Madonna's Speech at Gucci / Raising Malawi fundraising gala evening

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CLICK here for I Am Because We Are - The official website for Madonna's Malawi documentary launches right after Madonna's Gucci / Raising Malawi fundraising gala evening on 2.7.2008

MARCH 3, 2008

Single
4 Minutes To Save The World, the singleThis is the first single to be released from Madonna's new album Hard Candy at the end of March, 2008. It's sung as a duet with Justin Timberlake, combined with Timbaland's signature heavy hip hop beats and his usual shout-outs. Lyrically the song seems to be a sexual but playful teasing between Madonna & Justin.

Released
US - March 26, 2008
Japan - April 4, 2008
UK - April 14, 2008

Video
4 Minutes To Save The World, the videoVideo directed by Jonas & Francois, in late January 2008, shot in London. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake also appear in the video.

Credits
Written by Madonna, J. Timberlake, T. Mosley and N. Hills
Produced by Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Nate (Danja) Hills
Featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland

nsider was among the first in the world to chat to Madonna one-on-one in Los Angeles on Friday and hear her latest album, Hard Candy.

And the verdict is in: the Queen of pop still reigns supreme.

Her new album is classic Madonna with a funky hip-hop beat - not what you'd expect from a woman who was about to turn 50 - but this is Madge.

Her last album, Confessions On A Dance Floor, had a disco-pop feel, but Hard Candy, her 11th offering, has an urban hip-hop feel with collaborators including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams and Nate "Danja" Hills.

Timberlake's stamp can definitely be felt on several of the tracks, particularly the first single, Four Minutes (To Save The World) - an up-tempo hip-hop/pop track that's surely chart-bound.

And with the first track, Candy Shop, Madonna takes us on a journey - almost as if we were one of the kids from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Madonna's latest single, "4 Minutes (To Save The World)", a duet with Justin Timberlake, was leaked onto the Internet by a French DJ yesterday and has left Warner Music scrambling to arrest the leak in order to prevent millions of fans from hearing the track before it is officially released.

Over 26 versions of the leaked track made it onto YouTube. A whole lot more were uploaded to Daily Motion. File sharing sites also saw a host of uploads and downloads of the track. Most Madonna fans listed on Last.fm showed numerous instances of having listened to the track on their PCs.

Warner Music instantly issued a copyright claim getting the video removed from YouTube and DailyMotion almost as soon as users put it up. They were still not quick in enough for thousands of motivated fans of the Material Girl, who managed to download the video or song from one of the many online file sharing sites currently available.

As of the time of publishing this article, only one video of the track could still be found on DailyMotion. The track included the voice-over of the French DJ announcing the new single at the start.

Incidents such as this will undoubtedly provide the music industry ammunition in their upcoming fight against piracy - they are lobbying the UK government to pass laws that will make ISPs responsible for monitoring Internet access and banning users who repeatedly download files illegally.

Record labels, however, can't deny the free publicity and excitement generated by such leaks, which might at times make it worthwhile to let the fans get early access to singles from their favourite artists, in the hope that the euphoria will also propel them to rush to the record stores when the CD is officially released.

Source: Accuracats.com

VH1 Classic will air the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony" live on Monday, March 10 at 8:30 PM/ET.

Music fans will get to see and hear Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, The Dave Clark Five and The Ventures get inducted into this esteemed musical institution as the action and music unfolds. In addition, Little Walter will be inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's" sideman category, and the newly named "Ahmet Ertegun Award" will be presented to legendary producers, Gamble & Huff.

For the second time, the induction ceremony will be telecast live from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on VH1 Classic and MTV Networks' MHD: Music High-Definition channel on Monday, March 10 at 8:30 PM/ET. In addition, a special two and a half hour highlight edition will premiere on VH1 on Saturday, March 22 at 11:00 PM.

The week leading up to the live special, VH1 Classic will air special programming to salute past and present Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees including Madonna, The Police, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and more. Highlighted programming for the week includes "Rock and Roll Picture

Show: Desperately Seeking Susan" starring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Madonna and Rosanna Arquette. The film is a delightfully offbeat, original comedy about a bored suburban housewife whose fascination with a kooky character she reads about in the personal ads leads to her being mistaken for the woman herself.

To learn more about these series and other VH1 Classic series and specials please visit www.vh1classic.com

Source: vh1classic.com

MARCH 2, 2008

NEW album, new tour, new kids. As she rapidly approaches 50, life is not slowing down for Madonna.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph in Hollywood yesterday, the Queen of Pop revealed her plans to adopt another child.

