‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5’ Sinks ‘Baywatch’ in Battle for Weekend Box Office’s Top Spot

From let, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbacher and Priyanka Chopra star in Paramount's big screen adaptation of the 90s TV series which finished third in the weekend box office race (Paramount photo).

LOS ANGELES - The newest chapter of Disney's buccaneer saga “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” sank the competition as it won the weekend box office with  an estimated $76.6 million from 4,276 theaters, while big screen remake “Baywatch” floundered with an estimated $22 million.

“Pirates of the Caribbean” starring Johnny Depp as wacky Captain Jack Sparrow, is billed as the final chapter in the franchise and is lagging behind the last three installments domestically. In terms of Memorial Day openings, this fifth effort from the franchise ranks 11th overall. “Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End” (2007) tops the franchise record with $139.8 million, while “Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides” rolled out to a $90.2 million opening on May 20-22 weekend in 2011, which was not a holiday weekend.

The film, which cost more than $200 million to make before marketing expenses, is already tapping into the overseas audience with an international debut of $208.4 million for an estimated global opening of $285 million.

“Baywatch” was third behind Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” which is the only major hit so far this summer. The sci-fi sequel is estimate to top $24.2 million over the four-day weekend, raising its domestic total about $340 million.

Fox’s “Alien: Covenant” came in fourth during its second weekend. The newest edition in the Alien franchise will likely top $13.1 million over the four-day weekend. Rounding out the top five, the YA adaptation “Everything, Everything” will likely end up with $7.6 million.

Hip Hop Child Prodigy Els Releases Her First Singles

Hip hop child prodigy Els releases her debut double single (Publicity photo).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. –  After much work in the recording studio, hip hop child prodigy Els is releasing her first singles, “Slide” and What Els,” featuring the talents of Silento and Zay Hilfigerrr. Both singles are now available on iTunes, Spotify and elsewhere.

At just 9 years old, the Indonesian singing sensation is showcasing her youthful talents in two new releases that blend hip hop and pop music into uniquely crafted music that accentuate Els’ vocal range and talents.

“I am very excited to have ‘Slide’ and ‘What Els’ releasing in the United States and giving music fans the opportunity to listen to my music for the first time,” she said. “Working with Silento and Zay Hilfigerrr on these songs is truly a dream come true. They are amazing musicians who brought their special magic to each track!”

Els, who was born Elisakh Hagia in Jakarta, Indonesia, is today making her recording industry debut with her two new singles after years of honing her skill as a singer before audiences in her native land. Els gained a love for music at an early age when her mother used it to help the toddler learn how to talk. By age 4, her passion for hip hop music was evident as she exhibited a skill for singing and dancing before going on to perform for audiences in her hometown and other neighboring communities. 

Her love for hip hop led her to write to her idol, noted rapper Silento about the possibility of working together. Known for the hit single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” which has more than a billion views on YouTube, Silento soon agreed to collaborate with the young ingénue on a new song which ultimately became the single “Slide.” 

“‘Slide’ was inspired by all the bad news I was hearing in the media and all the negativity on social media,” Els said. “I don’t people should hate each other. I wish we could spread a happy virus to one another so everyone would feel better. But I hope everyone will listen to ‘Slide’ let all that negativity wash away and get back to feeling happy.”

The second single, “What Els,” came about after notable Zay Hilfigerrr saw Els performing on stage and offered to collaborate on her next project. The two got together and crafted the single that is already poised to become a bonafide hit for the young performer. Hip hop trap, with a world pop feel.

The child prodigy’s talent is already getting noticed by recording industry professionals:

“I'm blown away by this girl Els (Elisakh Hagia), what a voice radio Disney would love her.She has an Extraordinary voice of a big star,” said Russ Regan Founder and Former President of Universal Music Group and president of 20th Century and Polygram Records who discovered  Elton John,Neil Diamond, Barry White, Olivia Newton-John and The Beach Boys and many others.

