'Catching Fire' Disney's 'Frozen' top record box office weekend

(Reuters) - "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" continued to light up the box office through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, collecting a record $110.2 million over five days to surpass a hefty opening for Disney's new animated film "Frozen," and bringing its 10-day total to nearly $300 million.
Moviegoers flooded theaters in record-setting numbers, dropping $294 million at box offices, besting the $290 million spent a year ago over the five-day period.
"Catching Fire" and "Frozen" both beat the Thanksgiving box office record of $82.4 million set by "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in 2001.
"Frozen," which critics lavishly praised, recorded ticket sales of $93 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters for the five-day holiday period that began on Wednesday, according to studio estimates compiled by Reuters. That far exceeded industry projections of about $63 million.
"Frozen," inspired by "The Snow Queen" fairytale, features the voice of Kristen Bell as a Scandinavian princess intent on finding her sister, the Queen, who has the power to freeze anything with a touch and accidentally sets off a long winter that is destroying their kingdom.
"This was much more than we ever could have thought," said Dave Hollis, executive vice president of distribution for Walt Disney Studios, of "Frozen"'s strong opening, adding it was the biggest-ever opening for one of its animated releases.
Disney's action film "Thor: The Dark World," based on the character from its Marvel comic book unit, was third with $15.5 million in ticket sales, according to data compiled by Rentrak.
"Catching Fire," the sequel to the 2012 blockbuster "The Hunger Games," stars Jennifer Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen, the skilled archer who becomes a beacon of hope for an oppressed society. The movies, distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment, are based on a series of novels by Suzanne Collins.
The film set a November opening weekend record of $158.1 million, then smashed the Thanksgiving five-day mark in its second week. It already ranks third on this year's list of top-grossing films, according to data compiled by Rentrak, behind "Iron Man 3" and "Despicable Me 2." Its global total is $573 million.
Rounding out the top five were strong-performing "The Best Man Holiday," starring Taye Diggs and Terrence Howard, with $11.1 million, and "Homefront," which collected $9.8 million in its debut weekend.
The R-rated "Homefront," written by Sylvester Stallone, features British action star Jason Statham as a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who moves to a small town to raise his daughter but tangles with a local drug lord.
"Black Nativity," a musical from Fox Searchlight starring Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson and Angela Bassett, only managed the No. 8 spot with $5 million in sales for its opening weekend.
"Frozen," a $150 million film, is the latest from Disney's animation studio, which has enjoyed a revival since 2006 when the company acquired Pixar. Disney had a big hit in the 2010 "Tangled" and last November with "Wreck-it-Ralph."
Hollis said the studio expected the film would play well through the Christmas season, noting that "there are not a lot of family (film) options" opening in the coming weeks.
Lions Gate Entertainment produced and distributed "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
"Frozen" and "Thor" were released by Disney.
"Black Nativity was distributed by Fox Searchlight, a unit of Twenty-First Century Fox.
"Homefront" was released by Open Road Films, a joint venture of theater chains AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment.

Beyonce ousts Kim Kardashian as 2013's most-searched person on Bing

(Reuters) - Singer Beyonce was named the most-searched person in 2013 on Bing, the online search engine said on Monday, edging out 2012's list-topper reality television star Kim Kardashian, who came in second.
Beyonce, 32, topped the list in a year where she made a carefully choreographed return to the musical spotlight after taking time out to give birth to her first child, daughter Blue Ivy, with rapper husband Jay Z.
The singer performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration in January, at the Super Bowl in February and kicked off a worldwide tour, The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, in April. The notoriously private singer also revealed glimpses of her life with Jay Z and their baby in a February HBO documentary.
Kardashian, 33, dropped to second place after a big year where she gave birth to daughter North West, and got engaged to rapper Kanye West, the father of her child. The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" personality topped the list in 2012 and 2010.
Women continued to dominate the most-searched list for a second year running, as singers Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Madonna rounded out the top five. Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, who ranked second place in 2012, dropped to sixth place this year.
Rapper Nicki Minaj and pop singer Miley Cyrus, who both made the list in 2012, also were in the top ten this year, joined by troubled actress Amanda Bynes, who came in at No. 8.
Pop culture continued to lead web searches, but Obama cracked the list at No. 10 as the only politician in the top ten, faring better than last year, when he was ranked 46th on the list.
Search engine Bing annually releases list of its most-searched terms and phrases, breaking it down across topics such as entertainment, sports, technology and news.
The birth of Prince William's and Kate Middleton's first child in July topped the most searched news stories of 2013, followed by the Boston Marathon bombings in April.
Facebook led the most-searched social media sites, while online video streaming site Netflix topped the most-searched streaming sites.
Former Denver Broncos football quarterback Tim Tebow was the most-searched sports person, while the Dallas Cowboys topped the most-searched sports team.

