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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is expanding from 17 to 18 branches following a vote by the organization’s board of governors on Friday afternoon.

A production and technology branch has been created and will become the new home of “approximately 400 individuals previously classified as Members-at-Large,” the Academy said in a statement. Those members were informed of their reclassification shortly before the announcement.

It will be comprised of “members working in key technical and production positions in all phases of filmmaking, from pre- to post-production… including stunt coordinators, script supervisors, choreographers, music supervisors, colorists, line producers and associate producers.”

On the Academy’s already sprawling board of governors, the new branch will be represented by one governor — as opposed to the three who represent each of the 17 other branches, plus the three governors-at-large — following the next board elections.

Members of every branch will be able to enter their branch’s board race between April 24-28, and elections for all branches will be held June 5-9.

The Academy’s full announcement follows:

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the creation of the Production and Technology Branch, comprising approximately 400 individuals previously classified as Members-at-Large. The new branch represents members working in key technical and production positions in all phases of filmmaking, from pre- to post-production. 

Branch members include chief technology officers, senior department heads in technology and creative services, and preservation and restoration specialists. In addition, credited production roles, including stunt coordinators, script supervisors, choreographers, music supervisors, colorists, line producers and associate producers, will be a part of the branch.

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and

Steeped in a vaporous blend of ’70s funk and reggae, Victoria Monét’s new single, “Smoke,” keeps within the grand tradition of carefree and catchy weed tributes: think Rick James’ “Mary Jane” or, more recently, Jhené Aiko’s “Sativa.” Inaugurating part two of her Jaguar series, the song is full of silly 420 one-liners—“It’s a bisexual blunt it could go both ways”—but Monét’s silky delivery elevates the overripe premise. “Keep it in rotation, it’s a celebration every time we smoke,” she sings over a syrupy bassline, acing the Mathew Knowles boot camp for breath control. As the song progresses, she’s amplified by a melange of piping horns, organs, and glittering electronic accents.

New Orleans crooner Lucky Daye tags along for the sesh, contributing a few verses and backup vocal runs. His wordplay can be corny—insert COVID cough joke here—but their joint performance on the bridge sticks like glue. “Lucky and V. Monét/ Sound like a lucky day/ Roll up and let it play/ That’s that shit you smoke to,” they sing, locked in like they’re performing a secret handshake. In the extended, music video version of the track, Monét dims the lights: Floating along a soft current of guitar strums and a whispering sitar, she gingerly proposes, “Let me hit that pipe before the pipe or….” It’s a slow-burning, stripped-down reprise, the ultimate comedown to the high.

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Steeped in a vaporous blend of ’70s

Six Canadian children are set to leave a Syrian prison camp and fly to Canada without their mother, who cannot come with them because federal officials have not completed her security assessment, advocates for the family say.

The federal government gave the Quebec woman until today to decide whether her children would join other Canadians on the repatriation flight, expected to depart any day now, or remain with her in Syria, said Alexandra Bain of the group Families Against Violent Extremism.

“I’m shocked. It doesn’t make any sense,” Bain said Saturday in an interview. “It’s not how I expect Canada to behave.”

Read more:

Ottawa to help repatriate 6 women, 13 children being held in Syrian camps: lawyer

The Canadians are among the many foreign nationals in Syrian camps run by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the war-torn region from the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

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The children, ranging in age from as young as three to 16 years, have no family in Quebec, said Bain, whose organization helps families with loved ones caught up in violent extremist groups. At least two of the six children were born in Syria. There is a plan for Quebec social service agencies to place the six in care, in three groups of two.

The mother, who has no idea if or when she will be allowed to leave al-Roj camp in northeastern Syria, is worried about how she will maintain contact with her youngsters, Bain said.

“She’s doing this for her children. And she’s terrified that she’s doing the wrong thing.”

Added lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who is assisting the family: “It’s not a choice that any parent should ever have to make.”


Click to play video: 'Turkey-Syria earthquakes: Canada announces plans to accept more Turkish, Syrian residents'


Turkey-Syria earthquakes: Canada announces plans to accept more Turkish, Syrian residents


Bain and Greenspon requested that the woman’s name not be published due to the sensitivity of the case and related privacy concerns.

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Greenspon has argued in Federal Court on behalf of several men, women and children detained in Syria that Global Affairs Canada must arrange for their return, saying that refusing to do so violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Read more:

Court misconstrued Charter when directing feds to bring men in Syria home, Canada argues

Greenspon reached an agreement with the federal government in January to bring home six Canadian women and 13 children who had been part of the court action. All 19 are expected to be on the imminent repatriation flight from Syria.

There was hope that the Quebec woman and her six children, though not part of the court case, would also be boarding the plane together.

Greenspon said while the children have been cleared to leave Syria, their mother is still undergoing a federal security assessment.

Separating a mother from her children violates Canada’s international commitments as well as the government’s policy for assessing possible repatriation cases, Greenspon said. “Their own policy framework says that they shouldn’t be doing this.”


Click to play video: 'Syrian refugee living in Canada discovers family lives after eight years of separation'


Syrian refugee living in Canada discovers family lives after eight years of separation


Global Affairs Canada did not have an immediate response to questions about the Quebec family’s case.

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Bain received a Nov. 24 letter from Global Affairs saying the woman and her six children had met the criteria for federal consideration of assistance to Canadians detained in the region, spelled out in the government’s January 2021 policy framework.

Read more:

Feds using ‘new strategy’ to help those impacted by Turkey, Syria earthquakes

The letter noted threats to the woman and her children’s safety “given the dangerous security conditions inside the camp.” It also cited reports of declining sanitary and living conditions, including possible cholera outbreaks and intermittent access to food and clean water.

Bain said the woman has been beaten and attacked while in detention.

As part of the repatriation procedures, the RCMP has recently been conducting interviews with Canadian detainees in Syria. The Quebec woman spoke with the Mounties last Wednesday, an experience she found confusing and terrifying, Bain said. The next day, “they told her she couldn’t come home.”

Bain is aware of 10 other Canadian children in detention in Syria to non-Canadian mothers. These mothers have decided not to send their children to Canada as part of the repatriation effort, she said.

&copy 2023 The Canadian Press

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Six Canadian children are set to leave

Gone With the Wind will now come with a trigger warning for those affected by descriptions of 19th century slavery in the Deep South. 

The Daily Telegraph in the UK reports that publisher Pan Macmillan has decided readers could find depictions of the era “hurtful or indeed harmful,” and is adding a warning to new editions of Margaret Mitchell’s classic novel – published in 1936 and brought to the screen in 1939 starring Vivien Leigh and Clarke Gable as southern belle Scarlett O’Hara and her husband Rhett Butler. 

In contract with recent issues of Agatha Christie works – which have been edited to remove content considered objectionable in 2023 – Mitchell’s copy has not been altered, but the warning gives notice of “shocking elements” and “the romanticization of a shocking era in our history.”

It adds: ‘The novel includes the representation of unacceptable practices, racist and stereotypical depictions and troubling themes, characterisation, language and imagery.”

The new editions of the novel will also include a foreword by historical fiction writer Philippa Gregory, explaining the “white supremacist” aspects of the story. 

The Telegraph reports the publisher asked Gregory, a white writer, to provide the essay, “in order to avoid inflicting emotional labour on a minority writer.” 

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Gone With the Wind will now come

Tastemade has struck a multiyear deal with Constellation Brands — the wine and spirits company behind Robert Mondavi Winery, Lingua Franca, The Prisoner Wine Company and High West Whiskey, among others — to create a slate of original programming.

The multimillion-dollar deal will include the creation and sale of original series to outside streamers, as well as the development of original shows for Tastemade’s ad-supported streaming channel. The first series from the partnership, Street Somm, is currently in development and is expected to premiere in the back half of the year on Tastemade’s streaming channel. The travel-style show will follow a sommelier visiting a different city in the U.S. and meeting a local to eat food and make some surprising wine pairings along the way.

The goal of the partnership, according to Constellation Brands’ Robert Hanson, is to engage younger drinking-age audiences. “The reality is [that] the wine business, in particular, has just not made the wine category exciting to younger, legal drinking age, multicultural consumers. [The industry] hasn’t put out content to have younger people think about wines as an exciting luxury and affordable luxury and premium category,” Hanson, who serves as the evp and president of Constellation’s wine and spirits division, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Constellation Brands’ The Prisoner Wine Company

Tastemade

To do so, shows like Street Somm and other programming in the works will seek to dispel preconceived notions about wine and tell stories related to some of Constellation’s brands, such as sustainability in the wine business to how the industry is working on making itself more inclusive for both the artisans and the consumers, Hanson says.

For Tastemade, that means ensuring the programming stands on its own and doesn’t read to viewers as just sponsored content, Tastemade CEO and co-founder Larry Fitzgibbon says. The deal with Constellation also represents the first time Tastemade is going to market with a brand to sell programming to a streamer like Netflix or Hulu.

“[Constellation has] a whole set of beautiful wineries up in Napa, they have locations in New Zealand and in Italy, and so when you think about some of the type of programming that we might develop, it’s very clear we could leverage some of those assets they have,” Fitzgibbon says. “That one-two punch that we can bring to a streamer when we package up an idea is pretty compelling.”

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Tastemade has struck a multiyear deal with

At least one person was killed and 48 others were injured after severe storms rolled through northern Illinois and caused the roof of the Apollo Theatre to collapse on Friday night, with hundreds in attendance for a heavy metal concert.

Two of the injured were in a “life-threatening” condition and officials have not identified the person who was killed, The Chicago Tribune reports.

At this time, it is unknown if a tornado touched down in Belvidere, Illinois, which is about 70 miles northwest of Chicago, but other buildings in the downtown area of the town of about 25,000 people suffered significant damage and wind speeds of 90mph were clocked.

A little less than 300 people were inside the theater for a show headlined by Florida death metal band Morbid Angel, along with the groups Crypta, Skeletal Remains, and Revocation. WLS-TV reports that the concert-goers were waiting for the sold out show to start when the storm hit.

The show was canceled after the roof of the historic theater collapse, the band Morbid Angel announced on Facebook.

“Tonight’s show is canceled due to a Tornado that hit the Venue, and caused the roof, over the area in-front of the stage , and marquee to collapse,” Morbid Angel said. “We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe. We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe.”

Belvidere Police Chief Shane Woody spoke with reporters and described the scene as “chaos, absolute chaos.”

Video obtained by the New York Times showed the aftermath of the storm inside and outside of the venue. Parts of the roof and bricks littered the ground as people tried to help others who were trapped in the rubble.

The monster storm system brought winter weather to Minneapolis and the Upper Midwest while spawning tornadoes and severe weather from Chicago to the Deep South, killing at least 21 people across several states.

