Latest news with #Disney
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Midjourney AI: Midjourney launches first AI video tool to animate images
Midjourney has launched its first public video generation tool, allowing users to create animated clips from still images. The new feature, announced on Midjourney's website, enables the generation of five-second videos from either uploaded images or those created within the Midjourney platform. Once an image is selected, an 'animate' button appears, offering a standard motion option or a manual setting for customising movement. The animation can be extended in four-second increments, with a maximum length of 21 seconds. Motion settings allow users to determine whether the subject, the camera, or both are animated. The feature is currently limited to subscribers, with plans starting at $10 (USD) per month. Introducing our V1 Video Model. It's fun, easy, and beautiful. Available at 10$/month, it's the first video model for *everyone* and it's available now. — Midjourney (@midjourney) June 18, 2025 Midjourney says the cost of video generation is approximately eight times higher than that of image rendering, equating to roughly one image's worth of cost per second of video. The launch comes amid an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed by Disney and Universal. The two entertainment companies argue that Midjourney's training process may have included unauthorised use of copyrighted works. Legal filings specifically flagged the video tool as a concern, with plaintiffs describing the company's output as a 'virtual vending machine' for unlicensed content. Midjourney founder David Holz described the release as 'a stepping stone' in the company's development of real-time, open-world simulation models. The startup is one of several firms racing to develop AI-powered video tools, with competitors such as Google, OpenAI, and Meta also releasing systems that generate video content from text prompts. Social media users have been sharing their first reactions, including early videos, with many hailing it as a 'game-changer'. Midjourney Video is on another level. — AI Breakfast (@AiBreakfast) June 19, 2025 Created with Midjourney + Recraft + Figma in just under one hour. Get psyched. — DANN© (@DannPetty) June 19, 2025 How well does Midjourney Video handle complex environments? It's (almost) flawless: — Alex Patrascu (@maxescu) June 19, 2025 While Midjourney's current offering focuses on animating static images, the company has indicated that expanded capabilities will be introduced in future updates.
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
West End passersby see Rachel Zegler sing Don't Cry For Me Argentina on balcony
The actress plays Eva Peron, the former first lady of Argentina, in Jamie Lloyd's new production of the hit musical Evita, which follows the story of Peron as she rises from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America. The 24-year-old was seen singing the musical's most popular number from a balcony outside the London Palladium theatre on Thursday. Dressed in a white strapless gown with white-blonde hair, Zegler can be seen serenading crowds of fans who have stopped to film the performance from outside the theatre. The artistic choice has meant that ticketed audience members are unable to witness the live rendition themselves, but rather, watch it on a screen from inside the theatre. Zegler rose to fame after staring as Maria in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story which saw her win the Golden Globe Award for best actress. She has since garnered a series of film credits including for the Hunger Games franchise, appearing in the prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, as Lucy Gray Baird, and also starred in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, both of which were released in 2023. She went on to make her Broadway debut in 2024, starring as Juliet in Romeo And Juliet with clips going viral after Heartstopper's Kit Connor, who played Romeo, did a pull up on stage to kiss her. Zegler is also known for starring in the title role of a live action film version of Disney's Snow White. Her portrayal of Peron in Lloyd's production marks the actress' debut on the West End. Evita opened on June 14 and will run at the London Palladium for 12 weeks.
