PSA: There’s no Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene, but here’s why you should stay ‘til the end anyway - GamesRadar

So, there’s no Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene. Let’s get that out of the way right off the bat. Sure, it sounds deflating – especially as it’s a trope that Marvel has introduced and perfected over the years across 21 movies – but we can confirm that there’s no traditional stinger or set-up for Phase 4 of the MCU. However, we do get something else in place of an Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene. While there’s no plot spoilers for Endgame below, you might want to go in completely fresh if you haven’t seen the movie yet.

No shawarma meet-up, no Big Bad tease, and definitely no X-Men cameo. We all had different things in mind for a potential Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene, but Marvel Studios had another one entirely. Nothing. This was the end in so many ways, and that extends to the movie itself.

Once the end scene has finished, there’s a roll-call of all of the main actors who appear in the movie, complete with a really cool tribute to each, that is well worth staying for. It’s also as close to an Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene as you’ll get.

That’s because, after that, you get your traditional long (and I mean long: rumour has it you’re never more than six feet away from someone who worked on Avengers: Endgame) list of staff credits before the Marvel Studios logo hits and the lights come up. Basically, you’re free to go once the main cast stuff is out the way, if you so please.

But you shouldn’t. This is a celebration of everyone who made Avengers: Endgame possible. From the chefs, to the helicopter pilots, to any other role you might think of. It just goes to show how much hard work and effort from top to bottom goes into such a production, and not sitting through it feels a little cheap.

Plus, there’s a small audio cue that comes with the final Marvel Studios logo. It’s not setting up anything, nor does it seem to be a hint at a future character arriving in the MCU, but it serves as a nice bookend to the MCU as a whole. To say more would be approaching spoiler territory, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless if you want the complete experience.

TL;DR? There’s no Avengers: Endgame post-credits scene, the actual credits are super long so you can go for a bathroom break, and there’s one tiny moment to listen out for at the very end – but don’t expect anything too shocking.

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2019-04-25 09:36:00Z
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The Academy won’t change its rules to exclude Netflix from the Oscars - The Verge

Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services will continue to be free to submit their films to the Oscars next year, after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided against changing its entry rules to more clearly favor films intended primarily for theatrical release. The Academy announced that Rule Two, which says a film is eligible to be considered for an Oscar so long as it has a seven-day run in an LA theater, will remain unchanged for the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020, despite suggestions that it should be changed to require a longer theatrical run from potential nominees.

The rule changes were being considered after Netflix earned its first Best Picture nomination, for Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which was entered after having a three-week run across just 100 theaters in the US. Detractors like Steven Spielberg have argued that films from streaming services, which will primarily be watched on televisions, should not be considered for inclusion based on “token qualifications in a couple of theaters for less than a week.”

Alongside the decision about Rule Two, the Academy also announced minor changes to the awards for next year. The Animated Feature category will now no longer require eight eligible animated films to be released in a given year for the award to exist, and the Foreign Language Film award has been renamed to International Feature Film. The Academy’s press release includes a statement from the International Feature Film Committee: “We have noted that the reference to ‘Foreign’ is outdated within the global filmmaking community. We believe that International Feature Film better represents this category, and promotes a positive and inclusive view of filmmaking, and the art of film as a universal experience.”

Despite the lack of changes to the entry criteria, Netflix is unlikely to abandon its plans to get its films into traditional cinemas. Many prestige directors still take theatrical runs seriously, and Netflix needs to offer them if it wants to attract this talent. The streaming service is reportedly planning a wide theatrical run for its upcoming Martin Scorsese film The Irishman, and is in talks with theaters to offer them a run of as much as 72 days on more than 110 screens ahead of the film’s Netflix release. Netflix is also in talks to buy a cinema of its own, the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, which it could use to premiere potential awards candidates in a historically prestigious setting.

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https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/24/18514430/oscars-netflix-amazon-prime-academy-awards-entry-rules-nominations-spielberg-roma

2019-04-24 16:48:26Z
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The Oscars decides Netflix is ok after all, following DOJ warning - Ars Technica

Enlarge / An Oscar statuette.

