Names and faces

Actor Shia LaBeouf hit the Berlin Film Festival in memorable style Sunday, first walking out of a news conference for the film Nymphomaniac Volume I and then wearing a paper bag over his head at the red carpet premiere. The actor posed for photographers in a stylish tuxedo - and a paper bag with eyeholes and the words “I am not famous anymore” written across it. LaBeouf has frequently used the statement on his Twitter page, and he was identifiable by a tattoo on his hand. The unconventional attire came shortly after the star walked out of a news conference with co-stars Uma Thurman and Christian Slater to promote Lars von Trier’s film, the first installment of a two-part drama about a woman’s sexual life from girlhood to age 50. A reporter’s question as to whether the actors were worried about the film’s sex scenes elicited the response: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.” He then walked out. LaBeouf’s line was borrowed from French soccer player Eric Cantona, who baffled reporters with it in the mid-1990s after his suspension for a flying kick on a heckler. The actor has been criticized for borrowing dialogue and story line for his short film, Howard Cantour.com, which closely resembled a 2007 graphic novel by Daniel Clowes.

Fox has canceled its version of the singing competition series The X Factor after three seasons. The announcement followed a statement by the program’s creator, Simon Cowell, who said he would resume his hosting duties this year on the original British incarnation. “Last year, for a number of reasons, I had to make a decision to return to the U.K. version of ‘The X Factor’ in 2014,” Cowell said. “So for now, I’m back to the U.K., and I want to thank Fox for being an incredible partner, and I also want to thank everybody who has supported my shows.” The X Factor completed its third season in December, drawing 6.2 million total viewers for its finale. Before the series premiere in September 2011, Cowell said that if the show did not pull in 20 million viewers, it would have to be considered a failure.It fell well short of that, attracting 12.5 million at the start, and it never matched the ratings heights of American Idol (once the judging home of Cowell) on Fox or The Voice on NBC.