The wishes Michael Jackson expressed in his will began to come into reality Monday during a lengthy court hearing, with his mother placed firmly in charge of rearing his children and the two men he designated still at the reins of his financial empire.
As a media frenzy buzzed outside, a surprise motion from Jackson's longtime dermatologist injected some drama inside the courtroom: An attorney for the doctor, Arnold Klein, tried to enter objections to the parenting of Jackson's children.
Klein has had a lengthy part in Jackson's story line. He not only served as Jackson's doctor, but one of his employees, Deborah Rowe, married Jackson in 1996 and gave birth to two of the singer's children. Most recently, Klein's medical records have been subpoenaed as part of the police investigation of Jackson's death.
Given tabloid reports that he is the biological father of Jackson's two oldest children, the attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, quickly told the judge and dozens of reporters covering the hearing that biology wasn't the source of the objections.
"Legally, he is not a presumed parent," Kaplan said. Rather, he said Klein knew Jackson and his children well and had concerns about their education and other day-to-day parenting issues.
Kaplan's objections created a few tense moments in the courtroom, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff quickly dispatched him, saying Klein didn't have legal standing.
In a statement issued Monday evening, Klein's attorneys, Mark Vincent Kaplan and Bradley Boyer, wrote he was not objecting to Katherine Jackson, but rather "acting on promises he made to Michael with respect to assuring the long term health and stability of the children and their ability to enjoy as normal of a life out of the spotlight as could be reasonably possible."
"Dr. Klein has always had a special relationship with Paris Katherine and Prince Michael, loves and cares deeply for these children and is looking out for their best interest."
The statement said he hoped to have ongoing involvement with the children and "offers his guidance and protection forever."
The appointment of Katherine Jackson as permanent guardian of her son's children didn't disperse the crowds of reporters who convened on the downtown courthouse. Satellite trucks lined the street outside the courthouse, reporters arrived more than an hour before Beckloff took the bench to try to get a courtroom seat, all while a smattering of onlookers waited outside and played to the cameras.
"Who gets the Ferris wheel," one man questioned an attorney for the men administering Jackson's estate after the hearing, which stretched from 9 a.m. until mid-afternoon.
The hearing itself was decidedly more low-key.
Katherine Jackson arrived at the courthouse early and entered the courtroom from a back entrance, flanked by daughters LaToya and Rebbie and son Randy. She and Beckloff exchanged pleasantries shortly after the judge named her permanent guardian of Jackson's three children.
John Branca, one of the men who Beckloff ruled can continue to administer the singer's estate, sat across the aisle from the Jacksons. Branca served as Jackson's longtime attorney and was named along with music executive John McClain to serve as co-executors of Jackson's will, signed in 2002.
To date, court records show the men have recovered some of Jackson's personal belongings, $5.5 million in cash, and the singer's life insurance payout, all of which will end up in a private trust account.
That money will help pay for a monthly stipend that Beckloff approved for Katherine Jackson, 79, and for each of the singer's three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Michael, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest is also known as Blanket and was born to a surrogate mother who has never been identified.
Diane Goodman, an attorney for Katherine Jackson, said the surrogate did not have any parental rights. No one else formally filed for custody of the children, although a pair of women who dogged Jackson throughout his life claiming relationships had sought the youngsters, and exorbitant amounts of money.
Beckloff did not acknowledge either of their filings on Monday.
He also did not reveal how much Katherine Jackson and the children will receive per month from the singer's estate. Similarly, he did not disclose any terms of a deal reached by concert promoter AEG Live and other groups involved with the King of Pop's planned comeback concerts in London and the singer's estate.
Beckloff ordered AEG Live to turn over records related to the settlement and the contract for the 50 shows to Katherine Jackson, but placed restrictions on who else could see the information. The judge has a week to review the settlement and decide whether to approve it.
The settlement is another piece of Jackson's finances that is being placed into a private trust set up primarily to provide for his mother and children. The four have a combined 80 percent stake in Jackson's estate, with the rest going to unspecified charities.
Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the estate's co-administrators, said the agreements had the potential to earn the Jacksons millions of dollars.
Branca, one of the co-administrators, said the deals included Columbia Pictures, which owns rehearsal footage of Jackson's preparations for the concert, and another company that had merchandising rights.
Weitzman said co-administrators were "quite pleased" with the rulings. Branca and McClain will remain in charge of Jackson's estate until at least October, Beckloff ruled.
