Hollywood Popular Artists

Jun 29th 2012, 22:26

If one movie came out of this year's Sundance Film Festival with serious Oscar potential, it was "The Sessions," starring John Hawkes and Helen Hunt. You can watch the first trailer after the jump.

Also, Batman is kind of lame in real life, and how butts saved "Magic Mike" in Dailies!

» You know what? Batman isn't actually as cool when you see him in real life. [Reddit]

» Here's the first trailer for "The Sessions." It will be a movie you should know come Oscar season. [ComingSoon.net]

» Vulture reveals how a bunch of butts may have been what saved "Magic Mike"'s box office hopes. Shocking. [Vulture]

» Rebecca Hall and Dominic West star in this creepy, old school British horror flick, "The Awakening." [The Playlist]

» It's the trailer you've been waiting for since yesterday: "The Man With Iron Fists." [IGN]

Welcome to the Dailies, where the MTV Movies team runs down all the film and television news, odds and ends that are fit to print! From awesome fan art to obscure casting news, this is your place to feast on all the movie leftovers you didn't know you were hungry for.

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Jun 29th 2012, 21:01

We love it when we see members of our own MTV family get involved with charity events! For all you "Teen Wolf" fans out there, check out the awesome do-goodery (is that a word?) of Colton Haynes.

Our man Colton Tweeted:

Excited to go to the Elton John's Aids Foundation White tie ball tonight!

— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) June 28, 2012

There's actually not one but two Elton John AIDS Foundations. One is headquartered in the U.S., and the other is in Elton's own U.K. They both have the same very important goals: to bring down the prevalence of HIV/AIDS through prevention, to take away the shame and prejudice sometimes directed toward people with HIV/AIDS, and to offer care to those who have HIV/AIDS. Way to go with this compassionate project, Sir Elton!

Elton has put on a number of balls to benefit the EJAF and has been very successful at bringing in millions of dollars to help people with HIV/AIDS. Colton says he's excited to be going, and why wouldn't he be? Not everyone gets to go to these exclusive balls. He can get glammed up, meet with other big names, and know that he's attending an event that's all about making a diff in the world. Having the ball this week is good timing, too, since Wednesday was National HIV Testing Day. Even if you're not able to go to Elton's ball, you can still help curb HIV/AIDS by protecting yourself, getting tested, and teaching others about protection and testing. I'm sure Elton would love to see you out there doing your part . . . and Colton, too!

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Jun 29th 2012, 20:48

Chelsie Hill always wanted to be a professional dancer. She started dancing at 3, and made the dance team all 4 years of high school. But everything changed her senior year, when she left a party with a friend who had been drinking.

Their car crashed into a tree and Chelsie, now 20, was paralyzed from the waist down. But she didn't let her accident bring her down! She's using her experiences to help others, and to educate teens about the dangers of drunk driving. She's even still dancing, and is the only person on her dance team in a wheelchair! We recently spoke to Chelsie -- who stars in the Sundance Channel's original series "Push Girls" -- about her life, goals, and message to others.

ACT: You started an amazing charity with your father -- the Walk and Roll Foundation. What inspired it, and what exactly does the foundation do?

CHELSIE: The Walk and Roll Foundation is an idea that happened when I was in the hospital a few weeks after my accident. My dad and I were having a late night conversation and we thought, "Why not do something for people who are going through what I'm going through?"  We help people with spinal cord injuries -- like by giving wheelchairs to girls who can't afford them -- and teach teens to make responsible choices when it comes to alcohol and drunk driving.

ACT: What do you have to say to people who think that drunk driving is no big deal?

CHELSIE: It happened to me. Everyone says, "It's just a short drive home," or, "It's not going to happen to me," or, "I'm a better driver when I'm drunk. I'm more focused." But these people are just testing their luck. But I don't just want to scare people. I want to inspire them too. I want to show them that life does go on after something like this. I'm still dancing! I'm on a dance team, and I'm the only person in a wheelchair!

ACT: How have your views on life changed since the accident?