Bolshoi Dancer Gets 6 Years for Acid Attack

A Bolshoi star dancer was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday over an acid attack on the ballet's director that exposed vicious backstage bickering and intrigue at the renowned theater.

The judge pronounced Bolshoi soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko guilty of making plans to attack Sergei Filin, who lost most of the sight in one eye and 20 percent in the other in the attack on Jan. 17.

Ex-convict Yuri Zarutsky, who splashed the acid in Filin's face, was sentenced to 10 years; a driver, Andrei Lipatov, got four years.

The three were also ordered to pay 3.5 millions rubles (about $106,000) in damages to Filin.

Judge Yelena Maximova ruled that Dmitrichenko and two other men had made plans to hurt Filin a few months before the attack.

The dancer said during the trial that he had agreed to Zarutsky's offer to beat up Filin, but claimed that he had been unaware of his intention to use acid for the attack. He pleaded not guilty but admitted "moral responsibility" because he spoke badly of Filin in front of Zarutsky.

As the judge announced the sentence, Dmitrichenko's mother covered her mouth. The dancer's father said they expected a less severe sentence.

Lawyers said they would appeal.

In his testimony, Filin called Dmitrichenko a volatile and threatening employee who was always stirring up trouble, but stopped short of accusing him of plotting the attack.

Dmitrichenko said he was shocked when he heard about the acid attack in the news and told Zarutsky they should surrender to the police. He testified that Zarutsky told him to keep silent and threatened to launch a similar attack on Dmitrichenko's ballerina girlfriend if he went to the police.

The judge accepted that Dmitrichenko was unaware of the plan to use acid, but ruled that the dancer had been involved in making advance plans for the attack and had given Zarutsky the location of Filin's home and called him right before the attack.

During the trial, Dmitrichenko had claimed he was passed over for the best parts in the theater.

He said he had told Zarutsky that he disapproved of Filin's management style. He insisted that he always said Filin had been an excellent dancer, but he blamed him in part for the negative atmosphere in the theater. He cited several incidents in which troupe members were driven to tears during heated conflicts with Filin.

Filin did not deny the incidents but retorted that it was simply part of the "artistic process."

Hugh Jackman: Wolverine star treated for skin cancer

The star has warned fans to get themselves checked for the disease

Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman has urged his fans to get checked for cancer and use suncream after a recent skin cancer scare.
Jackman was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of the cancer that grows on the surface of skin.
The 45-year old star was encouraged to get a mark on his nose checked out by his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness.
After surgery to remove the growth, the actor posted a photo on Instagram of his bandaged nose.
"Please don't be foolish like me. Get yourself checked and use sunscreen!", he wrote in the caption.
There have been no further updates on the success of Jackson's treatment and it remains unclear when the disease was confirmed.
Charlotte Fionda, of the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, told The Independent: "This just goes to show that anybody can get skin cancer. It can be treatable if caught early but education and early diagnosis are vital.
"Be aware that it can be quite disfiguring too. Hugh has been lucky to catch his cancer early, but being vigilant and taking care in the sun is so important as it is often caused by over-exposure."
Australian actor Jackman is best known for his role as superhero Wolverine in the X-Men franchise.
He was nominated for the Best Actor award at this year's Oscars after playing 'Prisoner 24601' Jean Valjean in the blockbuster adaptation of Les Miserables

Lawrence on her hospital drama

Jennifer Lawrence has told how she ended up in hospital fearing an ulcer following the Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere in Los Angeles.