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At least one person was killed and

Sharon Acker, the Canadian actress who portrayed Lee Marvin’s unfaithful wife in the 1967 neo-noir classic Point Blank and the right-hand woman Della Street opposite Monte Markham on a rebooted Perry Mason in the 1970s, has died. She was 87.

Acker died March 16 in a retirement home in her native Toronto, her daughter Kim Everest, a casting director, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Star Trek fans know Acker for her January 1969 turn as Odona, a desperate woman from an overpopulated planet, on the third-season episode “The Mark of Gideon.”

She also starred on a 1976-77 CBS adaptation of Executive Suite, playing the wife of Mitchell Ryan‘s Dan Walling. (Acker and Ryan assumed the parts performed by William Holden and June Allyson in the 1954 MGM film directed by Robert Wise.)

In John Boorman’s Point Blank, Acker’s character takes up with John Vernon’s Mal Reese after he shoots Walker (Marvin) and leaves him for dead after they rob a courier on Alcatraz. When Walker returns seeking revenge and his share of the loot, he manhandles her and riddles her bed with bullets.

Seven years after Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr as the iconic defense lawyer and Barbara Hale as his loyal secretary, concluded its nine-season run, CBS rebooted the series with Markham and Acker in 1973. However, it lasted just 15 episodes before being canceled.

Sharon Acker with Lee Marvin in 1967’s ‘Point Blank’

Courtesy Everett Collection

Sharon Eileen Acker was born in Toronto on April 2, 1935, and adopted when she was 9. She attended Davisville Public School, John Fisher Public School and Northern Vocational School, where she studied art and graduated in 1953.

In 1956, she played the teacher Mrs. Stacey on a 1956 CBC adaptation of Anne of Green Gables and joined the Stratford Shakespeare Festival company, starring as Anne Page opposite future Star Trek co-star William Shatner in a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

She traveled to Europe to perform with the Stratford company in Henry V and remained there to make her big-screen debut in Lucky Jim (1957), starring Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas. British producers John and Ray Boulting called her “freshly appealing” and signed her to a seven-year contact, but she broke things off after getting married and having a child.

Back home, she appeared often on the acclaimed CBC series Festival and in 1961 portrayed Lady MacDuff alongside Sean Connery and Zoe Caldwell on a five-part adaptation of Macbeth, directed by Paul Almond.

Boorman hired her after seeing her on the CBC, and Point Blank marked her first role in the U.S. To promote the film, she and Angie Dickinson (who played her sister in the movie) appeared on the pages of Life magazine in August 1967 modeling “Well-Dressed Moll Styles in Alcatraz.”

After that, she was a welcome sight in guest stints on episodes of The Wild Wild West, Get Smart, It Takes a Thief, Lancer and Star Trek.

Monte Markham and Sharon Acker from 'The New Perry Mason'

Sharon Acker with Monte Markham in a promo photo for the 1973-74 series ‘The New Perry Mason’

Sherman Weisburd / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection

Acker was a divorcée who has a brief affair with a businessman (Arthur Hill) in the Canadian drama Don’t Let the Angels Fall (1969), which played in competition at Cannes. She was selected by the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Canada as their Film Star of Tomorrow that year.

And in 1970, she portrayed the wife of Hal Holbrook‘s idealistic Sen. Hays Stowe on the NBC drama The Bold Ones: The Senator.

Acker’s TV résumé also included such series as Alias Smith and Jones, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, Mod Squad, Marcus Welby, M.D., Cannon, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rockford Files, Police Story and Quincy, M.E.

Her last movie was the horror film Happy Birthday to Me (1981), and her final TV appearance came on The Young and the Restless in 1992. She retired from acting in ’94, returned to Canada with her late second husband, Peter Elkington, to live in a cottage in Muskoka, Ontario, and continue her passion for painting and sculpting.

Elkington died in 2001. Survivors include her children, Kim and Gillian; granddaughter Alexis; great-granddaughter Berkeley; and stepchildren Kim and Caitlin.

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Sharon Acker, the Canadian actress who portrayed

29 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Funny Scenes

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29 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Funny Scenes

While Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania focused heavily on Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror, the movie’s writer Jeff Loveness shared that “there was a lot more Kang” left on the threequel’s cutting room floor. 

After Ant-Man 3‘s release, the movie still made headlines when Loveness shared what Kang-centric scenes were supposed to be included but didn’t make the cut. 

The MCU writer confirmed that backstory sequences that further fleshed out Kang were removed from the film, but Loveness noted that those scenes were “probably better served” for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. 

Moreover, alternate and much creepier designs of the villain were ultimately rejected as well. 

Why Did Ant-Man 3 Deleted Kang’s Backstory?

Marvel

In an interview with Backstory Magazine, Ant-Man 3 scribe Jeff Loveness talked about the threequel’s deleted scenes involving Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. 

When asked if he had an idea that was not even filmed in the movie, the Avengers 5 writer said that there were “plenty,” noting that “some” of those were Kang-centric while confirming that he will use them in The Kang Dynasty:

“Oh yeah, plenty. Some of these I might use for ‘Kang’… there was a lot more Kang in a lot of different ways. I don’t know how much I can say, some of it is just going to be in ‘Avengers.'”

Loveness also admitted that placing those scenes that centered on Kang’s backstory “could have slowed the pace” of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania: 

“There was a lot more Kang backstory, a lot more Kang lore that didn’t get in there that we thought was maybe distracting or better served in an Avengers movie. Who beat him? What happened? The pitch in general was: What happens when Julius Caesar is assassinated by fifty Julius Caesars? I do think that is really cool, but I do think that could have slowed the pace of the movie.”

In a past interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Loveness also confirmed that they removed the film’s original ending where Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne ended up being stuck in the Quantum Realm to avoid repeating a plot point from 2019’s Avengers: Endgame:

“That was all stuff we debated, and on paper, it seemed thrilling. But at the end of the day, we’d literally be copying the exact same beat from the end of the last ‘Ant-Man’ movie. There also weren’t a lot of ways to go that were different from ‘Endgame.’ If Scott gets trapped in the Quantum Realm like he does in the last movie’s ending, then the only way to go is that he gets out of the Quantum Realm like he does in ‘Endgame’.'”

Why Avengers 5 Needs Kang’s Backstory Even More

While it’s unfortunate that fans didn’t see an early glimpse at Kang’s backstory, those scenes, as Jeff Loveness pointed out, are better suited in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty instead. 

This would be fitting, considering that the MCU scribe already confirmed that Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror is the unsurprising protagonist of Avengers 5. Loveness already noted how Kang’s “got to be his own hero” as he goes on his own crusade throughout the Multiverse.

The scenes may include how Kang became fascinated with the Multiverse ultimately leading to sequences of how he conquered other worlds that made him earn the title of the ‘Conqueror.’

No matter how twisted it would be, seeing Kang’s backstory would allow fans to understand his motivations before his eventual battle with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is still playing in theaters worldwide.

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A new set photo from Joker: Folie à Deux sees Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn visit the now iconic Joker Stairs from the first movie. Todd Phillips is fleshing out his Elseworlds franchise with the Joker universe. After the major success of the 2019 original , Joker: Folie à Deux is a welcome though still surprising follow-up. Joaquin Phoenix is reprising the role of Arthur Fleck, a.k.a. the Joker. But he will be joined by another famous DC player, this time around with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.

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Lady Gaga was spotted on the Joker: Folie à Deux set at the iconic location that has become a Mecca for fans. As shared by Discussing Film, the actress was seen filming at the same stairs that Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck dances down in the first Joker movie.

In the first Joker movie, the Joker Stair becomes a symbolic part of Arthur’s transition into Joker. His dance is almost a sign of him emerging from his cocoon and shedding his previously unassuming, victim image. Though unconfirmed, it seems likely that Gaga’s Harley Quinn will recreate some of the dance sequence, as another video shared from the set shows her dancing up the stairs:

RELATED: Joker 2 Reveals All But Destroy The Biggest First Movie Ending Theory


What The Joker Stairs Reveal About Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn

While Margot Robbie played Harley Quinn in the DCEU, Lady Gaga’s iteration will be quite different. Set in a world where Bruce Wayne hasn’t become Batman yet, Harley comes into Joker’s life a lot earlier. Joker: Folie à Deux will be a musical, and will reportedly be heavily from Harley’s perspective. Given the title’s translation is “madness shared by two,” it seems Harley and Joker’s relationship will play a significant role in the narrative.

From the sight of Harley Quinn visiting the steps and the background context of the protests to free Joker, there’s a significant suggestion that she will be a fan of Joker, which could replace her therapist potential. In that context, the dance becomes a curiously morbid tribute to Joker as a fanaticist. Particularly as he would go on to murder Robert De Niro’s Murray Franklin very nearly after his dance. That alone suggests the dangerous idolisation that Joker 2 seems to be invested is as an idea.

So far, it remains unclear if Joker: Folie à Deux will depict Harley as Joker’s psychiatrist like in the comics. There have been theories that they are both patients of Arkham Asylum. Lady Gaga’s Harley was recently seen in a mugshot image, seemingly confirming the suggestion. Set photos and videos have also given a good look at her Harley costume. Based on the design, it is likely meant to be reminiscent of Phoenix’s Joker suit.

Needless to say, Lady Gaga as Harley is going to be one of the coolest 2024’s comic book movie moments. With the musical aspect as well, it will be intriguing to see what Phillips has in store for audience members. As Joker: Folie à Deux gets closer to wrapping, it’ll hopefully not be long until the first trailer is released.

Source. Discussing Film/Twitter

Key Release Dates

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A new set photo from Joker: Folie

Jason say, “Truth is, this really is Nioh 3, except world-swapped for a historical period in China. The fights focus heavily on encouraging aggressive, action-focused moves, and this really matters when it comes to bosses. It feels different in just the right way from the usual Souls formula, and the difficulty is also just right thanks to an excellent tutorial boss. The exploration is a bit stale, though, especially with how similar it is to its predecessors, but they do a good job of fitting you into China’s darkest era through a combination of artstyle and decent Chinese voice actors… albeit, in an aged, stuttering engine. And while it’s a far cry from the size of Elden Ring, I still enjoyed my time learning to parry or be a dishonor to my whole family.”

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Jason say, "Truth is, this really is

Go inside the cinematographer’s mind on the latest horror film, Malum.

In today’s cutthroat film market, when a movie becomes a commercial and critical hit, the conversation quickly goes to ways of expanding the IP. In the last few years, this seems to be happening the most in the horror world, a few examples being: Scream, Halloween, SAW, Resident Evil, and The Conjuring.

Another title worth mentioning is director Anthony DiBlasi’s Last Shift, which has become a genre favorite for many because of its slow burn and epic finale.