And despite being known for her tough, no-nonsense demeanour, she spoke of being nervous about the release of Hard Candy, her 11th studio album, which will be available internationally on April 29.

While the singer agreed it was time she toured Australia, she was playful about what it would take to make her sign on the dotted line.

"How bad do you want me to be there?" she said at the exclusive Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. "There's a chance. It's been a while. It's the least I can do."

Madonna, the best-selling female singer of all-time, suggested a welcome party would lure her Down Under.

"Are you going to throw a party for me? All right, no didgeridoos though, OK."

Madonna's last Australian tour was the successful Girlie Show in November 1993.

Promoter Michael Chugg said Madonna's 2008-09 world tour plan, including Australia, "will happen".

He said: "It is being talked about ... and there is a promoter trying to put it together."

Although lighthearted and relaxed throughout the interview, her age - she will turn 50 on August 16 - was not a laughing matter with Madonna's publicist, who warned the star shouldn't be asked about her it.

She was, however, happy to talk about her pride at her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week.

"It's 25 years of writing, producing and recording," she said. "That's a long time to do a job well, I might add". "So, yeah - it's a great sense of accomplishment." The Sunday Telegraph was given an exclusive preview of her new album - and it certainly signals a new hip-hop-driven direction for the singer.

She collaborated with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Pharrell Williams. The first single, Four Minutes (To Save The World) hits radio this month.
"I'm very anxious and nervous and hopeful that people will like it," she said.

She is also releasing a feature film (Filth And Wisdom) and a documentary (I Am Because We Are), which tells the story of her adoption of son David Banda from Malawi.

"I would love to adopt more and I hope that as many people as possible see this movie," she said of the film, which will have its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

"It is very emotional."

The Material Girl also told of her soft spot for Aussies.

"I'm very fond of some Australians. Australians are usually quite funny people."

The nanny who cares for her children - Lourdes, Rocco and David - is also an Aussie. Madonna, called for jury duty after holding a post-Oscars party in Los Angeles last week, said David had a "funny American, English, Australian accent" thanks to the nanny.

Source: The Sunday Telegraph / March 02, 2008 12:00am The Daily Record.

FEBRUARY 28, 2008

28 February 2008, Burbank, California

Madonna's 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records "Hard Candy" is scheduled to have a global release on April 28th and a US release on April 29th, it was confirmed by her label.

"Hard Candy" - the follow up to Madonna's "Confessions On A Dance Floor" which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies - has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but this time adds an urban hip hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes and Nate "Danja" Hills.
The debut single, the pulsating "4 Minutes" will be released at the end of March.

"The title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness... kind of like I'm gonna kick your ass but it's going to make you feel good. And of course, I love candy" laughed the material girl.

Madonna, a multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children's book author, director and documentary film maker has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and is slated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10th.

Source: Madonna.com

HARD CANDY - PREORDER HERE

FEBRUARY 28, 2008

Madonna is back on the promotional trail, and features on the cover of this month's Dazed & Confused - UK magazine.

The Material Girl's new album, entitled Hard Candy is set for release this April, and she has teamed up with long term collaborator Steven Klein for this latest photo shoot.

Source: marieclaire.co.uk

FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Madonna has sold about 200m records and CDs on Warner Bros
Madonna's final album for Warner Bros will be named Hard Candy and is to be released in Europe on 28 April, then in North America the following day.

It will be the star's first album since Confessions on a Dance Floor came out in 2005, and will be preceded by a single entitled Four Minutes.
Madonna is leaving Warner Bros, the record label on which she has been for the past 26 years.

She has signed a 10-year recording deal with concert promoter Live Nation.

The contract is considered ground-breaking because it is an "all-in-one" agreement which gives Live Nation rights to all her music-related projects, from albums and DVDs to tours and films.

She was the first major star to reach such a deal.

Hall of Fame
In December it was strongly rumoured that Madonna's new album would be called Licorice.

But the suggestion was dismissed at the time by Warner Bros, which also denied the April release date.

It has also been announced the star will be inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York on 10 March.

She will be introduced by Justin Timberlake, who has been collaborating with her on the album.

The Dave Clark Five, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, The Ventures and Little Walter will also be honoured at the ceremony.

Source: BBC News - Feb 27 1:44 AM

FEBRUARY 26, 2008

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Madonna has dubbed her final album of new material for her longtime Warner Bros. label "Hard Candy," and will release it on April 29, her publicist confirmed on Tuesday.