For on Els, she is on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/elisakhagia, on Instagram at https://instagram.com/elisakhagia; on Twitter at https://twitter.com/elisakhagia, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elisakhagia and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/ElisakhHagia.

Gregg Allman, co-founder of Seminal Southern Rock Band The Allman Brothers, Has Died

Gregg Allman, legendary co-founder of The Almman Brothers band has died (File photo).

LOS ANGELES - Gregg Allman, co-founder of the seminal Southern rock band The Allman Brothers, has died. He was 69.

Ken Weinstein, Allman’s publicist said the cause of death was complications of liver cancer.

As the band’s lead singer and keyboardist, Allman was helped form its sound with its trademark fusion of blues, jazz, country and rock that was also shared by bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall Tucker Band in the 1970s.

The group, had featured Allman’s older brother, Duane, who played lead and slide guitar, prior to his death in a motorcycle crash in 1971.

The band unanimously decided to continue on after Duane’s death, and enlisted Lamar Williams on bass and Chuck Leavell on piano. The band began recording Brothers and Sisters, their follow-up album, and Betts became the group's de facto leader during the recording process. Meanwhile, after some internal disagreements, Allman began recording a solo album, which he titled Laid Back. The sessions for both albums often overlapped and its creation caused tension within the rest of the band. Both albums were released in the autumn of 1973, with Brothers and Sisters cementing the Allman Brothers' place among the biggest rock bands of the 1970s.

"Everything that we’d done before—the touring, the recording—culminated in that one album", Allman recalled. "Ramblin' Man", Betts' country-infused number, received interest from radio stations immediately, and it rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The Allman Brothers Band returned to touring, playing larger venues, receiving more profit and dealing with less friendship, miscommunication and spiraling drug problems. This culminated in a backstage brawl when the band played with the Grateful Dead at Washington's RFK Stadium in June 1973, which resulted in the firing of three of the band's longtime roadies. The band played arenas and stadiums almost solely as their drug use escalated. In 1974, the band was regularly making $100,000 per show, and was renting the Starship, a customized Boeing 720B used by Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. "When [we] got that goddamn plane, it was the beginning of the end", said Allman at the time.

By 1977 Gregg Allman was married to Cher – the third of six wives –  with whom he spent three difficult years. The two had a son, musician Elijah Blue Allman, before divorcing in 1978.

Allman kept a low during the 1980s  when the band’s gritty sound didn't fit the synth-pop style of the era. Ultimately, his 1987 album "I'm No Angel," which became a surprise hit with fans.

The Allman Brothers reunited in 1989 and would tour on and off over the next 25 years, earning induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Actor William Hurt had been set to portray Gregg Allman in the film, "Midnight Rider," but filming was suspended in 2014 when an assistant camera operator was struck and killed by a train on the movie's Georgia set.

Axe Man Rob Reischak to Perform with Actress/Singer Glennellen Anderson at the Whisky

Guitarist Rob Reischak is making a name for himself with Vaud and the Villains, will perform with actress/singer Glennellen Anderson on June 1 at the Whisky a Go Go (Publicity photo).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Vaud and the Villains guitarist Rob Reischak is taking his eclectic guitar style to the Sunset Strip when he performs with actress/singer Glennellen Anderson (“Stranger Things”) on June 1 at the Whisky a Go Go, 8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

“I am very excited to perform at a great club like the Whisky,” Reischak said. “It’s such an iconic venue! A truly honor to perform on the same stage that so many legendary musicians like The Doors, The Byrds, Frank Zappa and so many others have performed.”

Reischak will perform cover songs along with compositions written by Anderson who is known for her recurring role in the Netflix horror drama “Stranger Things.”

“Glennellen is very talented artist with a great feel for her music and a gift for putting together strong lyrics with powerful melodies,” he said.

