Hollywood
Family calls Amy Winehouse documentary misleading
MUMBAI: Just a few weeks before the world premiere of the Amy Winehouse documentary titled Amy, the family of the late singer has spoken out strongly against it.
The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that the family wanted to “disassociate themselves” from Amy, directed by British filmmaker AsifKapadia, of the Sennafame, the 2010 documentary about late Formula 1 driver AyrtonSenna.
“They feel that the film is a missed opportunity to celebrate her life and talent and that it is both misleading and contains some basic untruths,” the family’s spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that there were allegations made in the doc against the family and management that were “unfounded and unbalanced.”
The late singer’s family further opines, “The narrative is formed by the testimony of a narrow sample of Amy’s associates, many of whom had nothing to do with her in the last years of her life. By misunderstanding the condition and its treatment, the film suggests, for instance, that not enough was done for Amy, that her family and management pushed her into performing or did not do enough to help her.”
Speaking to The Sun, Winehouse’s father Mitch Winehouse claimed that he “felt sick” when he first saw the film. “Amy would be furious. This is not what she would have wanted. I am painted as being an absent father during her last years. It gives the impression the family weren’t there,” he said.
Mitch Winehouse also claimed that the filmmakers “had a pretty good idea of the film they wanted to make from the off” and on Monday told BBC radio that he would look to “sue for damages” if the film cut screened at Cannes was shown to misrepresent him.
In response to the allegations, the filmmakers claimed they came on board with the “full backing of the Winehouse family” and approached the project with “total objectivity.”
“During the production process, we conducted in the region of 100 interviews with people that knew Amy Winehouse; friends, family, former partners and members of the music industry that worked with her,” they said. “The story that the film tells is a reflection of our findings from these interviews.”
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