CHELSIE: I've learned to really appreciate the little things and not take anything for granted. For graduation, I didn't get to stand up with my class and turn my tassel. I can't stand up and give someone a heart-to-heart hug. Things like this don't seem like a big deal, but once they're taken away from you, they mean everything.

ACT: What's one thing that you used to take for granted, or that you feel like you appreciate more after everything you've been through?

CHELSIE: [Laughs] High heels! One of the best moments was getting my first pair of heels after the accident and feeling like a woman again.

ACT: You're doing so many amazing things right now! Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What are some of the goals you want to accomplish, and have they changed since before your accident?

CHELSIE: Before, my goal was to become a professional dancer. Now, my goal is to educate people about drinking and driving and how serious it really is. Right now, I'm working with Project Walk, a non-profit organization that has a spinal cord injury rehab center in Southern California. I want to someday open and run a similar facility in my hometown, Monterey. In 10 years, I also hope to be in a steady relationship with someone who can accept me for who I am and the fact that I'm in a wheelchair.

We have no doubts that, in 10 years, Chelsie will have done all of the above and then some. Learn more about Chelsie and Walk and Roll Foundation using the action links below!

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Jun 29th 2012, 20:06

Male strippers have a bad rap when it comes to their outfits. Everyone just assumes they'll see a cowboy or some dude wearing just a pair of cufflinks. For "Magic Mike," Channing Tatum wanted to buck the stereotypes when to came to stripping regalia.

Tatum told MTV News that the choices in "Magic Mike" reflected what he preferred when he was actually dancing for movie.

"That was sort of my whole thing when I actually did it," Tatum said. "When I danced, I did Boy Scout outfit, and I thought it was the lamest thing ever. Then I did a clown thing."

What Tatum preferred was more representative of the music he was dancing to. "My favorite thing ever was Usher," he said. "I was just like 'No, I'm just going to pick the song I like and dress like the song should be dressed for. That was it. I wanted to be normal. I didn't want to do the iconic stripper things."

Matthew McConaughey, on the other hand, was much more enthusiastic about his next-to-nothing outfits. "It's great wardrobe, isn't it? I loved getting in the wardrobe," he said. "A lot of talk, a lot of work, a lot of hours went into the tassels on Dallas' thong, the length of the tassel, the thickness of the tassel. The thong only weighs half an ounce. I kept all of my stuff."

Tatum agreed, adding "We've got wives now."

Are you seeing "Magic Mike" this weekend? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 21:00

Despite his foul mouth, anger management issues and promiscuous behavior, Ted the teddy bear, star of the movie "Ted", still has a cute and cuddly factor. He's a stuffed bear, you can't escape a bit of the 'Aww' factor, and he comes from a long line of famous fuzzy celebrities.

When MTV News caught up with Ted's director, Seth MacFarlane, recently, we asked him to compare Ted to other famous celebrity bears, like Snuggles from the Snuggles laundry detergent commercials, '80s toy Teddy Ruxpin, "The Muppets" funnyman Fozzie Bear and the colorful Care Bears.

As was to be expected, Ted and MacFarlane aren't exactly super fans of their famous brethren, but they did have some high praise for one lucky bear.

"Snuggles, what the hell? He's a recluse," he said. "Who the f--- hides out in the goddamn laundry? Sitting in the goddamn laundry all day, who does that? It's f------ creepy."

He makes a good point there. What the heck is Snuggles always doing in the laundry? Moving on to Teddy Ruxpin, the "classic" talking bear from the 1980s, the existence of which is mentioned in the movie.

"Ruxpin is a machine. More machine than man," he said, adding that there's a dangerous subtext lurking beneath the fur. "Terminator 5"-style.

Ted and MacFarlane had nothing but high praise for Fozzie Bear and his endless supply of chicken jokes and all that fun with "Waka waka waka."

"Fozzie Bear, all good things, all good things. He's the greatest comedian of our generation."

And finally the Care Bears, who had the power, via the object branded on their tummies, to turn any frown upside down with their fearsome "Care Bear Stare."

"The Care Bears, who the f--- wears their emotions on their stomach like that?" he said. "Oh are you happy? Oh I couldn't tell, oh that's right you've got a big goddamn rainbow right on your gut."

