The Malaysian Insider

HONG KONG, March 21 — The Hong Kong film industry has been talking about a return to the good old days and the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival is now joining in the chorus.

And so the accent is most definitely on local productions at this year’s March 21-April 6 festival (http://www.hkiff.org.hk), which will see 11 Hong Kong productions making their premiere.

Leading the way is the love story Crossing Hennessy — starring multi-award winner Jacky Cheung opposite Tang Wei, last seen in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution — which will open the festival on March 21.

LONDON, March 21 — Shooting of Peter Jackson’s long-awaited movies based on the JRR Tolkein fantasy “The Hobbit” is due to start in July in New Zealand, star Ian McKellen (pic) said.

The two-part film to be produced by Jackson, who directed the Oscar-winning trilogy of Tolkein’s “The Lord of The Rings”, will take over a year, McKellen said on his website.

“Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started,” said the British actor, who will again play the wizard Gandalf.

LOS ANGELES, March 20 — Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and an inspirational Web site yesterday gave US$30,000 (RM102,000) toward the college education of a teenage lesbian whose high school prom was cancelled when she asked to attend with a girl.

Constance McMillen, 18, of Itawamba County, Mississippi, appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” to talk about her experience and at the end of the segment DeGeneres (right), who is a lesbian, presented her with the check from the Web site, Tonic. (www.tonic.com)

JAKARTA, March 20 — If Nicholas Saputra (picture) was a film, it would have lawmakers’ pants on fire. It would break box office records, spark sequels and have the nation’s pulse racing.

Not bad for a boy scouted on the way to watch a game of baseball.

With an upcoming role in a film about HIV/AIDS set in Papua, an issue he said he was proud to support, the move into directing (he’s co-directing a music video for local band Alexa) and amorous thirst to only be in projects he believes in, the 26-year-old is no one-hit-wonder.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — Actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh (picture) has been appointed ambassador for the Information, Communication, and Culture Ministry’s “Come and Read 1Malaysia” campaign.

Deputy Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie told the press the Ipoh-born actress had been chosen to promote reading among Malaysians, especially the Chinese, according to Star Online.

“Yeoh will return to Malaysia around mid-April to attend the launch of the campaign,” Heng was reported as saying.