Audiences across the world watching Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry on Saturday are expecting romance and pageantry, including diamond-studded tiaras and 21-foot-long dress trains. But such memorable opulence doesn't come cheap. While the average UK wedding costs about US$37,000 (27,000 pounds, S$49,643), a considerable figure in and of itself, England-based luxury wedding planner Aimee Dunne tells CNBC Make It she estimates that, before security, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will cost US$2.7 million (2 million pounds). A whopping US$40.1 million (30 million pounds) more will be dished out on keeping the betrothed and their guests safe, reports UK wedding site Bridebook. Here's how the expenses break down. FOOD AND BEVERAGE: US$680,000 Head chef Mark Flanagan probably won't be serving ortolans on the big day, but there will be no shortage of classy hors d'œuvre and desserts, including a much-anticipated lemon elderflower cake. With 600 guests attending both the … [Read more...] about Here’s how much the royal wedding is expected to cost
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Meghan Markle: fashionista facing a royal makeover
Glamorous and elegant, Meghan Markle is set to freshen up the British royal family dress code, while tailoring her outfits to suit her new role. As she prepares to wed Prince Harry on May 19, the US former television actress is unlikely to be seen again in ripped jeans, hotpants or a plunging neckline. As a sign of her new responsibilities, the 36-year-old has already closed her Instagram account, where she often posed in the sexy or dishevelled outfits befitting a TV celebrity -- but not necessarily a royal spouse. In tying the knot with Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, she is also marrying into an institution where age-old traditions govern virtually all aspects of the royals' lives -- including the clothes they wear. "Royal dress codes are very traditional, especially when the family member is carrying out royal duties," said Grant Harrold, a former butler in the House of Windsor. The etiquette expert, who used to work for heir to the throne Prince Charles and his sons Princes William … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle: fashionista facing a royal makeover
Times reporting on Weinstein to be turned into Hollywood film
LOS ANGELES: Harvey Weinstein made a clutch of Oscar-winning films. Now, the disgraced movie mogul will be the subject of a film — about the accusations of sexual harassment and assault that ended his career and the New York Times team that broke the story. Brad Pitt's production house Plan B and Annapurna Pictures have acquired the rights to make the film, The New York Times confirmed Thursday. The story was first reported by specialized Hollywood news outlet Deadline. The film will chronicle the work of Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey investigating Weinstein's misconduct — stories that recently earned them a Pulitzer Prize, which they shared with Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker. Producers are looking to Oscar-winning films "Spotlight" and "All the President's Men" as their models for the movie, which will focus not on Weinstein's litany of alleged misdeeds but on the journalists and the obstacles they faced while reporting. Since the Times and New Yorker … [Read more...] about Times reporting on Weinstein to be turned into Hollywood film
Will Apple’s new Hollywood venture have a happy ending?
By JOHN KOBLIN The New York Times Mon., March 26, 2018 Known for its bold designs and its big marketing campaigns, Apple relishes its status as a dominant force in the corporate world. So it was noteworthy when one of its executives, Eddy Cue, struck a note of humility during a discussion earlier this month at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. “We don’t know anything about making television,” said Cue, a senior vice president who oversees the team in charge of the company’s original programming initiative. “So what skills does Apple bring to that? And the viewpoint is: very little. There’s other things we bring. We know how to create apps, we know how to do distribution, we know how to market. But we don’t really know how to create shows.” As Cue’s words suggested, Apple’s new venture has taken the company far from its Silicon Valley comfort zone and thrust it into alien territory: Hollywood. … [Read more...] about Will Apple’s new Hollywood venture have a happy ending?
The 14 original shows Apple is producing in its massive push into TV
Apple‘s push into original TV programming is set to explode – at some point in the near future. The company had a brief, initial run of shows last summer with the release of the unscripted series “Planet of the Apps” and “Carpool Karaoke.” But Apple drastically shifted its course in June when it hired former Sony Pictures Television presidents Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to head its original programming. Since then, the company has announced the production or development of 12 original, scripted series – including a biographical drama on NBA all-star Kevin Durant’s youth, and its first animated show, from the creator of “Bob’s Burgers.” None of those 12 upcoming series has a release date yet. Here are the 14 original shows that Apple is producing in its massive push into TV: UPCOMING: “Amazing Stories” caption Steven Spielberg’s original “Amazing … [Read more...] about The 14 original shows Apple is producing in its massive push into TV