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Zayn Malik is taking his career on a radically different path after leaving One Direction

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In his first extensive interview since leaving the world's most popular boy band, ex-One Direction singer Zayn Malik talked to The Fader about his solo career.

In the magazine's cover story, he said he left the band because of musical differences, and that the music he's making now is radically different from One Direction's "generic" pop.

"There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band," he told the magazine. "If I would sing a hook or a verse slightly R&B, or slightly myself, it would always be recorded 50 times until there was a straight version that was pop, generic as f***, so they could use that version."

In the past few months, Zayn has started working with Malay, the R&B producer behind Frank Ocean's critically acclaimed album "Channel Orange." He says his new album, expected to be released in 2016, will be somewhat experimental, with R&B, reggae, and even rock influences — all of which sounds far from the music that made One Direction so famous.

He also said he doesn't mind if his new album isn't as successful as his past work.

"I've got enough. I don't need you to buy it on a mass scale for me to feel satisfied," he said.

Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Jeremy Dreyfuss

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SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber is suddently making the best, most popular music of his career

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James Franco time-travels in teaser for Amazon's Stephen King series '11/22/63'

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james franco

James Franco is traveling back in time to try and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy in the new teaser trailer for Hulu's original series, "11/22/63."

Based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, the eight-part miniseries (or event series as Hulu calls it) features Franco as a high school English teacher tasked with the seemingly impossible mission. 

The series also stars Chris Cooper, Josh Duhamel, T.R. Knight, Cherry Jones, Sarah Gadon, and Daniel Webber as Lee Harvey Oswald.

Kevin McDonald ("Last King of Scotland") directed the first two hours and J.J. Abrams serves as an executive producer, along with Bryan Burk and "Friday Night Lights" writer Bridget Carpenter.

The show will premiere Presidents' Day, or February 15, 2016.  

Watch the teaser below:

SEE ALSO: 8 reasons why Seth Rogen's 'The Night Before' is the year's new holiday comedy classic

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NOW WATCH: How they shot the epic opening scene in the new Bond movie 'Spectre'










Adele's new album might become the fastest-selling album of the decade

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Adele is poised to put up sales numbers the music industry hasn't seen in more than a decade.

According to Billboard, her new album, "25," is projected to sell 2.5 million copies in its first week. That would be the biggest first week for an album since Nielsen started keeping count in 1991. *NSYNC currently holds the first-week sales record, with 2000's "No Strings"Attached" selling 2.4 million copies.

For some perspective on how impressive Adele's sales are in 2015, Taylor Swift's "1989" album has the best first-week sales of last year, and it only sold 1.2 million copies.

Adele's album will not be immediately available to stream on Spotify or Apple Music, the New York Times reports.

Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Kristen Griffin

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SEE ALSO: Zayn Malik is taking his career on a radically different path after leaving One Direction

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You can buy the real-life villain's lair from 'Spectre' for $4 million

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Marrakesh James Bond Villian House

Fancy yourself a super villain? This may be your chance to live exactly like the main baddie from the new James Bond flick "Spectre."

A contemporary villa in Marrakesh, Morocco, is now on the market for $4 million. It served as part of the lair of the main evil villain, Franz Oberhauser, played by Christoph Waltz.

French real estate agency Emile Garcin has the listing.

 

SEE ALSO: Here's how much you'll have to spend to look like James Bond in 'Spectre'

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Recognize this? This contemporary African villa played a prominent role as the lair of Franz Oberhauser — played by Christoph Waltz — in the new James Bond film "Spectre."



Though in the movie it was superimposed in the middle of the Moroccan desert, the home is actually closer to the city of Marrakesh.



The listing calls the villa a "cutting-edge contemporary design."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








Two killed, 10 hurt in Texas crash involving Ghost Inside band tour bus

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the ghost inside bus crash

A tour bus carrying members of the rock band The Ghost Inside and a truck crashed head-on in West Texas on a two-lane desert road, killing the drivers of the two vehicles and injuring 10 others, authorities said on Friday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said the cause of the crash, which took place on Thursday about 15 miles (25 km) east of El Paso, has not yet been determined.

