actor

Bravo! Thespians deliver dramatic Yelp readings

Film adaptations often don't live up to their source material. A new YouTube collection titled "Real Actors Read Yelp Reviews" actually enhances it.

You may recognize professional actor Chris Kipiniak from his appearances as Evan Goode on "The Good Wife," Clerk #2 in "Headcrusher," or Cop in "The Poker Club." Now, he's also the guy who gave a dramatic interpretation of a one-star Yelp review of Stratford Diner.

Kipiniak's powerful reading, set to a dramatic score, really communicates the reviewer's angst directed at the restaurant's manager. It elevates a simple Yelp review to a higher level of heart-rending existential conflict full of emotion, confusion, and crab cakes. … Read more

IMDb on the go

More than just a tool for reading up on celebs and movies, the IMDb mobile app lets you access an enormous entertainment database, view movie trailers, read reviews, track shows, and even get notifications for updates on your favorite celebs. What's more, the Android tablet version is optimized for the larger screen, as it breaks up IMDb's sections into two functional panels.

IMDb opens up directly to a Home screen displaying new trailers, popular movies and shows, upcoming titles, and top news. If you log into your IMDb account, it also shows you recommendations for shows and movies, … Read more

Netflix: We didn't pay actors to dupe anyone

Netflix was accused of trying to pump up the excitement around the launch of its new Web video service in Canada today.

During a scheduled press event in Toronto, members of Canada's media said they noticed that some of the responses from people in attendance sounded like "canned responses," according to the Web site of Canadian news service The Financial Post. Reporters began to grow suspicious.

They were right. Some of the people who attended the event were actors paid by Netflix, but according to Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey, the actors weren't paid to attend the … Read more

Report: YouTube may usher in Hollywood stars

YouTube reportedly wants the William Morris Agency to make it a star.

The video-sharing site is reportedly close to clinching a deal with the William Morris Agency, in which the talent agency's clients would create videos for YouTube, according to a report Thursday in The New York Times.

The deal apparently would give William Morris Agency clients an ownership stake in videos they create for YouTube, and, in return, YouTube would receive professionally produced videos, according to the Times report.

For YouTube and its owner Google, the question is whether such efforts will eventually generate advertising revenue.

YouTube and … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 730: Tom is a pervert

We're sorry to inform you that Tom has been kicked off Buzz Out Loud for being 37 years old, because you just can't tell by looking. Well, OK, not BOL, but he did get kicked off Faceparty. In other news, Twitter gets some funding, but we're asking for a better Twitter. Also, the future has arrived, and it's a future with health insurance, no matter what your genetic markers might suggest. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 730

Sony to distribute ‘live’ shows to theaters http://online.wsj.com/article_email/ SB121142408161613141-lMyQjAxMDI4MTIxMjQyMjI0Wj.html

Twitter reportedly closes $… Read more