Keeping busy with Business

Some people become celebrities for a specific skill or talent, and sometimes for no reason at all. People like Paris Hilton or the Kardashians are known for the absurd reality shows they've appeared in (as well as tabloid hijinks), and people like Steve Jobs are known for their skills in business. In Donald Trump's case, you can be known for both your business and your hair- but sometimes, your secondary skills may not be widely known. Here are some celebrities that in addition to their famed talents, have secret business skills as well:

Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock has several entrepreneurial assets. She owns a film production company called Fortis Films, as well as the Bess Bistro restaurant in Austin, the Walton's Fancy and Staple bakery, and she's also an executive producer for the George Lopez show (where she earns over $10 million in syndication rights.)

Famous actor/stuntman Jackie Chan owns several businesses, including his own film and distribution company, multiple production companies, and a largely successful cinema line called the Jackie Chan Theater International in China. In addition to those, he also started his own lines of gyms, clothing, restaurants, grocery stores, and furniture. As mentioned before on this blog, Jackie Chan is also a very giving person- his Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation raises a lot of money, and each of his businesses donate a percentage of their earnings to said foundation.

Actor/musician Justin Timberlake has investments in the app development company Miso Media, as well as Stipple, the online photo labeling tool. He also owns Tennman Records record label, a clothing line, and half of the Southern Hospitality BBQ restaurant with his friend.

When hearing the names of these actors, you may not immediately think of their business talents. You think: Isn't it enough that they're all so good looking? Surely they must at least lack business skills, they can't be all that bright in reality. But no. Sometimes they are. Sometimes life isn't fair.

Celebutants

Many of those who classify as celebrities are famous for reasons like their family has money, they were apart of a scandal, or they gained it through being popular in the music, movie, or television industry. Some, however, get their fame from their success and good fortune earned by hard work and innovative business ideas. These people came into stardom because of their career and life success. Whether you like them as people or not is irrelevant, the fact is they worked for what they have now.

1. Bill Gates


Showing an interest in computer programming at the early age of 13, Gates focused on his interest while studying as a Harvard student. He and his long-time friend Paul Allen eventually partnered up to create Microsoft in 1985. All of that passion and hard work paid off as Gates is now one of the wealthiest people in the world.

2. Donald Trump


This  mogul became interested in large, profitable building projects in 1971 and in 1980 he opened the Grand Hyatt and turned into Manhattan's most well known real estate developer. He got even more attention in 2004 when he starred in The Apprentice. Though public opinion of Trump goes both ways, his smart business decisions made him the celebrity billionaire he is today.

3. Russell Simmons


Though his fellow celeb and brother, Rev Run, gets more attention, this is the Simmons that started it all. He started producing music in his early 20s and created, with partner Rick Rubin, the famed Def Jams Records. The record label has signed artists like LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys,  and the group his brother partook in, RUN D.M.C. He sold his stake label, but as a true entrepreneur, has since started Rush Communications and founded several organizations including  Hip Hop Summit Action Network, the Rush Philanthropic Organization and the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

4. Oprah Winfrey


Technically Oprah started off as an actress, acting in the award-winning movie The Color Purple. The real magic didn't happen, however, until The Oprah Winfrey Show began that same year, in 1986. I can't even list all of the things that have happened since then for this self-starter, but you should pretty much know the whole story. The richest woman in the world is also one of the most known household names out there.

Strangest World Records

People do weird things. And they want to be acknowledged for these weird things. With the recent release of the Guinness Book of World Records 2013 out, it makes us wonder: "What world record could be left?" Here are some doozies to answer that question in order of strangest to a little less strange:

1. Longest Beard on a Living Woman:

This unsightly achievement belongs to Vivian Wheeler, an Illinois resident, who takes the record with a shockingly long, 11 inch beard.













2. World's Largest Hips

Mikel Ruffinelli, a 420 lb. plus-size model, holds the world record for largest hips, whose hips measure more than eight feet in circumference.

3. World's Largest Biceps

With his right arm measuring 25 inches flexed and his left 25.5 inches flexed, Mostafa Ismail takes the record.

4. Longest Jail Term

Charles Scott Robinson was sentenced 5,000 years apiece for all 6 counts against him in Oklahoma City, which adds to an unthinkable 30,000 years in prison. 

5. The Most Weight Lifted Using Eye Sockets

Of the most unusually and disturbing records, is this. The record holder is Manjit Singh, who proved his ability to lift over 51 pounds in weight using just his eye socket.

6. Most People Popping Bubble Wrap At One Time

The strange achievement is earned by high school students in Hawthorne, NJ. 366 students popped over 8,000 square feet of Bubble Wrap in two minutes.

5. World's Loudest Bark

Charlie, a golden retriever, takes this prize.

 

6. Tallest Donkey

That title goes to Oklahoma Sam, an American Mammoth Jackstock who measured 5 ft. 1 in tall.

The Best in the World

Celebrities are just regular humans, but sometimes even regular humans can break WORLD RECORDS and be best in the world at something, or first in the world to do something.

Here is a list of records broken or made by various celebrities:

The record for the most live streams for a single event goes to Prince William and Kate Middleton for their wedding.

J.K. Rowling happens to be the First Billionaire Author thanks to sales of more than 400 million Harry Potter books worldwide.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ player, Troy Polamalu, even holds the “Most Highly Insured Hair” World Record when Head & Shoulders took out a $1 million policy on his hair in 2010.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records for 2013, we have:

Sandra Bullock: Highest paid actress.
Charlie Sheen: Highest paid actor on TV.
Angus T. Jones: Highest paid TV child actor.
Miranda Cosgrove: Highest paid TV child actress.
Johnny Depp: Highest paid actor. 

Carrie Underwood: Most country #1 hits in the USA by a female artist.

