Highest paid actor goes to the “Iron Man”

Here at Stealth Media Films we’re really big fans of ‘Iron Man’ actor Robert Downey Jr. And we weren’t surprised to see him top the Forbes ‘highest earning actor’ list for a second year running.

It’s said that Downey Jr. has earned an estimated $75 million dollars in around 12 months! “Iron Man 3” made over a billion dollars in 2013 and Downey Jr. has other films set for stateside releases in 2014.

Early Days

Downey Jr. was born in 1965 in New York into a show business family headed by his father Robert Downey Sr. His father was an actor and film-maker and even used his young son in the film Pound. His parents divorced when he was eleven.

During the 80s Downey Jr. turned in a number of memorable performances in some cult films. Including a wacky comedy turn in the Rodney Dangerfield vehicle Back to School. His comedy background led him to be the first regular member of the Saturday Night Live troupe to be nominated for a best actor Oscar.

Troubles

It’s great to see that Downey Jr. has truly overcome his much publicized problems earlier in his career. Nearly going off the rails due to drug abuse, Downey even spent time in prison.

In the early 90s he took the lead role in Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin where he won plaudits playing the silent cinema genius Charles Chaplin.

Sherlock Holmes

Downey Jr. has had success with a number of films recently that have spawned multiple sequels. As well as the Iron Man franchise Downey Jr. has been a box office smash as Sherlock Holmes. He’s currently rumoured to be preparing for a third outing as the Victorian detective.

The Avengers series is currently filming a third outing, again featuring Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man persona. Another standalone Iron Man film may also be on the cards in the future.

Astonishing productivity

Since he put his past problems behind him, Downey Jr. has been astonishingly busy, with an acting work rate that would put most stars to shame. He’s appeared so many film roles that he really is one of the hardest working men in Hollywood.

Here at Stealth Media Films we’re pleased that Downey Jr. is achieving the popularity and success that his hard work deserves.

Courtney Love Calls For Kurt Cobain Biopic

Perennial tabloid stalwart Courtney Love has called for a biopic of the life of her husband; iconic Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, Stealth Media Films has learned.

Stealth Media Films Knows How to Spot an Opportunity

Here at Stealth Media Films we have grown, through our international operations, based in cinematic hubs such as Los Angeles, London and Munich, to become a key film finance firm on a global level.

We have evolved to become a player in international film finance, quite simply, because we know how to spot an opportunity; we know what works in film, what’ll rock the box office, and what’s flop harder than a tourist belly flopping into the hotel pool in Majorca.

Will this go the Way of Love’s Other Media Stunts?

That’s why we felt we had to comment on this latest move by everlasting publicity hound Courtney Love. It could provide an epic window into the life of one of rock and roll’s last true icons. Or, it could be a disaster of proportions usually reserved for Love’s latest media stunt.

We’re fans of the biopic to be sure; we think, if done right, it can shed new light on the people who have shaped the world in which we live. Unfortunately, biopics can be tenuous. Look at the recent ones about Dianna and Grace of Monaco.

What Are the Plans for a Kurt Cobain Biopic?

So what has Love actually said? Well, according to Digital Spy, Love has claimed that she herself is hoping to create a biopic of the life of the legendary Nirvana singer. Inquirer further reported that Love is currently looking into casting the flick.

Love commented that the biopic should start within the next year or so. She went on to talk about casting, saying: "I won't name names because I don't want to jinx it for anyone but these are 25-year-olds who are blonde, gorgeous and the new Brad Pitts. There's a ton of those. Some are really good actors, not just pretty faces... I don't want to be the person who makes that decision.”

At Stealth Media Films, We’ll Reserve Judgement

The thing is, at Stealth Media Films, we really want to be excited about this. We think a glimpse into the life of the 90’s most elusive rocker could be fascinating. However, it’s a project run by Courtney Love; human disaster machine. We’ll hold our judgement until we know more!

5 top Star Wars VII rumours

Here at Stealth Media Films we’re as excited as anyone about next year’s Star Wars VII. In the digital age the rumours around the hotly anticipated film are running wild on the internet. In fact, the chat has reached a crescendo this week with Luke’s severed hand and Jar Jar Binks’ return leading the way.

So, to save you time Googling what’s being said, we decided to put all the conjecture, rumour and outright fabrication in one easy to digest blogpost.

Luke’s missing hand

One rumour that surfaced to us seems, a little ridiculous. The rumour involves Luke’s severed hand landing on a distant planet. Presumably this is the hand that Darth Vader severed during the infamous “I am your father” sequence in Empire Strikes Back.

The rumour seems to have developed further and indicates that it’s not ‘that hand’. We’re big fans of the Star Wars series, and we can’t remember Luke losing two hands, so we’re a little confused about this.

The hand is supposedly found by John Boyega and Daisy Ridley who team with Han Solo to track down Luke and return the hand (which is still gripping a Lightsabre – ouch).

