The British paper The Daily Mail, reported that child actress, Rubina Ali, filmed a soft drink commercial with Nicole Kidman, and got paid more than the entire fee she earned for the Oscar-Winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire". Other comments in the article alluded to the mysterious trust fund, and poor follow-up of Hollywood execs. on behalf of the movie's kids.

Photo KCA 2009

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson rocked as host of the KCA this year. Following the same blue print of past awards shows: slimy beginning building up to the ultimate slime-washed end, the green mucus was plentiful through out the show. Only a couple of eye-brow raising moments caught my PG attention. My kids noted that The Rock flaunted his "guns and abs" a little too much in very little clothes during the show. And, fortunately, Zoe 101 didn't win the Best TV Show category. I hope it was due to Jaime-Lynne Spears jumping into motherhood at the tender age of 16. Not a good example for the elementary school-aged viewers of this show, now is it?

An all animated burp contest pitted cartoon characters against each other replacing past contestants like Cameron Diaz, who looked unrehearsed and a bit stiff while presenting The Big Green Help Award to Leonardo Di Caprio. While we were disappointed at not hearing the possibly only human talent my kids could champion the celebs at, the green message about mother earth Di Caprio passed on to viewers was important, "We need all of you, the next generation, to be aware. You're the future".

The musical numbers for the evening were the Pussy Cat dolls and Jonas Brothers. The girl group performed "When I Grow Up", and the Oscar-winning theme song for Slumdog Millionaire "Jai Ho". Where were the real slumdog kids who made this song relevant anyway? I shutter at the thought of this...

Queen Latifah and Josh Peck, two slimmed down version of their former selves, presented the award for Favorite Movie: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Ben Stiller and Chris Rock accepted with daughter in toe, while the camera cut away to sad-faced sis who didn't get on stage with dad.

Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers. A natural-curly haired Joe, Nick and Kevin accepted their award, and were well spoken and genuine as usual.

Favorite Book: Twilight Series. Presenters of this award, Sandra Bullock and Hugh Jackman, were literally speechless after receiving a mouth-full of slime from the briefcase containing the winner's name.

Miley Cyrus was voted Favorite Singer by kids around the world. She could have also won for Most Pathetic Acceptance Speech: she cried while admitting she thought she was going to lose. I wonder why she would think that? Could it be based on her behavior during the past year?

Favorite Reality Show is American Idol. David Archuletta stole the show, and the mic, from Paula Abdul who couldn't get a word in edgewise while they accepted the Blimp.

The competiton for Favorite Movie Actress was tough: Jeniffer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Rees Witherspoon and Vanessa Hudgens. The later won for High School Musical 3.

For the slimmy grand finale, Jonas Brothers sang the chorus to "Love Bug "which released the final cascade of slime on stage, and audience, for the biggest bath of the green stuff the Pauly Pavilion had ever seen.

With Rihanna and Chris Brown nowhere insight, the 2009 KCA show was definitely for the kiddies, and except for a couple of blips in choice of celebs with questionable public behavior, it was a typical Nickelodeon production with enough slime to power a nuclear blimp.

The evening's bright orange Blimps went to Will Smith for Favorite Movie Actor, Vanessa Hudgens for Favorite Movie Actress, High School Musical 3 for Favorite Movie and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa for Favorite Animated Movie. Last year's host Jack Black clinched a blimp for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for his vocals as Po in Kung Fu Panda. Top TV awards went to iCarly as Favorite TV Show, American Idol as Favorite Reality Show, SpongeBob SquarePants as Favorite Cartoon, and Dylan Sprouse and Selena Gomez collected Blimps for Favorite TV Actor and Favorite TV Actress, respectively. In music, Favorite Female Singer went to Miley Cyrus, Favorite Male Singer to Jesse McCartney, Favorite Music Group to Jonas Brothers, and Favorite Song went to Beyoncé for "Single Ladies". Peyton Manning won over Michael Phelps for Favorite Male Athlete, Candace Parker for Favorite Female Athlete, the Twilight series won for Favorite Book, and Guitar Hero World Tour won for Favorite Videogame.

I got the ad above for the same movie delivered right to my in-box. I actually read the entire advertisement, clicked on it, read the movie site hoping I'd get a discount or coupon for a ticket to see the 3-D movie, but no such luck (read for yourself).  

I thought I gave American Eagle my email address so I could get updates on their clothing line, but since AE also has an entertainment branch of its own, I guess I'll be getting movie info as well.

Hmm...AE, I'm still wondering: What's in it for us?

News of 19 year old Chris Brown withdrawing his nominations from Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards was well received by parents, and maybe even a few kids. Brown's nominations, submitted on-line by children for the KCA "Favorite Song" and "Favorite Male Singer", became controversial for some in light of his recent violent behavior with girlfriend Rihanna. From on-line protests to on-line petitions, the public spoke out against these so-called role models being part of a show whose main audience are children and teens.    more »

I found some interesting information about the two "Slumdog Millionaire" child actors regarding the payment they received for their acting roles in the Oscar-winning movie, and the much-discussed trust funds established for them. The following is an excerpt from an article titled "Slumdog Robber Barons" at diversityinc:

""We took a look at published reports, and here's what we found: According to reports published by Reuters and the Los Angeles Times, the two 7-year-olds in question--Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, both of whom come from the poorest slums of India--were both "poorly compensated for their original, monthlong acting work and have not shared in the film's financial windfall." The reports say Ali earned about $1,000 and Ismail earned about $2,400.