The judge will consider a motion by Katherine Jackson's attorneys on whether she can disqualify the men from administering the estate on grounds of their capacity or potential conflicts of interests.
Beckloff said he needed more information about the motion, including a copy of the private trust that contains a "no contest" clause stating that anyone who challenges Jackson's will should be disinherited.
The judge said he thought the law allowed Katherine Jackson to challenge Branca and McClain based on narrow arguments and scheduled an Aug. 28 hearing on the issue.
One of the quickest issues resolved was also one of the most important — Beckloff admitted Jackson's five-page will drafted in 2002 for probate, a procedure that grants it significant weight.
"It means it is the will that has been legally recognized as the will of Michael Jackson for the purposes of the administration of the estate," said probate attorney Michael G. Dave, who is not affiliated with the case.
The will was entered without fanfare, objection or any hint of drama.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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Jackson's mother wins kids' custody despite drama
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz Sánchez was born on April 28, 1974 in Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain, better known as Penélope Cruz, is a Spanish actress.
She is the daughter of Encarna Sánchez, a hairdresser and personal manager, and Eduardo Cruz, a retailer and auto mechanic. As a toddler, she was already a compulsive performer, re-enacting TV commercials for her family's amusement. Initially, she decided to focus on dance. After studying classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory, she continued her training under a series of prominent dancers. She received three years of Spanish Ballet training with Ángela Garrido. She also had jazz dance training with Raúl Caballero and studied at Cristina Rota (mother of Juan Diego Botto) school in Madrid. At 15, however, she followed another calling after beating more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition.
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Anne Curtis Awards and Recognitions
Acting Awards
2009 Gawad Pasado Awards "Pinakapasadong Aktres", for Baler - Nominated
2009 25th PMPC Star Awards "Movie Actress of the Year", for Baler - Nominated
2009 People's Choice Top Entertainer of the Year by the Year-Ender Excellence & People's Choice Seal of Excellence Awards Committee - Won
2009 5th USTv Awards "Students'Choice of Actress in a Daily Soap Opera", for Dyosa - Won
2009 27th People's Choice Dangal ng Bayan Awards "Best Actress and Commercial Endorser" - Won
2008 34th Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines(MMFF) "Best Actress", for Baler - Won
2007 Box Office Entertainment Awards "Princess of Philippine Movies and Television" - Nominated
2007 21st Star Awards for Television "Best Drama Actress", for Maging Sino Ka Man - Nominated
Other Awards and Recognitions
2009 FHM Magazine Philippine's Sexiest Women in the World - Rank no. 8.
2009 Metrowear Magazine's "STYLE ICON OF THE YEAR"
2008 Yahoo Top Searches of 2008 - Included
2008 Philippine Entertainment Portal "The Top Ten Female Celebrity Endorsers of 2008" - Included
2008 Anak TV Seal Award "Most Admired Female Personality" - Included
2008 YES! Magazine’s "Most Fashionable Young Female Celebrity Award" - Won
2008 Uno Magazine's "Hottest Girls" - Rank #1
2008 Belo Medical Group's 18th Anniversary Ball - "Venus of the Night"
2008 2nd Star Magic Ball - "Moet Chandon Sparkling Couple of the night" with Sam Milby
2008 YES! Magazine "Top 25 Most Effective Endorsers of 2008" - Included
2007 Uno Magazine's "Hottest Girls"- Rank #1
2007 Preview Magazine's "Best Dressed"
2007 1st Star Magic Ball "Best Dressed Female of the Night" - Won
2007 ASAP '07 Pop Viewers' Choice Awards "Pop Female Fashionista" - Won
2006 Myx Music Awards "Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video", for I Need You by Mark Bautista - Won
2006 YES! Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards "Most Fashionable Young Female Celebrity" - Won
2006 MAXIM Magazine's HOT 100 - Rank#2
2006 ASAP '06 Pop Viewers' Choice Awards "Pop Female Fashionista" - Won
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Anne Curtis Career
Anne Curtis appeared in supporting roles or in ensemble casts during the early part of her career since the mid-1990s. Her first movie was Magic Kingdom, where she played the role of a princess. Most of her early TV shows airing on the GMA-7 Network in the Philippines.
The move to primetime TV (ABS-CBN) in 2004 became successful, when she was cast in the role of Stephanie Borromeo in Hiram along with Geoff Eigenmann, Heart Evangelista, Kris Aquino and Dina Bonnevie, mother of her ex-boyfriend, Oyo Boy Sotto and her close friend, Danica Sotto. The role was a departure from her earlier teenager-roles.