Who is your favorite pop culture teddy bear? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 19:30

By Jordan Valinsky

Yesterday, alt-rockers Muse announced that they'd be providing the official song of the upcoming 2012 Summer Games in London. The song, "Survival," premiered last night and was, according to the band, written "with the Olympics in mind. It's about total conviction and pure determination to win."

>> New Muse Track 'Survival' Chosen As Official Song Of The 2012 London Summer Olympic Games

"The song will be played throughout the Games including when athletes enter the stadium, in the lead up to the medal ceremony and also as the theme for all international TV coverage," the band continued on its website. "We are honoured that the Olympics have chosen our song to officially represent the London 2012 Olympic Games across the globe."

With people everywhere weighing in on the track, we wondered what other Olympic-themed songs were out there.

Here are four of the more recent and notable:

"Spinnin' for 2012"

Apparently UK singer Dionne Bromfield and rapper Tinchy Stryder wrote the "official torch song." Its bouncy and uplifting lyrics ("you and me will give it all until nothing is left") set the tone for what the games are known for: everyone getting along. It's not totally bad, per se, but it feels like it's a title track of "Kidz Bop."

"You and Me"

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing theme song, "You and Me," came complete with a four-minute music video of laughing athletes from a variety of countries set against a whiney singer talking about "One World, One Dream." The opening ceremony rendition featured English singer Sarah Brightman, so people were probably a little less confused what exactly was going on.

"Oceania"

Somebody had the genius idea of letting Bjork perform at the 2004 Athens Summer Games and it was about as normal as you would expect a performance from the Icelandic singer. She wears what could possibly be the world's flowiest dress ever, which, during the song, unfurls across the stadium.

"Reach"

If you wanted the epitome of the 90s, look no further than Gloria Estefan performing at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Draped in a very 1990s dressed, on a very 1990s-themed stage, Estefan sings her energetic song about reaching for the best. What makes it is her awesome flex at the end because nothing indicates athletic prowess more than Gloria Estefan.

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Jun 29th 2012, 19:00

Japan's favorite giant green monster could be heading to San Diego very, very soon.

Latino Review has heard from their sources that Legendary Pictures is bringing their upcoming "Godzilla" movie to Comic-Con this year. The production company has already said their panel will include Guillermo del Toro's upcoming "Pacific Rim," so Godzilla should feel right at home there.

It's been a while since we've heard anything about Gareth Edwards' take on the classic kaiju. Max Bornstein is currently re-writing David Goyer's script, but it doesn't seem like the movie has gone into production yet. It's unclear what—if anything—Edwards will be able to bring to Hall H, but hopefully he's got some concept art or something to tease what his vision of the project will be.

In an interview back in February 2011, Edwards said he was very aware of the franchise weight he was taking onto his shoulders with "Godzilla."

"I guess I will say I'm highly aware—and everyone involved is incredibly aware—of everyone's opinions on what this film has to do and what it has to be," he said. "And no one will do anything but the right thing. Without addressing anything specific, everyone knows how important is to get it right."

Edwards' only feature film credit to date is 2010's "Monsters," and that's largely what made him an easy pick to direct this movie. He proved he could make a big monster movie on a (relatively) tiny budget, and that might be exactly what the "Godzilla" franchise needs.

Do you hope "Godzilla" is brought to Comic-Con? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 17:42

Today, Tom Cruise metaphorically steps down from Oprah's couch.

People is reporting that the actor and his wife of five years, Katie Holmes, have announced that they are ending their marriage. The former couple has a six-year-old daughter together, Suri.

The only official word on the impending divorce comes from Jonathan Wolfe, Holme's attorney.

"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," Wolfe said. "Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest."

Cruise and Holmes married in November of 2006, shortly after the birth of Suri, their only child together.

It had been Cruise's third marriage. He was previously married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990 and then Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001. Cruise was Holme's first husband.

Stick with MTV News and MTV Movies Blog as the story develops.

Are you surprised by the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes? Let us know what you think in the comments below and on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 18:00

If you thought the international "Looper" trailer was good, just wait until you see the domestic one released today.

