Latest news with #KristenStewart
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Worrying is my hobby': Shura on overcoming injuries, writer's block and being dropped twice by her label
Recently Shura decided she wanted to fight. Already in what she calls her Muscle Mummy era – partly inspired by the Kristen Stewart-starring, queer bodybuilding thriller Love Lies Bleeding – this buff new mindset involved the singer, songwriter and producer learning jujitsu for the video for World's Worst Girlfriend, the soft-pop highlight of this month's excellently titled third album, I Got Too Sad for My Friends. Things didn't go to plan, however. In her fourth class, coming out of a roll, she felt her knee go pop. One MRI scan later, having feared a more serious ligament tear, she was diagnosed with a knee problem known as Hoffa's fat pad impingement. It means we're meeting in a cafe/record shop hybrid a few metres from the west London flat she shares with her girlfriend. She reminds me that last time we spoke, around the release of her 2016 major label debut, Nothing's Real, she couldn't move her neck. Being a pop artist, it seems, is bad for your health. 'I played football [for Manchester City from under 11 to under 16 level], I played loads of sports and I've never had a serious injury – until now,' she says. Things have been emotionally painful, too. I Got Too Sad for My Friends was born out of the upside down of the pandemic, then slowly created after a severe bout of writer's block, before being delayed by illness. But its title also encapsulates an aspect of Shura's personality. 'There's a little sense of humour to it but, at the same time, if you examine it, it may be slightly devastating,' the 36-year-old smiles. 'Devastating in a fun way.' The seeds of I Got Too Sad for My Friends's creation started with its predecessor, Forevher, an album exploring queer love over airy 70s grooves that Shura feels didn't get the shot it deserved. After its release in August 2019, its accompanying tour was cut short by Covid. At that time, Shura – real name Aleksandra Denton – was living in New York and too scared to leave the US in case she wasn't allowed back in. She started to 'pre-grieve' her parents back in London, specifically her mum, who is the subject of the new album's emotional centrepiece, Online. 'Worrying is my hobby,' Shura says, chewing some Nicorette gum (she's been trying to give up vaping, which she started when she was giving up cigarettes). 'I joke that if there's something to worry about I'll worry about it.' She searched hard for joy. When her musician friends started organising virtual concerts she figured she'd join in. She wanted to make it work, too, even rearranging the plants in her apartment for 'vibes … but there were no vibes'. In the end, she gave up: 'I was basically performing to a fucking fig tree.' Later, she'd find a better use of the internet as a streamer on gaming platform Twitch, lost in 'the horniest game I've ever played in my life', Baldur's Gate 3 ('You can pick your character's genitalia,' she says. 'There's three different penis options.') It wasn't just live music that was making her sad; suddenly all music was off the table. Performance was her job and every song was a reminder of what she was losing. Having previously been dropped by Polydor after Nothing's Real failed to meet its commercial expectations, she also started taking on the weight of an industry in turmoil. 'Also I just couldn't write,' she says. 'I had nothing to say. I would be talking to my partner going: 'Maybe that's all I will ever offer to the world.' I think if that had been it, it would have been really sad because it was like I had one and a half goes.' Shortly after releasing a deluxe version of Forevher in early 2021, and moving back to London, she was dropped again, this time by the indie label Secretly Canadian. Shura says she hadn't been surprised at being dropped by Polydor, who signed her at the peak of music-blog influence, after her tactile, SoundCloud-only 2014 debut single Touch went viral. Having taught herself production via YouTube tutorials while working as a video editor, she found the major label ecosystem alienating and intimidating, and she was clearly an odd fit. When she was being touted around various labels, she remembers one asking her what her 'thing' was. 'They said: 'Clean Bandit play classical instruments, so is your thing like: Hi, I'm in a beanie.'' She looks agog, pulling at her – you guessed it – beanie. In the end, after signing to Polydor, she decided her thing was being 'stressed out'. The second, most recent, label departure – this time from an indie – stung, however. 'I talk to my musician friends now and I'm like: 'Look, if you're dropped, come to me,'' she laughs. 'That's my expectation: someone gives me some money to make a record and then they're like: 'Oh that was a bad idea.'' She pauses. 'But it was actually quite painful. Like, 'By the way, I know it's a bit of a pandemic and you have no income but, you know, bye.'' Shura's ability to find solace in tricky times extends to the album's sonic palette. While lyrically the album is saturated with the pandemic's sense of uncanny – the single Richardson is about Shura taking laps round her small apartment 'to feel the air on my face', while other songs touch on loneliness, panic and dislocation – musically it feels like a warm hug. Recorded live with a small band, it leans into 60s Americana, all honeyed harmonies, rich organ and the gentle pitter-patter of drums. 