The album, which features such songs as "Candy Store" and the first single "Four Minutes," is the follow-up to "Confessions on a Dance Floor," which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart in November 2005.

The title and release date were first reported by Entertainment Weekly's Web site (http://www.ew.com), and the details were confirmed by Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg. Entertainment Weekly quoted Rosenberg as saying the 49-year-old singer "loves candy."

"Hard Candy" will be Madonna's last studio release for Warner Bros. before she begins a wide-ranging 10-year recording, touring and merchandising deal with Artist Nation, a new initiative launched by concert promoter Live Nation. Warner Bros., a unit of Warner Music Group Corp will also release a hits collection.

Source: Reuters via Yahoo! News - Feb 26 10:21 PM

Madonna's new album will feature "a very different sound for her", according to the production team working on the record.

The pop superstar is expected to release her first new material since 2005's "Confessions On A Dancefloor" later this year. Much of it has been produced by Timbaland and studio side-kick Nate 'Danja' Hills, who worked on Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds".

Danja says fans can expect a new direction from Madonna. "She wanted up-tempo, dance, club music, and for everything to have a hip-hop underlining", he said.

Speaking about work on her 11th studio album, Danja explained her attitude to the recordings, commenting: "She was very down-to-earth, very cool person, very easy." Timberlake and Pharrell Williams are also understood to feature on the currently untitled record in some capacity.

Source: Dotmusic - Tuesday, February 26 12:37 pm

The title of Madonna's forthcoming album will be Hard Candy, EW.com has learned exclusively. The record, her last studio effort for Warner Bros., includes a track called "Candy Store." Madonna chose to stick with the sweet theme because "she loves candy," says her longtime rep Liz Rosenberg. "It's about the juxtaposition of tough and sweetness, or as Madonna so eloquently expressed 'I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.'" The album, which features Justin Timberlake on multiple tracks and production by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Nate "Danja" Hills, will see a U.S. release on April 29. The first single, "Four Minutes," will be out at the end of March.

Source: Madonna.com

The title of Madonna's forthcoming album will be Hard Candy, EW.com has learned exclusively. The record, her last studio effort for Warner Bros., includes a track called "Candy Store."

Madonna chose to stick with the sweet theme because "she loves candy," says her longtime rep Liz Rosenberg. "It's about the juxtaposition of tough and sweetness, or as Madonna so eloquently expressed 'I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.'"

The album, which features Justin Timberlake on multiple tracks and production by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Nate "Danja" Hills, will see a U.S. release on April 29. The first single, "Four Minutes," will be out at the end of March.

Source: hollywoodinsider.ew.com by Shirley Halperin / Feb 26,08 - 04:49 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Justin Timberlake will induct Madonna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a ceremony at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on March 10, The "Sexyback" singer has been working with the Material Mom on her upcoming album, expected to be released this year.

Madonna will be among those honored March 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Other inductees include Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five, The Ventures and Little Walter.

Tom Hanks will induct The Dave Clark Five, the '60s British pop band behind the hit "Glad All Over." Billy Joel will pay tribute to Mellencamp, and Lou Reed will honor Cohen.

Ben Harper will induct Little Walter, who produced 14 Top 10 hits on the R&B charts before his death in 1968 at 37. John Fogerty will induct The Ventures, whose hits include "Walk Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O."

Singer-songwriter Jerry Butler will induct Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, founders of the Philadelphia International record label that collaborated with R&B artists such as Butler, The O'Jays, Patti LaBelle and Lou Rawls.

Source: The Associated Press - Feb 26, 7:37 PM EST

FEBRUARY 25, 2008

FEBRUARY 24, 2008

Leave it to Madonna and Demi Moore to pick up where Vanity Fair left off, as the icons of music and screen are filling the post-Oscar party gaps.

The Madonna/Moore party will be held in a home in the Westside hills, Variety reports. As of now, the guest list is a few hundred people long, but is expected to grow.

A source that has laid eyes on the exclusive guest list tells Variety, “Everybody’s on it. It gives the A-list Vanity Fair crowd someplace to go to. It will probably be pared down to where it’s 85 percent talent, not a lot of suits.”

But for the Oscar-goers who don’t make the Madonna/Moore guest list, there is always the Governors Ball.

“It’s the biggest game in town,” a source tells Variety of the Governors bash. “This is going to put the glamour back into the ball.”

For celebs craving more of an imitate affair, there are still a handful of swank Hollywood hotels that could serve as the perfect location for an impromptu post-Oscar soiree.

