Movies

Eminem Movie Inflames Citizenry

A movie starring rapper Eminem has been targeted by residents and officials of Highland Park, Mich., who are upset at plans to torch three vacant homes in the neighborhood during production.

According to E! Online, a protest march was organized after an emergency city council session in which citizens raised concerns about the project and filmmakers defended their actions. Some said that they heard that the homes to be burned were going to portrayed as "crack houses," which would damage the town's reputation. Others noted that Eminem is a role model and that children might emulate his actions. One official from the local NAACP said that intentionally setting fire to buildings was tacky in light of recent arsons in the area.

Producers of the movie, to be distributed by Universal Pictures next summer, said the scenes were integral to the movie--part of an epiphany experienced by the character played by Marshall Mathers (Eminem's real name). The studio has agreed to donate $2,000 to a local charity and have the rapper address high school students about the movie business.

Though the city council members voted 4-0 to oppose the filming, the final decision rests with Highland Park's emergency financial manager, Ramona Henderson Pearson, who said she's in favor of it.

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MUSIC

Call Them Musicians Without Borders

Governors of the three Californias--California USA, Baja California Sur and Baja California--have formed an Orchestra of the Californias under the baton of David Atherton.

Gov. Gray Davis called the move "a major milestone in the flourishing relationship between the United States and Mexico." Funding will be provided by the California Arts Council, the two Baja states and private and corporate contributions.

The orchestra will perform in February in cities ranging from La Paz to Loreto, Tijuana, Mexicali, San Diego, San Gabriel and San Luis Obispo as part of festivities that include music, educational programs and activities related to historic missions in California and Mexico. Proceeds will be donated to local charities and youth education programs.

Mainly Mozart, a San Diego-based bi-national group that has conducted cross-border concerts for the past 11 years, has been asked to produce the concerts. Nancy Laturno, the group's executive director, calls the project "logistically complicated."