Director Cameron say pressure a benefit
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Canadian director James Cameron said being under pressure to produce another blockbuster movie can actually be beneficial.
The 55-year-old director recognized the pressure on him to have his new film "Avatar" enjoy similar success to his previous creations such as "Titanic," "Aliens" and "Terminator," MTV.com reported Saturday.
"I think there is obviously a lot of expectation whenever a filmmaker that people know -- through films like 'Titanic' or 'Aliens' or 'Terminator' or whatever -- there's always an expectation," Cameron said in an MTV interview Thursday.
"I think it makes you a better filmmaker when you know you've got a lot of fans to please and that their expectations are high. So you try pretty hard and you get the best people in the movie."
Cameron also downplayed the possibility that "Avatar" could be as successful as "Titanic," the highest grossing film of all time.
"I don't think it's realistic to try and topple 'Titanic' off its perch," Cameron told MTV. "Some pretty good movies have come out in the last few years, and 'Titanic' just struck some sort of chord. Obviously, we're hoping that 'Avatar' is successful at some level."
Record label drops Marilyn Manson
NEW YORK, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. heavy metal singer Marilyn Manson said he and his record label, Interscope, have parted ways following disappointing sales of his last album.
Manson, 40, said he was "restrained" by Interscope during their musical collaborations, including "The High End of Love' that sold only 121,000 copies in the United States after being released in May, NME.com reported Saturday.
"We've just been released from our record contract with Interscope so I think a lot of the creative control on which my hands were tied on a lot of choices -- the music videos -- things like that (has been regained)," said Manson, known for his dark lyrics and unusual stylings.
"I was so restrained from the music that I wanted to make -- what they would allow, they would put out, what ideas they would allow to be conveyed in these videos. At least half of my creative output has been squashed, so now I think people can expect a whole lot more."
Manson, whose real name is Brian Hugh Warner, also hinted at new material he is working on, NME.com said.
"I think it's going to be more romantic maybe. Self abusive," Manson said.
Singer Lambert to appear on 'The View'
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Singer Adam Lambert will be a guest on ABC's "The View" following the U.S. network's decision to cancel his appearances on two other shows, ABC said.
ABC confirmed the former "American Idol" contestant will appear on the daytime talk show Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
Lambert's scheduled appearances on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" were canceled after the 27-year-old singer's provocative performance at the American Music Awards in November.
The cancellations, along with ABC's decision to not consider Lambert for "New Year's Rockin' Eve," prompted outrage from fans of the openly gay singer.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation also criticized ABC for canceling Lambert's appearances, but applauded the network's decision to offer Lambert a "View" guest spot.
"ABC has taken a step toward fairness by inviting Adam Lambert to perform on 'The View,'" GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said. "GLAAD has been advocating against the double standards that have been applied to Lambert as an openly gay performer."
The Times said Lambert will be interviewed and will perform on the daytime talk show.
Italian groups targeting 'Jersey Shore'
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A trio of Italian-American groups say the new MTV reality series "Jersey Shore" should be canceled because it portrays Italian-Americans in a negative light.
UNICO National, the Order of the Sons of Italy in America and the National Italian American Foundation have all voiced opposition to the new TV series, which premiered Thursday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday.
The organizations all accuse "Jersey Shore," which features eight young adults living together in the East Coast area of stereotyping Italian-Americans. The organizations said they are particularly bothered by the show's use of the term "Guidos" to refer to young men and women with Italian-American backgrounds.
Mike Sorrentino, one of the show's stars, defended his cast members' lifestyle, which include drinking and sex.
"Everybody has their own style and their own attitude, and everybody was brought up different, and I'm happy to be who I am," Sorrentino told the Inquirer.
"I guess nobody in the older generation of Americans ... went out drinking or looking for girls," he added.