"All 5 band members and all members of the crew are alive and currently being treated for their injuries," the band said on its Facebook page.

It added that all of the band's US shows on its current tour have been canceled.

The two people killed in the crash were bus driver Gregory Hoke of Texas and truck driver Steven Cunningham of New Mexico, the department said.

The band has set up a Gofundme page in an attempt to crowd source funds "to cover the band's medical bills and equipment losses as well as funeral expenses incurred during this tragic event," according to the page.

At the time of this posting, the Gofundme page has received 658 individual donations totaling more than $26,000 of the total $40,000 requested.

SEE ALSO: Charlie Sheen: 'I'm here to admit that I am HIV-positive'

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NOW WATCH: Investigators say flight MH17 was struck by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile










Kick-ass girls are an awesome new trend in entertainment

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Girl power has never rang truer, as kick-ass little girls are taking over entertainment.

The most memorable part of Sia's latest music video isn't Sia: The real star is nine-year-old karate master Mahiro Takano.

But Mahiro Takano isn't the only little girl punching her way into our hearts.

Jesse Jane McParland learned how to handle a sword at age 10. Her online videos have gotten millions of views, leading her to wow audience members at The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Meanwhile, on TV, Arya Stark has become the fiercest warrior on HBO's "Game of Thrones," and arguably the show's best character. She went through a lot of training to perfect her swordsmanship.

Finally, who can forget the OG kick-ass girl: Hit-Girl from the movie "Kick-Ass."

Jesse Jane McParland summed up the reason for this trend best. "Mommy said, 'Why? Why do you not like ballet?' And I said, 'Momma, not every girl dreams of being a little princess,'" McParland told Ellen DeGeneres.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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SEE ALSO: 'Mockingjay — Part 2' gives Jennifer Lawrence a triumphant end to the 'Hunger Games' movies

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The incredibly successful life of David Beckham, the 2nd-highest-paid retired athlete

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David Beckham

David Beckham, one of the world's most recognized (former) soccer players, was just named People's "Sexiest Man Alive" for the first time.

This 40-year-old father of four began his soccer career when he was 16 and continued playing professionally until his retirement in 2013. In that time, he played 523 games and scored 97 goals for six different teams, two of which he was loaned to.

But Beckham has been in the spotlight for more than just his soccer ability. When he married Victoria Adams (aka Posh Spice from the Spice Girls), the couple became a global phenomenon.

Beckham has appeared in video games, commercials, and movies, and he is the face of numerous brands throughout the world, including H&M and Adidas. Just this year, he was named second on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid retired athletes, behind Michael Jordan.

He also owns a Major League Soccer team and is actively involved in multiple charities, celebrating 10 years as a Unicef ambassador this year.

Here's a look at the life and career of Beckham:

SEE ALSO: David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly buying the most expensive country home in the UK for $41 million

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born May 2, 1975, in London. He has two sisters.

(Source)



Beckham said he always wanted to play professional soccer. He used to play on a local youth team, and at age 14 he attended Manchester United's training academy. His parents were massive United fans.

(Source)



He signed his first contract with United when he was 16, and he debuted with the team in 1992. During his 11 years with United, he scored 62 goals and the team won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League and the World Club Championship in 1999.

(Source)



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21 Android-only apps that will make your iPhone friends jealous

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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

One of the best things about Android is that apps have a lot more freedom compared iPhone apps.

Some of the most innovative Android apps are exclusive to Android because they do something Apple simply wouldn't allow.

These apps let you message your friends while still watching Netflix, hack your smartphone's LED lights for custom notifications, and tether your phone to your laptop without alerting your carrier.

In these 21 Android-only apps, you're guaranteed to find something new.

Just remember: You can't recommend them to your friends with iPhones.

Muzei promises to turn your home screen into a "living museum."