South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
West End passersby see Rachel Zegler sing Don't Cry For Me Argentina on balcony
The actress plays Eva Peron, the former first lady of Argentina, in Jamie Lloyd's new production of the hit musical Evita, which follows the story of Peron as she rises from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America. The 24-year-old was seen singing the musical's most popular number from a balcony outside the London Palladium theatre on Thursday. Dressed in a white strapless gown with white-blonde hair, Zegler can be seen serenading crowds of fans who have stopped to film the performance from outside the theatre. The artistic choice has meant that ticketed audience members are unable to witness the live rendition themselves, but rather, watch it on a screen from inside the theatre. Zegler rose to fame after staring as Maria in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story which saw her win the Golden Globe Award for best actress. She has since garnered a series of film credits including for the Hunger Games franchise, appearing in the prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, as Lucy Gray Baird, and also starred in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, both of which were released in 2023. She went on to make her Broadway debut in 2024, starring as Juliet in Romeo And Juliet with clips going viral after Heartstopper's Kit Connor, who played Romeo, did a pull up on stage to kiss her. Zegler is also known for starring in the title role of a live action film version of Disney's Snow White. Her portrayal of Peron in Lloyd's production marks the actress' debut on the West End. Evita opened on June 14 and will run at the London Palladium for 12 weeks.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Miley Cyrus' co-star hits back at claims he smoked pot on Hannah Montana set
Miley Cyrus ' former castmate hit back at her claims that he had smoked pot while on set of Hannah Montana. The Grammy winner, 32 - who recently made a surprise appearance at Beyonce's Cowboy Carter show in Paris - made the allegations about Mitchel Musso on Thursday's episode of her mom Tish and sister Brandi's Sorry We're Cyrus podcast. At one point, the singer revealed that her father Billy Ray Cyrus had smoked marijuana on set before claiming Musso, 33, had the same habit. The actor - who had played the character of Oliver on the hit series from 2006 through 2011 - denied the claims in a statement to E! News. 'Well, that's not how I remember it,' Musso expressed. 'However, I've got plenty of stories from those years that might be worth having a conversation about. 'If we're revisiting Hannah Montana history - just say the word,' he continued, before emphasizing that he had no hard feelings towards the performer. 'All love to Miley and the fam, even when the rewrites get this creative,' Mitchel concluded to the outlet. Cyrus and Musso had worked alongside other stars on the Disney channel series including her dad Billy Ray, Emily Osment, Jason Earles and Moises Arias. The show was a hit and aired on the network for a total of four seasons - and also spawned concert films and other projects such as Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). The show also garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air, such as receiving four Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Children's Program. Along with Hannah Montana, Mitchel is also known for his roles in the animated series Phineas And Ferb as well as Disney XD's Pair Of Kings. However, he was written out of the latter after his arrest in 2013 for DUI suspicion - and had also been driving while intoxicated under the legal age since he was age 20 at the time of the incident. In 2023, he was arrested for public drunkenness and allegedly stealing a bag of chips from a motel in Texas. Later that same year, the two major charges of public intoxication and theft were dropped. During Miley's appearance on the Sorry We're Cyrus podcast which dropped on Thursday, she cleared the air about what went down behind the scenes of Hannah Montana. When a fan wrote in asking, 'What's a core memory from the Hannah Montana days that still makes you laugh?' Miley didn't miss a beat, replying, 'Dad smoking pot and everyone blaming me for it' - and her sister Brandi quickly confirmed, 'I do remember that.' The Flowers hitmaker pointed to Tish and added, 'And he wasn't sharing, 'cause this one wasn't toking yet.' Tish - who's since been open about her marijuana use - chimed in with a laugh, recalling how she tried to defend Billy Ray at the time: 'They were calling me saying 'B-Ray' was smoking pot and I was like, "Absolutely not, he would never do that!"' The trio then cracked up as they joked about Miley's former Hannah Montana castmate Mitchel Musso taking the blame instead. Back in January, Tish opened up about why she stopped smoking weed, despite previously embracing her status as a self-proclaimed stoner. 'It was kind of by accident that I stopped smoking,' she explained on the Jan. 2 episode of the podcast. 'I went on vacation and it was somewhere I could not have pot and like three days in, had the worst anxiety I've ever had in my life. And when I tried to smoke again… Nope.' After quitting cold turkey, she realized that what once calmed her nerves had started to do the opposite. Smoking, which used to help with her anxiety, now 'makes it even worse.' Still, she admitted she's considering revisiting it as she continues to struggle with her mental health. 'The last seven months has been so bad for me, like major anxiety,' she said at the time. 'It really did just help me in so many ways. And lately I just have not been okay.' Brandi, while not a user herself, voiced her support for her mom giving it another try. 'She was great on weed. Best version of herself.' The marijuana bombshell comes after Miley unpacked a decade's worth of family drama and trauma and revealed how she mended all of her fences. She grew up to be a global pop star in her own right, though she revealed on last Tuesday's episode of Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, her road to fame was filled with family strife. She teased the whole family went through a, 'really difficult, dark decade' but they were able to get through it. Miley revealed on the podcast that the family was able to mend their fences without therapy. 'We're so messy, we didn't even do any of that,' Miley joked of her family struggles, revealing the reason a therapist wasn't involved. 'Just to get each other into a room to get to counseling would have been a war,' Miley admitted. She told Lewinsky that at one point of the 'dark decade,' half of her family members were not speaking to each other. Miley admitted she, ' had a lot of loyalty' to her mother Tish, who split with father Billy Ray back in 2022 after nearly 30 years of marriage and sharing Miley, Braison, 31 and Noah, 25. Before their official split and divorce that was finalized in 2023, Miley said that her parents were on-and-off, as she revealed how that affected her. '[I] watched what happens when you don't clean things up as they're happening,' Miley admitted. 'They really do stack. And then all of the sudden you go, "Oh my God, it's been 10 years and this is a mess I barely even know how to start. This is emotional hoarding,"' she admitted. Ultimately, the singer, 'cleaned all that up,' during a, 'really important part of [her] year … putting those lines of communication back together. 'I just kind of busted through the pile that stacked and just [went], "I'm here, you're here, let's start by having a good time together and then as we start bringing some happiness and joy into each other's life, then we'll be in a better place to have these conversations,"' she admitted. Cyrus also added it 'was easier to [wave] a white flag' than go through counseling with someone else.