Getty Images | Christopher Polk

Netflix and other streaming platforms won't be banned from the Oscars as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has rejected calls from Steven Spielberg and others to restrict eligibility for the annual awards.

The Academy's Board of Governors approved rules for the February 2020 Oscars and left the eligibility requirement unchanged. Just as before, feature-length films must be shown for at least one week in a Los Angeles County theater to be eligible, a requirement Netflix-backed movies such as Roma met on their way to winning awards. Proposals to require theater runs of at least four weeks were rejected.

"We support the theatrical experience as integral to the art of motion pictures, and this weighed heavily in our discussions," Academy President John Bailey said in an announcement yesterday. "Our rules currently require theatrical exhibition, and also allow for a broad selection of films to be submitted for Oscars consideration. We plan to further study the profound changes occurring in our industry and continue discussions with our members about these issues."

The unchanged rule maintains eligibility for films released on non-theatrical media (e.g., online streaming services, broadcast or cable TV, DVDs) "on or after the first day of their Los Angeles County theatrical qualifying run." The required seven-day theatrical run must include "at least three screenings per day for paid admission." As before, films will not be eligible if they "receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release."

The Academy was under pressure from the federal government to leave the rule unchanged. The US Department of Justice's antitrust division warned the Academy in a letter last month that shutting out streaming-only movies may violate antitrust law.

"In the event that the Academy—an association that includes multiple competitors in its membership—establishes certain eligibility requirements for the Oscars that eliminate competition without procompetitive justification, such conduct may raise antitrust concerns," DOJ antitrust chief Makan Delrahim told the Academy at the time.

Spielberg wants theaters “to remain relevant”

A Spielberg spokesperson told IndieWire in February this year that the famed director planned to support an effort to restrict eligibility for films primarily distributed via streaming platforms like Netflix. Spielberg had said in March 2018 that "once you commit to a television format, you're a TV movie," and that such a movie might deserve an Emmy "but not an Oscar." Movies that merely meet the "token" qualification of one week in a theater shouldn't be eligible for the Oscars, he said at the time.

Spielberg is a member of the Academy's Board of Governors, but he reportedly didn't attend yesterday's meeting and has remained silent about the matter over the past couple months. A New York Times article yesterday said that "Mr. Spielberg's animosity toward Netflix appears to have been acutely overstated."

"I want people to find their entertainment in any form or fashion that suits them," whether on the "big screen" or "small screen," Spielberg told the Times.

"However, I feel people need to have the opportunity to leave the safe and familiar of their lives and go to a place where they can sit in the company of others and have a shared experience—cry together, laugh together, be afraid together—so that when it's over they might feel a little less like strangers," he continued. "I want to see the survival of movie theaters. I want the theatrical experience to remain relevant in our culture."

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https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/04/netflix-movies-wont-be-banned-by-oscars-despite-spielberg-criticism/

2019-04-24 16:23:00Z
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Britney Spears Addresses Speculation She's Being Held Against Her Will - HuffPost

Britney Spears told fans “all is well” in a video message on Instagram after speculation that she’s being held against her will led to a social media movement #FreeBritney. 

The pop singer, who reportedly checked herself into a mental health facility last month, said in the Tuesday post that her family “has been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately,” and she needed “time to deal.” She assured fans not to worry, and said she’ll be back “very soon.” 

In a long caption accompanying the video, Spears revealed members of her family and team have received death threats.  

“Don’t believe everything you read and hear. These fake emails everywhere were crafted by Sam Lutfi years ago... I did not write them,” she said. It’s unclear what emails she was referring to.  

“He was pretending to be me and communicating with my team with a fake email address. My situation is unique, but I promise I’m doing what’s best at this moment... You may not know this about me, but I am strong, and stand up for what I want!” Spears added, insisting that all she needed was privacy. 

Spears reportedly has been at a wellness clinic since last month as she struggles with emotional distress over her father’s health problems, according to multiple outlets.

Her father, Jamie Spears, endured a “life-threatening” colon rupture in November, People reported. The pop star later canceled her upcoming Las Vegas residency, called Domination, and checked into the treatment facility. 