In 2005, her portrayal in Hiram led to her first title role as Imang/Fatima in the fantasy TV series Kampanerang Kuba. It was a remake of the movie Kampanerang Kuba played before by Vilma Santos who was the mother of Luis Manzano, Anne's long-time bestfriend. In 2006, she returned to primetime TV as Celine Magsaysay in the drama series Maging Sino Ka Man where she landed one of the lead roles together with Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, and Sam Milby. The following year, she became part of MTV Philippines as a VJ on Gimme 10. She also reprised her role as Celine in Maging Sino Ka Man: Book 2. In 2008, she played the role of a goddess in the fantasy series Dyosa. The popularity of the show even made her fans call her Dyosa. Her leading men in the fantaserye were Sam Milby, Luis Manzano, and Zanjoe Marudo. That same year, she got a lead role in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Baler. For her work in this film, she won the Festival Best Actress Award, her first major acting award. She was also reportedly set to star as the super-heroine Darna opposite Richard Gutierrez in Captain Barbell Meets Darna, but turned the role down to remain with her mother studio, ABS-CBN.
In 2009, she finished taping the romantic primetime series The Wedding co-starring Zanjoe Marudo and Derek Ramsay. She is also set to do a movie with Richard Gutierrez entitled Maybe This Time.
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Anne Curtis Profile
Anne Marie Ojales Curtis Smith, also known as Anne Curtis was born on 17 February 1985 in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia is a Filipino-Australian actress, model, television host, and VJ.
She is the eldest daughter of Carmen Ojales, a Filipina and James Curtis-Smith, an Australian lawyer. At age 13, they had their vacation in the Philippines but it later became permanent through Anne's discovery by a talent manager while eating at a fast food chain Jollibee with her dad and her mom in 1997.
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Cristine Reyes is still with ABS-CBN
Sexy star Cristine Reyes has renewed her contract with ABS-CBN, defusing rumors that she is returning to her original studio, GMA-7.
Her initial projects under the new contract are an episode for TV show "Your Song" and a Cristine TV special series.
After two months of being a "frozen delight" (meaning, one who is not being given any projects), Cristine is revved up to work again.
"Ready na ako magtrabaho.
Source: http://ph.yahoo.com
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Michael Jackson's mother get permanent custody of his children
Michael Jackson's mother is to get permanent custody of the late pop star's children after agreeing a deal with the singer's ex-wife, attorneys for the two sides said in a statement Thursday.
The agreement -- which averts the possibility of an ugly court case -- will see Jackson's former wife Debbie Rowe receive visitation rights to the two children she bore Jackson, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11.
The surrogate mother of Jackson's third child, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, known as "Blanket," has never been identified.
Rowe will obtain visitation rights for Prince Michael and Paris but would receive no money beyond the spousal agreement already in place -- reportedly worth some 8.5 million dollars -- a statement said.
"Mrs Jackson and the family are pleased this matter is resolved and was handled in a caring, thoughtful and courteous manner by the parties and their representatives," Jackson's lawyers Londell McMillan and Diane Goodman said.
"We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael's wonderful children, and both Mrs Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page."
The statement said the "timing, frequency and manner" of Rowe's visits would be determined after consultation with a child psychologist.
The custody agreement would be presented at Los Angeles Superior Court for likely approval by a judge on Monday, the statement added.
Katherine Jackson, 79, was named temporary guardian of her grandchildren at a court hearing in Los Angeles four days after her son's death on June 25.
A will drawn up by Michael Jackson in 2002 named his mother as the guardian of the youngsters, with Motown legend Diana Ross named as an alternate.
The three children have been staying with Katherine Jackson at the musical clan's compound since their father's death last month.
Rowe signed away her parental rights to her two children in 2001, describing Jackson as a "wonderful man... a brilliant father."
However, a Los Angeles judge reversed the order in 2004 after Rowe cited concerns over publicity related to Jackson's prosecution for child molestation. Rowe later settled the case, reportedly securing visitation rights.
Despite Jackson naming his mother as the children's guardian in his will, legal experts said Rowe would have a strong custody claim on the grounds that she was the sole surviving biological parent.
Lawyers for Rowe had reacted furiously on July 14 after reports that her custody challenge was an attempt to secure a multi-million-dollar payout.
Rowe's attorney Eric George said Thursday the custody agreement was a "dignified outcome to a dignified discussion."
"The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children," George said. "I'm proud to have worked with such professionals who represented Ms Jackson, and I am particularly proud of Deborah for her integrity and selflessness."