The US actress told the Late Show With David Letterman that she went to A&E only to discover it was a false alarm.
The Oscar winner, 23, said: " I thought I had an ulcer, but it turns out it was a 'fulcer!' I went to the emergency room."
She candidly told the chat show host: "I just had this really bad pain for, like, three weeks. And you know you can only s**t your pants so many times a day before you go to the emergency room, before you're like 'I need to go to the hospital'."
Jennifer said she had an endoscopy and after passing out the first lucid conversation she remembers having was " about the Kardashians".
She was later back on form for the New York premiere where she was reported as saying she felt "good... just gassy."
A source told the New York Daily News: "She had a brief doctor visit some time before the premiere. She had cramps and stomach pain. Turns out it was gas."

Walt Disney's daughter Diane Miller dies

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Diane Disney Miller, Walt Disney's daughter and one of his inspirations for building the Disneyland theme park, has died at her Northern California home. She was 79.
Her death Tuesday in Napa was confirmed by The Walt Disney Co. The cause was complications from a fall, said Andi Wang, spokeswoman for the Walt Disney Family Museum.
"As the beloved daughter of Walt Disney and one of his inspirations for creating Disneyland, she holds a special place in the history of The Walt Disney Co. and in the hearts of fans everywhere," Robert Iger, the company's president and CEO, said in a statement. "She will be remembered for her grace and generosity and tireless work to preserve her father's legacy."
Miller, the eldest daughter of Walt and Lillian Disney, was born Dec. 18, 1933. In later life, she remembered her father as a man who was caring and patient with his children.
"He'd take me and my sister Sharon to the merry-go-round at Griffith Park and stand there all day waiting until we were ready to go," Miller told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1998. "As he stood there, he kept thinking there should be more for parents and children to do together, and the idea for Disneyland was born."
Miller's younger sister, Sharon, died of cancer in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Ronald, who owns the Silverado Vineyards Winery in Napa Valley, as well as seven children and 13 grandchildren.
Diane Miller founded the Walt Disney Family Museum, which opened in 2009 in San Francisco's Presidio, as a tribute to her family's legacy. One of her major concerns was that her father's name had become associated more with a corporate identity than with the man himself.
She also played a key role in the completion of the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a project started with a $50 million gift from her mother.
In 1997, she bucked project leaders like Richard Riordan, the mayor at the time, and billionaire Eli Broad, who said Gehry's firm lacked the experience to execute the plans for the building's unusual curved polished steel design. At a crucial point, Miller threatened to withhold the roughly $20 million remaining of her mother's gift if Gehry was not kept on.
"I wanted something that would bear my father's name, that would come from his wealth but not be commercial," Miller told the Los Angeles Times in September. "I think we achieved that."

700 Fans Camp out for 'Catching Fire' Premiere

The latest "Hunger Games" are yet to begin, but the fans have already arrived in force.

Seven hundred fans of the popular book trilogy spent the weekend camped out on the concrete in front of L.A. Live plaza, and they were rewarded with games, celebrity meetings and tickets to Monday's premiere of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

"I'm floored!" said Alyce Kozar, 24, who said she just joined the fan camp "to be with those sharing my fandom."

The Los Angeles resident bonded instantly with 23-year-old Jemmie Yamson of Minneapolis, whom she met when the camp began, and now the two are planning to travel to Comic-Con together.

Fan camp participants won their spots in an online lottery. The camp began Saturday morning, when fans were split into "districts," echoing a tenet from the books. They were responsible for their own tents and sleeping gear, but Lionsgate, which also hosted a fan camp for the first "Hunger Games" film, provided diversions such as cast visits and contests. Director Francis Lawrence and star Josh Hutcherson were among the stars who dropped by during the two-and-a-half-day campout.

Fans brought their own hand-made posters, and many carried copies of the second book in the series by Suzanne Collins.

