Hong Kong’s TVB Flustered by Shareholder Criticism of Losses, Investments and Boardroom Control

Dennis Harvey Film Critic Joe Piscatella’s 2017 “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower” offered a fairly exhilarating view of youth activism, as it charted one Hong Kong student’s spearheading public opposition to mainland China’s increasingly heavy-handed takeover. The can-do optimism that documentary left viewers with is on life support in the director’s follow-up, which shifts nominal focus to one of Joshua Wong’s fellow protest leaders. But mostly “Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?” observes the gradual crushing of a pro-democracy movement that not long ago had promised to engage Beijing in genuine dialogue. This equally skillful if much more downbeat sequel should follow its predecessor to wide travel on the festival circuit, then broadcast and streaming exposure. 

READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp communityKaty Perry, who will be performing at the Coronation Concert in Windsor Castle on Sunday evening, was also invited. The singer was seen wearing a lilac outfit with a matching hat. British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, BBC director-general Tim Davie, Australian musician Nick Cave, TV presenter Jay Blades, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber were also in attendance.

Kate Middleton and her daughter Princess Charlotte looked identical as they posed at the King's Coronation, and not just because they were wearing matching outfits.The Princess of Wales, 41, and Princess Charlotte, 8, were photographed looking back over their left shoulder as they pulled the same serious facial expression.The similarity was pointed out by royal fans, as one person tweeted the two photos side by side and wrote: “The parallel between Princess Charlotte and her mum the Princess of Wales today!”. One royal fan commented on the comparison and said: “The epitome of a real life beautiful princess and future Queen”, while another said: “Like mother like daughter”.

Timeless lady! Princess Kate arrived at King Charles III’s coronation in a regal outfit fit for a royal.

Manchester United fans are no closer to discovering the future ownership of their club despite the third round bid deadline passing at the end of April.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Argentina-Chile coproduction “The Punishment,” directed by Matias Bize, was named best feature over the weekend at the close of the Beijing International Film Festival. Mexico’s Lila Avilés won the Tiantan Award for best director for her film “Totem.” Antonia Zegers and Line Renaud shared the best actress award for “The Punishment” and “Driving Madeleine,” respectively. The best actor award went to Xin Baiqing for Chinese movie “The Shadowless Tower.” The film, which premiered in February in Berlin, was the numerical winner. With the best screenplay, music, cinematography and artistic contribution awards, it won a total of five prizes.

Jackson Wang and Ciara have released a music video for their collaboration ‘Slow’.Released today (April 26), the simple music video focuses on Jackson Wang and Ciara’s sultry dance moves. In the clip, the duo perform sensual choreography on a set with colour-changing lights and lasers.“When you push up on me, oh, oh, oh / Take it slow for me, baby, go slow / You know I like it when you taking control / Take it slow for me, baby, go slow / Slow it down, down, down,” Jackson and Ciara sing on the chorus.Notably, the music video ends with a title card for ‘Magic Man 2’, the same as Wang’s previous music video for the song ‘Cheetah’.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The BBC has acquired Norwegian comedy drama ‘Afterglow’ for BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. The 7×45 minute series tells the story of Ester Sand, the one person you think will live forever, who finds out she has cervical cancer on her 40th birthday. But after the initial shock, it’s Ester who comforts the people in her life and she has no intention of leaving the world just yet. “ ‘Afterglow’ is a story of love and life and all of the glorious and silly things we do before we die,” the broadcaster said. “Afterglow” stars Nina Ellen Odegaard (“Possession”), Torbjorn Harr (“Vikings”), Sara Khorami (“Witch Hunt”) and Hermann Sabado (“Home for Christmas”). It was created by Kjetil Indregard and Atle Knudsen, who also acts as director.  It was produced by Monster Scripted for NRK, with rights handled by Reinvent International Sales. “Funny, sad, honest and touching, ‘Afterglow’ is that rare thing – an uplifting drama about serious illness,” said Sue Deeks, head of BBC program acquisition.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Director Stanley Tong (“Rumble in the Bronx”) is to team up with Jackie Chan for the tenth time on “The Legend.” State media in China report that Chan, who recently reached the top spot in the mainland Chinese box office with aged stuntman comedy “Ride On,” will play an archaeologist on a quest through time and space. With production by Bona Film Group, “The Legend” is pitched as being in the same vein as Tong and Chan’s 2005 effort “The Myth,” which was a fantasy love story. Tong and Chan have worked together on other titles including “Police Story 3,” “Supercop” and “Vanguard.” India’s Jio Studios is backing “Khashaba,” a Marathi-language film on the life of India’s first Olympic medalist Khasaba Dadasaheb. After delivering the sleeper hit Sairat and Fandry, the new film will be directed by Nagraj Manjule. The title is considered as part of Jio Studio’s ambition to deliver more than 100 stories this year. With production to begin shortly, the film will be mounted on a large scale. “Along with entertaining the audience, this film will also introduce the audience to a brave and exceptional athlete who made India proud all over the world,” said Manjule. “Khashaba” will be presented by JioStudios and produced by Aatpat Production, Jyoti Deshpande and Manjule.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Trinity CineAsia has acquired rights to Chinese tentpole action movie “Born to Fly,” and will release the film in cinemas in the U.K. and Ireland.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Japanese animated film “The First Slam Dunk” has taken a strong early lead at the mainland China box office, picking up $13.8 million on its Thursday opening day. Films mostly release in China on Fridays, but the Japanese hit was given previews on Wednesday and a full court release on Thursday, starting with widespread midnight screenings. Data from local firm Ent Group reveals that the film earned $3.16 million from some 14,000 preview screenings on Wednesday, followed by $13.8 million on Thursday from 184,000 screening sessions. That gives it a $17 million cumulative and positions it at the top of the box office chart even before the conventional Friday to Sunday weekend begins.