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Monsoon plans: Seoul's indoor charms and Daegu's musical stages
With the rainy season expected to arrive in most parts of the country Friday, it might be time to rethink your weekend plans. Whether it's sipping a hot cup of coffee at a cozy Seoul cafe, making your very own music box or escaping to the world of musicals in Daegu, the monsoon season offers the perfect excuse to stay indoors without missing out. Serene getaway with cup of coffee How about finding a cozy and relaxing escape for monsoon season? Songpa-gu is home to Seoul's iconic outdoor destinations such as Olympic Park and Seokchon Lake, but you'll also find charming hidden gems perfect for a serene getaway. Just a 5-minute walk from Songpanaru Station on Seoul Subway Line No. 9, Frank Coffin Bar's dark wood interior and soft, ambient lighting offer a warm, inviting atmosphere. It's a perfect space for those rainy days when you want to slow down and savor the moment. The cafe's highlights include two signature coffee drinks made with cream and scotch candy, offering a rich taste. Another favourite is the croffles, served with a variety of sweet toppings. From traditional espresso-based drinks like Romano, Caffe Bacio and Caffe Albero, to refreshing summer options like fruit sorbets and fizzy ades, Frank Coffin Bar is the perfect spot for those who want a sweet treat to pair with their rich, flavourful coffee. Frank Coffin Bar is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Frank Coffin Bar 2nd floor, 6 Baekjegobun-ro 45, Songpa-gu, Seoul Take a tune home In the heart of Insa-dong, one of Seoul's must-visit cultural hubs for travelers, is a charming, boutique music box shop offering visitors the memorable experience of crafting their own, one-of-a-kind music box. First, guests are invited to select a blank music box with their tune of choice from a curated catalog of classics, beloved film scores and popular K-drama soundtracks. Choices include 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman' from Disney's 'Frozen,' 'City of Stars' from 'La La Land' and a melody from 'Mr. Sunshine.' The boxes also come in a variety of shapes and finishes, from dome-shaped designs to rectangular styles, available in plastic or wood. Once you've selected your base and melody, it's time to personalize. Pick from a wide selection of figurines — cats, mermaids and more — and decorate your music box to your liking. The store also features a gallery of beautifully decorated pieces and vintage-style music boxes, offering plenty of inspiration. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the DIY music box experience is available without reservation and is priced at 28,000 won. 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul Visit musical paradise Daegu Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city, becomes a vibrant hub of musical theater starting this weekend, welcoming both homegrown and global productions, emerging talent and original works. The 19th Daegu International Musical Festival takes place across Daegu from Friday to July 7, presenting a total of 29 productions from six countries, including Hungary, France, Japan, Taiwan and China. The festival opens with "Tesla," a large-scale production from Hungary making its Asian premiere, and closes with "Panda," a Chinese musical praised for its emotional resonance. Among the highlights are five new original musicals: "Cidis: The Right to Be Forgotten," "Gangdy," "Shakespiece," "Hidden Love" and "Magic Blanket," the last of which was created by graduates of the DIMF Musical Academy's composition and lyric-writing program. DIMF is also where Tony Award-winning composer Will Aronson and lyricist/playwright Park Chun-hyu began developing their creative partnership, according to the organizer. Meanwhile, the '10,000 Won Happiness' event, which offers a limited number of discounted tickets each day, draws crowds from early morning. The ticket booth in Dongseong-ro, central Daegu, runs until July 3 and is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The festival opening ceremony and concert will be held at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at Daegu Kolon Open Air Music Hall. Daegu International Musical Festival takes place at major performing venues in Daegu. Daegu Opera House 15 Hoam-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu jy@ yoonseo.3348@ gypark@