Muzei is a live wallpaper that changes your home screen into a different famous work of art each day.

Price: Free



Unlock your phone and apps with your face and voice using AppLock Face/Voice Recognition.

AppLock Face/Voice Recognition is an interesting app that lets you use your face and voice to unlock your phone and access locked apps. You can decide which apps to lock and unlock using this method, and there's even a nifty "liveness" feature that requires you to move your face to protect against people tricking the system with photos.

Price:Free



Keep your Android phone virus-free with Avast Mobile Security and Antivirus.

Sometimes malicious apps make their way into the Google Play app store, and this comprehensive antivirus app will keep you protected. It scans for and removes viruses, includes antitheft tracking, lets you lock specific apps with a PIN, and even lets you remotely snap a picture and record audio if anyone steals your phone.

Price:Free



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Stephen Colbert rips apart GOP’s anti-refugee stance by quoting Bible

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Stephen Colbert GOP syrian refugees

Stephen Colbert isn't pleased with the wall of Republicans who are against accepting Syrian refugees into the United States and the recent passing of a bill that calls for stricter vetting of refugees from Iraq and Syria.

The "Late Show" host said it was the only thing he wanted to talk about post-Paris attacks.

"The question to let Syrian refugees into this country has become the new political issue, completely overshadowing the old political issue: whether to let Mexicans into this country," he said.

He brought up the lunacy of Donald Trump's joke that Syrian refugees would be very angry about going from their 130-degree heat to Minnesota's 30-degree cold. "These people are going to be very, very unhappy," the real-estate mogul said.

To which Colbert responded, "Yeah, it's a tough call for the refugees. Do I want to stay in a war zone where my family faces almost certain death? Or do I want to go somewhere where I have to put a jacket on before going to the mall?" 

He then referred to President Barack Obama's statements in Manila in which he said that the Republicans who oppose the refugees seem afraid of widows and young kids. "First they were worried about the press being too tough on them during debates, now they're worried about three-year-old orphans," Obama said.

Then, Colbert joked, "Why shouldn't we be afraid of three-year-olds? You think we can't negotiate with terrorists? Try negotiating with a three-year-old. They play hardball."

Stephen Colbert jeb bush syrian refugees

The plot thickens for Colbert after Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush suggested that Christian refugees don't pose any danger. Later, Bush would have a hard time explaining what keeps Muslims from lying that they're Christians. "I think you can prove it," he said without further explanation.

Colbert finished his point by quoting the Bible, particularly the line, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me in." "If they don't say 'welcome me in,' they are either a terrorist, or they are running for president," he said.

Watch Colbert's full take on the issue below:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert's viewers are more likely to be Democrats and atheists in late-night poll

MORE: Bill Maher and Stephen Colbert had a curse-filled debate about Donald Trump

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NOW WATCH: Watch Stephen Colbert Complain About His Title 'Chief Of Secrecy' At The Apple Event










Melissa McCarthy is the worst boss in trailer for 'The Boss'

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Melissa McCarthy the boss

Melissa McCarthy is the wealthiest woman in America and the worst boss in the new trailer for "The Boss." 

Based off of a character McCarthy created while a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles, Michelle Darnell is a titan who is sent to prison for insider trading. Once she is released, she finds that the people she treated cruelly before aren't quick to support her.

She moves in with a former employee (Kristen Bell) and attempts to get her life in order by creating a new "brownie" empire, a Girl Scout-esque group called Darnell's Darlings in direct competition with the Dandelions group.  

The script was written by McCarthy, her husband, Ben Falcone, and another Groundling member, Steve Mallory. Falcone also directs and makes a cameo appearance alongside his wife. 

The film also stars Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates and is slated for an April 8, 2016 release. 

Watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert will host a giant 'nerd-off' with 'Star Wars' director J.J. Abrams

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NOW WATCH: Emma Watson had an awesome reaction when Malala Yousafzai called herself a feminist










The reviews for Samsung's futuristic virtual reality headset are rolling in — it's a must-buy if you have the right phone

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Samsung Gear VR virtual realityThe first consumer virtual reality headset is officially here.

