Entertainment Features
ACT ONE – Your Weekend Magazine
Jehan Casinader goes behind the scenes at the fabled ‘callback weekend’ at Toi Whakaari in Wellington. For a single weekend each October, they descend on Wellington. A motley crew of teenagers and 20-somethings who are desperate to win a place at Toi Whakaari, the national drama school. Thespians? Performers? Perhaps those labels are a little too pretentious. Quite simply, they want to act. This is their chance. They’re the chosen ones. Well, not quite, but they’re grateful to have made it past the initial audition process. From a pool of 150, only 40 hopefuls have made it through to the annual callback weekend, where they must prove their talents to a panel of industry veterans. Read more…
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REINING IN THE STARS – Canvas Magazine
Celebrities dictate government policy, moderate the war on terror, and swing elections. Jehan Casinader speaks to an author who is taking aim at these world-changing stars. This decade has given us many striking images of celebrity culture. In years to come, it will be difficult to forget Britney Spears’ shaved head and Tom’s Cruise’s euphoric performance on Oprah’s couch. Celebrity oddities, scandals and faux pas entertain us all. But should we still be laughing now that Angelina Jolie has weighed in on Iraq’s refugee crisis? What about Charlie Sheen’s conspiracy theory about September 11? Is it okay for Richard Gere to swing the vote in the Palestinian presidential elections? Read more…