In 2014, when Last Shift was being made, DiBlasi didn’t have a huge budget, so some ideas were left on the table, creatively. Although it was made with the intention of a theatrical release, it never made it to the silver screen in the United States. So when DiBlasi met Luke LeBeau, who was starting the horror distribution company, Welcome Villain Films, the idea of reimaging Last Shift quickly became a reality. 

The gritty look of Last Shift was very specific and DiBlasi knew he wanted for his latest horror film, Malum. The filmmaker brought on cinematographer Sean McDaniel, who already had a history in the horror genre. The duo also had previously collaborated on the short, Grummy, which DiBlasi produced. McDaniel describes the look of Malum as naturalistic that quickly takes a grimy gothic turn.

We wanted to learn more about how Malum was shot, so we spoke to McDaniel and discussed everything from what flashlights worked best to using his high school MiniDV for some of the scenes.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

No Film School: Let’s start with the origins of your involvement with Malum. At what point were you brought onto the film? Was the film just an idea or was there already a script?

Sean McDaniel: Anthony had mentioned that he was working on a reimagining of Last Shift and had teased some of the direction it was going. I was already a fan of the first movie and that new direction was definitely highlighting the aspects of the film I wanted to see expanded upon. I read the script closer to production and really enjoyed it.

NFS: Why do you think director Anthony DiBlasi asked you to be the cinematographer of Malum? What about your previous work do you think he was drawn to?

McDaniel: Anthony and I met on another project that he was producing and I shot. The directors on that are dear friends of mine who are also very close with Anthony. Our paths finally crossed on that project and I really enjoyed working with Anthony. I reached out to him about his next film and I guess he liked my work well enough on that short.

NFS: Did your ideas about how the film was going to look change at all from pre-production to when the locations were locked in?

McDaniel: The main location in the movie is an abandoned police station and the team found that real location before I was on the project. From the start, I knew this was where we’d be shooting. I had pictures and videos from their preliminary scout, so I started with those before official prep began. Once I was in the actual station with Anthony and the rest of the team it did change things.

This was a large four-story building that was a little bit of a labyrinth. Some sections had multiple routes to certain rooms and then others would seem like they did but, really only had one way in. It was an interesting location and really offered even more space than we needed. We had to really comb through sections and pick the best spaces for our scenes. The best part for me was that it had a lot of this green tile on the walls instead of that normal white cinderblock you’re used to seeing in this kind of space.

That alone gives a unique look and makes it easier to bring more darkness into the scenes. Also, the story sets up that this is the last night the police station is technically open, so it gives us freedom with lighting. It makes sense that a lot of the lights would be off in sections not used. Or the bulbs would be older and therefore have color shifts. We took advantage of that and built different color shifts into different parts of the station to help the mood of the scene and also to provide a kind of color map for locations, so the audience remembers them as we return throughout the movie.

DP Sean McDaniel on set of ‘Malum’Credit: Courtesy of Sean McDaniel

NFS: A few of the scenes in Malum are primarily lit by flashlight. What was the biggest obstacle that arose with this choice of lighting?

McDaniel: The first thing is just finding the right flashlight. It has to look like an officer’s flashlight while also serving our purposes for lighting. The tricky thing with that is that most flashlights nowadays are too good. They have really broad beams and are really bright which doesn’t help scenes in small spaces stay dark and moody. We did find a flashlight that had a more “classic” narrow beam, which helped keep the space it illuminated smaller.

After that, it was really just about lighting the rest of the scene around the flashlight. We would let that light level be the starting point and modify based off that.

NFS: When a scene is supposed to be lit just by a flashlight, are there normally other lights that are involved?

McDaniel: It really depends on what you’re going for. I think an audience member will feel that’s the only thing lighting the shot but in most of the flashlight scenes, there are other lights in play.

For me in order to be scared there needs to be some level of understanding of what you can and can’t see. So if you can’t see anything, I’m not sure the audience really knows what to be scared of. But if you can see in from of the character a few feet and the far corner is pitch black, then you have something to focus on and an expectation of where to be scared, which we can then lean into or subvert.

So in most of the flashlight scenes, we do have some subtle lighting happening to give depth and context. There is also a crew member walking around with a bounce board for the actor to pass the flashlight across to light their face from time to time or a small jem ball really dimmed down that was operated on a pole, moving with the actor.

NFS: A lot of the shots in the film are framed in hallways, doorways, and locker rooms. What was the desired goal for these types of shots?

McDaniel: We really wanted to always keep in mind the location when we’re alone with Jessica [Sula]. We want you to feel close to her as an audience but also don’t want you to forget that there’s this big space that she’s alone in. There are plenty of places for things to be lurking.

'Malum' theatrical film poster
‘Malum’Credit: Welcome Villain Films

NFS: You shot some of the scenes on your MiniDV from high school. I bet that was a pretty full-circle moment. Why did you decide to shoot with it? Were those the opening “self camera” looking footage?

McDaniel: Yes, it was definitely fun to dust off the old MiniDV camera. It was the same one I used through high school and some of my undergraduate filmmaking days. You can see some of that in the trailer, footage of the flock that seems to be recorded by someone within the flock itself. It really came down to story logic. What kind of camera would this person have used back then? How did they get it?

We landed on this format as fitting that story logic and it just made sense to use the real thing instead of trying to fake it with the production camera. Those MiniDV cameras are so small that even just the look of operating it wouldn’t work with a larger camera and the type of digital zoom is very specific. It was a little more difficult to digitize the footage compared to back in the day, but I think it was definitely worth it to match the appropriate look.

NFS: What other types of cameras and equipment did you use for Malum?

McDaniel: The majority of the movie was shot on the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF with ARRI Signature Prime lenses. Shooting on a large format was one of my first suggestions. It allowed us to create a wider field of view that I thought would really enhance the film. Being able to see more of the world around Jessica in all of the shots felt key to building tension and really placing her in the station.

It would be really easy to overshoot close-ups in this movie and I wanted to stay away from that. With large format, even when we’re shooting what feels like a close-up, we still see more of the world around her. It gives the viewer context of what they can and can’t see so that hopefully it keeps them on edge.

Also, I just know the ALEXA sensor really well so I trust how far I can push things. This movie has a lot of dark scenes and I knew we’d be in good hands with this camera. The miniDV was used for those found footage-type elements and then there’s also a little bit of GoPro for body cams and security camera footage.

NFS: Light blue/turquoise seems to be a reoccurring color in the police station and throughout the film. Why did you pick this color in particular?

McDaniel: The turquoise tiles were what was there and that honestly felt like a really lucky find. I mean my first thought when I see tiles like that is the bathroom from The Shining and you can’t go wrong borrowing from that movie.

Ours are paler and have a more clinical look which also fits the tone of the film. The flashlight also has a bluer tone that we leaned into. I knew I didn’t want it to be warm and the blue fit better than a neutral white light. Green and blue also just work well for contrasting deep red blood, which there is plenty of in this movie.     

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Go inside the cinematographer's mind on

Your weekly horoscope is here. Peak feels ahoy as the full moon spotlights your innermost need for relational harmony and balance. Note emotional textures as they arise around partnership vs. independence. Have you struck the perfect chord, or could you better tip the scales one way or the other? This week, tell your special ones how much you appreciate them and what they mean to you. Grace and positive praise win the day.

Read on to discover your weekly horoscope and what’s in store for your sign during the week of April 2 through April 8, 2023.

Aries 

Thursday is the pointy end of this week as a full moon blooms in your opposite sign, designated all things bae. Expect a pull toward or focus on a significant relationship. Are you balancing your self-oriented, independent side with your need for equal and mutually amplifying one-to-ones? If someone else is doing all the heavy lifting, it may blow this week. If that’s been you, this is your call to set things back to equal. A ping to your ego or identity might reveal valuable intel, so don’t succumb to a knee-jerk reaction. Instead, reflect and decide if you need to take action and what that might be. Then, of course, take it. Aim for a fair outcome for both parties. Are you standing in your partner’s/friends’/collaborators’ shoes as well as your own? Take a look from their perspective for clarity and the best way forward.

Taurus

From Monday to June 11, communication planet Mercury takes the form of the earthy, practical bull. You’ll need to put up a redirection notice until then as it will be doing its famous retrograde dance, which means an extended stay in your sign. Expect to reorient comms, how you express yourself, items used to communicate, or an important idea. I’ll keep you in the loop; however, just keep an eye on the changing winds of correspondence, contracts, etc. Is it time to upgrade your tech, ideas, or something else in your thought processing? What could be more beneficial than your current tried and true way? Thursday’s full moon lights up your work and wellness zone. Put your mind, body, spirit, health, and the routines that serve them high on your to-do list. Note a culmination at or through work. 

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Your weekly horoscope is here. Peak feels

Quinta Brunson’s Saturday Night Live opening monologue touched on her career journey from wanting to be on the sketch comedy show to hosting it. She also called for teachers to be paid the money they deserve.

“I wanted to be on SNL back in the day, but the audition process seemed a little long,” the Abbott Elementary creator said. “So, instead, I just created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys and then got asked to host. It’s so much easier.”

She went on to say that her show is a network show, instead of a streaming one and began jokingly comparing it to Friends.

“It’s a network sitcom, like say, Friends,” the actress continued, “except instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers, and instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.”

Brunson explained that creating a show about teachers has been special for her because her mom was a teacher in Philadelphia. She also shared that she wished people didn’t expect her to be like Janine, her character in the show.

“Janine Teague is a caring second grade teacher, who’s good and wholesome, but I’m the opposite,” she joked. “I mean, I’m not a filthy whore, but I like to have fun. I need to be able to live my life without someone recording me going, ‘Damn, Miss Teague is out here getting wasted at Universal Studios.’”

She then segued into a more serious note and called for people to remember how important teachers are.

“Acknowledge the work they do every day,” Brunson said. “And for the love of God, pay them the money they deserve.”

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Quinta Brunson’s Saturday Night Live opening monologue

Photo: Raymond Liu/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, March 31, 2023 ratings — New episodes: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The Great American Joke Off, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, SWAT, Fire Country, Blue Bloods, Shark Tank, 20/20, Dateline NBC, Lopez vs. Lopez, and Grand Crew.  Sports: WWE Friday Night SmackDown.  Reruns: (none).


Note: If you do not see the updated charts, please try reloading the page or go here.

These are the fast affiliate ratings. The percentages represent the change since the previous original episode. (Percentages aren’t given for reruns or specials.) To see past ratings for a particular show, click the show’s link. The show pages are updated with the final daily ratings when they become available. Those pages include season averages to date.

What were you watching last night? Original network programming, reruns, cable, or something else?

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Photo: Raymond Liu/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.

