newsmakers

newsmakers

Banksy welcome, but will he show?

LOS ANGELES

The question that’s kept Oscar observers guessing since nominations were announced last month — Will Banksy show up? — remains unanswered. But the motion picture academy says the bad-boy British street artist is more than welcome to attend.

The elusive graffiti star is up for best documentary feature for his directing debut, “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Since he prefers to hide his face, it has seemed unlikely he would reveal himself before half a billion viewers worldwide on Hollywood’s biggest night. Even in his own film, he appears in shadows, wearing a hoodie and with his voice altered to make it unrecognizable.

Though publicists for the movie and for Banksy himself declined to comment as to whether he’ll be at the Kodak Theatre with the rest of the nominees next Sunday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it would be happy to see him.

“Banksy and his folks are keeping things very mysterious,” the academy’s executive director, Bruce Davis, said Friday. “We certainly are expecting the producer of the film to be with us, Jaimie D’Cruz, but I would not be surprised if Banksy were in the audience as well — but I don’t think he’s going to be wearing a name tag, so it may not be clear.”

It seems Banksy was already in L.A. this past week, as evidenced by a few new pieces of his work that have cropped up around town.

Elizabeth Taylor remains hospitalized

LOS ANGELES

Elizabeth Taylor’s health is improving, but the Oscar winner is still hospitalized in Los Angeles.

A spokeswoman for the 78-year-old actress says Taylor “has continued to show great improvement, and her family and friends are very pleased with her progress.”

Publicist Jamie Cadwell said Friday that Taylor will remain under observation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center “for the time being.” She was admitted more than a week ago.

Taylor is being treated for symptoms of congestive heart failure, a condition she disclosed in November 2004.

Buju Banton trial still with no verdict

TAMPA, Fla.

A jury has stopped its deliberations for the week in the federal drug trial of Grammy-winning reggae singer Buju Banton.

After deliberating for most of Friday, the jury could not reach a verdict. Jurors will reconvene Tuesday. Courts are closed Monday for Presidents Day.

The 37-year-old Banton was on trial for conspiring with two other men in setting up a drug deal in December of 2009. His album “Before the Dawn” won a Grammy on Sunday for best reggae album.