The fate of Jackson's children was one of the myriad legal tangles thrown up by the iconic singer's death last month. As well as custody issues, next Monday's hearing will also address the question of who controls Jackson's estate.
Meanwhile, the release of Jackson's autopsy results has been delayed until next week, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed Wednesday.
On Tuesday, federal agents and police seeking evidence of manslaughter raided the Las Vegas home and office of Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, who has become the central figure in the superstar's sudden death.
Federal agents and police were also hunting for possible evidence of unprofessional conduct, "prescribing or treating an addict", excessive prescribing and evidence of prescriptions of propofol, an unsealed warrant showed on Thursday.
Murray is reported to have administered Jackson with a potent anesthetic before his death.
Jackson, 50, died suddenly at his rented mansion in Holmby Hills as he prepared to relaunch his career with a series of comeback concerts in London.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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Megan Fox Personal Life
Megan Fox has been involved with actor Brian Austin Green of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fame since 2004, having first met on the set of Megan's show Hope & Faith. It was reported that the couple had ended their relationship in July 2008 and in February 2009; however, Megan and Green both confirmed on both occasions that the two are still in a relationship. On June 15, 2009 at the UK premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, she stated, "I'm what you would call single". However, she was later seen with Green and the media is reporting that the two are in a relationship again.
She is good friends with Jennifer Blanc, Kellan Rhude, Jennifer's Body co-star Amanda Seyfried, Michael Biehn and Transformers co-star Shia LaBeouf. Megan is both a fan of comic books, anime, and video games. She has said that her interest in art began when she was 12 years-old when she watched animated shows on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. Her favorite artist is Michael Turner, her favorite comic book by Turner is Fathom, which she describes as "one of her longtime obsessions". She has two dogs, including a Pomeranian named after the punk-icon Sid Vicious.
She has openly stated that she's taken drugs but "...that's how she knows she doesn't like them." she also said that "Cocaine is back with a vengeance ... Celebrities aren't trying to hide it, except when people have camera phones," and commenting that "I know about five people who aren't on drugs today, and I'm one of them." She has also openly stated that she supports the legalization of marijuana, saying "I don't even think of it as a drug -- it should be legalized," and continuing with "When they do, I'll be the first person in line to buy my pack of joints," and "I can't tell you how much bullshit I've been through because I will openly say that I smoke weed. People look at it like it's this crazy, hippy, fucked-up thing to do. And it's not. I hope they legalize it."
In an interview with GQ Magazine, she claimed that when she was 18 years-old that she fell in love and sought to establish a relationship with a female stripper. She used the experience to illustrate her belief that, "all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes." In May, 2009 she confirmed her bisexuality.
On June 15, 2009, at the UK premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Megan said that she has a "crush" on Cheryl Cole and that she loves "her tattoos". She stated in June, 2009 that she is interested in Korean pop singer Rain. She said when she was on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that "There's this Korean Justin Timberlake named Rain. And I'm really on this situation right now, I'm trying to fix this up." In an interview with GQ magazine she showed interest in Olivia Wilde saying, "I could see myself in a relationship with a girl - Olivia Wilde is so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands. She's mesmerizing."
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Megan Fox Career
When Megan was 16, she made her acting debut in the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun, as the spoiled heiress Brianna Wallace and rival of Alex Stewart (Ashley Olsen). The film was released Direct-to-DVD on November 20, 2001.
In 2002 she landed the lead main role as Ione Star on the television series Ocean Ave. The series lasted two seasons, from 2002-2003 and she appeared in 122 one-hour-long episodes. She also served as an uncredited extra in Bad Boys II in 2003.
Also in 2002, she guest-starred on What I Like About You, appearing in the episode "Like a Virgin (Kinda)".
In 2004 she guest-starred on Two and a Half Men in the episode "Carmel Filters and Pheromones". Also in 2004, she made her film debut in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen co-starring opposite Lindsay Lohan. In the film she plays a supporting role Carla Santi, a rival of Lola (Lindsay Lohan).
Also in 2004, she was cast as a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith, in which she portrayed Sydney Shanowski, replacing Nicole Paggi in the role. In 2006 the television show was canceled due to poor ratings. She appeared in 36 episodes from seasons 2 to 3.