In the United States, child actors are paid $2,634 per week for a speaking role, according to the Screen Actors' Guild.

In India, 85 percent of the population lives off of no more than $2.50 a day--and the average salary nationwide is less than $1,000 a year. In the United States, the average salary per capita is slightly more than $26,000 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's statistics for 2007.

But Danny Boyle, the movie's director, and Christian Colson, the movie's producer, issued a joint statement indicating that the reports--which originated in the Daily Telegraph in England--are far from true.

In fact, they say they've paid for the children, who had never been to school before 2008, to go to elementary school. They've also paid for them to go to secondary school and they've paid them for basic-living needs, healthcare and emergency needs.

If the kids wind up going on to higher education, those costs will be covered by a fund set up by Fox Searchlight, the distributor of the movie.

However, many children of the poorest regions of India never go to school and are destined for an impoverished life; higher education is rarely an option. So even if the children's educations are paid for in their earlier years, there remains a possibility that they'll never get access to the larger sums of money put aside for higher education.

Fox Searchlight, meanwhile, issued a statement of its own, refuting the reports that the children were underpaid.

"'The welfare of Azhar and Rubina has always been a top priority for everyone involved in 'Slumdog Millionaire.' ... For 30 days' work, the children were paid three times the average local adult salary," the statement read. "... We are extremely proud of this film, and proud of the way our child actors have been treated.'"

Should these kids get a larger share of the movie's revenues, including sales of the DVD to be released March 31st, 2009? Or, were they fairly compensated?

You be the judge...

Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson took home eight Oscars plus millions in box office revenues for "Slumdog Millionaire", the movie depicting life in the slums of India. Azharuddim Ismail and Rudina Ali, 10 and 9 years old, received school tution and reportedly got paid 1,700 and 500 pounds respectively,  -- a veritable pittance compared to the big money the movie racked in. The media reported that the head honchos set-up trust funds for the two tykes, but they don't kick in until they're 18!

Azha Ismail AP Photo

One week after the Oscars, the red carpet, parties and a trip to Disneyland, the two Hollywood newcomers went back to the crude and rough reality of their home country, India. The effects of their super fast rise to fame, and the visit to the land of plenty, took an immediate toll on them. Azha was photographed being hit by his father, who has Tuberculosis, for not wanting to talk with reporters in exchange for money. The Huffington Post shows Rubina still wearing her Oscar gown, and said she wanted a real bed to sleep in (referring to the hotel bed she slept in on her trip to America), and to live where the air doesn't smell like poop.

Rubina and Azha back in the slums in India Photo Huffington Post

It's been a scant two weeks since the accolades poured in for "Slumdog Millionaire", but for these children, having been yanked out of dire poverty, and thrust into the highest level of luxury and fame seen around the world, the wealth is not reaching them fast enough. And it remains to be seen if it will.

"It's a really difficult situation that's spiraling out of control," Colson tells EW. "We've had to constantly reevaluate the challenge of: If you want to lift people out of poverty, how the hell do you do that?" "Nothing would be easier than to throw money at this," says Colson. "But we felt from the beginning that that would be irresponsible."

Is it really that difficult to set-up a bank account, and deposit a fixed amount of money each month for the two kids and their families to live properly and secure the children's well-being? Frankly, it has taken two weeks too long for positive results about Azha and Rubina's present condition to show up in the media. Third World issues will continue to preclude these countries from jumping into industrialized status. But in the very short term, Boyle and Colson need to get the wheels in motion pronto, and do the right thing for these child actors.

I don't think they need to address the country's problems and try helping everyone there right away...for now, just the suffering-duo who helped Boyle and Colson become household names.

Read a related post "Livin la Vida 'Slumdog'" at www.TheWrap.com

England, Spain and Mexico were a few of the countries represented by the multi-cultural group who attended  the enlightening and dynamic lecture given by Sharon Waxman on "LOOT". This new publication, about the often less-than-forthright antiquities business, was presented at an event hosted by Alex and Suzette Valle at USD's elegant Degheri Alumni Center.

Author Sharon Waxman, host Suzette Valle and Bob Pincus of the San Diego Union Tribune

Mr. Bob Pincus, Books Editor and Art Critic for the San Diego Union Tribune, introduced the author and admitted he also thinks highly of Waxman as a reporter, referring to her present occupation as Editor-in-Chief of her newly launched on-line publication www.TheWrap.com.

Attentive guests at LOOT presentation

A lively Q & A session was followed by a one-on-one book signing with the author.

Tessie Salcedo and Norma Paullada ask questions while Sharon signs "LOOT"

Martha Rodriguez and Minerva Fierro among the guests with Bob Pincus

Tam Dorow and Karen Johnson enjoy the reception for LOOT

Antonio and Alejandra Torres Torija with LOOT host Alex Valle

John and Tam Dorow, hosts Alex and Suzette Valle with Jay and Tonia Accetta who represented the UK at LOOT

Dana Bottomley, the San Diego Museum of Art Registrar of Collections, with Sharon Waxman

Thank you to Chance Bistro and Bay Books of Coronado for supporting this event. If you'd like to purchase a signed copy of "LOOT", Bay Books has a few pre-signed books for sale.

Not all journalism is equal in Hollywood. The vast majority of print media seems to focus on the gossip and photos that will sell the glossy magazines at the check-out stands. Now, meet a refreshing and multi-faceted Hollywood reporter of substance: Sharon Waxman.   more »