James Cameron takes 3D film venture to China

    “Avatar” director James Cameron’s company is launching a joint venture in China to market its 3-D technical wizardry to the country’s fast-developing film and television industries.

    Cameron Pace Group’s announcement on August 8 came as the fast growth of China’s film market is attracting Hollywood studios that are rushing to link up with local partners.

    Cameron Diaz working on

    fitness book

    HarperCollins announced on August 8 that Cameron Diaz of “Charlie’s Angels” and other films has an agreement with the publisher for a book on health and wellness. Diaz’s book is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2013.

    According to HarperCollins, the book will offer advice to young women about health, fitness, nutrition* and general well-being. The publisher says Diaz hopes to “engage and empower” women.

    Director Mel Stuart dies

    Filmmaker Mel Stuart, director of the 1971 musical classic “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and dozens of documentaries, died of melanoma* on August 9 at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 83.

    New York-born Stuart produced or directed more than 180 films, including documentaries ranging from politics (“The Making of the President 1960”) to art (“Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde”) and music such as his 1973 film “Wattstax” about African-American singers.

    Beyonce performs at U.N.

    Superstar singer Beyonce performed her song “I Was Here” on August 10 in the U.N’.s General Assembly Hall in honor of World Humanitarian Day, which is August 19. A music video of the performance will debut the same day.

    Clad in a white dress with sequins*, the winner of 16 Grammy Awards sang the song before images of floods and rescuers digging through rubble after an earthquake.(SD-Agencies)

    Robert Pattinson has decided to come back — to the spotligh.

    The 26-year-old actor has been out of sight since learning last month that his girlfriend and “Twilight” co-star Kristen Stewart had an affair with a married movie director. A tabloid printed photos of the illicit* dalliance*, breaking the hearts of “Twilight” fans and prompting Stewart and the director to issue public apologies to their loved ones.

    But Pattinson can’t lay low forever — he has a film to promote. So on Monday, he was in New York for a round of media appearances, including a chat with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show” and the premiere of “Cosmopolis,” a thriller* based on a Don DeLillo novel.

    On the red carpet, an upbeat* Pattison wasn’t asked directly about the cheating scandal but he talked at one point about the movie’s steamy* sex scenes.

    (SD-Agencies)