The TV Academy has mixed things up with the new Outstanding Talk Series category, opening it up to more traditional late night hosts having a shot at the Emmy this time.

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2023 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 15 to June 26, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 12. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be presented over two consecutive nights on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, with an edited presentation of the ceremonies to be broadcast on FXX at a later date. Finally, the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Monday, September 18, and air live on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

The State of the Race

The Variety categories meant for late night shows have been all too predictable, and arguably put some shows at an advantage, so the Television Academy made the recent decision to change the rules up in a way that would move “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the winner for seven years in the row despite it being a weekly show sans any traditional late night interviews or panels, into a new category called Scripted Variety.

After two decades, the doors have finally reopened for a network host to win Outstanding Talk Series. That said, should “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” or “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” win, we would possibly be entering a new decade of a “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” alum winning the category each year. Colbert has already won it twice before for his Comedy Central series “The Colbert Report.” It being Noah’s final season though may work to the host’s advantage.

But the bigger hope is that the nominees reflect the huge way in which that late night talk series landscape has changed in the past 10 years. The TV Academy already missed the boat on awarding a female host for the first time. Recent ones like Samantha Bee, Robin Thede, Chelsea Handler, and Lilly Singh are now all off the air. “Late Night with Seth Meyers” getting its first series nod was a step in the right direction, as the show becomes a model for a more casual late night talk show, but it would especially be interesting to see Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” finally make it in after 10 years, since its looseness and interactivity has inspired a new generation of variety show hosts like Ziwe.

Current Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Hart to Heart” (Peacock)
“Hell of a Week with Charlamagne Tha God” (Comedy Central)
“The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS)
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO)
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC)
“Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo)

More Category Predictions:
Outstanding Animated Program
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

To see IndieWire’s full set of predictions for the 75th Emmy Awards click here.

Last Year’s Winner: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: John Oliver’s HBO series has won the category designated for late night talk shows seven years in a row, even though his program only airs on Thursdays, and does not involve bringing on guests. The introduction of the Scripted Variety category this year, changes things, primarily by moving “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” out of the category. Still, Outstanding Variety Talk Series/Outstanding Variety Series has gone to a “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” alum every year since 2003, so Stephen Colbert or Trevor Noah could keep that unprecedented streak going.
Notable Ineligible Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (submitted as a Scripted Variety Series); “Ziwe” (submitted as a Scripted Variety Series); “My Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman” submitted as Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special); “The Problem with Jon Stewart” (submitted as Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special); “Conan” (ended); “Desus & Mero” (ended); “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (ended)

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The TV Academy has mixed things up

For the first time since penning a lengthy statement about her decision, Feist has discussed her departure from Arcade Fire’s tour following allegations of sexual misconduct against frontman Win Butler. In a new interview with The Irish Times, she recounted what was running through her head while playing the first two tour dates as an opener, both of which were in Ireland. 

“I was having an out-of-body experience,” Feist told the newspaper. “Not to mention, I had brought all of these new songs. I thought, ‘Okay, maybe I’ll go do this tour and workshop how to play these songs in a bigger context.’” All proceeds from Feist’s merchandise sales at both shows were donated to Women’s Aid Dublin, an organization dedicated to stopping domestic violence across Ireland.

“It took me until the second show where all of the practical discomfort of having to dismantle this crazy machine and fold it back up and lose what I had invested in being there [on tour]… The whole thing was made so clear to me. I couldn’t continue,” said Feist. “It was like, actually, no… ‘I can’t avoid my responsibility here.’ Not to mention every word that came out of my mouth, I was hearing through an ear that wasn’t my own. I was hearing how twisted and skewed… In the context they were in, the songs weren’t safe. And neither was I… It was deeply difficult.”

Multitudes, Feist’s first new album in six years and the follow-up to her 2017 full-length Pleasure, is out April 14 via Interscope. In addition to “Borrow Trouble,” it also includes the singles “Hiding Out in the Open,” “In Lightning,” and “Love Who We Are Meant To.” Next month, she will embark on a North American tour to celebrate the album’s release.

Revisit “Hard Feelings: A Conversation With Feist.”

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For the first time since penning a




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Image Credit: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection

Tommy Lee’s wife Brittany Furlan revealed she’s in a good place with his ex-wife, Pamela Anderson, following a recent rumored feud between the ladies. The comedian, 36, made the announcement on Friday night, March 31 after her stand-up set at Hollywood’s Improv club. “We’re all good. We want happiness, we want everyone to be friends,” she said to TMZ.

Tommy Lee and Brittany Furlan. (Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection)

The drama began after fans claimed Brittany was dragging Pamela in a since-deleted TikTok. In it, Brittany used a “90s Pam Makeup” filter on herself and pretended to be the Baywatch star barely reacting to Brittany’s hypothetical death, according to TMZ. “Pam if I died,” Brittany had tagged the clip. The comic would end up writing, “Pls guys I gotta make jokes it’s how I cope,” before deleting the video altogether.

On Friday, Brittany told TMZ that she has yet to hear from Pamela after the TikTok video went viral. However, she said that she would be more than happy to sit down with the actress and hash it all out, per the outlet.

Prior to the self-deprecating TikTok, Brittany had shared a video letting her fans know how she was doing after the release of Pamela’s documentary and memoir Love, Pamela. In them, the Barbed Wire vet spoke extensively about her rocky 1995-1998 marriage to Tommy Lee, which caused some online hate towards Brittany, per People.  “I’m lucky to have a really loving husband who honestly laughs all the stuff off and could care less,” Brittany said in the clip, according to the outlet. “So, don’t worry about anything and thank you to everyone that’s been sticking up for me”

Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. (Ron Wolfson/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Pamela, who shares two sons, Brandon and Dylan, with Tommy, has not commented on the Brittany TikTok drama. In addition, she appeared to cheer on the couple, who married in 2019, when she made an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in January.

“He’s married and happy, and she’s good to him and I totally support that and think that’s great,” Pamela told the shock jock.  “I hate to be annoying and going through this again. I’m sure she’s annoyed, but I respect their relationship, and [I’m] just glad he’s happy and he has somebody in his life.”

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View gallery Image Credit: Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection Tommy Lee’s

Microsoft  has shared more details about an important security update to OneNote, through which it hopes address the growing issue of its program increasingly being used to push ransomware and other types of malware.

In a new Microsoft 365 support document (opens in new tab), the company listed a total of 120 file extensions that will soon be blocked in OneNote. Among the file types .XLL, .ISO, .BAT, and .JS stand out. 

These extensions will also be blocked in other Office 365 (opens in new tab)programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. 

Blocking files 

While previously, trying to open a OneNote file with a suspicious attachment would bring up a warning notification, the new update will prevent the file from being opened – at all. Instead, the user will be met with a warning dialog saying “Your administrator has blocked your ability to open this file type in OneNote”.

The changes will roll out in Version 2304 in Current Channel (Preview) to OneNote for Microsoft 365, on Windows-powered devices, either in April, or May, this year, it was said. Retail versions of Office 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016 (Current Channel) will also be updated to reflect these changes, however, volume-licensed versions of Office (Office Standard 2019, or OFfice LTSC Professional Plus 2021) will not get the update.

OneNote on the web, OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote for Mac, or OneNote for Android/iOS will not be updated, as well. 

Ever since Microsoft blocked its productivity apps from running macros, hackers have been looking for a viable alternative to deliver malware. Among the different methods one stood out – OneNote files with malicious attachments. The practice has gotten so tremendously popular, so quickly, that it forced Microsoft’s hand and triggered the upcoming update. 

Another popular method of malware delivery is phishing emails with .ISO files attached which, by sideloading malicious .DLL files, successfully download stage-two payloads to unsuspecting victims’ endpoints.

Via: BleepingComputer (opens in new tab)

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Microsoft  has shared more details about an

It’s time to binge as much “New Girl” as possible on Netflix before the beloved Fox sitcom leaves the streaming service. It’s one of a handful of shows and movies due to leave Netflix this month (but don’t worry, you’ll be able to stream “New Girl” on Hulu and Peacock on April 17). The binge-worthy TV series leaves Netflix on April 9, while the comedy series “The IT Crowd” departs on April 25 and “Ash vs. Evil Dead” exits on April 28.

Movies due to leave Netflix in April include “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “Leap Year.” Check out the full list of what’s leaving Netflix below.

Leaving April 1

Turbo FAST: Seasons 1-3

Leaving April 3

What Lies Below

Leaving April 7

Hush

Leaving April 9

New Girl: Seasons 1-7

Leaving April 11

Married at First Sight: Season 10

Leaving April 12

The Baker and the Beauty: Season 1

Leaving April 18

Cuckoo: Seasons 1-5

Leaving April 20

The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show: Seasons 1-4

Leaving April 23

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

Leaving April 24

Bill Nye: Science Guy

Leaving April 25

The IT Crowd: Series 1-5

Leaving April 27

Señora Acero: Seasons 1-5

Leaving April 28

Ash vs. Evil Dead: Seasons 1-3

Leaving April 30

Den of Thieves

Empire State

Leap Year

Road to Perdition

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

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It’s time to binge as much “New

Author Judy Blume says she worries about intolerance in the US, following the removal in schools of some of her novels. 

Blume’s bestselling 1970 novel Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret has been adapted for the screen and is due to be released in May, starring Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. The book, which still sells today, has always drawn controversy for its open discussion of dawning sexuality and religion. 

One of Blume’s other novels, Forever, was recently pulled from schools in Martin County district of Florida (along with titles by authors including James Patterson and Toni Morrison). On Sunday Blume told the BBC in London that “banning books” has become political – “worse than it was in the 1980s.”

She added: “I thought that was over frankly, I thought we had come through that, you know, not in every way, but I never expected us to be back where we were in the ’80s plus, much worse.

“I came through the ’80s when book banning was really at its height. And it was terrible. And then libraries and schools began to get policies in place and we saw a falling off of the desire to censor books.

“Now it is back, it is back much worse – this is in America, it is back so much worse than it was in the 80s. Because it’s become political.”

And Blume, whose novels have sold an estimated 90 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages, added that she worries about increasing intolerance in her country, describing it as “intolerance about everything, gender, sexuality, racism. It’s just reaching a point where again we have to fight back, we have to stand up and fight.”

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Author Judy Blume says she worries about

Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni are also expecting their first child together. (Photo: Instagram)

Upasana Kamineni says it was important for her to be with her actor-husband Ram Charan through the Oscar campaign because the star needed ‘much support’.

Oscars 2023 were sepcial for team RRR. The film’s Naatu Naatu song created history as it won the Best Original Song Award. Besides the song’s M. M. Keeravani and film’s director SS Rajamouli, Jr NTR, Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Kamineni were also present at the prestigious 95th Academy Awards. Now, Upasana has said that it was important for her to be with her actor-husband through the Oscar campaign because the star needed ‘much support’.