Danny Hernandez of Azusa, Calif., was among those with book (and Sharpie) in hand. He applied for the fan camp so he might get a chance to see the film early, but found connecting with fellow fans even more rewarding.

"The coolest thing was meeting all of these people," the 29-year-old said, adding that he had come alone but now belonged to a group of 10,who planned to watch the film together.

Cheyenne Deen of Las Vegas convinced her mom and sister to travel to Los Angeles for the camping adventure. The 22-year-old and her friend, 19-year-old Michelle Mota, came to the first "Hunger Games" fan camp and also slept on the sidewalk for the "Twilight" premieres.

They have a tip for fan-camp folks: "Never leave the camp because there's always something going on."

The two participated in a scavenger hunt and collected autographs from Hutcherson and others.

Deen's mother, Elaine, who'd never attended a fan camp before, was dazzled to near speechlessness.

"I'm star-struck," she said.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" opens Friday.

Was Murphy murdered?

Probe: Toxicology report states rat poisoning was cause of death

A new toxicology report suggests Clueless and Happy Feet star Brittany Murphy and her husband may have been murdered.

The report - ordered by her father, Angelo Bertolotti - indicates rat poisoning may have been the cause.

The Los Angeles coroner said Murphy, 32, died Dec. 20, 2009 of pneumonia and anemia. Five months later her husband, Simon Monjack, died the same way.

Bertolotti legally secured the release of Murphy's hair, blood and tissue samples for testing after years in court. Examiner.com reports that the Carlson Company found 10 different heavy metals in very high levels in the actress's body.

The report says: "If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals (toxins) administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent."

Heavy metals are usually found in pest-control products and when she died, Murphy was showing signs of heavy metal poisoning.

These include: Headaches, dizziness, abdominal cramps, coughing, sweating, disorientation, wheezing, congestion and pneumonia.

"Vicious rumours, spread by tabloids, unfairly smeared Brittany's reputation," Bertolotti told the Examiner.

"My daughter was neither anorexic nor a drug junky, as they repeatedly implied," he said. "Brittany and Simon were ridiculed by The Hollywood Reporter, when they complained of being under surveillance in fear for their lives. I will not rest until the truth about these tragic events is told. There will be justice for Brittany."

'Teen Mom 2' Star Kailyn Lowry Gives Birth to Baby Boy

Kailyn Lowry is officially a mom again after she gave birth to her and new husband Javi Marroquin's first baby boy together on Saturday, November 16. Us Weekly reports that the baby named Lincoln Marshall Marroquinher arrived at 4:28 P.M. and weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces.

"I am exhausted, but we are so excited and surprised by our new baby boy," the 21-year-old "Teen Mom 2" star told the site. The newborn baby joins brother Isaac, Lowry's son from her previous relationship with ex-partner Jo Rivera.

Before welcoming their son, Lowry and her U.S. airman husband celebrated their wedding at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey on September 21. The couple, who dated for one year before tying the knot in 2012, was said enjoying a date with sharks there.

"Kailyn and Javi shared one of their memorable dates swimming with sharks at the aquarium, so the venue was really special to them," a source told Radar Online at that time. "She's always been obsessed with mermaids and the ocean and after they went there and swam with sharks, she was set on having their wedding there."

Batkid saves San Francisco as charity makes a wish come true

San Francisco was beset by a wave of crime on Friday, as a woman was taken hostage and tied to cable car tracks, a criminal calling himself the Riddler attempted to rob a bank vault, and a miscreant known as Penguin generally made a nuisance of himself in the downtown area
Happily, each incident was staged: an attempt on the part the charity Make-a-Wish to give five-year-old Miles Scott, who is recovering from leukaemia, a memorable day assisting his favourite superhero.

Batkid in action.

San Francisco’s mayor and police were among thousands involved in an extraordnary day that gripped the city and caught the attention of the White House. Miles’s day began with a fraught message from police chief Greg Suhr, alerting “Batkid” to the various criminal activities and pleading with him to assist. Miles acquiesced, and was collected by a man dressed as Batman who was driving a vehicle which bore a passing resemblance to the Batmobile.

