Angelina Jolie opens all-girls school in Afghanistan
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- Published on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 04:28
- Written by Entertainment Today
Angelina Jolie's big heart has made an even bigger difference: The UNHCR Goodwill ambassador exclusively confirms to E! News that she has opened a school in Afghanistan. Jolie chose to fund the girls-only primary school in an area just outside of Kabul, a region that traditionally favors boys' education over girls'.Angelina picked the village as the site of the school due to its high refugee population — regional fighting caused many locals to flee when their homes were destroyed, but since the collapse of the Taliban regime, families are slowly starting to return to the once-devastated area.).The school itself currently educates between 200 and 300 girls and has already proven to have a huge impact on the local community.Meanwhile, Jolie's not stopping there, and already has plans to open other similar institutions, vowing that this will be just the first of many. As for how Brad Pitt's fiancée is bankrolling her goodwill gesture, Jolie is releasing her personally designed jewelry collection, the Style of Jolie, to retail stores for the first time. She will use the profits from the line's no doubt hefty sales to build even more schools around the world."Beyond enjoying the artistic satisfaction of designing these jewels, we are inspired by knowing our work is also serving the mutual goal of providing for children in need," Jolie told E! News exclusively.And how can you get your hands on the Jolie-designed range? The newly expanded collection will go on sale this week. And 100 (yes, 100) percent of the profits will go towards Jolie's new foundation, The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.Jolie and her long-term jewelry designer, Robert Procop, have spent years collaborating on the collection."We launched this collaborative collection with the intent that 100 percent of the profits will go to charity," Procop said. "The intention was to create something beautiful but more importantly to provide children an opportunity to have an education."The beauty of these creations is matched by the beauty of spirit behind Angelina's most heartfelt mission—to empower children in crisis. The first funds from our collaboration together have been dedicated to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict and we have recently completed a school in Afghanistan.
"For me it's an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of creating this line with Angie, as we both believe every child has a right to an education."Many of the pieces in the collection are based on a unique design Jolie created for a necklace she gifted to Pitt—a historic tablet shape. As for the rest of the line, Angelina spent countless hours exploring coloring, gemstones and different shapes she was drawn to."These designs are timeless; they reflect her chic sense of style and also feminine strength," Kam Heskin, the spokesman for the Robert Procop Design Studio, told E! News. "There are so many pieces that make this collection beautiful and unique."The Style of Jolie will be available exclusively in Tivol, a Kansas City jeweler. Tivol will be holding a special event to launch the collection this Wednesday."Tivol, with their historic reputation and dedication to family values is a wonderful retail partner to launch our collection in the U.S.," Jolie told E! News."Tivol is a quality company known for carrying high-end jewelry brands that has been family-owned for several generations," Procop added. "The Tivol family has been so gracious and instrumental in planning this event."
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Judge: Angelina Jolie did not steal story for 'In the Land of Blood and Honey'
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- Published on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 04:22
- Written by Entertainment Today
Angelina Jolie has been declared the winner in a lawsuit that alleges she stole work by Croatian journalist James Braddock to create her directorial debut, "In the Land of Blood and Honey."The actress was sued just weeks before "Blood and Honey" hit theaters in late 2011. Braddock alleged that the film about a love affair during the Bosnian Civil War violates his copyright on a book, "The Soul Shattering." According to Braddock's lawsuit, one of the film's producers, Edin Sarkic, who has been credited in the press with helping Jolie attain the necessary permits to film in Sarajevo, had read "The Soul Shattering" and had discussions over the possibility of creating a film adaptation of the book.But according to a tentative decision by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee, the works are not substantially similar, and a result, Braddock has been ordered to show cause why the action should not be dismissed with prejudice.Braddock's book "Slamanje Duse" was published in 2007, and it came out in shorter form in English under the title, "The Soul Shattering." His work is set in 1992 in a small Bosnian village and features a Croat who is married to a Muslim when their lives are interrupted by war. Ultimately, the strength of their love brings them back together.Gee wrote, "Although 'Blood and Honey' is also a story of love, it highlights the complications of romantic love during wartime" between its protagonists -- a Muslim