Source: Access Hollywood

FEBRUARY 23, 2008

Madonna spent yesterday and today shooting the cover of an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair. Her Madgesty teamed up with photographer Steven Meisel, whom shot her infamous Sex book in the '90s. The new pics are said to be quite steamy.

FEBRUARY 22, 2008

Madonna at the CAA pre Oscar party held in Bel Air

Madonna was among the gazillion or so stars last night at the CAA's Bryan Lourd at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the Night Before pre-Oscar party benefiting the Motion Picture Television Fund.

I'm told all the star power, however, didn't exactly add up to fireworks. It was pretty subdued, according to a partygoer. "It felt like a business cocktail party with a bunch of suits just standing around," the partygoer said.

It was elbow-to-elbow inside Lourde's house, because it was a bit too chilly outside, I'm told, despite the placement of several outdoor heaters.
The attendees munched on a wide variety of appetizers and took advantage of a couple of bars set up throughout the locale. And just in case anyone feared having bad breath, Lourde had put out bowls of Tic Tacs and Altoids.

Meanwhile, Drew Barrymore was across town at the Chateau Marmont. She was there celebrating her birthday with her boyfriend, Justin Long, and a bunch of friends, after having dinner at Mr. Chow.

And how did some of your fave stars begin preparing for Oscar night? I hear Renée Zellweger was getting a facial at the Olé Hendrickson spa in West Hollywood yesterday at the same time Ellen DeGeneres was there getting a body treatment.

Source: eonline.com by Marc Malkin

World Peace One is in talks with many of the world’s top acts to stage a series of international concerts to bring peace to the world.

The shows, which are scheduled to kick off May 17 could feature performances from U2, Madonna, Led Zeppelin and Justin Timberlake, among others.

The not-for-profit group is attempting to bring peace through a 10-year campaign via concerts, education and government initiatives, reports , ZZ Top, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, INXS, Velvet Revolver, , and Timbaland, are among the acts in talks with the organisation, according to the group’s founder Doug Ivanovich.

The concerts will kick off May 17 with shows in Beijing, Istanbul, Turkey, London, Johannesburg; and Miami, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia and India, the report says.

Concert organisers at World Peace One include former executives from Woodstock and Live Earth and the group are currently building relationships with the world’s top promoters to make the shows happen.

Source: nme.com

FEBRUARY 21, 2008

Madonna at The Soho House Grey Goose pre Oscar party

FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Lawrence Nicastro places stickers over a photo of Madonna that he mistook for a rare image of Marilyn Monroe posing nude as a hitchhiker, as he prepares it for a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in Las Vegas. The photo, by Steven Meisel, was from Madonna's 1992 photography book, 'Sex.' Nicastro, said he found the grainy, poster-sized photo last year while going through storage items at his home in Las Vegas.

FEBRUARY 18, 2008

Madonna is to release her directorial debut Filth And Wisdom straight onto the internet - because she doesn't want to rely on her pop superstardom to make her filmmaking career a success.

The Material Girl hitmaker believes her low-budget movie, about a Ukranian immigrant in London, will be a bigger hit as an internet download, and has already started negotiations with iTunes service providers to bring her plans into fruition.

She says, "I'm a beginner so I think I should start off in an understated way. Just because I'm established in one field doesn't mean that's how I should approach anything else I do.

"I've been speaking to iTunes about releasing it through them. I want the most amount of people to see the film as possible. I don't do anything conventionally."

The news comes just days after Filth And Wisdom premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last Wednesday to mixed reviews.

Source: ContactMusic - Feb 18 11:43 PM

FEBRUARY 17, 2008

When I first clapped eyes on Madonna she was in a fit of giggles. Looking every inch the star – despite her beige tracksuit and platform trainers – she was sitting with the producer of her new film, Filth and Wisdom, in a grey, dilapidated casting suite off Soho Square. The previous actor to audition had fled, very red in the face. I had a sinking feeling the laughter was at his expense.

My agent had said the role was an MP who “likes horses”. How bad could it be? So I was feeling pretty confident as I was ushered into the casting room, until Madonna – or “M”, as we were told to call our director – shook my hand, smiled to reveal that famous gap in her teeth and said in her New York twang: “You’re auditioning for the part of Mr Frisk, an MP with a very strong horse fetish. In this scene he’s in a brothel getting his rocks off while a guy is riding on you.”