The best day. #SFBatKid (via @AP) pic.twitter.com/vnMCfvWYeC
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) November 15, 2013

With little time to waste, the pair hastened to the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco’s Union Square, where an unnamed woman had been tied up on cable car tracks with what appeared to be an improvised explosive device strapped to her back.

#SFBatkid Damsel played the role quite well….she waited a long time pic.twitter.com/KIKFWrWid4
— Wayne Freedman (@WayneFreedman) November 15, 2013

A large crowd had gathered at the scene as Batkid arrived and sprinted over to the woman. After a tense few moments a cheer went up as Batkid managed to free the woman from her bonds. The device did not detonate.

BAT KID SAVES THE CITY: Photographer @Jamesco captured this magic moment "You did it #SFBatKid!" pic.twitter.com/q0nGSNBR6s
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) November 15, 2013

Less than an hour later, Batkid was summoned back to Union Square, where a criminal mastermind known as The Riddler was attempting to rob a bank vault.
Batkid successfully downed the villain, despite significant disadvantages in height and strength, and The Riddler was taken away in a San Francisco police department truck. SFPD did not immediately respond to questions regarding charges against The Riddler.
Later, Batkid apprehended a known felon called Penguin before being handed the key to the city by an understandably grateful mayor. The stunt gripped the city: "This has turned into a full blown phenomenon," sair Suhr, the police chief .
The White House sent out a tweet encouraging Batkid to "Go get 'em!" In a video recording, President Barack Obama said, "Way to go, Miles! Way to save Gotham!"
Make-a-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Miles, a Batman fan, had one wish: “To be Batkid.” Make-a-Wish reached out through email and social networks, asking for help making Miles’s wish come true. The charity was inundated with offers to help. Volunteers formed the crowd or pretended to be villains.
The San Francisco Chronicle is among the many organisations involved, and its Friday front page was dedicated to the superhero. The headline? “Batkid Saves City”.

Hot off the presses! #sfbatkid catches riddler robbing Gotham bank pic.twitter.com/6rMJqN2ZXu
— Bob Redell (@BobNBC) November 15, 2013

Baldwin’s show suspended

Alec Baldwin’s MSNBC show has been suspended following a series of outbursts in New York this week.
The actor last month launched current events and culture programme Up Late with Alec Baldwin for MSNBC.

According to Variety, network bosses have suspended the show for two weeks after the actor was seen aggressively confronting a reporter who was asking him about his recent legal victory against convicted stalker Genevieve Sabourin.
The reporter, from FOX-owned station WNYW, was initially brushed off by the actor, who then turned around to confront him.
“If you’re still here when my wife and kid come out, you’re going to have a big problem, you know that?” Alec asked, adding, “You are as dumb as you look. You are with Fox, right?”
The actor later apologised for the incident.
In a statement released on the MSNBC website, the star said he realises his actions undermined his colleagues at the network and accepted their decision.
“I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have – and for that I am deeply sorry,” he wrote.
“Words are important. I understand that, and will choose mine with great care going forward. What I said and did this week, as I was trying to protect my family, was offensive and unacceptable. Behavior like this undermines hard-fought rights that I vigorously support.
“I understand Up Late will be taken off the schedule for tonight and next week. I want to apologize to my loyal fans and to my colleagues at MSNBC – both for my actions and for distracting from their good work. Again, please accept my apology.”
Alec’s outburst at the reporter came shortly after he was shown in video acquired by TMZ shoving a paparazzo in New York.
He was also accused of hurling a homophobic slur at a photographer waiting outside his Manhattan apartment earlier this week, but has strenuously denied such claims.
Alec has been under intense media scrutiny in recent weeks during the trial of Genevieve Sabourin, found guilty this week of five counts of stalking, including one against Alec's wife Hilaria Thomas.