Samsung’s Gear VR headset– which Facebook’s Oculus helped develop – hit store shelves Friday, and the reviews are rolling in.

Many praised the first mass market virtual reality device, which retails for $99, saying it was a “no-brainer” to buy if you already had one of the Samsung phones required to power it. The headset works with Samsung's Note 5, S6, S6 edge, and S6 edge+, which all can slot into the front of the headset.

But because you'll need one of Samsung's pricey flagship phones for the $99 headset to work, if you don't already own one you'll probably want to wait for Oculus to release its highly anticipated Oculus Rift headset early next year.

Many reviewers also noted that live streaming and the resolution of some videos was still lacking, but were huge improvements over the previous version. Overall, reviewers seem satisfied with the product, but are more excited about what is coming next.

Here is a roundup of the reviews:

Brian X. Chen from New York Times:

"I suspect that Gear VR’s virtual reality experience will be seductive for many because it is so fresh and different, but that it will not become a regular activity because of the weaknesses of the headset. The technology needs to lose some weight, and the video quality needs to be clearer and easier on the eyes.

"It would also be ideal if the Gear VR worked with other types of smartphones, not just the newest Samsung Galaxy devices. I would not recommend buying a Samsung phone just to look at dinosaurs or lift giant stones with your head. But the Gear VR would not be a bad holiday gift for people who already have a Samsung phone."

Kurt Wagner for Re/code:

"Leaving the world behind can be great if you’re, say, sitting at home by yourself. But one of the issues with the headset is that as I used it, I continually wanted to share the experience with others. I got the feeling that virtual reality in general will rely, at least in part, on knowing other people who have a VR headset. Playing a video game or watching a movie alone got old pretty quickly. Like smartphones before it, virtual reality will get better as more people get on board."

Ben Popper for The Verge:

"Like almost all mobile VR headsets, this one is low resolution enough to have a slight "screen door" effect. I often noticed the edges of the lens and interior of the headset, bits of light creeping in from outside or reflecting brightly off the lenses — little things that prevented the image from being totally immersive. But a good VR film more than made up for these shortcomings."

Peter Rubin for Wired:

"If you have a Samsung phone already, spending $99 on it is a no-brainer. There’s nothing like it, and unless you have a high-end gaming PC or a Playstation 4—and then spend more than $300 on the VR system to go with them—it’s your best shot at VR for the next year or more."

Drew Olanoff from TechCrunch:

"I’ve been testing out the new Samsung Gear VR for about a week and will relay my experiences, some good, some shrug-worthy, but overall a huge leap forward for virtual reality as a whole."

CNET editors:  

"The Gear VR is the best virtual reality gadget you can buy right now, and a great way to jump into the world of VR gaming and entertainment -- just make sure you own a compatible Samsung phone first."

Marco della Cava from USA TODAY:

"Early iterations of Luckey’s prototype tended to make users sick, as their brains were processing visual information faster than computers could render it and the resulting lag proved nauseating.

"None of that is present in Samsung Gear VR, although the screen-door effect is noticeable at least when compared to watching a Netflix video on any tablet or smartphone. In time, this will disappear as technology continues it Moore's Law-driven charge toward constant refinement at lower prices."

Geoffrey A. Fowler for Wall Street Journal:

"You won’t mistake what you see in there for reality—you can clearly make out pixels, like when you’d sit too close to an old tube TV. Yet using the Gear VR for a week, I frequently found myself getting wrapped up in its virtual worlds, for longer and longer stretches.

"There are a lot of reasons to be excited about this new virtual world, but it’s important to understand what the Gear VR can’t do. Limited by a phone’s processing power, storage and screen, it can’t play complex games. You can wear wireless headphones, but it isn’t a surround-sound experience."