For Anderson, the Whisky a Go Go performance will be a showcase of complimentary talents: “I first met Rob when singing for one of my best friends’ show. The rehearsals alone proved his dedicated work ethic as well as his ridiculous musical talents,” Anderson said. “I don’t believe in limits. Period. I like to mix all the genres to create my own style. Some pop, some rock and roll, a little jazz, and little soul, and little R&B. Even some opera and musical theatre training + style gets throw into my music. I classify myself as ‘alternative,’ because it’s the most all-encompassing genre.”

Reischak is known for his unique melodic stylings that blend, pop, rock, jazz and rhythm and blues for Vaud and the Villains and other artists.

Born in Porto Alegre, in Brazil’s Southern region, Rob took up the guitar at age 14 after he saw his friends take guitar lessons. His passion for the instrument only grew over the years, ultimately taking him to the U.S. where he enrolled in Hollywood’s acclaimed Musicians Institute.

“Since I started playing the guitar I had this dream of studying music in the US. The music and musicians that I used to listen to and to study from were all from here. I wanted to go to the place where that music was happening,” he said.

After graduating with honors from the Musicians Institute, Reischak found himself performing on other bands’ records and live shows, gaining a reputation for creative riffs and solos and solid musicianship as well as the ability to go from one genre to another with ease. His talents soon took him to Vaud and the Villains where he has flourished and helped give the jazz band a more modern sound.

“My background I would say is rock music. But I listen to jazz since I was young. My favorite band is Toto,” he said. “I like a variety of music styles actually. From rock to jazz, blues, pop, funk, folk and country music. As a session musician is important for me to be able to play all kinds of style, and to be a versatile player.”

Among the musicians he’s recorded with in the studio and performed with are the singer/songwriter Alexandria Corn, the keyboardist Henry Soleh Brewer (Earth, Wind & Fire), and the producer Albert Lim, to name a few. He’s also set to record the next Vaud and the Villains’ album this year. 

Even as he prepares to kick off a summer tour by Vaud and the Villains, next month, Reischak is already planning his first solo album featuring a slew of songs he has composed over the years.

For more, visit www.RobReischak.com or follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/robreischak/. Vaud and the Villains are online at www.VaudAndTheVillains.com.

WGA Ratifies New Studio Contract

LOS ANGELES , Calif – The Writers Guild of America has nearly unanimously ratified its new contract with the major studios and producers, with the union announcing today that the vote totals were  3,617 'yes' votes and only 30 'no' votes. The turnout was relatively low, considering there were 9,441 eligible voters.

That 38 percent turnout was well below the 67.5 percent or 6,310 returned ballots for the guild’s strike authorization vote last month.

The new contract includes strengthening the solvency of the union’s health plan, better compensation for writers on short seasons, increased residuals for made-for-pay-TV programs as well as programs made for high-budget SVOD, increasing the limits on options and exclusivity,  as well as a provision that guarantees parental leave.

Zack Snyder Leaves ‘Justice League’ Following Daughter’s Suicide

Zack Snyder leaves DC's "Justice League" (File photo).

LOS ANGELES – Zack Snyder, who directed “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” has left “Justice League” following the suicide of his daughter. uInterview.com is reporting. Joss Whedon is now taking over the project for DC Comics.

Snyder’s daughter Autumn committed suicide on March 12 at age 20. The details of her death have been not been released by the family. “Justice League” had been on a two-week break, with Snyder reportedly eager to return to the film, which stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jason Momoa, and Ezra Miller. “In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was the way through it,” said Snyder in an interview.

“The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all-consuming. And in the last two months, I’ve come to the realization… I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.”

Autumn, who was Snyde’s daughter from his first marriage to Denise Snyder. She was a student at Sarah Lawrence College, and loved to write, according to her step-mother Deborah, who is Snyder’s current wife.

“I want the movie to be amazing, and I’m a fan, but that all pales pretty quickly in comparison,” Snyder said. “I know the fans are going to be worried about the movie, but there are seven other kids that need me. In the end, it’s just a movie. It’s a great movie. But it’s just a movie.”