The actress, who claimed she had a romantic relationship with the star, was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

Actor Alec Baldwin apologizes for slur, talk show suspended

(Reuters) - Actor Alec Baldwin said his late night talk show on cable news network MSNBC will be taken off the air on Friday and next week and apologized for comments that a gay rights group called homophobic epithets.
Baldwin, 55, announced the decision in a statement, saying that his comments were "offensive and unacceptable." His talk show "Up Late with Alec Baldwin" began last month.
"I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words, but clearly I have - and for that I am deeply sorry," Baldwin said in the statement, adding that he was trying to protect his wife and daughter in New York.
Earlier this week, the actor tearfully testified at the trial of a woman who was sentenced to 210 days in jail after being found guilty of stalking and harassing him and his wife, Hilaria.
In a video posted on celebrity website TMZ.com on Thursday, Baldwin confronts a photographer filming him in a New York street and calls him a homophobic slur that drew the ire of gay rights group GLAAD, which has previously defended the actor when he was accused of homophobic language.
"Mr. Baldwin can't lend his support for equality on paper, while degrading gay people in practice," GLAAD spokesman Rich Ferraro said in a statement. "It's clearly time he listens to the calls from so many LGBT people and allies to end this pattern of anti-gay slurs."
It was not known if the photographer at whom Baldwin directed his comments was gay.
Baldwin, who has had many confrontations with photographers and reporters approaching him in public, also came under fire in June for homophobic tweets aimed at a reporter for Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.

Andy Kaufman's 'daughter' says he's still alive

A woman claiming to be the comedian's daughter made a surprising announcement at the Andy Kaufman Awards.

Is Andy Kaufman still alive? If you believe a woman claiming to be his daughter, he could be.

Conspiracy theorists have long posited that the comedian, who died in 1984 at 35 of lung cancer, faked his death. And an announcement at the annual Andy Kaufman Awards, held in New York, has brought the theory back into the public eye.
The woman told the audience — gathered to celebrate performers who embody the spirit of the comedian — that her father was still very much alive and that he had faked his death to escape the limelight and be a stay-at-home dad for her and her siblings. She also said he wanted to make an appearance at the awards ceremony, but ended up deciding not to come. TMZ has video of the talk.
"I don't know how much longer he can keep everything away," she said.
She appeared on stage with Kaufman's brother, Michael, who asked her questions as she happily responded, repeatedly pushing her brown hair behind her ears.
Michael also reportedly told a story about his brother reaching out to him in 1999 to meet for dinner, but he was stood up at a restaurant — with the exception of a note that revealed Kaufman had faked his death. It's unconfirmed whether Michael definitively believes his brother is alive or dead, but reports say Michael concluded at the end of the story that his brother is alive.
Kaufman has one known child: daughter Maria Colonna, who lives in upstate New York, according to The Huffington Post, and occasionally consults about her late father's death. But it appears she was not involved in this announcement.
The woman reportedly claimed to be 24 years old — if you do the math, it puts her birth years after Kaufman's death. She's also reportedly a theater student, according to People magazine.
Kaufman was famous for his work on Saturday Night Live and Taxi, but also for odd behavior. He also reportedly spoke often of faking his own death.
No one has confirmed that this woman is actually Kaufman's daughter, nor that her story is truthful.

Actress guilty of stalking Baldwin

A Canadian actress has been convicted of stalking Hollywood star Alec Baldwin in New York City.

A Manhattan judge issued the verdict on Thursday, finding Genevieve Sabourin guilty of stalking, attempted aggravated harassment, harassment and attempted contempt of court.
At the trial, Baldwin had testified that the actress had turned his life into a nightmare after they met once for dinner.
The actor says she besieged him with unwanted phone calls and emails and started showing up at his homes and at public events.
In his summing up to the judge, defence lawyer Todd Spodek said Sabourin had a legitimate, brief romance with Baldwin. He complained that Baldwin was using the court system to "sort out his relationships".
The judge sentenced Sabourin to six months in jail. That is on top of 30 days she already received for disrupting court proceedings.

