/Date, executive produced by Meryl Streep; and Uvalde Mom, which premiered at SXSW. Big Rock Burning is now in post-production and is being fast-tracked for distribution, per producers. 'The documentary explores not only the devastating impact of climate-driven disasters but also the question: what happens when a community is left to burn?' Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ariana Grande's New Starry Collaboration Is Flying Under The Radar
Ariana Grande teams up with Jeff Goldblum for the traditional pop tune "I Don't Know Why (I Just ... More Do)," though their star power hasn't translated into a major hit. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: (L-R) Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Ariana Grande always commands a huge amount of attention whenever she releases new music. Well, almost always. Typically, when the pop superstar shares something, be it a cut from an upcoming album or a standalone release, the world stops to listen, and millions rush to stream, purchase, and talk about it. But her latest offering is flying a little more under the radar than usual, even though it sees her working with a familiar face. Just a few days ago, Grande dropped a brand new collaboration with actor-turned-musician Jeff Goldblum. Their song, titled "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)," features not only Grande and Goldblum but also the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, the group that usually backs Goldblum in his musical endeavors. The traditional pop tune serves as the opening track on Goldblum's new album Still Blooming, which just days ago in late April. "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" is the standout from Still Blooming — at least relatively speaking. While it has performed better than the other tracks on the project, it's far from being a true hit. Despite Grande's star power, the collaboration hasn't managed to rack up a huge number of sales or streams, though as of the time of writing, it has been played more than one million times on Spotify. It might come as a surprise to some that Goldblum has built a pretty substantial side career as a jazz musician. Still Blooming is his fourth full-length, following 2023's Plays Well With Others, 2019's I Shouldn't Be Telling You This, and his official musical debut, The Capitol Studios Sessions, back in 2018. While none of his collections have been massive commercial successes, it's clear he's more interested in the art than the accolades or riches. Grande isn't the only A-lister who lent her voice to Still Blooming. The album is packed with big-name collaborators, including Cynthia Erivo and Scarlett Johansson. Goldblum, Erivo, and Grande all share a connection beyond this musical effort, as they recently worked together on Wicked, where Goldblum plays the Wizard of Oz and shares several scenes with both women. All three are expected to reunite on-screen later this year when Wicked: For Good, the second of two installments of the musical, hits theaters. As for Still Blooming, it might not become a bestseller – even with the involvement of stars like Grande and others – but superfans of all involved are surely enjoying the music nonetheless.
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Going for Goldblum: fans flock to Jurassic Park star Jeff in London
In what was once a red-light district, between a furniture shop and a recruitment agency, Jeff Goldblum is selling T-shirts. And not only T-shirts, the Hollywood A-lister is also selling his own jazz albums, while meeting fans and signing their merchandise. He has not had to work too hard to sell himself to the crowds of people waiting to meet him on a sunny Monday afternoon in London – the queues stretched more than 50 yards. 'From when I was very young, I always had a great passion for films, and I never really thought I could do it,' said 18-year-old actor Jack Foley, who was waiting in the queue to meet Goldblum. 'Watching his films, seeing how big he is and how much of a great actor he is, really has pushed my career to be better. His music is class and he's just an inspiration to everyone.' Rather than in the now-gentrified surrounds of Granary Square in King's Cross, Foley had envisaged meeting Goldblum 'in a parking lot', adding: 'You know where you've paid for your ticket and you're just kind of walking up, you see Jeff Goldblum and you say, 'oh, there's Jeff Goldblum'?' He suggested the actor and musician had a quality that made him seem just like everyone else – as long as everyone else was a style icon and a Hollywood actor. 