Rian Johnson's mind-bending sci-film isn't due in theaters until September 28, but this latest tease gives us a much better idea of what the movie is about than the first trailer did.

"Looper" follows an assassin living in the present day (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is hired to kill select targets by gangs living in the future. All is going well for him until one of the targets the criminals send back in time is actually an older version of himself (Bruce Willis). In addition to the added exposition in this trailer, we're a bit in love with all the technical effects it uses that emphasize the time travelling elements of this movie.

Arguably the coolest part of this whole video comes at the beginning when we see Gordon-Levitt and Willis chatting at a diner for an extended period of time. We haven't seen much of these two interacting with one another in the previous trailers, and we love how tense these scenes are. Gordon-Levitt has also proven that he can do an impressive Willis impression.

This trailer makes the movie's premise seem simple, but we have a feeling that that's actually very deceptive. Johnson's two previous movies, "Brick" and "The Brother's Bloom," may seem like up-front premises on the surface, but actually were a lot more complex.

If you aren't sold on the basis for "Looper" just yet, we would say give the movie a shot anyways because the simplification of the flick's plot is likely just it's marketing team trying to make the story appeal to a wider audience.

What did you think of this new trailer for "Looper"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 17:30

"Think Like a Man" was the biggest surprise romantic comedy hit of the year so far, managing to gross an impressive $91 million off of a movie that only cost $12 million to make. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Screen Gems is lining up a sequel to their hit film.

The production company announced the news today, saying that the first movie's writers, Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, will return to pen the sequel. Will Packer and Steve Harvey will also be returning to produce the project. There's no guarantee that the stars of the film or director Tim Story will be back for more, but we have a gut feeling that they will be. It's not like Gabrielle Union, Chris Brown and Taraji P. Henson really need the work, but "Think Like A Man" did seem like a fun movie to make.

The first flick was based on comedian Steve Harvey's relationship self-help guide called "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man." There's likely plenty more in that book that wasn't used in "Think Like A Man" that can be included in a second movie. And with Harvey producing, he will likely end up collaborating with Merryman and Newman to make sure the sequel will stay true to his original ideas. Who knows, maybe it will even be called "Act Like A Lady."

Are you glad that "Think Like A Man" is getting a sequel? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 17:32

By Zachary Swickey

The upcoming revamped second season of Fox's "The X Factor" is sure to be interesting now that Britney Spears and Demi Lovato have replaced Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger as judges alongside industry vet L.A. Reid and the program's mastermind, Simon Cowell.

Season two doesn't kick off until September 12, but auditions are well underway for the program. A new YouTube vid interview posted on "X Factor's" official account provides a glimpse into the season two auditions in Providence, Rhode Island.

We're first shown the dramatic entrance from the individual judges as they exit their limos and walk the red carpet with fans screaming wildly. Cowell's entrance is a little more comical as he is seen driving a small scooter – complete with several motorcycle patrolmen escorting him – and sneaking in through a back entrance that appears to be fan-free (what a party pooper).

In the interview, Spears is asked if she'll let any guys through simply because they're cute – something Reid and Cowell have admittedly been guilty of when it comes to female contestants. "I think it does help a little bit if the guy is somewhat handsome," she says, "but I feel like for the most part we try to boil it down to talent."

Lovato explained how difficult it can be sitting in the judge's chair, saying, "You're always thinking in the back of your mind, if you say no, what if that is their only shot? And you let them go when they weren't really that bad? It's confusing, but it's everything I expected and more with having fun and bonding with the cast."

"Everyone's really great except Simon," Lovato joked about her fellow judges. The singer seems to have plenty of nostalgic love for Spears in particular, saying, "I grew up listening to her [Spears] so it's really awesome sitting next to her on the panel."

Spears returned the love, saying, "Same for her [Lovato] too. I totally admire her work and everything that she's done. It's fun!"

Watch:

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Jun 29th 2012, 17:23

"Awkward." fans rejoice! Season two is finally here and the season premiere was packed with family drama, love-triangle confusion, and of course some seriously awkward moments.

