Who's in
Kennedy Center pays homage to cultural super stars
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honored Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng and Chinese singer Song Zuying (pictured) for their contributions to the culture communications between the US and China.
Michael M. Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center, presented the medals to Sun and Song at a Beijing ceremony last week. "Minister Sun plays a leading role in promoting Chinese culture in the US. And American audiences enjoyed Song's wonderful performance at the Center last October and her voice makes her the top international ambassador for Chinese folk music," said Kaiser.
In October 2005, Washington's Kennedy Center and the Ministry of Culture of China presented the month-long Festival of China, the largest celebration of Chinese performing arts in American history.
Last October 12, Song with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Chinese conductor Tang Muhai performed a program of Chinese folk songs.
One of the most popular singers in China, Song, from the Miao ethnic group, learned singing at the China Central University of Nationalities and China Conservatory of Music. She has toured Europe, Australia, the United States and many countries in Asia.
Brother's death haunts Shue's movie project
Actor Andrew Shue (pictured) said his new movie Gracie, about a New Jersey girl playing soccer on an all-boys team, was difficult because it brought up memories of his late brother William. Shue created the film, along with his sister, actress Elisabeth Shue, and his other brother John, who worked on financing for the project. William, the inspiration for the film, died after falling from a tree on a family vacation in 1988. In the film, the title character Gracie, played by Carly Schroeder, helps her soccer-obsessed family get over the death of her older brother Johnny who dies in a car accident by playing on her high school's varsity team in his place. William Shue, from South Orange, New Jersey, was a soccer star in high school.
"It is a personal film, and the memories in it are a little bit sacred to us. But it was a family decision, and it is important for us to tell the story," said Shue, who lives in Princeton Township.
Beleaguered Brandy fires back, gets served
As remorseful as she might be, Brandy Norwood (pictured) apparently doesn't think much of the lawsuits levelled against her.
In court documents, the 28-year-old singer "specifically denies each and every allegation" in the wrongful death complaints filed against her by relatives of the woman who died of injuries suffered in a four-car collision that the plaintiffs claim was caused by Brandy.
The December 30 accident occurred on Los Angeles' 405 freeway when Brandy's Land Rover rear-ended a Toyota Corolla being driven by 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, who in turn hit 82-year-old Donald Lit's Toyota Tercel. That caused Aboudihaj's car to bounce into a different lane, where she was broadsided by 50-year-old Mallory Ham's vehicle. Aboudihaj died of her injuries at a nearby hospital the following evening.
The California Highway Patrol has recommended that the LA City Attorney's Office charge the Moesha star with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, but prosecutors have not yet decided whether to file charges. Investigators determined that Brandy wasn't under the influence of alcohol or any other substance at the time of the crash, nor was she talking on her cell phone or similarly distracted.
China Daily/Agencies
(China Daily 05/30/2007 page18)
