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Winfrey apologizes for school abuse claims

HENLEY-ON-KLIP, South Africa, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey has offered a tearful apology to parents regarding abuse allegations at her South African school.

"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Winfrey told parents at a meeting Sunday, reported South Africa's News24.com.

Winfrey visited the school at Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, at least twice in the past few weeks amid allegations one of the matrons molested a girl and other pupils had been grabbed by the neck, beaten, slammed against walls and been the victims of verbal abuse.

Winfrey gave the students her personal telephone number, her e-mail address and her mailing address so they could contact her, News24.com said.

Winfrey suspended two matrons and the principal, only identified as Dr. Mzimane, two weeks ago.

Mzimane is accused of failing to take action after hearing the allegations.

"I trusted (Mzimane.) When I appointed her, I thought she was passionate about the children of Africa," Winfrey said. "But, I've been disappointed."

Winfrey promised parents she would do everything possible to ensure those who acted inappropriately answer for their actions.

BBC Worldwide planning 30 more channels

LONDON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- BBC Worldwide is planning to establish 30 more channels internationally, Britain's daily the Guardian reported Monday.

The new channels will be rolled out during the next two years, starting in April, and will join existing brands such as BBC America and BBC Canada.

Also in the works are a high-definition channel and an on-demand service in the United States.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement that the BBC is eliminating approximately 2,500 jobs, mostly from its news and factual programming divisions.

The new channels will be based on four thematic brands -- BBC Entertainment, with shows such as "Doctor Who"; BBC Knowledge, featuring programs such as "Top Gear"; BBC Lifestyle, with "What Not To Wear"; and a children's channel called CBeebies, featuring the "Teletubbies."

"There is not a market we are not looking at," BBC Worldwide's managing director of channels, Darren Childs, told the Guardian.

He said the ambitious launch would help build the BBC brand internationally as well as challenge big U.S. media companies such as Viacom and Turner.

"It will take us three to five years to take us to the scale of our competitors, but I am confident we can do it," he said.

Lee's latest up for 11 Golden Horses

BEIJING, 31 (UPI) -- "Lust, Caution," the latest movie by Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee, has earned 11 nominations for the Chinese-language Golden Horse Awards.

The critically acclaimed thriller has earned nods for best picture, best actor and actress and Lee is in the running for best director and Taiwanese filmmaker of the year, the BBC reported.

"Lust, Caution" has already been disqualified for the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Oscars because the production team did not meet certain criteria in order to compete.

The film did, however, win the top Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Lee previously won the directing Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2006. His other films include "Sense and Sensibility," "The Ice Storm" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Chinese director Wang Quanan's film, "Tuya's Marriage," which won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, has been nominated for four Golden Horses, the BBC said.

Hines to direct Shelly's screenplay

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Cheryl Hines is set to direct a dark comedy based on a screenplay written by her late "Waitress" co-star and director Adrienne Shelly.

Shelly was killed in New York last year.

Hines, best-known for her role on TV's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," plans to make her directorial debut by bringing her friend's script "Serious Moonlight" to the big screen, Variety.com reported.

"I feel a great sense of pride to be directing this film," Hines told the trade paper. "I had such respect for Adrienne and the work she did. And I love her writing so much. That tone is really in my wheelhouse."

Shelly's husband, Andy Ostroy, will produce the film, alongside Michael Roiff.

"I felt compelled to continue her work for her after her death," Ostroy said. "I think she was just hitting her stride with 'Waitress.' I tried to put together a team that was part of the 'Waitress' family to re-create the vibe and the success of that film and honor Adrienne and get her work out there with a group of people who really cared about her and (understood) her spirit and vision."

Roiff, Ostroy and Hines are now casting "Serious Moonlight."