In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Upasana revealed how Ram Charan was ‘physically shaking’ during the historic Oscars ceremony and said, “I just had to be there for him at this time because he was physically shaking, and he needed as much support as he could get! During the dancing and things like that. LA was like a great vacation for me but also to be with him at that time was really nice. Everyone around was so warm, I didn’t even expect it. This was an unknown territory for us, but everyone was so warm, it was really nice.”

Upasana also mentioned that just she “being there as a family was a huge thing” and explained that the entire RRR team has become a big family over the years. “I was there on the set of Naatu Naatu with him (SS Rajamouli) in Ukraine and then here as well. He has been with me through some of my really, really tough times at work, of course he is there with me during all my successes as well,” she added.

Meanwhile, Ram Charan and Upasana are also expecting their first child together. The news was announced earlier this year by Chiranjeevi on Twitter. The Telugu superstar had issued a statement that read, “With the blessings of Shri Hanuman ji. We are delighted to share that Upasana and Ram Charan are expecting their first child. With love & gratitude, Surekha and Chiranjeevi Konidela; Shobana and Anil Kamineni.”

Read all the Latest Movies News here

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Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni are also

In the aftermath of World War II, in a changed world, story ballet seemed to have little future as a credible art form in which a narrative evening-length ballet could be created to a lasting new score. Prokofiev’s “Cinderella,” which had its premiere in November 1945 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, was the last new major story ballet to enter the repertory.

Ambitious attempts in mid-1950s London — notably “Prince of the Pagodas” and “Undine,” with exceptional scores by Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, respectively — “didn’t,” as the British press sniffed, “quite come off.” Instead, the fashion became for new story ballets to be created around old music.

Yet story ballet did, in fact, enjoy an exceptional postwar popularity in the West. “The Nutcracker” was only performed completely in the U.S. on Christmas Eve 1944, by the San Francisco Ballet, making it the holiday phenomenon that it has become. Meanwhile, choreographers of all stripes have never ceased reimagining the classics, the revivals of which keep many ballet companies alive. As recently as February, the touring French avant-garde company Ballet Preljocaj brought its strikingly effective “Swan Lake” to Santa Barbara, updated to evoke a modern environmental catastrophe.

But choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and composer Joby Talbot have been making brand-new, large-scale story ballet once again a popular sensation. Beginning with their hit “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by the Royal Ballet in 2011, the team followed up with “The Winter’s Tale” three years later. Last June, the Royal Ballet unveiled their latest collaboration: “Like Water for Chocolate,” a co-production with American Ballet Theatre. Wednesday night, ABT brought the new ballet to Segerstrom Center for its U.S. premiere. In June, it will open ABT’s summer season in New York. It is said to be one of the most elaborate productions the 84-year-old company has staged.

The dancing bedazzles. The choreography is full of spectacle, and the production is effects-rich. The familiar narrative from Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel’s 1989 bestseller and the 1992 film serves up sentiment without embarrassment. Talbot’s orchestral score tells you how to feel and suggests movement possibilities for the dancers. The sheer scale of theatrical engineering is astonishing.

Everything works as intended. And everything should work, given that Wheeldon and Talbot rely more on expertise than novelty. There is little, if anything, outside of the technical virtuosity on display that feels new to either Esquivel or dance. There is no attempt at the fresh perspective of, say, American rapper Common’s acclaimed 2000 album, “Like Water for Chocolate,” which he has said was influenced by the title of Esquivel’s work. But that is not the point.

Wheeldon and Talbot take considerable pains to get the milieu of the novel right. ABT introduced the performance Wednesday with a brief promo film featuring Esquivel and Mexican conductor and musical consultant Alondra de la Parra extolling the project. Mexican architect Luis Barragán is the inspiration for Bob Crowley’s impeccable decor. (Sets based on the work of artists seems to be in vogue, including the sets influenced by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi that grace Los Angeles Opera’s current production of “Pelléas et Mélisande.”)

Talbot’s score features elements of traditional Mexican dance and song, as does Wheeldon’s choreography, gloriously so in big numbers. The guitar and ocarina join the orchestra — the Pacific Symphony, conducted by David LaMarche, replacing de la Parra, who couldn’t travel because of an ear infection.

Catherine Hurlin (Gertrudis) in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Like Water for Chocolate.”

(Marty Sohl / American Ballet Theatre)

But for all the efforts at authenticity, this is little more than the fact that ballet loves locale. Talbot’s score, which goes in for Hollywood-style climaxes, sounds more like a generic film or Broadway score.

Wheeldon’s attempts to translate the essence of Mexican cooking into dance is far more interesting. Esquivel introduces each chapter of her novel, which takes place in the early 20th century, with a recipe. Tita, the novel’s protagonist, is forced to devote her life to tending to her domineering mother, Elena, the role expected of the youngest daughter. In her frustration, Tita learns to express herself, as well as her forbidden love for Pedro, through her extraordinary cooking.

Wheeldon accepts that challenge with convincing solos. On opening night, Cassandra Trenary’s Tita was danced with exquisite emotional reserve, yet capable of releasing unending passion with Herman Cornejo’s Pedro or contending with Christine Shevchenko’s sternly commanding Mama Elena.

Male and female ballet dancers entwined onstage.

Cassandra Trenary and Herman Cornejo of ABT.

(Marty Sohl / American Ballet Theatre)

As a story ballet, “Like Water for Chocolate” functions almost like a French grand opera. There is a lot of plot, which in dance requires a lot of narrative mime; most of it, and its music, is forgettable. One thing leads into another, though, with an impressive technical smoothness that allows fantasy — marvelously so, when the ghost of Elena appears — and reality to intersect with a naturalism that reveals the real genius of ballet. It would take several viewings to catch all the detailed translations Wheeldon makes in his movement language to capture character and incident.

In the end, it is show business that wins out, as when Catherine Hurlin’s Gertrudis, Tita’s sister who joins the Revolution, leaps with exuberant lyrical abandon. Hee Seo has a more thankless task as Tita’s less-lively sister Rosaura, who marries Pedro, but she readily wins our sympathy. Tita weds the affable Dr. John Brown while continuing to carry a flame for Pedro. We’re meant to side with true love; Cory Stearns’ appealing portrayal as John makes that no sure thing.

The cast is large, filled with any number of minor characters who grab momentary attention. The ABT corps offers heaps of pleasures. The wow moments keep coming.

The ballet ends with a soaring, breathtakingly beautiful pas de deux for Tita and Pedro. It is made to leave you with goosebumps. To not give it a standing ovation is to be hardhearted. Under it all, though, as one schmaltzy cliché follows another, this becomes more the glorification of beauty than the real thing.

As you enter Segerstrom, you may not notice Richard Lippold’s grand sculpture “Fire Bird.” Once while working on a film with the sculptor, composer John Cage said to Lippold, “Oh, Richard, you have a beautiful mind. It’s time you got rid of it.”

He did, the reward being that his “Fire Bird” seems to elevate an otherwise uninspired building without needing to catch your eye. The same might go for some of the extravagant signaling of beauty in “Like Water for Chocolate” that serves to manipulate the observer. The ballet’s marvels need no help.

‘Like Water for Chocolate’

Where: Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
When: Through April 2. Check website for dates, times and casts.
Pricing: $29-$250
Running time: Approximately 2 hours, 40 minutes, including two intermissions.
Info: (714) 556-2787 or scfta.org

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In the aftermath of World

New footage from Marvel’s Secret Invasion series surfaced that shows a Skrull operative using similar abilities to that of the Guardians’ own Groot.

The next piece of MCU content in the pipeline is, of course, Secret Invasion. The six-episode Disney+ show will feature Nick Fury as he attempts to root out Skrull agents who have used their shapeshifting powers to infiltrate Earth by posing as individuals in high places.

The Skrulls, as a species, are known for their ability to duplicate another person right down to their recent memories. And that may not even be the full scope of their power, in some cases, at least.

A new spot for Secret Invasion aired on television (via KrustyAiden on Twitter). The promo shows Kingsley Ben-Adir‘s Skrull character Gravik outstretching his arm to form a vine-like appendage akin to the Guardians of the Galaxy character Groot.

Check out the clip below along with a screenshot of the moment in question:

A closer look at Gravik using his stretching power:

Secret Invasion

This power is quite similar to Groot’s innate ability to stretch out his arms into long vines. He’s been seen using this power many times in his appearances in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers movies.

Groot in Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War

Normal Skrulls don’t possess such an ability, and what’s more, there’s actually a substantial basis for a specific Skrull having stretchy powers in the comics. Kl’rt, the Super-Skrull is a foe of the Fantastic Four. He underwent an experiment that granted him the superpowers of Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny themselves and used this gain in battle with the team.

In the MCU’s Secret Invasion, the Skrulls are attempting to construct a device that needs a significant amount of power. Many fans have speculated that this device will be used by the aliens to create Super-Skrulls, although this plot element has not been confirmed.

So, perhaps Gravik actually gets transformed into the Super-Skrull at some point during the series, imbuing him with powers from existing MCU heroes such as Groot since the Fantastic Four are not yet in play.

An Augmented Skrull Could Be a Dangerous Force

It’s interesting to note that there isn’t much of a superheroic presence confirmed for Secret Invasion, with Rhodey/War Machine being the only hero currently slated to appear. And judging by the released footage from the show, it seems possible that he won’t even don his iconic weaponized armor.

It’s been stated that Nick Fury is holding back on calling in any heroes in the series and that he has a very good reason for it. But with the shapeshifting Skrulls unlocking new, even more dangerous abilities, the former SHIELD director is going to need some backup.

The Super-Skrull is a match for the combined efforts of the Fantastic Four, so if Secret Invasion is indeed introducing a similar character, the heroes are going to need a lot more firepower. Could it be that the show will have some Avengers-level guest appearances and Marvel simply isn’t spilling the beans?

For those answers, viewers will need to be patient until Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion premieres on June 21. A new trailer, however, will air on Sunday, April 2 on ESPN.

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Titans is coming to an end, and this teaser trailer reveals dark times are ahead.

The edgy HBO Max series’ remaining episodes in its fourth season are showcased in this latest preview. Longtime fans of the comic will recognize story points, such as Raven’s all-white look and Connor Kent struggling with the Lex Luthor side of his DNA. However, there is also the debut of Tim Drake as Robin, and the chaos caused by Mother Mayhem and Sebastian “Brother” Blood. In the case of Superboy, fans of the Geoff Johns run will remember how he shaved his head with his heat vision and went on a rampage against the Titans. This approach, it seems, leans towards the manipulative megalomaniac within as opposed to just a savage killer.

Titans Will Fall, But Which Specifically?

Click on the trailer below.

