Look To The Stars News: Ang Lee

Iranian Director Released From Jail

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Earlier this month, LookToTheStars.org reported that a number of top Hollywood legends had signed a petition urging the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi. We can now happily report that he has been released on bail.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore all put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi. His release follows the end of the Cannes Film Festival, of which he was supposed to be a judge.

Filmmakers Unite To Free Jailed Director In Iran

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A host of the film industry’s biggest names have signed a petition to urge the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore have put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi.

Jet Li's New Movie To Provide Kick For Charity

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:25:16 +0000

Action stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s new film The Forbidden Kingdom is set for release on April 18, and the film company behind it has just announced an exciting new initiative with Li’s One Foundation.

China’s Huayi Brothers Film Corporation officially announced their cooperation with the One Foundation at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Wang Zhongjun, Huayi Brothers CEO, has committed a portion of their box office profits for the next decade to the foundation.

“Since the fund’s launch last year, many film companies, directors and actors have offered help to the One Foundation,” said Li, who set up the foundation last April to provide assistance to victims of natural disasters and youth affected by mental illness. “Today, we have set up cooperation with Huayi Brothers. That means more and more celebrity friends will join in to promote the charity campaign.”

Michelle Yeoh Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:56:53 +0000

Actress and former beauty queen Michelle Yeoh has joined WildAid in utilizing YouTube to post videos on the wildlife poaching crisis. WildAid is a non-profit organization that seeks to put an end to illegal wildlife trade “by focusing on awareness to reduce the demand for threatened and endangered species products and to increase public support for wildlife conservation.”

With awareness in mind, using WildAid’s motto: When the buying stops the killing can too, Jackie Chan, Ralph Fiennes, Ang Lee, Minnie Driver and other stars have posted short public service announcement videos on YouTube as well, Chan’s being the most graphic, against the illegal trade and its costs.

WildAid works worldwide with governments, communities and celebrities to make wildlife conservation a global priority.