Sorry, what? I had assumed, now that she was an English lady of the manor, her directorial debut would involve chaps on horseback in tweed: Madonna meets Merchant-Ivory. In fact her film, which was screened to mixed reviews at the Berlin film festival last week, is about a Ukrainian immigrant called Andriy who finances his dreams of becoming a rock star by moonlighting as an S&M escort who spanks men for a living. “So you will be on your hands and knees for most of the scene,” she said briskly. “Are you comfortable with that?”

I heard myself say, “Yes. Fine,” rather too emphatically.

“So can you get down on all fours now so we can film you?”

“No problem. Who’d have thought it: Madonna asking me to get on all fours?” I said lamely. Handing the hapless casting director a tie, she asked him to play Andriy and sit on my back. Rather apologetically, he climbed on.

All I can say is that my actor’s instinct must have kicked in – just get the gig, whatever it takes. I found myself with my hands and chino-clad knees (this was an MP role after all, so I was in my finest navy jacket, cream slacks and brogues) on a dirty floor in the West End, bucking, writhing and frothing in clueless search of equine ecstasy, while M shouted instructions at me to “Bite on the tie like it’s a rein”, “Move more wildly” and whinny as if my life depended on it. After two minutes I collapsed; well, I was 41.

An hour later I got the call. The part was mine. By now I had serious misgivings, but my agent was thrilled: I had a part in the first movie to be directed by Madonna. So 24 hours later, on a sunny day last May, I found myself “in wardrobe” on the third floor of a hotel behind Marble Arch, standing in front of M dressed in a gimp mask with leather horse’s ears, a leather harness round my midriff, complete with genuine black horse’s tail, and thigh-high boots with fetlock fringing, tipped with silver hooves. I am 6ft 2in. In the gimp gear I looked about 7ft. And I couldn’t walk (not that that mattered). I was certain the boots alone cost more than I was being paid.

Earlier I had briefly tried on a suit that Mr Frisk would wear when he entered the brothel for his night at the races. Boy, did I wish I was back in it now. M finally stopped fiddling with her BlackBerry and examined the accoutrements with an expert eye, pulling and buckling the straps against my flesh. I looked utterly ridiculous. M agreed and told the costume designer to ditch the boots in favour of the torn pop socks I was wearing underneath. She ordered me upstairs for a script read-through with the cast. “Fine, I’ll just change.” “No, I want everyone in costume.” “There is no way I’m going into a room full of strangers dressed like this.” Madonna or not, every actor has his limits and I was putting my hoof down.

She is clearly a woman used to getting her way. “Millions are going to see this movie and you’re worried about your fellow artistes?” I was aware of her two minders, in black trousers and T-shirts, standing in the doorway, but I stood my ground (hard when you’re wearing a pony’s tail). Frankly, I begged. She relented.

My wife Angela was philosophical: “Do it, say nothing, leave.” My friends, meanwhile, were beside themselves. At a cricket match the day before filming, the whole team neighed every time I caught the ball.

A sleepless night later and I was on set – a grim 1930s semi in Peckham, south London – to film my all-important scene. It was M’s first day of directing and the tension was palpable. As I was yanked into my gimp mask, a bucket of feed was placed at my feet. “I want you to plunge your head in the bucket and come up with the feed all over your face,” M instructed. She assured me Mr Frisk would find this utterly orgasmic.

After the first few takes she came over as I was having oats and honey wiped off my face: “You’re doing great.” She was less impressed with my whinnying. “Have you actually ever ridden a horse? Because your horse sounds more like a bear.”

Just when I thought I’d hit rock bottom, the assistant director swapped the tie for a rein with a steel bit. I was hit with one of M’s million-dollar smiles: “Just once, for me . . . ” What could I do? Feebly, I asked the actor playing Andriy to be gentle. As my head was fastened in, my eyes tight shut, I tried to cling onto my wife’s fading words. M put her hand on my shoulder: “What are you doing, Mr Frisk – meditating?”

A few weeks later, after the split lip and strap marks had faded, I found myself on the set of Guy Ritchie’s film RocknRolla. Mercifully I was playing a lawyer. I mentioned I’d worked on M’s movie. He asked me which part I’d played. “The MP with a horse fetish.” He went a bit blank, then said, “Oh, that was you!” and laughed all the way back to his director’s chair.

Source: The Sunday Times by Vanessa Jolly

FEBRUARY 15, 2008

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* Two tickets to the 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and After-Party in New York City on March 10, 2008
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This event is not open to the public.

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Source: vh1.com

Hi Guys!