Here is the official synopsis:

In the mid-season 4 premiere, the Titans – with the exception of Gar – are returned to the place they had vanished, the Temple of Trigon, only to find Sebastian and Mother Mayhem are no longer there. The Titans rush to find them before Sebastian summons Trigon, their pursuit leading them to a mysterious town whose populace is hiding a deep secret. Along the way, the Titans come across a prophecy that may require Kory to make a huge sacrifice to save the world, but Dick’s feelings for Kory surface and he refuses to let her die.

In the final episodes, the Titans enter into an epic battle to save both Kory and the world. Gar goes on a quest of self-discovery, attempting to find his true purpose and to save his friends. Rachel embraces darker powers while Conner, struggling with his Lex Luthor side, goes his own way to defeat Sebastian. Tim and Bernard’s growing feelings for each other become increasingly difficult to resist, and when Bernard’s life is threatened, Tim finally becomes the hero he has always strived to be.

This explosive conclusion to Titans is set to debut on HBO Max April 13.

Official Source – Titans Season 4B Trailer Teases Final Chapter of HBO Max Series (comingsoon.net)

 

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407 Titans is coming to an end, and

Japan is officially moving forward with restrictions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced chipmaking machinery. As , the country announced Friday it would tighten export controls on 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Once the new rules take effect in July, companies like Nikon and Tokyo Electron will need to obtain approval from Japan’s trade ministry if they want to sell their tools in some 160 territories across the world. A Japanese government spokesperson told CNN the restrictions aren’t designed to target a specific nation. However, Japan’s east asian rival is among the nations on the restricted list.

“We will fulfill our responsibilities in the international community as a technology-owning country and contribute to maintaining international peace and security,” Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry, told reporters.

The restrictions follow the US and Netherlands enacting similar export controls. At the start of the year, the three countries reportedly to limit China’s access to western-made lithography machines. In March, the Netherlands made good on the deal, announcing it would in the interest of its national security. Those restrictions will affect ASML. As of last year, the Dutch firm was the only company in the world producing the extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines chipmakers need to make the 5nm and 3nm semiconductors that power the latest and computers.

China has homegrown firms capable of making up some of the shortfall the country’s tech industry will experience from the lack of access to western-made lithography equipment. However, it may take some time before those companies match the capacity of their American, Japanese and European rivals. According to research from , Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE), China’s only producer of lithography equipment, makes machines capable of printing 90nm node semiconductors. More promising is the work of SMIC, the country’s leading semiconductor manufacturer. Last summer, it began chips and began making 7nm chips without access to foreign-made equipment.

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Japan is officially moving forward with restrictions

Sophie Thatcher attends the Rising Star Party at the Sun Valley Film Festival on March 30, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for the Sun Valley Film Festival) 

The Sun Valley Film Festival kicked off this week with Day 1 and Day 2 of its 2023 program, featuring attending guests Sophie Thatcher, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater and the Opening Night screening of Wild Life. 

 

On Wednesday, March 29, the Sun Valley Film Festival began with their Opening Night screening of Wild Life, followed by a virtual Q&A with the film’s director, Jimmy Chin. On Thursday, March 30, the festival held its Rising Star Party in celebration of Rising Star Honoree, Sophie Thatcher. Additionally, showrunners Tony Phelan and Joan Rater attended a Q&A following the screening of the new National Geographic series, A Small Light. Producers Rachael Fung and Sudnya Shroff also took part in a Q&A following the screening of their film, Fremont. 

 

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SUN VALLEY, IDAHO – MARCH 29: Director Jimmy Chin attends virtual Q&A with Chris Albert, EVP, Communications, Talent Relations & Events for National Geographic Content and Disney Branded Television after the Opening Night screening of Wild Life at the Sun Valley Film Festival on March 29, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for the Sun Valley Film Festival) 

 

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Opening Night at the Sun Valley Film Festival on March 29, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for the Sun Valley Film Festival) 

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SUN VALLEY, IDAHO – MARCH 30: Joan Rater and Tony Phelan attend Q&A in the Nat Geo Salon to discuss historical storytelling following the screening of Nat Geo’s A Small Light at the Sun Valley Film Festival on March 30, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for the Sun Valley Film Festival) 

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Sophie Thatcher attends the Rising Star

Bob Rosenthal has resigned as CEO of leading audio postproduction company Formosa Group, The Hollywood Reporter has learned from multiple sources.

The news Friday came as a surprise, as the well-known industry vet had been with Formosa Group (which now operates under parent Streamland Media) since he founded the company in 2013. The reason for his departure wasn’t immediately clear.

Formosa Group and parent company Streamland Media did not respond to requests for comment from THR.

Formosa is home to a long roster of leading sound editors, designers and rerecording mixers, including winners of Oscars, BAFTAs, Emmys, MPSE Golden Reel Awards and Cinema Audio Society trophies. Among them are Ron Bartlett (Dune), Anna Behlmer (Mulan) and Mark Stoeckinger (John Wick: Chapter 4). The company also maintains divisions in broadcast work, music, interactive media and commercials.

Rosenthal spent his early career in music, where he was an executive at companies including Capitol Records/EMI, before moving to postproduction. He then managed Ascent Media Group’s audio division and served as president of CSS Studios prior to founding Formosa Group. He’s a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Streamland — whose brands also include Picture Shop, Ghost VFX and Picture Head — has grown its businesses including Formosa Group in recent years through acquisitions. Among them, Streamland acquired Technicolor Post for $36.5 million during 2021. Ghost VFX recently experienced a round of layoffs in Los Angeles.

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Bob Rosenthal has resigned as CEO of

Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che celebrated April Fool’s Day by pulling a prank on his “Weekend Update” co-host Colin Jost during the live segment.

It was seemingly business as usual for Jost and Che on the NBC late-night show with both anchors mocking the news of the week. However, there was one thing that was missing while Jost delivered his Donald Trump zingers — the laughs.

Every time Jost said the punchline of his jokes, the laughs from the audience were tepid. In contrast, when it was Che’s turn at making quips, the crowd was overly enthusiastic with roaring laughter.

Jost then took another turn at cracking more jokes and Che came clean telling his co-host, “I told them not to laugh at you for April Fool’s.”

When everything was all out in the open, Jost covered his face with his hands in disbelief that he had been pranked by Che.

“Am I not miked?” Jost said he was asking himself. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, I just suck.’”

Jost couldn’t contain his laughter as Che tried to move the show along cracking a joke about Marjorie Taylor Greene. Jost still hadn’t recovered from the prank and was heard saying to Che, “God, you’re evil.”

Che finished his joke and Jost continued to laugh after falling victim to the April Fool’s prank adding, “That’s the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me. I’m covered in sweat.”

Jost received support from the audience but he yelled back at them, “Don’t you even dare.” Following the prank it was difficult for Jost to get back into the wisecracking mood as he quipped throughout.

Watch “Weekend Update” in the video below.

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Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che celebrated April

One thing we learned yesterday from Zach and Kaity’s media tour was Zach calling out editing for how they showed Gabi and Kaity’s last date. On the show, we saw him have his last date with Kaity first, THEN Gabi. But when he was asked on the finale when he knew, he said it was when he saw Kaity on their last date he knew she was the one. Well, that didn’t make sense or he had lied to Gabi since they showed us Gabi went second. Zach made the correction yesterday. In reality, Gabi’s last chance date was first and THEN it was Kaity. So him saying once he saw Kaity on that last date he knew it was her makes more sense and proves he didn’t lie to Gabi about that. But again, that’s all on production because it fit the narrative they were trying to tell to the audience. Sucks, but I’m glad Zach cleared that up.

(SPOILERS) Today’s Daily Roundup covers a deeper dive into the Zach/Kaity relationship, what I really admire about Gabi and Ariel post filming, info on Charity’s group date yesterday, Mike Fleiss leaving the show, and chicken wings.


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Among the things that I mentioned on today’s Daily Roundup was being really impressed with Ariel and Gabi post-filming, and how much they led the non-spoiled on to believe they were chosen. I mean, we saw how broken up Gabi was about the breakup 4 months after it actually took place. Yet, if you watched her IG feed throughout the whole season, look at how many pictures Gabi posted from filming of her and Zach. Whether it was of them kissing, hugging, meeting the first night, etc. Also including captions that were very positive in nature. That must’ve eaten her up having to post that stuff knowing how badly it ended for her that day, how upset she was that her intuition he wasn’t going to pick her was right, and then having to watch everything go down the way it did on the overnight date episode. Yet here she is basically promoting her and Zach’s relationship non stop for the last 4 months. Same with Ariel. I’m sorry, but that couldn’t have been easy for them to do, knowing how bothered both of them were by how Zach handled things with each of them. That’s why follows, likes, and posts are never 100% indicative of anything when it comes to spoilers. Because any unspoiled person could’ve looked at either Ariel or Gabi’s IG feed the last 4 months and made an argument they were the one chosen. So just for future reference, just know anyone who comes to me going forward in upcoming seasons and says, “Well she posted this,” or “did you see what they wrote about the lead? Why would they write that if they didn’t win,” I will just refer you back to what Ariel and Gabi did this season. Props to them.

Yesterday Charity’s season continued as they’re filming episode 3 right now. Monday you know about her 1-on-1 date with Brayden Bowers at PetCo Park, where they helicoptered to, then got to walk on the field, have a picnic, and play with golden retrievers. Numerous pics and videos that were in yesterday’s column and on my socials. As for yesterday, it was a Barbie themed group date. We’ve seen this before where the show does a date promoting an upcoming movie, and the Barbie movie comes out July 21st, which is right in the middle of Charity’s season. So this episode will essentially be shown on July 10th, and it’ll be promoting that new Barbie movie. 12 guys were on the date yesterday as part of the “Barbie Sing Off,” and each guy had to dress up in a funky costume and sing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” but set to their own lyrics they made up. Sean McLaughlin ended up winning the date, as judged by JoJo, Jordan, and Charity. He got 1-on-1 time with her after the show as they got to walk on the pier and talk there by themselves. I have numerous videos and pictures of this I’ll be posting later this afternoon of Sean performing (I guess he won because he took off his shirt and threw it into the stands), along with Sean and Charity together afterwards.

I’m sure you saw the news yesterday, but Mike Fleiss is no longer with the Bachelor franchise after almost 21 years. It was his creation, his baby, but he hasn’t had any hands on or day-to-day dealings with the show in quite some time now. It was his show, he just let others underneath him run it. By the way, did you see Lauren Zima’s IG story yesterday which was obviously a shot at Fleiss no longer being with the show. I mean, I don’t know if she thought people wouldn’t pick up on it, but I sure did. Just an IG story of Taylor Swift’s “Karma” playing with a caption that read, “Listening on Repeat Today.” Gee, I wonder why? Anyway, I don’t think Fleiss no longer being part of the show will change much since it’s not like he had a say in much anyway. He’d usually show up for night 1, and sometimes would travel to the final rose ceremony location. But other than that, he was nowhere to be found in the day-to-day operations. So him leaving, or getting removed, whatever the case may be, I don’t think is all that shocking. The new show runners that are taking over have all been with the show for years and have basically been already running it anyway.