Janko Roettgers from Variety:

"Overall, the Gear VR still feels a bit like a work in progress, especially for users that are interested in more than just gaming. It’s not just the lack of titles; there are also frequent reminders that you are really just staring at a phone — like the Android virus scanner notifications that kept popping up on my test unit ever so often, interrupting otherwise immersive experiences.

 

SEE ALSO: VR headsets are coming — and success will rest on the games and experiences created by developers

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NOW WATCH: This virtual reality device lets you experience what it’s like to get punched










CNN just made a major tweak to the rules for the next Republican debate

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donald trump jeb bush cnn debate

CNN unveiled on Friday the rules next month's Republican presidential debate — and one major tweak stands out.

In addition to meeting a certain threshold in national polls, candidates can qualify through their standing in polls of either of the first two voting states.

Some Republican critics complained that the four previous debates only used national polling to determine which candidates got to be on the main stage.

For the prime-time December 15 debate, however, the White House hopefuls can qualify either by getting 3.5% in national polls recognized by CNN, or 4% in surveys of either Iowa or New Hampshire.

According to CNN's Mark Preston, nine candidates would currently qualify for the big stage under those rules: real-estate mogul Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

But Paul may need to be worried. The senator is reportedly on the cusp of not making the main event, as he meets the national polling threshold but not the alternative, state-based polling criteria.

Additionally, CNN is keeping the so-called undercard debate for the lower-polling candidates who don't meet that criteria. For those second-tier contenders, they will need to reach 1% in four national or early-state polls recognized by the network.

CNN will only include polls between October 29 and December 13.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump unleashes raging 12-tweet barrage, threatens lawsuit at 'irrelevant' rival

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NOW WATCH: GOP candidates attacked CNBC moderators for trying to turn the debate into a 'cage match'










Netflix has taken the throne from YouTube in the battle for streaming viewers (NFLX, GOOG)

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House of Cards51% of internet-using Americans say they’ve streamed video from Netflix in the past year, according to a survey by RBC Capital Markets quoted by Quartz.

This number is an all-time high for the video powerhouse, and has catapulted it above YouTube in the category.

According to RBC, Netflix leads the video field, ahead of not only YouTube but also Amazon, Hulu, and HBO Go.

Netflix has bet heavily on original content in a bid to dominate the video streaming market, and it seems this investment has paid off. Research suggests Netflix is now outperforming the major networks in creating quality content.

You can see this quality reflected in the current release cycle. Netflix has rolled out the most-loved new show by critics this fall, Aziz Ansari’s “Master of None.” The show has scored an average rating of 8.8/10 from 50 critics, according to reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

But Netflix is not the only company investing in original content.

YouTube, for its part, recently rolled out its own ad-free subscription network, YouTube Red. The service costs $9.99 per month, and will include exclusive content mainly created by YouTube superstars like PewDiePie.

The two services have been neck and neck over the past few months, and we'll see if its premium service can help YouTube regain the top spot.

SEE ALSO: This chart shows how good Netflix is at making shows compared to TV networks

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NOW WATCH: Aziz Ansari nails Hollywood's race problem in one great episode of his new Netflix show 'Master of None'










Harrison Ford surprised a bunch of 'Star Wars' fans, and they totally freaked out

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A charity called "Star Wars: Force For Change" is sending fans to the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens."

A lucky few heard the announcement online, but it wasn't just anyone they got to hear it from. 

Harrison Ford popped up to greet fans. While fans freaked out at the chance to talk to Han Solo himself, Ford also seemed absolutely delighted. 

You can enter to win the contest at Omaze.

Even if you don't win, you'll be able to see "The Force Awakens" in theaters on December 18th.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Chelsea Pineda

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SEE ALSO: This JJ Abrams TED Talk explains why the new 'Star Wars' trailers are so mysterious

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27 people who determine what's cool in America

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Drake Hotline Bling

Pop culture is full of tastemakers who influence everything from how we dress to what we watch, read, and listen to. 