Chatting With Mr Snapchat

He's 23, he dropped out of Stanford, and his start-up is backed by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley venture capital. Evan Spiegel, founder of Snapchat, could be the next dotcom billionaire from central casting - but only if he's right that people will pay for a social media experience.
Snapchat - for those of you who are over 25 - is a wildly popular mobile app that lets users communicate by sending each other photos which automatically delete after a few seconds. When Evan Spiegel visited London this week - his first time in the UK - he came and gave me a demo.
His app was only launched in September 2011, and while he is not giving out any numbers, he says it is now on a quarter of all UK smart-phones, which means as many as seven million British people may be Snapchatting. I'm definitely not the core demographic and I struggle with the idea that my friends would want to click on a picture of the coffee I'm drinking.

But Snapchat's founder says the idea of "ephemeral media" - social interactions that did not leave a trace online - is very powerful, and so it has proved. Spreading the idea was hard in the first few months. I assumed his fellow students would have been the guinea-pigs but he tells me, "everyone at Stanford is making an app", so they weren't that keen on helping him. (Does anybody ever finish their degree at the Californian university?)
But it was in schools where it did take off early in 2012, with teenagers rapidly learning that it was better than social networks for talking to friends without the whole world prying in. That pattern has led to two common assumptions about Snapchat - that its prime use is for "sexting", the sending of explicit pictures between teenagers, and that it poses a major threat to Facebook.

Evan Spiegel shows he is already the practised diplomat in dealing with both issues. "It is really easy to jump to that conclusion" he says about sexting, while the data suggests that Snapchat is being used all day, in a wide variety of contexts, and much of the traffic is between women users.
Facebook briefly spooked the markets last week when its chief financial officer revealed that younger teenagers were spending less time on his network. But when I ask Mr Spiegel the "Facebook killer" question, he tells me "we really admire what Mark (Zuckerberg) is doing", and says there is plenty of room for both forms of communication.
And indeed a recent study by Enders Analysis shows that the impact of messaging apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp on Facebook may be somewhat exaggerated. Its research did show more than eight million people using mobile messaging apps in the UK, with nearly half of all those between 16-24 using them daily. But it also revealed that Facebook was still dominant in this age group, with 70% using it on their phones every day.
But the question I want answered is how Snapchat plans to make money. I'd expected two responses from Evan Spiegel - that his firm is still intent on building its audience rather than worrying about revenues, and that when it does think about a business model it will be based on advertising. I am wrong in both cases - building revenues is now a priority, and the aim is to earn money from users rather than advertisers.
While refusing to go into details - "we don't want to spoil the surprise" - he outlines a plan to get users to pay for added value services. This seems an unlikely proposition - Facebook and Twitter have relied almost exclusively on various forms of advertising as revenue sources, and it's unclear that users who have grown accustomed to a free service can be persuaded to pay for extras.
But Evan Spiegel is looking to China rather than other Silicon Valley outfits for inspiration - he points to the success of WeChat, owned by Tencent: "They grew their business in the absence of a brand advertising market so they had to do it through in-app transactions and gaming services and they're now generating 90% of their $2.5bn (£1.6bn) a quarter through in-app transactions."
He goes on to outline a theory that social media businesses like Facebook and Twitter are seen as utilities, and therefore people will not pay for them, while apps like Snapchat are entertainment products and "people pay a lot for entertainment".
The question must be whether you can successfully monetise an app that is almost exclusively used by young people who probably have little spare cash. Remember how much excitement there was about the way the BBM messaging service was enabling Blackberry to reach a whole new demographic?
BBM has millions of users and is now out on the Android and iOS platforms, but it has failed to arrest the decline of Blackberry.
Still, Snapchat has obviously tapped into a mood amongst a new digital generation that is more concerned with communicating everything to just a few close friends than telling the world their business on Facebook or Twitter.
That kind of idea with that size of audience always attracts interest from predators - YouTube and Instagram were each swallowed by Google and Facebook respectively when they were just a year old.
When I suggested that Facebook might try to buy the business there was nervous laughter from Spiegel and his PR advisors - and he insisted that he was staying independent.
A few hours after our meeting, reports emerged that Snapchat had turned down a bid from Facebook valuing the business at $3bn.
But don't be surprised if someone else comes dangling a multi-billion dollar offer for the business quite soon.
And maybe in the ephemeral world of hot new mobile messaging apps, Evan Spiegel would be best advised to grab it before it disappears.