U2: Highest-grossing music tour.

Snow Patrol: Longest chart run in the UK by a group (one single)

Lady Gaga: Fastest selling US digital album.

BUT if perhaps Guinness doesn't find your particular talents worth noting, there are even still more options!

Jimmy Fallon has made great use of recordsetter.com, where you can create your own records to be challenged by others. 

Fallon himself holds the records for:

Most Fast Food Items Tasted In 30 Seconds

Longest Office Chair Daisy Chain Pulled By A Golf Cart

Most Video Game Consoles Played In One Minute

Most Strangers Marker Mustached In 30 Seconds

Largest Bloody Mary Garnished With A Late Night TV Host

Tallest Shaving Cream Wig

I, personally, find myself jealous of Isla Fisher's record of "Most Frozen Waffles Stacked In Two Hands" and perhaps even "Most Bunnies Snuggled With In A Hammock" defended by Cameron Diaz. 

Whatever your talent, being the absolute best at it is a good goal to strive for.

Voices of Disney

As we get older, we notice things we didn’t before. I like watching Disney shows every now and then, and I now notice many jokes meant for adults that went over my head when I was younger. So I wondered, what else did I miss out on? Turns out that some of the celebrities I’ve known and loved have voiced some of my favorite Disney characters. Here are just a few:

1. Johnathon Taylor as young Simba in The Lion King

2. Matthew Broderick as adult Simba in The Lion King

3. Joey Lawrence as Oliver in Oliver & Company

4. Mel Gibson as John Smith in Pochahontas

5. Demi Moore as Esmerelda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

6. David Spade as Emperor Kuzco in The Emperor's New Groove

All of the photos used in this post were taken from ology.com.

The Cost of a Dimension

In recent days, most animated or CGI-including movies are shown in theaters with a 3D option, if not limited to that form. Many non-3D movies are even returning to theaters decades later but with a 3D adjustment-- either to increase the hype for an upcoming sequel or simply to squeeze out more money. 

Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo, and Jurassic Park are all examples of the former, with Monster's University, Finding Dory, and Jurassic Park IV scheduled for release in the near future. 

But for Disney, 3D technology may come with a higher price. Many years ago, the patent for 3D conversion was secured by a company called In-Three, which was eventually bought by James Cameron's company Digital Domain, which filed for bankruptcy last year. Digital Domain had to sell many of its assets to other companies, including the 3D conversion tech.

Disney, which first used In-Three's conversion technology to make "G-Force," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Tron: Legacy," fears that they may be sued by whatever new company purchases the rights to that tech, should Disney continue to use it themselves. 

"The G-Force Agreement," the contract designed at the creation of those films, may not be enough to protect Disney. The contract states that "should the patent change hands, [Disney] wouldn't be charged and couldn't be sued for using the product," but the contract fails to account for past projects adapted and re-released. To make matters more difficult for Disney, a Delaware bankruptcy judge recently ruled that Disney should be held financially responsible for continuing to use the In-Three technology to convert 2D films into 3D. 

Disney filed an "emergency stay" in an attempt to overturn that ruling, and another judge stayed the patent sale by 45 days, prompting Disney to put up a $5.4 million dollar bond. 

It's currently unclear whether Disney will be able to continue using the technology freely without additional settlement, but considering the wealth of the Disney empire, Disney can probably afford it. 

In somewhat related news, 3D movies can be viewed in regular 2D with these inexpensive special glasses: 

http://www.2d-glasses.com/

sources:   

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/disney-seeks-emergency-stay-judges-408419

http://www.getareferral.com/attorney-search-news/bankruptcy-sale-of-patents/

http://www.slashfilm.com/legal-troubles-could-complicate-disneys-3d-post-conversion-plans/

Jailbirds

It may come to no surprise that a large amount of our biggest celebrities have been to the big house one or more times in their lives. You probably could bring to mind a few of them(Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson, and the like). Here's a list of some of the not so squeaky clean celebs who have had a stint or two in jail.

1. Vince Vaughn


Vaughn was arrested in North Carolina in 2001 after taking part in a bar brawl in which his then movie co-star Steve Buscemi was stabbed.

2. Robert Downey Jr.


This star has been arrested a whopping 6 times for drug related incidences.

3.Fiona Apple


The "Paper Bag" singer was arrested for hashish possession in September, 2012. She was caught in Sierra Blanca, Texas after a drug-sniffing dog detected marijuana on her tour bus.

4. Amanda Bynes


Bynes has been arrested 2 times. In one incident, she was charged both with a DUI and for hitting a sheriff's car.

Sometimes Crime Pays

While breaking the law in real life may land you in prison, breaking the law on-screen may make you a lot of money.

Here's a few films that were inspired by real-life criminals:

Public Enemies (2009)

Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp as famed 1930's Chicago bank robber John Dillinger. Through the film, we follow Dillinger's life, his relationship with Billie Frechette, and the group of FBI agents that are dedicated to Dillinger's capture. While Dillinger was eventually shot down (both in the film and  in real life), the film was a commercial success, earning $214,104,620 globally as of July 2012.

Zodiac (2007)

Zodiac is based on the unsolved serial killer case of the "Zodiac Killer," who frightened the San Francisco bay area in the 1960's and 70's. Directed by David Fincher, and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo, this film grossed $84,785,914 worldwide as of May 2007.

Catch Me if You Can (2002)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and directed by Stephen Speilberg, this film follows Frank Abalgnale Jr., the extremely talented conman. Before he turned 19, Frank Abagnale Jr. made it onto the Most Wanted list for conning millions of dollars worth of checks as a pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor. The film follows the FBI's pursuit of Abagnale, up through his eventual capture and reassignment in service to the U.S. government as an expert in detecting counterfeit checks. The film has grossed $351,112,395 worldwide.