'Writing-wise,' she says, 'I met myself where I was listening-wise.' It was the tactile songs of US singer-songwriter Cassandra Jenkins that helped Shura fall back in love with music. 'It was the perfect record for that time,' she says of Jenkins's intimate An Overview on Phenomenal Nature album. 'I could curl up into it and it just comforted me.' Jenkins adds backing vocals to Richardson, and even makes a cameo in our interview when one of her songs gently wafts out of the cafe's speakers. The perpetually fidgety Shura suddenly sits bolt upright. 'Fuck off! She's here. Cassandra, that's so nice of you to turn up. Hi.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Shura jokes that with each album she's slowly moving back a decade. 'So Nothing's Real is 80s, Forevher was slightly more 70s, and this is a bit more 60s,' she says. 'My next one will be Gregorian chanting, so I can keep my armour for that one as well.' Ah yes, the armour. The artwork for I Got Too Sad for My Friends finds Shura sitting on a rock in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), sporting armour over her everyday clothes and looking for a battle that never comes. It was semi-inspired by Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet and how 'a lot of lesbians of a certain age' either fancy its star Leonardo DiCaprio or 'want to be him, or want to be a woman that looks like him'. The armour has a much bigger significance, too. '[During the pandemic] I found that I was doing stuff that I thought was protecting me from pain or sadness, that absolutely made things worse; by retreating, by reaching out to my friends less and isolating myself further. So here I am in armour, ready to fight, but what is my armour protecting?' As she starts to grow more animated, those gym-toned arms reveal a delicate sword tattoo in honour of the new record. She gets one for each album, she explains, which confuses me after I spot a drawing of a jolly, round character. 'Oh, that's just a happy potato,' she laughs. When I suggest she's just let slip the title of album four, she smiles, and allows herself to look to a future she thought was gone: 'It's that or Hoffa's fat pad impingement.' I Got Too Sad for My Friends is out now.
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Seth Rogen Wants Daniel Day-Lewis for THE STUDIO Season 2: 'Please Consider a Zoom With Us' — GeekTyrant
Seth Rogen has a dream for Season 2 of The Studio , and it involves getting Daniel Day-Lewis on the show. 'He's the greatest living actor,' Rogen said at Apple TV+'s FYC event in Hollywood. 'His process is so specific that I think that would be an interesting thing to explore on the show.' Rogen, who co-created The Studio with longtime collaborator Evan Goldberg, hasn't officially reached out to the three-time Oscar winner. But that didn't stop him from launching a very public pitch: 'Daniel, please consider a Zoom with us. We'll pitch you a good idea!' While Rogen shoots for Day-Lewis, Goldberg has his own wishlist: 'James Cameron would work really well,' he said. 'He's a genius but he's also known for sometimes getting angry.' The cast is also chiming in with their dream cameos. Chase Sui Wonders, who plays development exec Quinn Hackett, wants Kristen Stewart. 'It's related to identity politics,' Wonders explained. 'If Kristen is dealing with a delicate matter, Quinn would attempt to relate to her… and get herself into hot water. 'We saw a little bit in the first season but Quinn getting into hot water over owning her identity politics too hard would be a very fun sticky situation.' She's also got a pitch for Al Pacino: 'There should be something about bringing back Scarface for an absurd amount of money and Al Pacino has sold out at this point.' For Ike Barinholtz, who plays Sal Saperstein, there's only one name that matters: 'Leonardo DiCaprio. He's the guy. I don't think he's ever done a TV show. I think Leo is the golden goose.' Dewayne Perkins didn't hesitate when asked who he wants: 'Zendaya,' he said. 'She's everything. She represents Hollywood in such a cool way, from being a child star to reaching the level that she's reached. She's a really good symbol of what Hollywood can be in a good way.' And finally, Keyla Monterroso Mejia has one name that might just be too perfect: Larry David. 'He would fit right in,' she said. 'He'd be a nice balance to all the chaos.' With dream guests like these being tossed around, The Studio Season 2 is clearly swinging big. Now the real question is… who will they be able to get? I hope all of them! Source: Variety
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Flats steal the spotlight: Cannes Red Carpet experiences a stylish revolution underfoot