Mastidon here having just gotten back to my room from one of the single most amazing nights of my life. I am here to bring you a scoop from Berlin. AICN was one of only 2 non-TV outlets to be given the chance to interview Madonna on the red carpet. She is here to promote her new film which she co-wrote and directed - FILTH AND WISDOM. A full review on that to follow but first, I want to give you all of the amazing details from today.

Getting into the screening this morning then the press conference this afternoon can best be described as having a general admission ticket to a concert. Everybody pushing and shoving. Hard to believe these were press people. Anyway, I was able to get into both. At the press conference I asked the following question:

MASTIDON: Hi Guys, Ain't It Cool News, USA. This question is for Madonna. We all know you have been a director for 20 years directing your stage shows. How much more difficult was it to direct film versus the stage shows?
MADONNA: Well its difficult in that when I direct my stage shows then I get to do them and it's a very visceral experience and directing you live much more in your head. So I was quite jealous that I had to watch Holly dancing and I got to watch Eugene performing. I do love directing and the experience of it but that was the one little tiny thing that was missing that visceral release that you don't have if you are not performing. So it was an adjustment for me to work from my neck up. (Laughs) And that would be the difference.

After the press conference I headed over to the premier where I was placed at the end of the red carpet next to CNN, the BBC, and DW on my right. On my left was the other print journalist from New York Magazine. Madonna gave a general interview to the 3 TV outlets altogether, then was introduced to me by her PR agent then she shook my hand.

Here is the transcript:

MASTIDON: I want to ask you a follow-up question to the question I asked you in the press conference.
MADONNA: Oh you asked me and I met you already.

MASTIDON: Yes, exactly.
MADONNA: You look familiar. (Laughs).

MASTIDON: Thanks. The question I asked at the press conference was about stage versus film and I liked to know -
MADONNA: Directing me.

MASTIDON: Directing, exactly. So who is really more difficult to control, actors or dancers?
MADONNA: Well I have an affinity with dancers, because I was trained as a dancer so I feel a strange kind of kinship with them. But I have to say that if I spend time with an actor and we have a rehearsal process, it's really the same thing. I do feel like there is a nurturing collaboration and I love collaborating with people whether its great actors or great dancers. Creative people.

MASTIDON: One more question, as an artist who performed at both Live 8 and Live Earth, why is that global warming is an issue that people can't get their head around versus saving children in Africa?
MADONNA: Because I think it is really easy for people to embrace the idea that children shouldn't suffer. But I think it is really hard for people to embrace the idea that they actually have to change their lives to deal with the environmental issues like they have to not drive their cars so much or change the kind of car they drive or not drive a car at all. You know what I mean? It really impacts people's lives and I think it's hard for people to take responsibility for that.

MASTIDON: I definitely know what you mean. Thank you.
MADONNA: You're welcome.

In all, Madonna only gave the general interview at the press conference, the one interview to TV, the one to New York Magazine, and the one to AICN. She is a very eloquent and well spoken woman. It was truly amazing to see that side of her after listening to her music for the past 25 years. I hope you enjoyed it a tenth as much as I did bring it to you.....

Ciao from Berlin,
-Mastidon

Source: aintitcool.com / Thank you to madonnasworldcom.blogspot.com

FEBRUARY 14, 2008

FEBRUARY 13, 2008

Madonna's first interview about Filth and Wisdom given to Spiegel TV at the International Film Festival Berlinale in Berlin

Thank you to our community member gettogether2008

German ZDF website is swhowing an exclusive interview with Madonna from the International Film Festival Berlinale in Berlin

Madonna introduces her movie and talks to the audience prior to the screening of her film 'Filth and Wisdom' in Berlin

Madonna arrived at the Zoo Palast for the screening of her movie 'Filth And Wisdom' just a few minutes before 9.30 PM.

Madonna’s generosity to her fans in Berlin was huge. She was glowing while signing autographs during her arrival for the screening of her movie 'Filth and Wisdom'. Many, many of her fans obtained the desirable autograph.

Pop star Madonna signs autographs after a news conference to present her film 'Filth and Wisdom' running at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 13, 2008.

Madonna waves to fans after she leaves a news conference for the movie ' Filth And Wisdom' at the International Film Festival Berlinale in Berlin, Germany

Madonna smiles as she arrives for a press conference about the film 'Filth and Wisdom' in Berlin

Source: Yahoo News / Photos: AP/Markus Schreiber/ REUTERS/Johannes Eisele/Tobias Schwarz/Hannibal Hanschke/Fabrizio Bensch