New British tax rules shut down 40 films
LONDON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- An unexpected change in British tax rules halted production of 40 films throughout Britain, including current projects starring Johnny Depp and Jude Law.
The British government has closed a tax relief loophole that officials said was being abused, causing staff layoffs and production shutdowns for the British film industry, the BBC reported Friday.
Depp's "The Libertine," which was set to begin filming Monday, and Law's "Tulip Fever," which had an April start date, are on hold because of the tax changes.
The film industry is hoping the government will agree to keep the loophole open for movies that are already under way.
The British government's Inland Revenue said investors "exploited" the caveat by putting money into a film but pulling out before it reached cinemas and made a profit, thus avoiding paying tax on their investment.
There have been warnings that the closure of the loophole would reverse Britain's current boom in film production, which increased 85 percent from overseas productions in 2003.
The government says the closure of the tax loophole was not meant specifically for the film industry.
Closed captioning banned on 200 TV shows
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. administration has blocked closed captioning on more than 200 TV shows, including "Scooby Doo," "Law and Order" and "Bewitched."
The National Association of the Deaf has released a list of TV shows banned from closed captioning, in a move that advocates claim is censorship based on President Bush's ideology supporting religious conservatism and family values, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.
"What they are doing is telling the nation's deaf what they can and can't watch," said Jeff Rosen, general counsel for the National Council on Disabilities, an independent federal agency.
"They put a fast one over on all of us because they didn't go to public notice and comment," he said. "They just secretly did it."
The new ruling comes six years after the Department of Education rejected attempts to block the captioning of the "Jerry Springer Show," saying its judgment "should not supersede the individual judgment of millions of deaf Americans."
Department of Education officials have now said, however, they are acting on the "intent of Congress" to limit captioning to "educational and informational" TV shows.
More than 28 million deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans depend on closed captioning, according to the National Association for the Deaf.
Paul McCartney dyes hair for new look
LONDON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Former Beatle Paul McCartney has dyed his hair dark brown for a new, grey-free look at a London salon, The Sun reported Friday.
"He was with us for an hour and a half," an insider at Uppercuts salon in Brighton, East Sussex, said. "He had both a cut and some brown coloring added. It is not that unusual. Despite his age he still has a fine head of hair."
The 61-year-old McCartney's makeover cost around $100.
Following his appointment, McCartney's wife, Heather Mills McCartney, 36, drove by to pick up the famed singer.
"He was keen for Heather to have a look, so he ran over to show off his new (look)," an onlooker said.
McCartney and his wife have an infant daughter, Beatrice, who was born in October.
Beyonce tops Soul Train nominations
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- R&B diva Beyonce has topped the nominations list at the U.S. Soul Train Awards, earning four nods including album of the year for "Dangerously In Love."
Luther Vandross, who has been in failing health since last May, also earned an album of the year bid for "Dance With My Father," in his three nominations.
OutKast, who won a Grammy for album of the year for the top-selling "Speakerboxx/The Love Below," will also compete with Beyonce and Vandross in that category, along with R. Kelly's "Chocolate Factory."
"American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard was tapped for a Best New Artist nomination with G-Unit, Kanye West and Chingy.
The Soul Train awards, which honor the best in R&B, hip hop, rap and gospel, will be held March 20 in Los Angeles. Alicia Keys and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds are set to co-host the event, with performances by Janet Jackson, Beyonce and OutKast.