Jenna's dad started the ep off with one of the most original Christmas gifts we've ever seen a dad give his teenage daughter: a GIANT box of condoms. There was no long parenting talk with it -- he just said it was a symbol of how much he cares about her.

The gift gets Jenna and her new almost-boyfriend Jake talking about their future, and their pasts. Jenna tells Jake she has used condoms before, her way of letting Jake know he wouldn't be her first. Jake isn't pumped to hear that news but when she gives him a chance to opt out, he turns that down and tells her "I'm all in." After the honest talk, Jenna decides to DTR -- define the relationship -- and she and Jake become Facebook official. While we're sure we haven't seen the last of the triangle, it is way refreshing to see an almost-couple have a real, mature talk about protection, so big ups to Jenna's dad for just taking the plunge, making the purchase for them and getting the conversation going!

+ WATCH: Jenna opens her Christmas presents.

Think bringing up condoms with your own hookup/bf/gf would be way too awkward for words? It shouldn't be! As Jenna and Jake showed us, talking about protection is not a big deal, it's just the natural next step to take if you think you might be ready to have sex. Here are a few facts that can help you through the protection talk:

+ Condoms are the ONLY method of protection that prevents pregnancy and can help protect you from STDs. That means that using condoms is smart for everyone involved –imagine how stressful a pregnancy scare would be…now think about how easy it is to use a condom in comparison to that!

+ Condoms are WAY easy to get. You can buy them at drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and a lot of health clinics have them for free! Don't be nervous making the purchase. You are making a decision to protect yourself and the person you're involved with, nothin to be ashamed about here.

+ Condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly. But ya gotta know how to use them for them to work! So read up here.

So take a move from Jenna's book and get talking about protection and condoms before the clothes come off. You can find a ton more information on all your sexual health related questions at It's Your Sex Life. And stay tuned for more Awkward moments, we can't wait to see how Matty responds to the new couple alert…

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Jun 29th 2012, 16:36

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is unusual for a number of reasons. First, it stars 8-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis as a girl named Hush Puppy, who lives with her father in a part of Lousianna called The Bathtub.

Second, it has dominated almost every film festival since it screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and that winning streak is expected to carry it to some Oscar attention.

We spoke with the director, Benh Zeitlin, about his experiences making the film on a shoe-string budget with non-professional actors and the more-than-warm response it has received from critics.

What has the overwhelming festival response been like for you?
It's surreal. You never really think about it when you're making the film. We imagined ourselves right now doing screenings at community centers and trying to organize groups ourselves on jerry-rigged screens and show the film in the spirit in which it was made. To have it broadcasting across the world is such a privilege. It feels like when you're looking at the globe as a little kid and spinning it around and imagining all these vast places. It's a moment like that where you get to imagine that your film's going to be seen by people on the other side of the planet. It's pretty special.

What are you most excited about when it comes to a wide audience finally seeing the film.
We always had this idea that—we may have not necessarily believed this when we were making this—the film was a populist movie. It's kind of hard to convince anyone of that because it's non-professional actors; it's a low-budget film; it's not particularly like anything anyone's seen before. We always believed that the film trades in very basic emotions. It has a core that can be understood by anyone. It's exciting and uplifting. It's been great to see how well that works, that that happened on the festival circuit. It was made to be appreciated by people who don't watch independent film as a hobby. I really think it will.

Was there ever any concern that the world of The Bathtub would translate to a general audience?
Definitely. The movie is very much about a regional thing and very specific group in culture. You're making the film with that group, and you feel like you're in this little bubble. You're at the same time believing that you're doing something that anyone can understand, but you have to wait for the world to tell you whether you're right about that or not. Part of the reason we told the film as a folk tale and not as a social issue film or a polemical or a political film. It wasn't a call to action in anyway. We wanted to take the themes that were inspired by south Louisiana and figure out a way to talk about them in a way that anyone could understand them anywhere. We had this film that was about a community that's trying to hold onto their land and hold on to their place, but trying to tell it through the story of a child losing her father, which is something that, as the film says, everybody goes through that. We wanted to find a way to talk about the emotion in a way that had running legs.