Governor Ron DeSantis, though his Department of Education and its chair, Manny Diaz, has officially expanded his “Don’t Say Gay” law to include all public school grades, from kindergarten through 12th. DeSantis had promoted the highly-controversial and possibly unconstitutional law originally as applying only to children through third grade.“DeSantis has not commented on the proposal.

With the 50th anniversary of “Enter the Dragon” around the corner, the TCM Classic Film Festival held a special screening on Saturday night of the iconic film to a packed audience to celebrate the legacy of the timeless martial arts classic. The screening was part of the WB100 festivities, celebrating the Warner Bros.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Hong Kong Film Awards gave a huge dose of support to veteran filmmaker Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting, naming her documentary “To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self” as best film on Sunday, despite local controversy which saw it pulled from screens earlier this year. The numerical winner on the night was “Detectives Vs Sleuths,” which earned four major awards: best director, best screenplay, best actor (Sean Lau Ching-wan) and best cinematography. The hugely popular Sammi Cheng was named winner of the best actress award, her first win after six previous nominations. Michelle Yeoh was on hand to present the prize for best new performer to 10-year-old Sahal Zaman, for his role in “Sunny Side of the Street.” Yeoh, who recently won the Oscar for best actress in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” established her career in Hong Kong and won the same award back in 1986 with “Yes, Madam.”

Jackson Wang recently wrapped up his first solo set at Coachella 2023 weekend one.The Hong Kong-born singer, who is also a member of the K-pop boyband GOT7, kicked off his set with songs from his sophomore studio album ‘Magic Man’.Wang then surprised the audience by bringing out Ciara, who took over the stage with a medley of Missy Elliot’s ‘Lose Control’, as well as her original songs ‘Level Up’ and ‘Goodies’.Following the medley, Wang joined Ciara to perform ‘1, 2, Step’, before transitioning into a remix of XG‘s viral TikTok hit ‘Left Right’.

Mabel Cheung’s controversial documentary To My Nineteen-year-old Self scooped Best Picture at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night (April 16), where the crowds also applauded an appearance by Best Actress Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh. 

Wake Us up when the Vanderpump Rules finale drops? Lala Kent delivered during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen — and promised there’s more to come between Ariana Madix and Raquel Leviss.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Michelle Yeoh, who made history by winning the best actress Oscar for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” last month, made an emotional return trip to her native Malaysia last week. She visited her mother in time for the traditional Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, and stopped by the grave of her father who died in 2014. In an Instagram post on Wednesday she said, “Brought Mr. O home. Without my parents’ love and trust and support, I wouldn’t be here today.”A post shared by Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊 (@michelleyeoh_official) Her trip home represented a promise that Yeoh made during her Oscars acceptance speech.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Wanda, the Chinese conglomerate that once threatened to take over Hollywood, has put up for sale the Hoyts cinema chain in Australia that it bought in 2015. Hoyts is Australia’s second largest movie theater operator with 46 multiplexes housing 412 screens, according to 2022 data from Screen Australia. It also owns Val Morgan, Australia’s biggest cinema advertising firm.Wanda Cinema Line, itself China’s biggest theater operator, has appointed Credit Suisse and Nomura to handle the sale. Bidders are understood to have access to a “stapled debt” package (a line of agreed financing arranged by the banks) if the potential buyer cannot arrange sufficient finance of their own. A first deadline for bids is set at the beginning of May, with final offers to be submitted by the end of June.

Pumping the breaks. Tom Sandoval claims he and Raquel Leviss have taken a step back in their relationship — and aren’t dating — after their affair made headlines.