We decided to take a closer look at some the people who decide what's "cool" in America, from best-selling music artists to the creative directors behind the nation's most talked-about brands. We chose both industry heavyweights who hold serious clout and pop-culture icons whose every move makes headlines. 

Read on to see who's determining your definition of "cool" — whether you realize it or not.

SEE ALSO: The 50 most powerful companies in America

DON'T MISS: The 25 most successful 'Saturday Night Live' alumni

Amal Clooney

International human-rights lawyer

Last year, the human-rights lawyer and international fashion icon Amal Alamuddin married longtime bachelor George Clooney in Venice, Italy. Like Kate Middleton before her, Amal has become a beacon of style and class. In April, after she purchased a mink baseball cap on a trip to New York City, the store sold out of its stock and received dozens of calls requesting the vintage hat.

People are dubbing the 37-year-old one of the best-dressed workingwomen in the world and cataloging her every outfit, from the cream Stella McCartney pantsuit she wore to her and George’s civil service to the custom heels she favors by Italian shoe label Ennio Mecozzi.



Anna Wintour

Editor in chief, Vogue and artistic director, Condé Nast

For more than 20 years Anna Wintour has helmed Vogue, where she curates a fashion handbook for the masses. Wintour is the most watched — and possibly the most controversial — woman in high fashion, with millions of readers and industry peers emulating her style and hanging on her every endorsement. Her fashion prowess earned her a position as artistic director for Condé Nast, where she oversees the company’s 18 print magazines.

We expect to see even more of the fashion icon as the 2016 presidential race heats up. She’s been a supporter of Obama in the past two elections and has already been leading the fashion world in support of Hillary Clinton.



Bridget Foley

Executive editor, Women's Wear Daily

Women’s Wear Daily is widely acknowledged as the Bible of fashion, and for good reason: It’s the go-to trade publication of the industry, providing up-to-the-minute coverage of both breaking news and trends in fashion, making it a must read for everyone from designers to bloggers. The paper converted to a weekly earlier this year, but it is expanding its digital and international coverage.

As the executive editor of the iconic publication, Foley oversees everything that makes it into the paper, essentially controlling which designers and styles are seen and hyped and which don’t make the cut.



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Chiwetel Ejiofor explains the danger of going too deep 'down the rabbit hole' with an intense role

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chiwetel ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor is quickly becoming one of the most reliable actors in the movie business with a string of impressive roles, from his Oscar-nominated performance in 2013’s “12 Years A Slave,” to, earlier this year, playing the NASA mission director who has to get Matt Damon home in “The Martian.”

In theaters this weekend, we’ll see Ejiofor opposite Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in the thriller “Secret in Their Eyes.” A remake of the 2009 Argentine movie that won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2010, it stars Ejiofor as Ray, a former FBI investigator who returns to the Bureau after tracking down the man who killed the daughter of his partner (Roberts) 13 years earlier. Ejiofor and Roberts give intense performances playing two people who are obsessed with the past and go to extreme lengths to find “justice.”

Business Insider chatted with Ejiofor while he took a break from shooting the next Marvel movie, “Doctor Strange,” to talk about his role in “Secret in Their Eyes” and the challenge of staying away from the “rabbit hole” while acting in a movie like this.

BI: You’re in the midst of playing Baron Mordo, the villain in the upcoming “Doctor Strange,” right?

Ejiofor: We have begun, yeah. 

BI: Pictures of you in costume have hit the internet.

Ejiofor: Yeah, cool. 

BI: It looks like a comfortable costume. 

Ejiofor: Yeah. I think it's all right. [Laughs.]

BI: Well, “Secret In Their Eyes” is a very different project. What drew you to it?

Ejiofor: I had some initial conversations with [director] Billy Ray and I was just kind of fascinated by it. There's a lot of different things happening in the story and I just felt like the two time periods that it takes place in, 2001 and the present day, and seeing what happens to this guy in the time that we don't see him, having this obsessive quality, this intensity to his life, that was something that I was really engaged in. I was very excited when I spoke to Billy Ray about it. And an amazing cast, Julia and Nicole. 

secret in their eyes S 004_SITE_07318R_rgbBI: Were either of them attached when you were talking to Billy Ray?

