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Film director Yasmin Ahmad dies

Sunday, July 26th, 2009 2,941 views

It’s very sad that a very good local director left us, I love her movie Sepet very much. We will not have good short films and no more nice Chinese New Year clips which is meaningful. Hope she rest in peace.

Yasmin Ahmad dies

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 —Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad died here at about 11.25 pm last night.

Her death was confirmed by Media Prime Group Chief Operations Officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, who was at the Damansara Specialist Hospital, when contacted by Bernama.

Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damnsara Specialists Hospital.

She was reported to have suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage – Bernama

Source : Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning film director Yasmin Ahmad (pic) has died from massive bleeding in the brain at the Damansara Specialist Hospital.

She died at 11.25pm yesterday. She had undergone surgery following her collapse at the TV3 headquarters Seri Pentas on Thursday.

The 51-year-old movie maker was famed for her advertisements and films capturing the essence of racial harmony in Malaysia.

Relatives, loved ones and a large group of luminaries from the local movie and television scene gathered at the hospital the moment they heard about her death.

Among the first to arrive were veteran actress Fatimah Abu Bakar – a close friend of Yasmin – and Media Prima International CEO Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan.

Although distraught, those present paid tribute to the award-winning director.

“We would come cross a few great people in our time on earth. Yasmin was one of them.

“She wasn’t an easy person to live or work with, but that was only because she was so talented.

“She had a big heart and vision that we usually don’t understand. That was why people misunderstood her. But she never intended any malice,” said Fatimah.

She added Yasmin’s films had always been about love and forgiveness because that was the way her parents brought her up.

Fatimah’s daughter, Sharifah Amani, who acted in Yasmin’s films, was too distraught as she stood by at her mother’s side.

She refused to talk to the press.

Fatimah and Farid acted as the spokespersons for Yasmin’s family to announce her death and details of her funeral.

TV host Aznil Nawawi, said he had always admired Yasmin’s work although he never had a chance to work with her.

“She possessed the knack on how to capture the essence of Malaysia through her movies and commercials.

“I last saw her when she was promoting her movie Talentime at the Radio Era office,” he added.

Suria FM chief executive officer Engku Imran Engku Zainal Abidin described Yasmin’s death as a great loss – not only to the entertainment and movie industry, but to the nation as a whole.

“Her movies are watched by all races because they can all relate to the messages conveyed.

“We have lost a great, intelligent and creative director,” he added.

Yasmin will be buried after Zohor prayers today, although at press time the location of the burial has yet to be determined.

Fatimah said Yasmin’s body would be taken to the SS19 Mosque in Subang Jaya for prayers.

Source : TheStar

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Michael Jackson dies in LA hospital (R.I.P)

Friday, June 26th, 2009 2,602 views

Updates with confirmation of death from coroner’s office

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the “King of Pop” and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson’s death were not immediately clear.

Police are seen outside UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson was taken in Los Angeles Thursday, June 25, 2009. Michael Jackson died Thursday at age 50. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 EDT, 1930 GMT), Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times.

The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson’s death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music’s premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album “Thriller” – which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” – remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 100 million copies worldwide.

The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers.

Michael Jackson is seen in file pictures from top left, 1971, 1977, 1979, and bottom left, 1983, 1987, and 1990. Jackson has died in Los Angeles at age 50 on Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo)

Among their No. 1 hits were “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.”

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

“For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words,” said Quincy Jones, who produced “Thriller.”

“He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time.

In fact, he united two of music’s biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie.

But as years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure – a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life.

His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice.

He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003.

He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him.

The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13.

He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Singer Dionne Warwick said: “Michael was a friend and undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest entertainers that I fortunately had the pleasure of working with … we have lost an icon in our industry.”

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson’s rented home, was roped off with police tape.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died,” a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was announced.

Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

In New York’s Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

“No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow,” Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone.

“It’s like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died.” – AP

For latest news, pictures and videos on Michael Jackson from the AP Wire

Source : TheStar