artist and a Serbian military soldier.When analyzing the plot and sequence of both works, Gee noted some of the similarities including the fact that both include escape sequences and brutal rape scenes. But that's not enough. The judge says Braddock can't have claimed to have "invented the concept of rape as a war crime" and says that whatever similarities there are in this regard don't rise to substantial similarity, "particularly in light of the fact that those overlapping concepts are commonplace in books and films depicting war."Similarly, when analyzing theme, the judge admits some similarity but stresses the differences. "'Blood and Honey' is primarily a story of betrayal, revenge and tragedy with little or no hope, while 'Slamanje Duse' focuses on family, love and strength."In the decision, the judge continued by exploring dialogue, the mood and the characters of both works. Parallels were drawn and then rejected as falling short.Braddock certainly is not the first to fail in making a case for copyright infringement. Many writers have sued Hollywood studios, and judges often place the bar quite high for plaintiffs to demonstrate substantial similarity. Ideas aren't protected, only expression. And then, there are limits to that. For example, the judge pointed out that "'Slamanje Duse' is based on the experiences of a real person and historical facts" but that certain details aren't entitled to copyright protection. That both works take place during the Bosnian War, which the judge notes is "a historical event that is well documented and widely known," doesn't really get Braddock anywhere in his claims that now seem destined to fail.Jolie and other defendants were represented by Harrison Dossick and Christine Neuharth at Reed Smith.“The Court’s tentative ruling was thorough and well reasoned," Dossick tells THR. "We are hopeful the court will adopt it in full when the final order is issued.”
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Angelina Jolie Takes Knox & Maddox Shopping for Easter Art Supplies
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- Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 06:31
- Written by Eonline
Looks like the Jolie-Pitt crew like to get crafty from time to time.Angelina Jolie was spotted making a quick art-supplies run to Michaels in Santa Barbara, Calif., with sons Maddox and Knox on Saturday, possibly to prepare for a festive Easter celebration on Sunday.The entire family spent the holiday weekend out at their mansion Santa Barbara, enjoying the sandy beach and four-wheelers. Brad Pitt rode an ATV with Knox on his lap, while Pax and Maddox rolled solo on mini dirtbikes and Zahara, Shiloh and Vivienne played in the sand. No specifics on what Jolie did to enjoy Easter, but she definitely had a lot to celebrate. Not only is the actress is in the clear in a lawsuit that claimed she plagiarized In the Land of Blood and Honey, but the UNHCR Goodwill ambassador exclusively confirmed to E! News that she has opened a school in Afghanistan.
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Angelina Jolie: I am not secretly married to Brad Pitt
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- Published on Friday, 29 March 2013 05:16
- Written by NY Daily News
The actress is spotted on a humanitarian trip in Africa sporting a simple gold band instead of her diamond engagement ring. Angelina Jolie has put secret wedding rumors to rest.Reports swirled that her and fiancé Brad Pitt had already said "I do" when the 37-year-old actress stepped out wearing a simple gold band in place of her diamond sparkler on a humanitarian trip to Africa this week. "Is that a wedding ring, Angelina?" a reporter asks in a video posted on gossip site TMZ. "No, it's not," she replies very clearly.Jolie spent her time in Africa meeting with women and girls in eastern Congo bringing attention to the problem of rape there. The mother of six returned home to Los Angeles Wednesday.Pitt, 48, revealed in a November 2012 interview at the premiere of "Killing Them Softly," that he and his partner of seven years plan to tie the knot "soon," but they have not disclosed further wedding details since."I am getting more pressure from my kids, and it is something I want to do within their lifetime, but I also feel like the time has come," he added.
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Angelina Jolie Lands in Los Angeles After Congo Trip
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- Published on Thursday, 28 March 2013 05:31
- Written by Just Jared
Angelina Jolie is a beauty in black while making her way through the terminal after landing at LAX Airport on Wednesday (March 27) in Los Angeles.The 37-year-old actress is back in the states after taking a short trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Gisozi Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, as part of her work as a UNHCR ambassador.“It’s often we speak about the dramas and the pain and horrors of the Congo, but it’s also a wonderful place with extraordinary people,” Angelina said in a new video released by The Guardian. “I think the big message is… this initiative started by the Foreign Secretary is an extraordinary thing, but what we’re saying and what we’re here to do is to try to scale it up and make this a worldwide focus.” At the airport, Angelina confirmed to photographers that her new ring is not a wedding ring.
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