In 2007, she won the lead female role of Mikaela Banes in the 2007 live-action film Transformers, based on the toy and cartoon saga of the same name. She played the love interest of Shia LaBeouf's character Sam Witwicky. She was nominated for an MTV Movie Award in the category of "Breakthrough Performance", and was also nominated for three Teen Choice Awards, in the category of "Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure", "Choice Movie: Breakout Female", and "Choice Movie: Liplock". She has signed on for two more Transformers sequels.
In June 2007, she was cast in a minor role in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, starring alongside Jeff Bridges, Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst. She portrayed Sophie Maes, a love interest of Sydney Young (Simon Pegg). The film premiered on October 3, 2008. The film was a box-office failure, only making $17 million worldwide against a $28 million dollar budget.
In 2008, she appeared alongside Rumer Willis as the character Lost in Whore. The film centers around a group of young hopeful teenagers who have come to Hollywood in the hopes of an acting career find that the business is harder than they had ever imagined. The film was released October 20, 2008.
Megan Fox will have her first lead role in a film, playing the title character in Jennifer's Body, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody. She will play Jennifer Check, a mean-girl cheerleader cursed by a demonic possession who begins to feed off the boys in a Minnesota farming town. The film center's around Jennifer's possession and her "plain-jane" best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) who tries to break the curse before its too late. The film is set to be released on September 18, 2009. In addition to Seyfried, she also stars alongside Adam Brody.
She reprised her role as Mikaela Banes in the Transformer sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. There was some controversy surrounding Fox's appearance while filming the sequel of Transformers when Michael Bay, the movie's director, ordered the actress to gain 10 pounds. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen premiered on June 8, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. The movie was released worldwide on June 24, 2009.
In April, 2009 she began filming Jonah Hex, in which she will portray Leila, a gun-wielding beauty and Jonah Hex's (Josh Brolin) love interest. The film, currently in production, is set to be released on June 18, 2010. The movie stars Josh Brolin and Will Arnett, and she described her role in the film as being a cameo.
In early April, 2009 she signed on to star as the lead female role in the up-coming 2011 film The Crossing. The film is still in pre-production. The plot centers around a young couple who get caught up in a drug trafficking scheme during their vacation to Mexico.
In March 2009 Variety reported that she was set to star as the lead role of Aspen Matthews in the film adaption of the comic books Fathom which she will also co-produce with Brian Austin Green. Fathom is currently in pre-production.
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Megan Fox Tattoos
Megan Fox has eight known tattoos, including her ex-fiancé's name "Brian" on her lower hip and a picture of Marilyn Monroe's face on her right forearm. She also has another tattoo on her right shoulder that reads, "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies" a line adapted from William Shakespeare's play King Lear, a yin and yang tattoo on her left inner wrist, a poem on the left side of her rib cage that reads "there once was a little girl who never knew love until a boy broke her HEART," and a Chinese word for "strength" on her neck. She also has a crescent moon overlapping a five pointed star on the inner aspect of her lower leg above her right ankle. This tattoo is the only known colored tattoo that Megan has.
Megan Fox said she has a Marilyn Monroe tattoo because "She was one of the first people I saw on television, like, literally moments after I was born. Every time I heard her voice growing up I always would cry. I wouldn't know why when I was younger but had my own theories. I've just always empathized with her." She also said of that tattoo: "I know a lot about her but I empathized with her before I knew any of those things so that’s why I was driven to actually ink it on my arm. It was between her and Kurt Cobain and I went with her."
Megan Fox also said on her yin/yang tattoo that "The guy was smoking weed while he tattooed me and he didn't do it correctly. Now it's nothing and I'm gonna get it removed. I was told he was a really amazing tattoo artist but he wasn't on his game that night. He was distracted." However, Megan Fox still has that tattoo as of May 2009. She has said of her tattoos that "Every time I get a tattoo, it's a little 'fuck you' to anyone who tells me not to."
In late May, 2009 when Megan Fox was at John F. Kennedy International Airport she told paparazzi that she was planning on getting another tattoo, she had said that she was planning on getting a sleeve tattoo on her right arm. It was widely reported that she and her mother Darlene, had come to a strong disagreement and sparked argument's over her tattoos in general and her plan to get a sleeve tattoo. Megan's mother Darlene had said that she has never understood why Megan would want to "cover her gorgeous body with tattoos". The National Enquirer reported that after each new tattoo that Megan got that Darlene "pleaded" with Megan not to get anymore. Her mother Darlene had felt that when she is a "40-year-old woman wanting to play more mature roles, people won’t hire her because it will be too hard to cover her tattoos.” and Darlene also had feared it would and will jeopardize Megan's career.
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