Birmingham will be at the centre of a £33 million national network of Scientology training centres if proposals to open a new Midland HQ are approved.
The US religious sect, whose followers include Tom Cruise and John Travolta, have purchased historic buildings at five sites across the country, including Pitmaston House in Moseley.
It is set to be converted into the £6 million Hubbard Guidance Centre, named after founder L. Ron Hubbard. An application to convert the Moor Green Lane building is to be decided by the city council’s planning committee on Thursday - with officers recommending approval.
The controversial organisation has produced a glossy promotional film to advertise its new Birmingham base. The two-minute 40-second video, which includes computer-gendered images of the layout, states: “London may have been the hub of the old British Empire but Birmingham is, and always will be, the city that says ‘Working mans’ England.’’
The promo also reveals that the 1.4 acre site will include a Public Information Centre, a 140-seater chapel and a training centre named ‘Birmingham Academy’ which will boast a “full wing dedicated to Scientology counselling, known as Auditing”.
“This is where they’ll soon be training Auditors to train the entire West Midlands County and it’s drafted to accommodate large numbers at every shift”, the film’s American narrator states.
The video ends with a shot of the ‘Office of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’, which boasts the use of “technology he developed that can bring new found freedom to all in this industrial city”.
The Birmingham plans are part of a nationwide campaign to raise the profile of Scientology across the country by buying up Grade II-listed properties to convert into ‘Churches’.
Other sites acquired include the Duckworth Distillery plant in Old Trafford, bought for £3.6 million in 2007, and the former Royal Fleet Club building in Devonport, Devonshire, which the organisation paid around £1 million for in 2010.
In London Scientologists opened a £23 million office in 2006, while plans for a new centre covering the North-East were launched in 2007 with the £1.2 million acquisition of Windmills Hill, a large former Victorian school in Gateshead.
The US church, which claims a membership of 20,000 in the Midlands, says it wants to open the new Birmingham centre in 2014.
UK spokesman Graeme Wilson said: “There is a great deal of interest in Scientology - in fact it was announced earlier this year that the fourth highest ‘What is …?’ category on Google is ‘What is Scientology?’
‘‘So we are meeting that demand by building new centres where people can easily find out about our religion and where they can study it.”
Ten residents have objected to the plans - many opposed to what they say is not a recognised religion in the UK. But council officers have pointed out that this is not a planning matter.
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Everybody On The Set Of Katie Holmes' New Movie Wants To Do Her
Some of us are looking at that picture like it's the opposite of sexy, becauseKatie Holmes looks like she's in the middle of taking an extended dump and just realized that there's only one wipe worth of toilet paper left. That is totally a "Do I pull up my panties and chance it or do I risk dripping on the floor by squat walking to the next bathroom?" face. But dudes on the NYC set of Katie's movie are looking at the sight of her sitting there and telling themselves that they want to see that on their toilet the morning after.
Katie and Luke Kirby are currently playing manic depressives in love in theSpike Lee-produced movie Mania Days and it's a damn miracle that they get any work done, because every dude on set keeps trying to get on her. A source tells Page Six, “There were crew members and extras just chancing it. It really got on the nerves of director Paul Dalio. Needless to say, she said no to everyone.” The source says that so far seven dudes have asked Katie out.
Katie should give her publicist a bonus for getting that little story in Page Six.
Those crew members and extras asking Katie out need to know that it takes a special kind of dude to date the former duchess of Scientology. Not just any dude can date Katie Holmes. In order to date her, you have to be okay with Suri Cruise dry heaving every time you show up to her apartment wearing sneakers you bought on clearance at Foot Locker. That's one thing you have to be okay with. You also have to be okay with dying young, because Tommy Girl will probably have you killed. If you're okay with both of those things, ask away!
Here's more pictures of Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby as manic depressives in love. I'm already learning things from this movie! I just learned that a symptom of manic depression is wearing a t-shirt with jeans.
No wonder she's laughing! Katie Holmes is in high spirits after almost locking lips with hunky co-star on Mania Days film set
By LEAH SIMPSON
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She hasn’t been linked to a serious boyfriend since divorcing Tom Cruise.
And Katie Holmes certainly seems to be enjoying single life, even if it is all part of the job.
The 34-year-old actress was seen getting close to her co-star on the New York set of her latest movie Manic Days on Tuesday and didn’t mind cosying up to the hunk.
Close to a kiss: Katie Holmes nearly locked lips with her co-star, Canadian actor Luke Kirby, on the set of her new movie in New York on Tuesday
At one point the thespian was spotted staring intently into his eyes as they filmed a close-up shot.
Despite pressing their noses against each other, the pair kept their hands to themselves for the intense shot.
Katie’s palms were firmly to her side while Canada’s Luke Kirby placed his on his bottom.