Fans’ concerns about the singer’s well-being and whereabouts heightened last week, after the podcast, “Britney’s Gram” played a disturbing voicemail from a paralegal who claimed to have worked on the court-approved conservatorship that helps manage Spears’ affairs. The podcast apparently made some fans think the singer was being held against her will. 

Followers began using the #FreeBritney hashtag, which gained support from celebrities, including Eve, Paris Hilton and LuAnn de Lesseps of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

Some fans staged protests in Los Angeles in real life:

Britney Spears’ fans have gathered outside West Hollywood City Hall demanding #FreeBritney. The #FreeBritney hashtag has been trending on social media after allegations were made on the “Britney’s Gram” podcast that the singer is being held against her will. @etnow pic.twitter.com/SfWLETZWLw

— Brendon Geoffrion (@tv_brendon) April 22, 2019

Spears’ younger sister, Jamie Lynn, posted a fiery Instagram on Monday defending Britney against social media trolls. She posted an old video clip that showed her defending her older sister from someone yelling at her. 

“10 years ago, who was there?? I have been here long before anyone else, and I’ll be here long after,” Jamie Lynn wrote. “I love my sister with everything I have. So, anyone or anything that speaks to the contrary can GTFOH with all the comments about what you don’t understand.” 

Need help with substance abuse or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.

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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/britney-spears-addresses-rumors-being-held-against-her-will_n_5cc05a0ce4b01b6b3efb0ede

2019-04-24 14:11:00Z
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Martha Stewart on Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman's college admissions scandal: ‘I just feel sorry for them’ - Fox News

Martha Stewart "feels sorry" for actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin who are embroiled in the college admissions scandal.

The business mogul was at the Time 100 gala in New York City on Tuesday when she was asked by “Entertainment Tonight” what type of advice she may have for Loughlin and Huffman “about what may be to come” for the two women.

“I just feel sorry for them and they might have made a bad mistake,” Stewart replied.

FELICITY HUFFMAN COULD AVOID JAIL TIME IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL: REPORT

Stewart, 77, served time in prison after she was convicted on numerous felony charges. She served five months at a women’s prison in Alderson, W.Va., in 2004. Stewart opened up on her prison stay to Katie Couric in 2017.

“But no one should have to go through that. It’s a very, very awful thing,” she told Couric.

Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded not guilty last week to charges that they paid $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.

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Huffman agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. She is slated to appear in Boston on May 21 to enter her plea.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a prison sentence on the low end of four to 10 months for Huffman, who was charged with paying $15,000 to boost her daughter's SAT score.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/martha-stewart-lori-loughlin-felicity-huffman-college-admissions-scandal

2019-04-24 13:06:56Z
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Martha Stewart on Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman's college admissions scandal: ‘I just feel sorry for them’ - Fox News

Martha Stewart "feels sorry" for actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin who are embroiled in the college admissions scandal.

The business mogul was at the Time 100 gala in New York City on Tuesday when she was asked by “Entertainment Tonight” what type of advice she may have for Loughlin and Huffman “about what may be to come” for the two women.

“I just feel sorry for them and they might have made a bad mistake,” Stewart replied.

FELICITY HUFFMAN COULD AVOID JAIL TIME IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL: REPORT

Stewart, 77, served time in prison after she was convicted on numerous felony charges. She served five months at a women’s prison in Alderson, W.Va., in 2004. Stewart opened up on her prison stay to Katie Couric in 2017.

“But no one should have to go through that. It’s a very, very awful thing,” she told Couric.

Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, pleaded not guilty last week to charges that they paid $500,000 in bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Huffman agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. She is slated to appear in Boston on May 21 to enter her plea.

Prosecutors have said they will seek a prison sentence on the low end of four to 10 months for Huffman, who was charged with paying $15,000 to boost her daughter's SAT score.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-04-24 12:52:49Z
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Britney Spears Has Responded To Conspiracy Theories That Say She's Being Held In A Mental Health Facility Against Her Will - BuzzFeed

There's been a lot of drama, rumours, and conspiracy theories surrounding Britney Spears as of late and tbh, things have gotten a little out of hand.