TIL Creatives Flats steal the spotlight: Cannes Red Carpet experiences revolution The Cannes Film Festival, long equated with sky-high heels and tinsel glamour, saw a seismic shift this year—not in the faces above, but in the footwear below. For the first time, flat shoes confidently walked down the red carpet under ballgowns and tuxedos, transforming the red carpet into a platform for comfort, rebellion, and a hint of quirky style. This fashion revolution follows decades of controversy. In 2015, a group of women were allegedly refused entry to a screening for wearing flats, precipitating outrage around the world and the viral #flatgate backlash. Although festival organizers claimed there never was an official heels-only policy, pressure on women to totter in stilettos was palpable. The controversy sparked a tide of red-carpet protests, with Julia Roberts famously going barefoot in 2016 and Kristen Stewart taking off her heels in front of the cameras in 2018. Forward to 2025, and the official dress code has been revised: fancy shoes and sandals, with or without heels, are now officially allowed for evening premieres at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. But the festival's fashion police are still strict on other matters, outlawing nudity, transparent dresses, and bulked-up gowns that might block traffic. This year, the red carpet glittered not only with diamonds but with ballet shoes, jeweled sandals, and even designer loafers. Jury president Greta Gerwig spearheaded the movement in black satin Roger Vivier flats, announcing, "I love a heel, but I also love to dance—and you can't dance in pain". Jane Fonda was seen in silver Margaux Mary Janes, Margaret Qualley in sequined Chanel ballet shoes, and directors Alice Rohrwalker and Molly Manning Walker in Prada loafers. The social media went wild with acclamation for the new style of red carpet shoes. "Flats at Cannes? At last, the revolution we needed!" tweeted a fan, another proclaimed, "My feet are crying tears of joy just viewing." With the festival's new regulations, Cannes is embracing a more comfortable and inclusive definition of glamour. As the curtain comes down on another year, one thing is certain: the red carpet will never be quite the same again—nor, for that matter, our feet.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Flats steal the spotlight: Cannes Red Carpet experiences a stylish revolution underfoot
The Cannes Film Festival , long equated with sky-high heels and tinsel glamour, saw a seismic shift this year—not in the faces above, but in the footwear below. For the first time, flat shoes confidently walked down the red carpet under ballgowns and tuxedos, transforming the red carpet into a platform for comfort, rebellion, and a hint of quirky style. This fashion revolution follows decades of controversy. In 2015, a group of women were allegedly refused entry to a screening for wearing flats, precipitating outrage around the world and the viral #flatgate backlash. Although festival organizers claimed there never was an official heels-only policy, pressure on women to totter in stilettos was palpable. The controversy sparked a tide of red-carpet protests, with Julia Roberts famously going barefoot in 2016 and Kristen Stewart taking off her heels in front of the cameras in 2018. Forward to 2025, and the official dress code has been revised: fancy shoes and sandals, with or without heels, are now officially allowed for evening premieres at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. But the festival's fashion police are still strict on other matters, outlawing nudity, transparent dresses, and bulked-up gowns that might block traffic. This year, the red carpet glittered not only with diamonds but with ballet shoes, jeweled sandals, and even designer loafers. Jury president Greta Gerwig spearheaded the movement in black satin Roger Vivier flats, announcing, "I love a heel, but I also love to dance—and you can't dance in pain". Jane Fonda was seen in silver Margaux Mary Janes, Margaret Qualley in sequined Chanel ballet shoes, and directors Alice Rohrwalker and Molly Manning Walker in Prada loafers. The social media went wild with acclamation for the new style of red carpet shoes. "Flats at Cannes? At last, the revolution we needed!" tweeted a fan, another proclaimed, "My feet are crying tears of joy just viewing." Live Events With the festival's new regulations, Cannes is embracing a more comfortable and inclusive definition of glamour. As the curtain comes down on another year, one thing is certain: the red carpet will never be quite the same again—nor, for that matter, our feet. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
13 Hot Sales Titles Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Buyers are finally wise to the fact that Cannes is driving the Oscar race and even the specialized box office. Everyone wants to find the next 'Anora,' 'The Substance,' 'Emilia Perez,' or 'Anatomy of a Fall.' And more buyers like MUBI, Metrograph, Sideshow, and other upstarts have emerged to take on the likes of Neon and A24, who come to Cannes armed with several titles already set to debut. Below, we've identified 13 movies looking for homes that could be the next awards breakout, including new films from Lynne Ramsay and Richard Linklater and the debuts of Kristen Stewart and Harris Dickinson. More from IndieWire 'Left-Handed Girl' Review: Sean Baker Edits and Co-Writes 'Tangerine' Producer Shih-Ching Tsou's Kaleidoscopic Solo Directing Debut Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck to Adapt Upcoming Taylor Jenkins Reid Novel for Laika's Live-Action Division All titles presented alphabetically. 