'He's the greatest person … he cares for people,' he said, adding that Goldblum was taking time to meet his fans. Goldblum was in the UK for the launch of his fourth album as well as playing several concert dates with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and meeting fans, declaring: 'I love London, I love England.' He appeared at a popup shop in Spiritland, a cafe, bar and radio studio near King's Cross. 'Honestly, I just love him,' said Peach Richmond, a children's book illustrator. 'He got me out of a bit of a twisty-turny place when I was younger with his comedy. So that's why he's a bit of an idol for me, I think. It's just his energy, it's just his whole joy that he gives off. And he's just himself – it's what's really inspires me to be who I am as well.' Goldblum is in the class of actor whose 'energy' – or perhaps, more specifically, his distinctive delivery – has set him apart. Sign up to Film Weekly Take a front seat at the cinema with our weekly email filled with all the latest news and all the movie action that matters after newsletter promotion It was with that idiosyncrasy that he spoke to Amelia Wilding, a musician. He seemed to be listening intently while simultaneously holding sway over the conversation. Here, repeatedly asking her to spell out her first name so he could sign her record cover; there, crooning her surname as he scribbled his own. 'He has a really distinctive style and sense of humour,' said Stephen Barber, who was queueing with Laura Shorthall and dog Fiadh – all three apparently Goldblum fans, two of them wearing Jurassic Park T-shirts. The actor's performance in the 1993 Oscar-winning dinosaur film was in Barber's 'top three'. Sanny Hoskins, who runs a London events TikTok account, said she had never expected that a cafe a few doors down from an Indian restaurant would be the place she would meet one of her favourite actors. 'You can connect with someone who you see through cinema, through TV, and get a face-to-face moment with them. I think that's what makes London so amazing.'
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Forbes
iPhone 17 Pro New Color: How It Could Be A Clue To iPhone 17 Air
Apple has used color with great care and originality since the early days of the iMac, and it now looks like the next iPhone series will include a Pro model in sky blue —which could point the way for what the iPhone 17 Air will look like. Will the iPhone 17 Pro's color be like the iPhone 13 Pro and if so, where does that leave the iPhone ... More 17 Air? Back in the 90s, there was an entertaining Mac advertising campaign with Jeff Goldblum. 'Hey, did you ever ask anybody what their favorite color is? I'm sure you have, and people have asked you. It's not the most interesting question. But, how many times do you say beige? Never,' Goldblum insists. He asks if the people designing computers had made them only in that color because they've been in 'thinking jail,' while the iMac in bright teal swings into view. Now, according to prolific leaker Majin Bu, a sky blue iPhone 17 Pro is 'the new iPhone 17 Pro color,' which they describe as 'a new, sophisticated color that promises to make a refined statement. YuangFeng Blue (Sky Blue), a hue destined to become the symbol of the next flagship.' Other phone companies have been innovative with colors, such as Nokia and HTC, but Apple's skill has been to match new thinking with elegance and surprise. The Pro iPhones have regularly offered a masterclass in muted shades: there's been no pink or sunshine yellow iPhone Pro. Instead, Apple has focused on deep dark colors, such as the iPhone 15 Pro's blue titanium, deep purple on the iPhone 14 Pro or the iPhone 13 Pro which came in Alpine green. The golden hue predicted for the iPhone 16 Pro turned out to be desert titanium, a quiet choice that eschewed bling even in the shiny antenna band. There was a lighter color called sierra blue, back on the iPhone 13 Pro, but it seems this shade could be based on the sky blue MacBook Air, a shade so light and subtle it can be mistaken for silver. What does this tell us about the rest of the iPhone range? Well, there are often overlaps between the regular and Pro models – that Alpine green iPhone 13 Pro was released alongside a much punchier iPhone 13 in green. The current iPhone 16 color range includes an eye-poppingly bright ultramarine as well as a subtler teal. Maybe this fall, we'll see a different blue to complement the sky blue Pro model. And for the iPhone 17 Air? This is an all-new phone, and so far Apple has managed to keep colors and finishes under wraps. It could ape the sophistication of the Pro — that would be my guess — with thoughtfully differentiated shades. It's unlikely to replicate the regular iPhone colors, I believe, so the sky blue predicted for the Pro could make a gently different appearance on the iPhone 17 Air.
