The Flip Side

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

I’m so impressed words just can’t convey…

From Fox News:

According to the first federal filing for the Jolie Pitt Foundation, the couple put over $8 million into their tax-free instrument. Pitt put in $4,402,317. Jolie donated $4,123,613.

So, you see, all that talk about their making charitable donations? It was true, after all. What a relief. For once, there’s a happy ending.

Their first years’ donations totaled a whopping 2,367,935. The biggest amounts were $1 million apiece to Doctors Without Borders (International Division) and to Global AIDS Alliance.

The smaller grants went to Namibia Red Cross Action Program ($137,935), which is nice, since the couple caused chaos there when camped out during the birth of baby Shiloh; $100,000 to the Daniel Pearl Foundation (the couple made the movie “A Mighty Heart” about Pearl — this was a sop to his widow, Marianne, whom Jolie played); another $100,000 to Global Green USA and to the Epidermolysis Bulloma Medical Research Foundation; $5,000 each to two orphanages visited by Jolie; and $20,000 to an art park in Los Angeles.

The best thing about this first year’s filing is that the foundation’s expenses were a mere $27,000. It’s likely that next year, when the paperwork is done, there will be more staff expenses. Still, it’s an impressive start.

I love his work in Rolling Stone so thought I might look him up to see what else he’s done.  I’ll let wikipedia do the talking.

From Wikipedia:  Over the years, Rolston’s still photography work for Harper’s Bazaar, Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine and Rolling Stone (among many others) has highlighted his visual panache and control of detail.  Rolston’s photographs have been exhibited at prestigious galleries. Locations include locations across the United States, Europe, Japan, and at museums, including The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. In addition, a collection of his photographs, “Big Pictures”, was published in 1991 by Bullfinch Press. Soon, Rolston expanded his savvy for classic composition and style by working as a director of music videos for artists including TLC, En Vogue, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Poe, Dido, Garbage, Sugababes, Jody Watley, Hilary Duff and Beyoncé Knowles.

I couldn’t put it better myself.  For a very nice website with lots of photos, go to his homepage:  http://www.matthewrolston.com/800×600/.  Here are some samples of his work.

Angelina Jolie

I think if I were trying to make it in Hollywood, I would have one of these amazing photographers take my pics because they really add an artistic eye and make everyone look ethereal.

Universal has supplied us with the first pictures from Timur Bekmambetov’s “Wanted”.  It doesn’t open til March but these stills have caught my interest.  You may remember that he gave us “Night Watch” and the soon to be released in the U.S. “Day Watch” (the sequel).  “Night Watch” was probably the most innovative horror/fantasy movie to come along in decades. It had amazing action sequences and special effects.  Timur is the best thing to come out of Russia since Smirnoff.  “Wanted” is an action movie, based on Mark Millar’s graphic novel series.  It stars James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Common, and Angelina Jolie.  The pics are large, but save ‘em down and enjoy them.

Mario Testino

Mario is known as the photographer who can make even the most stoic celebrity smile.  He works primarily in fashion photography but his work with celebs is fantastic.  Here are a few samples.  He has a new portrait book out called “Let Me In”.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (is this not the best photo you’ve ever seen of these two?)

Angelina Jolie on the set of “The Changeling”

Normally I don’t comment on appearances but I had to give props to the wonderful wardrobe and make-up people and hairstylists who put together this look.  Angelina looks absolutely wonderful in this.  I’m betting elements of this look gain popularity real soon.

Annie Leibovitz

Ms. Leibovitz has a way of making every photo look like a fairy tale.  Maybe because of this she has photographed the Queen of England more times than I can count.  Here are some of her other shots some of which I’m sure you’ll recognize.  She’s done lots of work for “Vanity Fair” (including the famous Demi Moore pregnancy cover) and “Rolling Stone” magazines.  She is probably at the very top of the celebrity photographer list.

Meg White and Jack White of the White Stripes

Nicole Kidman

Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt

John Lennon and Yoko Ono (probably one of her most famous pieces)

And because she’s so good at that fairy tale look, she was hired to shoot the Disney ad campaign including these shots:

Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella

David Beckham as Prince Charming

Beyonce as Alice in Wonderland

There are a lot of really great celebrity photographers out there (that don’t use cell phones as their cameras) and I plan to hunt down a few of them to highlight and show what really great celebrity photos look like.

You have to love and respect true celebrity photographers.  They actually make appointments with celebs and plan photo shoots and use real cameras.  I have a few favorites and you will probably find some of these shots familiar.  If you haven’t before, you can now put a photographer’s name to the extraordinary shots you’ve seen and loved.  Take the time to look some of them up and you will be amazed at some of the lovely photographs they have taken of your favorite celebrities.  Martin Schoeller takes some of the grittiest photos out there and I really applaud the celebrities brave enough to go before his lens.  You may recognize his style from work he’s done with Rolling Stone magazine.  And how ironic that I couldn’t find one photo of Martin.

Christopher Walken

Jack Nicholson (I had no idea he has such beautiful eyes)

Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt

Britney Spears

Jim Carrey

Iggy Pop

Rosario Dawson

Adrien Brody

Angelina Jolie

And more power to her.  She actually wants to produce a drama (some say documentary) about Doctors Without Borders.  I had to pass this on because DWB is one of my all time favorite charities.  You can find more info about this organization here:  http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/home.cfm.  I read on this site that DWB will be taking its outdoor educational exhibit A REFUGEE CAMP IN THE HEART OF THE CITY to Milwaukee , Chicago , Minneapolis , Houston , and Dallas .  If you live nearby this is a very nice opportunity to learn more.  Other celebs who support DWB are Brad Pitt, Robin Williams, Seth Green, and Toni Collette.

Seth Green

Robin Williams

Toni Collette

Brad Pitt