'The Chronology of Water' (Un Certain Regard)Director: Kristen StewartStars: Imogen Poots, Thora Birch, Jim Belushi, Tom SturridgeBuzz: Even if it's in a sidebar for a first-time director, Kristen Stewart's debut should be a hot ticket with a lot of interested buyers after news of her desire to write and direct an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir broke way back in 2018 and only finally got cameras rolling last year. 'Die, My Love' (Competition)Director: Lynne RamsayStars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Sissy Spacek, LaKeith StanfieldBuzz: The first film from the 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' director in eight years was a late addition to the festival competition and is described as a portrait of a woman engulfed by love and madness and caught in a haze between her husband and her lover, all set in rural America. 'Enzo' (Director's Fortnight)Director: Laurent Cantet and Robin CampilloStars: Pierfrancesco Favino, Élodie Bouchez, Malou KhebiziBuzz: The opening night film of the Director's Fortnight sidebar is a posthumous entry from 'The Class' director Laurent Cantet, who died in April. 'BPM' filmmaker Robin Campillo finished the project, which is a coming-of-age story of a teen who takes up a masonry apprentice to break free from a bourgeois upbringing. 'Exit 8' (Midnight)Director: Genki KawamuraStars: Kazunari NinomiyaBuzz: Would you expect that Cannes would premiere a film based on a video game? This film is an adaptation of a buzzy indie game available on Steam about a man trapped in an endless stretch of seemingly identical subway tunnels and needing to pay careful attention to find his way out. 'It Was Just an Accident' (Competition)Director: Jafar PanahiStars: Madjid PanahiBuzz: The latest film from the Iranian master behind 'Taxi' and 'This Is Not a Film' is back at Cannes for the first time since 2021 and in competition for the first time since '3 Faces' in 2018 won Best Screenplay. 'It Was Just an Accident' pairs him with the production company behind 'Anatomy of a Fall.' 'Lucky Lu' (Director's Fortnight)Director: Lloyd Lee ChoiStars: Chang Chen, Fala Chen, Carabelle MannaBuzz: Destin Daniel Cretton produces this film that's an expansion of a 2022 short called 'Same Old' that competed for the Palme D'Or for Best Short Film and marks director Choi's feature debut. 'Nouvelle Vague' (Competition)Director: Richard LinklaterStars: Zoey Deutch, Guillaume Marbeck, Aubry DullinBuzz: Filming in black and white in the vintage French New Wave style, 'Nouvelle Vague' is the story of the birth of the French film movement and the making of Jean-Luc Godard's masterpiece 'Breathless,' one Linklater told IndieWire reminded him of the experience of making his own first film. 'Peak Everything' (Director's Fortnight)Director: Anne ÉmondStars: Patrick Hivon, Piper PeraboBuzz: This romantic drama hails from the director of 'Young Juliet' and the producer of last year's winner in this very sidebar of Director's Fortnight, the Canadian film 'Universal Language.' 'The Plague' (Un Certain Regard)Director: Charlie PolingerStars: Joel EdgertonBuzz: Charlie Polinger, described as a wunderkind of fringe theater, is only making his directorial debut with 'The Plague,' a psychological thriller anchored by a trio of young newcomer actors at a summer camp, but he's a hot rising name who is already next making an A24 movie starring Sydney Sweeney. The film is said to be visually impressive, have great young performances, and is an analysis of the meltdown a 14-year-old can go through while going through puberty. 'The Secret Agent' (Competition)Director: Kleber Mendonca FilhoStars: Wagner Moura, Udo Kier, Gabriel LeoneBuzz: A period political thriller from the Brazilian director of cult film 'Bacarau,' which won the Cannes Jury Prize in 2019, this one stars 'Civil War' and 'Narcos' breakout Wagner Moura in a film that should have some domestic legs. 'The Wave' (Cannes Premiere)Director: Sebastian LelioStars: Daniela López, Avril Aurora, Lola Bravo, Paulina CortésBuzz: Before he takes on the Carl Sagan biopic 'The Voyagers,' the director of 'A Fantastic Woman' has a #MeToo protest musical about a woman who becomes an unexpected central figure in a feminist movement. See some first look images here. 'The Young Mother's Home' (Competition)Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc DardenneStars: Elsa Houben, Lucie Laruelle, Janaina HalloyBuzz: The Belgian brothers didn't get an award from the Cannes jury with their last competition film 'Tori and Lokita' from 2022, but their social-realist dramas almost always find award recognition and a theatrical home. 'Urchin' (Un Certain Regard)Director: Harris DickinsonStars: Frank Dillane, Megan Northam, Amr Waked, Karyna Khymchuk, Shonagh MarieBuzz: The directorial debut of 'Babygirl' and 'Triangle of Sadness' star (and future John Lennon) Harris Dickinson, Dickinson wrote 'Urchin' himself about a homeless man in London struggling to break free from an ongoing cycle of self-destruction. Dillane is already getting some high marks for his authentic portrayal of a homeless drifter and addict from those who have seen it in rough cuts. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