Our friend Suzana (@BachelorData) has your IG growth since the finale aired. Kaity and Gabi both have more followers than Zach who, seemingly, doesn’t care because he’s not much of a social media guy.

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Veteran film and television actress Sharon Acker, known for her roles in the 1967 film “Point Blank” and as Della Street in “The New Perry Mason” TV series during the 1970s, died in Toronto on March 16.

She was 87. A cause of death has not been released.

Kim Everest, Acker’s daughter and a casting director, announced her mother’s death on Facebook on March 17, writing:

“Yesteday at 3:30 pm we lost a most incredible lady. My mama Sharon Acker Elkington. my daughter Alexis wrote a beautiful tribute to her and for now it just feels perfect to share it. My sister Gillian Macdonald , myself, my daughter Alexis, my moms dear friend Ruth and moms lovely caregiver were all around her, holding her hands and soothing her with gentle massage to her arms and legs as she slipped away so peacefully and quietly, We held hands and Ruth sang my mamas favourite hymn …and she was gone …but she’s not , she is everywhere. Hey mom like Alexis said, don’t forget to check in. We love you so so much Our Sisters Kim Elkington and Caitlin Elkington both out of town are in our hearts.”

The Canadian-born actress’ career reigned over several decades, getting her start in “Lucky Jim,” Kingsley Amis’ classic. However, she’s most known for playing Lee Marvin’s ex-wife in “Point Blank.”

In addition to being on the big screen, Acker also played various roles on television, including in the 1973 reboot of “Perry Mason” and portraying Helen Walling in the prime-time CBS drama “Executive Suite.”

Acker’s TV resume also included “The Rockford Files,” “Alias Smith and Jones,” “Gunsmoke,” “The Wild Wild West” and “Get Smart,” just to name a few.

Her last movie was the horror film “Happy Birthday to Me,” with her final TV appearance on “The Young and the Restless” in 1992. Two years later, she retired from acting.

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Veteran film and television actress Sharon Acker,

Selena Gomez and her sister Gracie were among the thousands of Swifties in attendance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday night (April 1). The two were spotted in the crowd for Swift’s second night at the venue on the Eras Tour, dressed to support Gomez’s longtime friend.

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Gomez channeled Folklore with her hair pulled back and a white, flowing dress with cardigan, while her sister wore a purple gown reminiscent of Swift’s Speak Now era.

Fans at the concert captured Gomez having the time of her life singing and dancing along to Lover standout “Cruel Summer,” which Swift debuted live on this tour.

Swift’s Eras Tour has a three-night run at AT&T Stadium this weekend. On night one, she swapped in three new songs in her set list: “The 1,” “Sad Beautiful Tragic” and “Ours.” Read Billboard‘s full review of the March 31 concert here.

Get a glimpse at Selena and Gracie’s Swift-inspired outfits in the clips shared by concertgoers below, and check out a full list of celebs who’ve stopped by the Eras Tour so far.

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Selena Gomez and her sister Gracie were

NOW IN THEATERS! All of us reach that age when we see our parents not as infallible models of adulthood but as imperfect individuals that may be just as lost as we are. They don’t always have the answers, which is a tough pill to swallow. Granted, the vast majority of us probably don’t have estranged fathers using morse code to communicate with visitors from outer space. However, in director Alex Lehmann’s touching yet unassuming drama Acidman, the bonds of parenthood are tested to a degree that we often don’t see in cinema.

Lloyd (Thomas Haden Church) is a recluse living in rural Oregon surrounded by junk. He’s largely estranged from his daughter Maggie (Dianna Agron). His only two social outlets are a server working at a local diner and his dog, Migo. The sudden arrival of Maggie is a welcome surprise but one that is initially met with suspicion. She loves her father and is there with good intentions, but it’s clear that this is more than just a casual visit.

Maggie hasn’t seen Lloyd in years. To say she’s worried about her dad and his deteriorating mental health is an understatement. Lloyd spends his time trying to communicate with aliens in the sky and composing industrial music utilizing whatever inanimate objects he finds in his toolbox. Throughout the two-hander’s ninety minutes, the relationship between Lloyd and Maggie is at the center. It becomes clear that even after their complicated past and uncertain future, there’s no shortage of love and respect between the father and daughter.

“…spends his time trying to communicate with aliens in the sky and composing industrial music…”

Throughout Acidman, co-writers Lehmann and Chris Dowling do an admirable job of never putting us in a position to judge Lloyd too harshly. This is even the case when it’s revealed that he skipped out on Maggie and her brother early into their lives. There are clearly some mental issues at hand, but his heart is in the right place regardless of his eccentricities. The question, though, is whether Maggie can accept his way of life in the wake of her problems. Is Lloyd and Maggie’s love strong enough to overcome their rocky past?

This drama could have been a catastrophe had the chemistry between the two leads not been as impressive as it is. Church has been a steady presence for years in a variety of films, and Agron brings a luminous quality to Maggie. She more than holds her own against the more senior performer, and viewers are left looking forward to her next feature. Hopefully, more filmmakers will tap into her potential in the future.

Rare is the film that refuses to moralize the actions of its characters, and boy, does this make Acidman refreshing. In lesser hands, the film would’ve necessitated Maggie “fixing” Lloyd. She’d do this through the crafting of some narrative device that provides the impetus for him to address his situation. Instead, we’re left with an affecting drama about a father and daughter learning to accept the way things are without diminishing their relationship. So what if he happens to talk to aliens that (probably) aren’t actually there?

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NOW IN THEATERS! All of us reach

The Edmonton Oilers clinched a playoff spot with a 6-0 rout of the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place Saturday night.

Leon Draisaitl recorded a hat trick and hit 50 goals for the third time in his career.

“It’s always a huge honour and I think this (fifty-goal season) is very exciting for me because it was at home–the other two were on the road, so it was great to do it in front of our home fans,” Draisaitl said.

“It’s really impressive,” Connor McDavid said. “Can’t say enough good things about him–he’s been on a real tear and tonight was no different.”

Jack Campbell made 36 saves for his first shutout of the season.

“We were a little bit sloppy at the beginning of the game but he was solid and gave us a chance to get our feet under us,” McDavid said. “I’m really happy for him. It’s been an up and down year and he’s battled so hard, so to see him get rewarded…the boys love that.”

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The Oilers are 9-0-1 in their last ten games.

The Ducks outplayed the Oilers in the first but were repeatedly thwarted by Jack Campbell, who stopped all 17 Anaheim shots on goal.

“It was nice to get some rubber in the first and get into the game, and I thought our guys did a great job of sticking with it and finishing strong and we had a really solid 60-minutes,” Campbell said post-game.

“Frankly, my game hasn’t been at the level I expect it to be at any point this year, so tonight was a great step for me, personally, in just having fun and relaxing and getting out of my own way,” Campbell said

The Oilers escaped the first with the lead thanks to Zach Hyman’s deflection of Mattias Ekholm’s point shot with 2:04 on the clock.

Read more:

McDavid, Draisaitl named 2 of NHL’s 3 stars of the month

The Oilers turned the tables in the second and completely dominated. Draisaitl cut in front and flipped in a backhand to make it 2-0. Darnell Nurse drove a long shot through Jack Campbell to set a new career high with 42nd points. Just as a power play expired, Draisaitl finished off an Oilers flurry by tucking in the puck from the side of the net.

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“For him to be the best passer and have the ability to put it in the net like he does, he’s a very dangerous player and we’re happy to have him on our team,” Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft said.

Read more:

Stuart Skinner shuts the door as Edmonton Oilers stymie Los Angeles Kings 2-0

The Oilers kept the pressure on in the third. Connor McDavid finished off a long session of possession by flicking in his 62nd of the season. Gibson left the game with an injury with 13:36 left and was replaced by Lukas Dostal.

Draisaitl sent hats flying onto the ice with a shorthanded snipe from down the right wing with 4:59 remaining. It was Draisaitl’s eighth regular season hat-trick.

“I was probably being a little too selfish in the third,” Draisaitl admitted with a laugh after the game. “I think that’s alright. I tend to overpass it so for once in my life, it’s okay.”

The Oilers, 44-23-9, will visit the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday (630 CHED, Face-off Show at 7 p.m., game at 8:30 p.m.).

 

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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The Edmonton Oilers clinched a playoff spot

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From friends to lovers. Zendaya and Tom

This week’s “Saturday Night Live” cold open kicked off by addressing Donald Trump’s indictment, of course, with cast member James Austin Johnson’s spot-on Trump impression being put to good use as the former president performed various cover songs to fund his legal defense.

“Hello thank you, it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me,” Johnson’s Trump began, Taylor Swift-style, before addressing the heart of the matter: “Well folks it happened, I got indicted. Or, as I spell it, indicated.”

He then explained that as he faces consequences for his crimes (“What the radical left democrats are doing to me is worse than any crime ever committed”), he’s launching an album of cover songs called “Now That’s What I Call My Legal Defense Fund.”

“I’ve been opening my rallies with my wonderful song ‘Justice for All,’” he said, referencing the very real song that Trump and those imprisoned for their actions on Jan. 6 released. “It was the number one downloaded song. We beat ‘Flowers’ by Miley, which as we all know is about Liam.”

The sketch then found Trump, infomercial-style, singing various cover songs from “Hard to Handle” to “Islands in the Stream” to “Because I Got High.”

“Just 30 classic covers, all horrible, sung by your favorite president to defend our movement and mostly myself,” he explained. He even brought out Kenan Thompson as Don King for support.

“I’m a fighter and speaking of fighting and taking advantage of fighters, here’s my good friend Don King,” Austin’s Trump said.

The sketch also found him addressing reported tensions between Trump and Melania Trump.

“Speaking of love, me and the first lady Melania are in high spirits. Since the news of my probable imprisonment, I’ve never seen Melania happier,” he said. “She’s the most beautiful woman in the world, second to only younger, more beautiful women.”

And of Stormy Daniels, he said, “Also just to set the record straight, I didn’t even sleep with Stormy Daniels but in many ways I did. And isn’t it ironic that the first time I try to pay someone, they send me to jail? That’s why you don’t pay people, folks.”

The sketch was laced with Trump’s tendency to take advantage of his supporters, with Trump saying, “If they can come for me, they can come for you too. Or in the case of January 6, they can come for you and not for me. I like that one a little better.”