Ejiofor: I don't think so. I think that all happened after that. Which was amazing. 

BI: Did you watch the original movie?

Ejiofor: I didn't when we were shooting or before, but I have since. I wanted to approach it cleanly, but I always felt there was room to do another version of it. Do a more American version of it. I think the original is great, bit it's a different kind of film. Definitely culturally.

BI: The way you play the Ray character, I saw a lot of Denzel Washington in it. You've worked with him in two films, “Inside Man” and “American Gangster." Did you think of him when doing this role?

Ejiofor: Interesting. I wasn't thinking of him actually. [Laughs.] I love Denzel. I loved working with him. 

Inside Man 2006 4BI: There are parts when you're controlled and then you explode with emotion and rage, which he tends to do in some roles.

Ejiofor: I suppose in some of the stuff he's done, there's an obsessional quality, and Ray definitely has that. His mind is always ticking, but it's cool that you thought that. 

BI: The subject matter is so dark. Did you have to think back to difficult moments in your life to play this role?

Ejiofor: No, not really. In a way you don't want to do personal math on stuff like this. You sort of engage in it, but at some distance, otherwise it renders it impossible to play. And I would feel that's the same for Julia with her role. You're trying to get as engaged with the emotions of it and the sense of it and the narrative of it. And the truth of it. Part of the skill of that is not necessarily having to fall down the rabbit hole yourself. 

secret in their eyes S 009_SITE_02143R_rgb

BI: That being said, you and Julia look ragged in the movie. Your character literally says to her, "You look like you're 100 years old." Are these roles fun to play even though the subject matter is so brutal?

Ejiofor: It was pretty serious by the time we got to the scenes at the end of the movie. There was some room to be slightly lighter earlier in the movie. But things take a turn. By the end these characters are so obsessed and beaten by the circumstance that being in that mindset, it was complex and engaging. In a way it's what you want to do as an actor. So in that sense it's enjoyable. But not in the sense of funny, ha-ha. 

BI: Were there things you used through costume, wardrobe, or makeup to put you in the mindset you needed?

Ejiofor: For me, I liked that he changes his watch. You can't really catch it in the movie, but I really enjoyed that. When he goes away and starts working for the private sector, he picks it up along the way. When he worked for the FBI in the earlier part of the movie, he has a very basic watch. And as we were changing over from different time spans the watch was always something that clicked me into the difference in Ray. 

BI: You’ve been very busy since “12 Years a Slave” came out. This is your third film released this year. Is that daunting or do you like the constant work?

Ejiofor: I like it either way. [Laughs.] But what has been enjoyable are the projects I've been working on I've loved. Film, and over the summer I did a play in London. So trying to find that balance of film and theater has been engaging and important to me and I want to continue that. But maybe have a little more time off. 

BI: We saw you last in “The Martian,” and after that movie was released, it was criticized by the Media Action Network for Asian Americans because your role, which was an Asian in the book, wasn't cast with an Asian. Did you catch wind of that, and do you have any thoughts on it?

The Martian Kristen WiigEjiofor: I did hear about it. I feel the film is a great example and a very successful example, I think, of diversity in cinema. And I think that really works. I suppose one isn’t going to please absolutely everyone, but I think in general the principal of having both racially and in terms of gender, a lot of diversity in the film which goes on to be that successful and has very strong themes about community, was something that I was personally very gratified with.

BI: In your view, has the diversity issue improved in Hollywood?

Ejiofor: I don't know. It's too early to tell. I feel these things will probably be judged generationally. When we look back at this time in cinema, we'll be able to understand a bit more whether diversity was addressed in any way or if things improved during the ‘90s and into the 2000s, so it's hard to say. But as I said about “The Martian,” I think it was great to have so much diversity in that film and that film being so successful, it is a prototype for how films can do that more. 