Was the emotion that's such an important part of the film apparent on set?
It's hard to say, in the bubble. When you're making a film, you're living an experience of non-stop panic and terror that the whole things not going to work. There's never a moment when you're sitting there on set going, "Yeah, I got this. I nailed it." There are certain moments in the film, the actor and I went through some emotional experiences, getting those performances that were so real. It was after certain scenes that I would feel that we had gone through it. You feel the emotion that the scene is about on set. There's a scene where both of the characters cry in the film, where literally every single person on set was weeping. I was crying, six inches away from Quvenzhané. The boom operator, the camera operator, the producer is at the monitor sopping wet.

What was your experience like working with Quvenzhané?
I had absolute faith in her the whole time. She's a totally otherworldly type of person. From the first moment I met her, she has this wisdom and this poise and strength that is way beyond her years, much like the character. It was never like a series of tricks. We didn't have to treat her like a baby or trick her into giving performances. She was really able to internalize emotions and understand motivation and really get what the character is feeling at any given moment. It was, of course, always scary, and you're subject to the moods of six year-old and when a six year-old gets sleepy. You have to tailor the entire shoot around taking care of her and making sure that the set feels like a place where a kid can be. The reward for that was she always came out and was able to take us to places where we never even believed that character could go.

"Beasts of the Southern Wild" opens in select cities today.

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Jun 29th 2012, 16:00

By Zachary Swickey

You may have seen the name Ed Sheeran popping up lately in the spectrum of pop music news, but just who exactly is this guy? Well, Edward Sheeran is a 21-year-old English singer-songwriter-producer that you are likely going to be hearing a lot about for the next several months.

Citing another English singer-songwriter, James Morrison, as his inspiration, Sheeran played an astounding 312 shows in 2009 alone. By early 2011, he had already released 8 EPs independently. This all helped him get the attention of Asylum/Atlantic Records, who then quickly signed him.

>> Is Olly Murs The Next Brit to Break? Four Other Pop Stars Who Paved the Way (Poll)

It wasn't long before Sheeran had a hit of his own (overseas in his native country, at least) with his debut single, "The A Team," debuting at #3 on the U.K. singles charts. His next single, "Lego House," was equally successful and helped his album debut, +, gain quadruple-platinum status in the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, he was bestowed with two BRIT Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough of the Year.

The album finally hit American shores earlier this month and managed a #5 debut on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Now that you know who Ed Sheeran is, you should check out the waiting list of artists who are itching to work with the rising star.

Sheeran has been putting in a lot of studio time recently with the hit-generating-machine Taylor Swift. She even posted a short, adorable vid of the two performing his hit "Lego House" while sitting on a kitchen floor. The two have kept tight-lipped on what's going on the studio, but Sheeran has had nothing but flattering things to say about Swift.

"I've never really met acts like [her]," he told PopCrush. "Taylor's been in it [the music industry] for six years and she's 22. And you hear horror stories about younger musicians, but she's so together and so kind and professional and knows what she wants, but at the same time isn't too harsh – she's just a really sweet gentle person."

Sheeran already worked a track on UK sensation One Direction's debut album, but has announced he'll be working on their follow-up as well.

"I wrote a couple of songs when I was 17 that One Direction want for their next album," he told Perez Hilton. "I'm going into the studio in August to produce the tracks for them."

Jessie J wants in on some of the action too. Chatting at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, Jessie told the Daily Star, "It took me seven years to get people interested in the first album… I want to get Ed Sheeran and Tinie Tempah on there, but I'd also love to work with Rihanna and Beyonce." (Quite the notable wish-list of artists to be included in!)

The multi-talented Sheeran has also admitted his desire to get into the acting game. He is reportedly interested in being part of the film adaptation of "Skagboys" – the prequel to director Danny Boyle's '96 breakout hit, "Trainspotting."

Keep your eyes on this rising star. If you haven't familiarized yourself with Sheeran's music, you can go ahead and fix that now by checking out his official "Lego House" video below.

