Quickly Entertainment News

By Piya Sinha-Roy

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles' gangs and police clash in gritty new Fox drama series "Gang Related", an exploration of the city's darker side with a hero that isn't quite what he seems as he treads the line between family and the law.

"Gang Related," premiering on Thursday, centers on Detective Ryan Lopez, played by Ramon Rodriguez, a gang member who is part of the Los Angeles Police Department's gang task force, and forced to hide his ties to the gang family he was brought up in.

The Fox Broadcasting series is created by Chris Morgan, the writer of the last five "Fast & Furious" car-racing films, who said he wanted to explore the origins of gang culture in Los Angeles, a theme that he believes has larger resonance.

"If you look at the history of our country, we actually are founded on gangs," Morgan told Reuters. "People have come to America searching for the American dream, and a lot of the times because of their background or their ethnicity, they were shut out."

In the show, a young orphaned Ryan is rescued and taken in by mob boss Javier Acosta (Cliff Curtis), who becomes a father figure to him, telling him to get trained in the military and infiltrate the police forces in order to report back to him.

But after his cop partner is killed by a member of his own gang, Ryan finds his allegiances fraying, and he begins to play a dangerous game to do what he thinks is right, a path that holds many challenges said actor Rodriguez.

"My heart broke for him because he doesn't get to be vulnerable often," the actor said. "I think everything he's done wears on his soul and conscience, and he carries a very big burden, and I would never want to deal with that."

To prepare for his role, Rodriguez went on ride-alongs with Los Angeles police and learned that many of the areas that were formerly dominated by black gangs, have now been overtaken by Mexican or South Americans, something that Javier echoes in the pilot when he menacingly utters "Brown is the new Black."

Set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles that isn't often showcased in Hollywood fare, "Gang Related" delves into neighborhoods such as Korea Town and East Los Angeles to show gang communities formed by minorities.

The show's producer Brian Grazer said the city plays a key character in the arc of the show's series.

"The concept of the show is born out of LA and it's such a secular city and because of the topography of it, it hasn't really been shot in a cool way in a long time," he said.

"Ultimately what the show is supposed to do is create empathy and understanding of both sides. Why people go into gangs, why people get trapped into gangs, and how difficult it is to get out," he added.

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

Source:

ca.reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker and friend Roger Rodas were going up to 94 mph in a 45 mph zone in a Porsche with two 9-year-old tires when they lost control, hit a light pole and died immediately when the car burst into flames, according to a new investigation of the November accident.

Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol concluded that unsafe speed, not mechanical problems, caused the Nov. 30 crash, the sheriff's department said Tuesday.

Based on post-crash calculations, accident reconstruction specialists with the Highway Patrol believe Rodas was driving his 2005 Porsche Carrera GT between 81 mph and 94 mph, according to their investigative report. The CHP declined to comment.

The Associated Press reported in December that investigators had found no evidence that the car had mechanical problems and had ruled out debris or other roadway conditions.

Subsequently, Porsche sent engineers to California to review the rare car's wreckage. Though it was badly mangled and burned, the engineers were able to do a thorough analysis. They found no problems with the car's electrical systems, brakes, throttle, fuel system, steering, suspension or other systems.

"The results of the investigation show that, according to all the available evidence, this crash was caused by dangerous driving at speeds much too high for the road in question," Porsche said in a written statement. "We stand by our Carrera GT and by the investigation."

The conclusion about the speed was based on a "yaw" mark that one of the car's tires left on the road in an area of industrial office parks in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Witnesses told a sheriff's deputy that they thought the car could have been traveling in excess of 100 mph.

Post-crash investigators noted several issues with the condition of the car, which logged just 3,333 miles as of September despite having several prior owners, including IndyCar driver Graham Rahal:

— Its left front and right rear tires were about 9 years old; the owner's manual suggests changing the tires after four years. As a result of the age, "the drivability and handling characteristics ... may have been compromised," the report said.

— Its original exhaust system had been modified in a way that could allow it to go faster.

Rodas, 38, and Walker, 40, had taken what was supposed to be a quick ride on a clear afternoon from a fundraiser benefiting Reach Out Worldwide, a Walker charity that gives first-response aid to victims of natural disasters. The crash occurred near the fundraiser, and horrified friends of the men raced to the scene.

Autopsies showed that neither man had used alcohol or drugs. Investigators found evidence suggesting both wore seat belts and air bags deployed for both the driver and passenger, the sheriff's department said.

Walker starred in all but one of the six "Fast & Furious" blockbusters, which glorify muscle cars and risky driving.

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Contact Justin Pritchard at https://twitter.com/lalanewsman. AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Charlotte, N.C., also contributed to this report.

Source:

www.chron.com

The mystery revolving what is going to happen to the late Paul Walker’s character in the upcoming Fast and Furious film has officially been solved.

A source reportedly told The New York Daily News that “They have hired four actors with bodies very similar to Paul’s physique and they will be used for movements and as a base.”

After Walker’s tragic death in November, dozens of rumors began to surface about what was going to happen to Brian O’Conner, Walker’s character. Many believed that in Fast & Furious 7 O’Conner would be retired.

“Paul’s face and voice will be used on top using CGI,” the source said.

The seventh installment of the film is set to resume filming again in April since it was put on hold back in December.

After almost one year past its original due date, Fast 7 is set to open in theaters on April 10, 2015.

The sources close to Universal tell The Daily News they are confident that fans will be happy with the choice the studio is making.