Keep your hands to yourself! But the 34-year-old was not tactile with the hunk as they bumped noses
Good spirits: She laughed after their Mania Days scene taking place in New York
He's got a fan! The brunette clasped her hands together with glee as she chatted to the actor and crew between scenes
Afterwards, Katie could be seen laughing as she walked around the set with him, also grinning and making goofy facial expressions as she stood alone later.
The onscreen couple dressed similarly in denim trousers and plain tops to record scenes, both brunettes sporting slightly curly tresses.
From the smile on her face, it's clear Katie is enjoying her work.
Gripping her hunky co-stars hands in her own earlier, the Katie flashed him a heartfelt grin.
And while the two were in character at the time, it's likely that working with such a handsome co-star is a perk of the job for Katie.
Work, not pleasure: Katie holds on tight as she films with her handsome co-star
Perk of the job: The 34-year-old held on tight to Kirby as they filmed together
Katie has been filming the movie since the beginning of the month alongside Canadian actor Luke Kirby, who is relatively unknown outside of independent film circles.
The 34-year-old held on tight to Kirby as they filmed on the steps of a church.
They stood hand-in-hand as they lit a candle on the steps, before heading off together.
Between takes Katie seemed in a great mood, laughing and joking with her co-star, and pulling funny faces when she noticed the cameras watching.
Gritty location: The duo filmed on the steps of a church in New York
Loving life: Katie looks happy as she takes a break between scenes
Goofy girl: Katie made funny faces as she thought quietly to herself
In Mania Days - produced by Spike Lee and set to release in 2014 - Katie stars as a manic depressive poet who falls pregnant to a manic depressive rapper.
Mania Days is Katie's second film since her split from husband Tom Cruise.
After an almost complete career hiatus during the marriage, Katie is certainly back having briefly done a Broadway show and also she currently has three films in production.
Joker: Katie shows her humorous side as she plays with a candle prop from the film
Filming on location in New York must give Katie pause for thought.
In a break from filming the actress wandered down to her old neighbourhood to grab a coffee.
The movie is filming just two blocks from the luxury apartment where the family lived.
Working away: After an almost complete career hiatus during the marriage, Katie is certainly back having briefly done a Broadway show and also she currently has three films in production
Its likely that being so close brought back memories for Katie, who split from Cruise in June last year.
Dressed in character in cut off jeans, and a warm down jacket to keep off the chill, Katie's hair was left long and loose as she walked around the city.
With daughter Suri in school, Katie appears to be enjoying the chance to indulge her artistic side and has been spotted larking around with her fellow stars onset, including a young child star.
This used to be my neighbourhood! Katie Holmes grabs a coffee near an exclusive New York apartment block where she once lived with Tom Cruise on Tuesday
Her old home: Dressed in character in cut off jeans, and a warm down jacket to keep off the chill, Katie's hair was left long and loose as she walked around the city
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'I'm not going anywhere': Jaden Smith, 14, sets record straight on emancipation rumours as he joins dad Will on Ellen show
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Will Smith and his son Jaden appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday and issued an emancipation clarification.
Jaden, 14, laughed off recent comments made by his famous father that he had accepted his son wanting to be free from legal guardianship by his parents.
Jaden in a joint interview with his dad and After Earth co-star set things straight.
Emancipation talk: Will Smith and son Jaden appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday and addressed the rumor that The Karate Kid star wants to be emancipated
'See, here's the thing that you need to understand: I'm not going anywhere,' the Karate Kid star said.
'The thing that people don't get is everything at this house is free! So I can get anything and everything at his house, so I'm going to be there 20, 30 more years,' he said.
Jaden also said that his father told him he can move out only when he becomes hugely successful.
Fresh Prince returns: Will grabbed the microphone while son Jaden grooved out
'He says as soon as I have a movie that's bigger than one of his movies, I can get my own house,' Jaden said.
Will, 44, also dismissed the emancipation talk, saying that he was joking and taken out of context.
'I think I made a joke in Tokyo. I mean, my baby boy, he's never leaving me, ever. No emancipation for the Smith kids,' Will said of his son and daughter, Willow, with wife Jada Pinkett.
Will also has a 19-year-old son, Trey, from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino.
Obstacle course: Jaden boarded an over-sized tricycle during some friendly competition with his famous father
Tricycle driver: Will turned on the pedal power during the obstacle course competition versus Jaden
Victory pose: Will threw his hands up in the air after his obstacle course performance
Will and Jaden have been making the rounds to promote their new sci-fi film After Earth that hits cinemas in the U.S. on May 31.
The movie takes place a millennium after humanity has deserted its decaying home planet to live among the stars.
Their appearance on Ellen included a humorous screening of a deleted After Earth scene that included Ellen.
Father and son also competed against each other in an obstacle course on over-sized tricycles.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2325173/Jaden-Smith-14-sets-record-straight-emancipation-rumours-joint-interview-famous-dad-Will-The-Ellen-Show.html#ixzz2TOyPlXcy
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