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Jun 29th 2012, 15:15

We know what you're thinking, straight dudes. Enough about this "Magic Mike" movie already! "Ladies and gay guy friends, please stop with all the breathy Tweets and Facebook posts," you're thinking. "Sure, there are some handsome actors who take their clothes off in an R-rated Steven Soderbergh movie about male strippers. So what?"

But fret no longer, gentlemen. We're here to tell you what's what in our handy love/hate guide to "Magic Mike."

HATE All The Reverse Sexism
If there was a movie being released about a bunch of hot female strippers, there is no way straight guys would get away with the kind of consistent excitement that has been expressed via detailed Facebook and Twitter posts, as well as casual conversations. The feedback would be all rolled eyes and "You're sexist!" comments.

LOVE The Fact That Ladies Don't Actually Love Strippers
Have you ever known any ladies to want to date a male stripper? In fact, have you ever known any who have been actually attracted to one? It's a fun fantastical concept for a movie, a bachelorette party or any other girls only gathering, but it's fantasy and fantasy alone. All women I know eventually get uncomfortable or grossed out by real male strippers.

HATE Those Actors For Being So G-D Good-looking
There's not much else that needs to be said here aside from the fact that Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, etc. were annoyingly blessed with the attractive gene. They're totally wearing makeup and had to have their chests waxed for the movie, but that doesn't really take away from the chiseled jaw lines and sculpted arms and abs.

LOVE Their Very Strict Diet And Fitness Regimens
Speaking of those sculpted muscles, there still isn't a magic pill to take in order to get them. In order to get in tip top shape to bare almost all, each and every actor in the cast had to put in serious time at the gym and adhere to a strict "Men's Health"-type diets of mostly bland protein and vegetables, with Kale shakes thrown in every now and again as a treat. And don't forget all that body waxing, no one had fun doing that.

LOVE/HATE Soderbergh's Ballsy, Bold Filmmaking
It goes without saying that "Magic Mike" is not a movie that everyone will enjoy. Director Steven Soderbergh seems hyper-aware of that fact and and as such has chosen to take a stance on the subject material in a way that demands attention and/or discussion. Hidden in-between the crowd-pleasing stripper routines is a cautionary tale about capitalism and the American Dream. Love or hate it, the man has a point and a likely box office champ this weekend.

Are you seeing "Magic Mike" this weekend? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

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Jun 29th 2012, 14:30

It's Linkin Park week here at MTV Act! Well, not officially, but the band is doing so many cool things that we couldn't fit them into a single article. On Tuesday, we talked about their new album LIVING THINGS and their environmentally friendly tour. But the band cares about all living things, so today we're focusing on what they're doing for people in need. Ready for a little video essay?! Essays aren't normally fun, but this one will be! WE PROMISE.

Linkin Park started Music For Relief following 2004's devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. After witnessing the devastation on the news, they called on their friends and fans to donate to disaster relief. Since then, the organization has raised over 5 million dollars and helped survivors of natural disasters all around the world. The band also donates a dollar from every ticket sale to planting a tree. In 7 years, they've planted a million trees!

+ WATCH: Linkin Park On Launching Music For Relief

According to the United Nations, over 1 billion people in the world have no access to power. Power The World is a Music For Relief campaign that aims to put light in 1 million homes and Linkin Park is behind it! Brilliant, caring rockers? Sign me up!

+ WATCH: Linkin Park Discuss Their New Campaign, Power The World

In this clip, Chester talks about why the band wants to change lives with solar powered light bulbs!

+ WATCH: Linkin Park On Living Without Electricity

Have you ever thought about everything you wouldn't be able to do without light? There'd be no reading "The Hunger Games" in bed, that's for sure! Or Tweeing, FB stalking or damn, even typing this sentence. In some places, doctors and hospitals can't even function at night, making light the difference between life and death! If you're wondering how you can help Linkin Park give solar powered bulbs to communities in need, Mike's here to tell ya!

+ WATCH: Linkin Park On How YOU Can Power The World

Head over to Power The World's website and sign their pledge to show you care about helping students study at night, parents working after dark and patients receiving the care they deserve.

Related Content
[INTERVIEW] Linkin Park Discuss New Album & 1 Million 'Living Things' They Helped Grow

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