The Emperor strikes back

Ian McDiarmid is brilliant throughout the series as Emperor Palpatine. For those who recall, he’s killed off in Return of the Jedi. This fact, hasn’t stopped the rumour mill online, who claim that McDiarmid is set to return as an Obi style ghost.

McDiarmid was speaking at the London Film and Comic-Con earlier this month, where he said he was “definitely” not in “Episode VII. That’s put that to rest then, or has it?

Jar Jar is back

Jar Jar Binks is set to return? We’re not sure this much reviled character will be turning up in part VII. This hasn’t stopped the rumour mongers who claim that Jar Jar will be played by actor Andy Serkis.

Andy has been kind enough to reveal that he definitely won’t be playing Jar Jar Binks.

Darth Vader

Darth Vader died in Return of the Jedi, however, spies on the set have reported that Vader’s costume has been seen, namely the iconic helmet. The original sculptor of the helmet, Brian Muir, recently admitted online that he was returning to work on the new series.

He fuelled conspiracy theorists when he later deleted the post.

If any of these rumours prove to be true we at Stealth Media films wouldn’t be too surprised, it’s certainly fun speculating on what the film-makers have in store for a new generation of Star Wars films. 

Who Are the Top Five Stars of Tomorrow?

It’s an exciting time to be an up and comer in Hollywood, and Stealth Media Films believes that’s especially true for these five emerging Hollywood stars.

Lupita Nyong’o

This woman is all anyone can talk about at the moment. Why is that? Well she’s pretty darned impressive. She rose to fame in a supporting role in film epic 12 Years a Slave, after graduating from the Yale School of Drama, and off the bat, she won an OSCAR.

You’d think that most people would stop and take a breath after such a stunning achievement, but Lupita is not most people, and she’s determined to become a Hollywood legend, clinching an upcoming role in the latest Star Wars movie! We so can’t wait!

Adam Driver

Another up and comer in Hollywood who’s slated to take a trip to a galaxy far far away in the next outing of the Star Wars franchise is Adam Driver; an acting talent set to take Hollywood by storm.

Driver first came to our (and the world’s attention) in massively popular HBO television series Girls, and has since gone on to appear in a number of prestige projects over the last two years, including Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, cementing his position as one of tinsel town’s most credible rising talents.

Karen Gillan

Whoever would have believed that little Amy Pond would have ever gone so far without the help of that flying blue box. Increasingly, Gillan is establishing a presence in Hollywood, and is set to take the US by storm.

She’s done a few projects since saying goodbye to the Doctor, including creepy horror flick Oculus and fluffy rom-com Not another Happy Ending. Now, she’s slated to appear in blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, and new US television series Selfie; it looks as though Karen is rising through the ranks faster than ever.

John Boyega

Go back six months and it’s unlikely you’d have ever heard of this emerging star. Boyega’s turn in Joe Cornish’s alien adventure flick Attack the Block had put him on some people radars, but since then, he’d kept a low profile with unremarkable TV roles.

What a difference a few months makes. First, he appeared in the first episode of Fox’s highly anticipated series, 24: Live Another Day, then was cast in what is believed to be a main role in the latest Star Wars movie. Suddenly, his future is brighter than the sun on Tattooine.

Stacy Martin

This British actress pretty much was thrown in at the deep end with Lars Von Trier’s four hour erotic epic Nymphomaniac, but she rose to the occasion, enchanting audiences and critics alike. Now she’s clinched a role in Ben Wheatley’s anticipated adaptation of JG Bellard’s High Rise, and is set to make a splash in Hollywood circles. 

Stealth Media Films’ Top Five Classic Rom Coms!

In a salute to love this week, we thought we’d take the time, here at StealthMedia Films, to list our top five rom coms of all time!  Get ready for waterworks!

They Make Us Believe in the Power of Love

There’s nothing better than breaking out the popcorn, cracking open a bottle of wine or two, and  settling down on the sofa with your loved one for an evening of classic rom-comy goodness.

Literally, a romantic-comedy, they are made to get us to laugh and cry in equal measure, ultimately getting us to once again believe in the power of love. Considering just how depressing love can be sometimes, they’re practically preforming a public service!

Stealth Media Films’ Classic Top Five

A truly classic rom-com is like a long-term relationship – we love it so much, we can’t help but go back and watch it again and again. In the course of Stealth Media Films’ extensive rom-com watching career, we’ve found that these top five films typify the rom-com genre!

The Proposal: Career enthusiasts everywhere cried tears of joy when 2009 rom-com The Proposal was first released.  Starring Sandra Bullock as a career obsessed Canadian woman looking for a green card, and Ryan Reynolds as the assistant she marries to get it, this situation comedy has us crying into our popcorn every time!