Gabe Ginsberg / FilmMagic

In case you're not up to speed, it all started when Britney cancelled her upcoming Vegas residency, Domination, back in January. However, only two months after the announcement, Britney said the show wouldn't be going ahead, citing her dad's health issues as the reason behind the decision.

A press release, which said Britney would be taking an "indefinite work hiatus", further revealed that two months before, Britney's dad Jamie had been hospitalised after his colon "spontaneously ruptured". According to the statement, Jamie then spent 28 days in a Las Vegas hospital before being allowed to recuperate at home, where he was expected to make a full recovery.

However, fans were slightly confused by the announcement as only minutes before, Britney's creative team had been tweeting about Domination, seemingly with no idea that it had been cancelled.

Two days later, Britney was pictured out in public with boyfriend, Sam Asghari. Then, she seemingly vanished off the face of the Earth and fans started to become concerned.

Things only got stranger when attorney Andrew Wallet resigned as the co-conservator of Britney's estate. According to The Blast, Wallet stated in court documents: "Substantial detriment, irreparable harm and immediate danger will result to the conservatee and her estate if the relief requested herein in not granted on an ex parte basis."

Valerie Macon / AFP / Getty Images

In early 2008, Britney was hospitalised twice and put on a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold. As a result, Jamie Spears and Andrew Wallet became co-conservators of Britney's estate, putting them in charge of her "medical care, career oversight and any monetary transaction". This conservatorship has stayed in place ever since.

Then, in April, came reports that claimed Britney had apparently checked herself into a mental health facility.

Image Group LA / Getty Images

According to TMZ, Britney was struggling as complications with her dad's illness worsened, and as a result, would live in the mental health facility for 30 days.

But eight days ago, podcast Britney's Gram released a "special emergency" episode. In the episode, titled #FreeBritney, a voicemail from an anonymous source was played, alleging that Britney had actually been in the mental health facility since mid-January and did not want to be there.

soundcloud.com

The source, which Britney's Gram said they had verified, claimed to be a paralegal who, until two weeks before, had worked for an attorney who worked with Britney's conservatorship.

The episode quickly started spreading around the internet, with the hashtag #FreeBritney becoming a frenzy of unconfirmed rumours. But, after months of shunning the spotlight, Britney has reappeared on social media to deny the conspiracy theories and plead with fans to not believe everything they read.

"I wanted to say hi, because things that are being said have just gotten out of control!!!" Britney said in the accompanying caption. "There's rumors, death threats to my family and my team, and just so many things crazy things being said."

Image Group LA / Getty Images

BRITNEY SPEARS

She continued:

I am trying to take a moment for myself, but everything that’s happening is just making it harder for me. Don’t believe everything you read and hear. These fake emails everywhere were crafted by Sam Lutfi years ago... I did not write them. He was pretending to be me and communicating with my team with a fake email address. My situation is unique, but I promise I’m doing what’s best at this moment 🌸🌸🌸 You may not know this about me, but I am strong, and stand up for what I want! Your love and dedication is amazing, but what I need right now is a little bit of privacy to deal with all the hard things that life is throwing my way. If you could do that, I would be forever grateful. Love you ❤️❤️❤️

I'm sure at this point, you're asking what emails Britney is referring to. Well, screenshots claiming to be old emails sent by Britney before shooting the "Piece of Me" video have been circulating the internet recently, apparently attempting to prove that she was trying to take charge of her life.

In the Instagram post, Britney claimed the emails were fake and had been crafted by Sam Lutfi, her ex-manager. However, Sam recently took to Twitter to deny this, and even suggested the whole thing was "smoke and mirrors" to hide the real problem.

Sam went on to retweet posts that implied Britney didn't write the Instagram caption.

However, despite Sam Lutfi's tweets, Britney's boyfriend recently told paparazzi that she was "doing amazing".

Regardless of all the rumours and reports, the main thing is that Britney is OK. 💖

Ben Henry is a celebrity reporter for BuzzFeed UK and is based in London.

Contact Ben Henry at ben.henry@buzzfeed.com.

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2019-04-24 12:18:00Z
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