"Secret in Their Eyes" opens in theaters on Friday. Watch the trailer below.

SEE ALSO: 3 reasons Aziz Ansari took his critically acclaimed new show, "Master of None," to Netflix

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Amazon's 'Man in the High Castle' TV series has made Philip K. Dick's original book a bestseller

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New Amazon TV series "The Man in the High Castle" is driving new interest in the 1962 Philip K. Dick fantasy novel.

In just days before the series premiered on Friday, "The Man in the High Castle" has climbed Amazon's best-sellers lists. In just the last day, the novel was on the site's "Movers & Shakers" list for being one of the company's biggest gainers in sales.

And at the time this article published, it was No. 9 on the Kindle books best-sellers list.

That's just in the last day. Apparently, the novel has been picking up steam for a while now.

"Last year, the sales were pretty strong because we were working on the pilot, but we have seen a four- to five-time jump in sales, and that’s both in print and e-sales," Isa Hackett, Dick's daughter and CEO and president of Electric Shepherd Productions, the production arm of her father's estate, told Business Insider.

amazon man in the high castle salute

The boost in sales is music to Hackett's ears. It took eight years for the "Man in the High Castle" TV series, which portrays the world as if the Nazis had won World War II, to find its home at Amazon. The fact that Amazon picked up the show and happens to be one of the biggest book retailers in the world made for a nice bonus.

"The reason I do everything that I do with my dad’s work and what I do with [Electric Shepherd Productions] and as a trustee is about getting people to read his work. That is my mission. That’s why I do what I do, so that’s a great synergistic relationship there with Amazon," Hackett said. "It’s a beautiful thing, really." 

SEE ALSO: How Amazon saved 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston's new show

MORE: Here's why Amazon didn't save NBC's 'Hannibal'

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Hugh Hefner's son has a surprising and inspiring attitude toward women

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During our trip to the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, we sat down with Cooper Hefner, who has been tapped by the company his father founded to act as a brand ambassador. Cooper grew up in the Playboy Mansion and was exposed to the world of Playmates from an early age. 


We were surprised to find out that he has a perspective on monogamy and relationships that couldn't be further from that of his dad, who famously enjoyed multiple girlfriends at the same time.

Produced by Graham Flanagan

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Los Angeles airport is building a terminal just for celebrities and the very wealthy

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brad pitt airport

Your chances of running into a celebrity at LAX will soon be greatly diminished.

The Board of Airport Commissioners voted to pass a proposal for a private terminal dedicated to celebrities, athletes, politicians, and the wealthy at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 

According to the proposal, the new terminal will be built in a converted cargo facility and includes a 43,750-square-foot building and a 13,840-square-foot parking lot.

The new terminal will allow those seeking privacy to avoid the main terminals by pulling into a closed parking lot and drop-off area. When they enter the terminal, they will find private suites waiting for them, along with catering options, and they will be driven steps away from the plane for boarding.  

It's estimated that the new terminal will draw in more than $3.7 million in the first year and more than $34 million during the building's 10-year lease with security firm Gavin de Becker and Associates. 

According to the Guardian, de Becker would like to introduce similar plans to other major US cities, including New York City and Chicago, should this terminal be successful. 

The cost to take advantage of this private terminal is estimated to fall between $1,500 to $1,800.

SEE ALSO: 27 people who determine what's cool in America

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Here's why Adele is the most popular musician on the planet

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Adele's new album is expected to be the fastest-selling album in chart history, with 2.5 million in projected first-week sales as Billboard reports.

The projection underscores just how exceptional of a figure Adele has become. To put things into perspective, first-week album sales for Taylor Swift's "1989," for example, were half of what Adele is expected to sell for "25."

So what makes Adele so special?

In short, it has to do with talent, universal appeal, and a refusal to adhere to emerging trends in pop.

Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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SEE ALSO: Adele's new album might become the fastest-selling album of the decade

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