You’ve Got Mail: First released in 1998, You’ve Got Mail has been hailed as the rom-com that brought the genre into the digital age. Starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as a couple who fall in love through the use of e-mail, it practically gave birth to the modern online dating phenomenon!

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson reminded us of the thin line between love and hate in ode to accidental love, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. If only it were this exciting for the rest of us!

The Holiday: Romance and Christmas go together like PB&J, which is why we never get tired of classic Christmas rom-com, The Holiday, First released in 2006, and telling the story of two lovelorn women (Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) who find love after swapping homes for the holiday season, it single-handedly continues to give hope to singletons everywhere whenever the holiday season rolls around.

Serendipity: Another holiday rom-com, Serendipity was the film that reassured the lovelorn singles of the world that you may meet the partner of your dreams when you least expect it. For that, this holiday classic will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Stealth Media Films Believe These Five Pop Stars Should Never Have Gone Into Movies!

Don’t you groan with despair when a pop star decides to act? Stealth Media Films does, and in our opinion, here are five pop stars, who really never should have tried.

Pop Stars, Please Stick To Singing

We love pop stars here at Stealth Media Films. We think they’re amazing and we’re so thankful that they’re making music. Emphasis on the music. What we don’t love is when they forsake music for an attempted career in Hollywood.

That’s because – and we know you’re all thinking it – the vast majority of pop stars can’t act. Admittedly, some can, and they’re pretty damned fantastic. Most of them though, are just so wooden there’s no possible way you can believe they’re even playing a human, never mind a complex character that’s supposed to be someone we can actually identify with.

Stealth Media Films’ Top Five

Of course some pop stars stand out more for their abysmal performances than others, and in our opinion, here are the top five pop stars who had no business transitioning to the big screen:

Britney Spears: The one time Britney tried acting resulted in the blight on humanity that was Crossroads. We still shudder every time we even think about it.

Madonna: Admittedly, she’s had some success with flicks like Desperately Seeking Susan and Evita, however she’s had a hell of a lot of stinkers too. Madonna, you’re never going to get an OSCAR, please stop trying.

Snoop Dog: Yes Snoop Dog or Snoop Lion or whatever moniker he’s going by these days tried acting in 2004 comedy Soul Plane. The lesson we learned here; Snoop Dog’s only funny when he’s not actually trying to be.

Christina Aguilera: It actually seemed that XTina would be able to pull off her performance in 2010’s Burlesque. In actuality, it just left you feeling slightly uncomfortable. We’re thankful she’s stuck to singing since.

Jennifer Lopez: She’s always going on about how she’s still so real, but the truth is, her performances in films like Maids of Manhattan and Gigli, couldn’t have been less real.

So let that be a lesson to any pop star out there who’s thinking of trying their hand at acting. You’re great at singing, why don’t you just stick to belting out the pop tunes we fell in love with you for?

Film4 looking for new boss

Stealth Media Films was keen to learn about the announcement earlier this year by Film4 boss Tessa Ross that she was stepping down from her post at Film4 to become head of the National Theatre. The announcement was made in March this year but ScreenDaily is now reporting on the likely candidates jostling into position to interview for her role.

Tessa Ross over saw production on a string of acclaimed films including Slumdog Millionaire, In Bruges, This Is England, The Last King of Scotland and more recently 12 Years a Slave. 

She leaves a long and successful legacy behind her at Film4 and her successor will have large shoes to fill.

The Contenders

London based David Kosse is currently president of international for Universal. He’s opted to stay in London when it was announced that he job was relocating to LA. He’s the favourite candidate for many in the industry. However, former head of drama at Channel 4 Liza Marshall is also a popular choice. Marshall had TV hits with The Red Riding Trilogy and The Long Firm.

Two other contenders are in with a chance for the role, these are Jenny Borgars and Alison Thompson. DNA’s Allon Reich has also been mentioned as an outside chance for the 

appointment, which could be a job share between two people.

Film4

Film4 has an important part to play in the UK film community, a healthy and well run Film4 is good for the UK film industry as a whole. At Stealth Media Films we’re pleased to see that all the candidates have a strong commercial mind set. It’s important for the sustainability of Film4 that some of their films do have an impact at the box office.

Slumdog Millionaire is a great example of the perfect Film4 production, a worthy and important subject combined with a populist approach that resulted in a box office bonanza and multiple industry awards. Film4 is a leader in this field, as the worldwide success of 12 Years a Slave has proved.

The high profile of Film4 under Ross has been a great aid to the wider film industry in the UK. Ross leaves her post to become chief executive at the National Theatre towards the end of the year. It’s fair to say UK film industry types will be keeping a keen eye on who takes over.

Stealth Media Films

Our current slate of films includes the eagerly anticipated Gummy Bear the Movie featuring the voice of John Travolta. We’re always keen to hear from parties interested in film investment, and we’re available for comment on film industry investment news. If you’re considering film investment you can contact Stealth Media Film Investments here.