And of possible imprisonment, “Perhaps I might even become receptive to the teachings of the prophet Mohammed. Although I’ve never seen any pictures of him, kinda sus.”

The sketch ended with Trump bringing out Mikey Day’s Don Jr., who was aptly introduced as “my Kendall Roy.”

Watch the cold open in the video above.

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This week’s “Saturday Night Live” cold open

The Weekend Update segment of this week’s “Saturday Night Live” was strangely quiet, leading co-anchor Colin Jost to look visibly bewildered by the lack of laughter at his jokes – only to learn he’d been pranked by co-anchor Michael Che.

Jost’s first few jokes during Weekend Update, which took shots at Donald Trump’s indictment, received only a smattering of laughter from the in-studio audience, and Jost was starting to look uncomfortable.

“At this point, it feels like even conservatives have moved on. I mean I went down to the courthouse today and I was the only protester there,” Jost said, revealing an image of himself in a MAGA hat with a sign that read “Let Our Boy Go.”

After Jost told the joke, someone in the audience yelled, “You stink!” At this, Che finally cracked and said, “I told them not to laugh at you for April Fools.”

An extremely relieved Jost started laughing and admitted the lack of laughter was rattling him. “Truly I was like, ‘Am I not mic’d?’ and then I was like, ‘Oh I just suck.’” Jost added, “That’s the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me. I am covered in sweat.”

Che was chuffed and Jost couldn’t stop laughing. And when Jost’s next joke brought the normal amount of laughter he tried to shoot back at the audience, “Don’t you even dare try now!”

The bit brought to mind Jost and Che’s previous recurring segment in which they would write jokes for each other that were purposefully embarrassing or offensive, usually rattling Jost far more than Che.

Watch the bit in the video above.

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The Weekend Update segment of this week’s

Sharon Acker, a Canadian film, television and theater actor best known for her roles in “Point Blank,” “The New Perry Mason” and “Happy Birthday to Me,” has died. She was 87.

Acker’s death was confirmed by her cousin, David Glover, in a tribute to his family member on Facebook: “My wife Judy and I were very close with Sharon and we spoke regularly even after she moved back to Toronto to be close to with daughters and family. I can never forget Sharon’s million dollar smile. She made everyone she came in contact with feel so much better.”

According to reports, Acker died March 16 at her retirement home in Toronto.

Across an acting career spanning four decades, Acker found one of her most enduring roles in the 1967 neo-noir “Point Blank,” helmed by John Boorman. Acker played the wife to Lee Marvin’s lead, who betrays her conman husband after a robbery on Alcatraz.

Acker also has a credit among cult horror circles for her turn in the 1981 slasher “Happy Birthday to Me,” which marked her final performance in a feature. The actor is only seen in flashbacks, playing the mother to protagonist Ginny Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson). The troubled guardian meets an untimely end in a heightened series of drawbridge mishaps.

“Star Trek” fans known Acker as Odona, an enduring one-episode role from a 1969 episode of the original series. The actor also played Barbara Hale, the secretary to Monte Markham’s eponymous gumshoe on the short-lived reboot “The New Perry Mason” in 1973.

Acker was born in Toronto on April 2, 1935. Adopted at the age of nine, she studied art and graduated in 1953. Her acting career began with a series of turns on stage, joining the Stratford Shakespeare Festival company and traveling to Europe. Her feature debut came in 1957 with “Lucky Jim.”

Her final TV credit came in 1992 with an appearance on “The Young and the Restless.” Acker returned to Canada in 1994 with her second husband, Peter Elkington, to live in Ontario and follow her passion for painting and sculpting. Elkington died in 2001.

Acker is survived by her children, Kim and Gillian; granddaughter, Alexis; great-granddaughter, Berkeley; and stepchildren Kim and Caitlin.

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Sharon Acker, a Canadian film, television and

25 Women In Action Movies That Can Beat Up Your Dad

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25 Women In Action Movies That Can

The “Yellowstone” drama continues. The main cast of the show, along with creator Taylor Sheridan, were expected to attend PaleyFest in Los Angeles on Saturday evening — but unexpectedly didn’t show up.

About 30 minutes before the red carpet was supposed to begin at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, press was let in and given a tip sheet with four only cast member names on it: Josh Lucas, Wendy Moniz, Mo Brings Plenty and Dawn Olivieri. Additionally, Paramount Network development president Keith Cox was also attended, but did not speak to press on the carpet.

The original list of those who were supposed to be there included Sheridan and executive producer David Glasser, as well as the show’s stars Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes, Kelsey Asbille, Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham and Jacki Weaver. Variety was told that the cast could not attend due to scheduling conflicts.

Fans of the show who bought tickets were also surprised by the last-minute change. The cast list was never updated on the PaleyFest website.

“Yeah as someone who paid over $100 a ticket I’m pretty fn pissed. Quite the bait and switch. People are walking out,” one audience member tweeted on Saturday night as the panel began. Another asked, “Will there be refunds for #yellowstone #PaleyFest we drove two hours to the cast you said would be here. What a joke and rip off.”

Representatives for PaleyFest didn’t immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

During the red carpet, the cast in attendance confirmed that the second half of Season 5, which is supposed to air in the summer on Paramount Network, has not yet started filming and they have not been given a start date.

At the beginning of the panel, Cox told the crowd that he’s “very confident” Costner is still committed to the series and is hopeful that production will begin soon.

In February, sources told Variety that the actor, who has portrayed John Dutton since the western debuted in 2018, may be leaving the show as his availability has changed over the last five years. Additionally, discussions began to expand the franchise (further than prequels “1883” and “1923”) with a new show starring Matthew McConaughey.

“Kevin Costner is a big part of ‘Yellowstone’ and we hope that’s the case for a long time to come,” a network spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built. Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner.”

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The “Yellowstone” drama continues. The main cast

Halyna Hutchins-Photo by Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie

Halyna Hutchins-Photo by Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie

 

For background information on the tragedy, and any of the events leading up to this outline,

please see “Rust: The Day so Much Changed For so Many”

You can link to the article by clicking on the photo (right).  Thank you.

 

 

 

 


UPDATES


Update:  March 31, 2023 – David Halls, First Assistant Director, Sentenced and Convicted…

Dave Halls, the first assistant director for Rust, has been sentenced and convicted for the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, which represents the first conviction in the case.

A New Mexico judge approved Halls plea deal with prosecutors for a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon for his role in Hutchins’ death on the Rust movie set Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico.

District court judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sentenced Halls to a six-month suspended sentence with unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, 24 hours of community service and a firearms safety class.

the upcoming May preliminary hearing, where Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer will decide whether there is probable cause to try Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, Halls may be called upon by the prosecution.

Under the charge of involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors must prove Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin were not only negligent in their handling of the firearm but showed intentional disregard for Hutchins’ safety.

 

Update:  March 29, 2023 – D.A. Steps Down, Assigns two Special Prosecutors

Two days after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer shut down the prosecution’s attempt to bring on a new special prosecutor in the Rust shooting, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has stepped aside and appointed a pair of special prosecutors; New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.

Heather Brewer, a spokesperson for First New Mexico Judicial District Attorney, said in a statement:

“New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies on Wednesday appointed long-time New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors in the ‘Rust’ case. Morrissey’s and Lewis’ extensive experience and trial expertise will allow the state to pursue justice for Halyna Hutchins and ensure that in New Mexico everyone is held accountable under the law.

“With the appointment of new special prosecutors, Carmack-Altwies will step aside from personally prosecuting the ‘Rust’ case, allowing her to focus on the broader public safety needs in New Mexico’s First Judicial District. Carmack-Altwies will continue her record of prosecuting drunken drivers, collaborating with local law enforcement, increasing diversion efforts and securing convictions against the most dangerous and prolific offenders.”

 

Update:  March 27, 2023 – Judge Sommer “You may not Co-Counsel”

In a virtual hearing today, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer schooled D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies in her attempt to bring on a new special prosecutor and serve as co-counsel.  Judge Sommer told Carmack-Altwies she can’t have it both ways.  “You may not co-counsel …you stay the course and not use a special prosecutor and prosecute on your own,” she insisted. “It’s an either or,” “If you cannot prosecute, you cannot prosecute,” the judge stated.

Carmack-Altwies noted the loss of a third of her prosecution team over the last few years and therefore needs to look outside to find resources.  They do not have enough manpower to fully prosecute this case themselves.

The Judge has given Carmack-Altwies until Thursday to submit a brief under another New Mexico statute, that a District Attorney’s office can bring on board a private lawyer to help with cases on a contract basis.

 

Update:  March 24, 2023 – Rust Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Attempts to Stop the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor

In a document filed Friday, Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys argued that Santa Fe District Attorney Carmack-Altwies was improperly using a New Mexico statue to hire a special prosecutor in the case of Gutierrez-Reed and actor Alec Baldwin.

Jason Bowles and Todd J. Bullion, Reed’s attorneys, postulate that “The Special Prosecutor statue is triggered only when the district attorney cannot act in the case,” “Obviously, the district attorney has no … authority to appoint a special prosecutor on the basis that she ‘cannot’ handle the case when she is seeking to co-counsel with the special prosecutor.  The request to co-counsel undermines the statutory basis for appointment.”

Carmack-Altwies argued that she has good cause, citing that her team of what should be 25 is short-staffed with only 17 attorneys.

“The legislative intent and caselaw is clear: the District Attorney is permitted to appoint a special prosecutor for “other good cause,” including when budgetary factors and caseloads justify doing so, as has been demonstrated here,” Carmack Altwies wrote.

Judge Mary Marlowe, who is overseeing the “Rust” cases, has scheduled a hearing on Monday to go over the appointment of a special prosecutor.

 

Update:  March 22, 2023 – Alec Baldwin Points at Rust D.A. for Threatening his “Right to a fair Trial”

Baldwin and his legal team are pointing at the D.A. accusing prosecutors of violating his “constitutional rights.”  “The government’s conduct represent a disregard of its ethical duties and it has threatened Mr. Baldwin’s right to a fair trial.”

These declarations point toward prosecutors, citing statements made by Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies’ office and now-departed special prosecutor Andrea Reeb about Baldwin’s “gross negligence and a reckless disregard for safety on the Rust film set” and more.

The D.A. initially defended the appointment of Reeb to Rust special prosecutor, however on March 14, 2023, Reeb stepped down.   Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s Lawyer with the New York-based firm Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, wasted no time on jumping on revelations from the New York Times that Reeb asked Carmack-Altwies last June to publicize the fact that she was working on the case in order to advance her political career.

 

Update:  March 21, 2023 – The Times makes a Significant Discovery

On March 14, 2023, Andrea Reeb stepped down as special prosecutor in the Rust trial against Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez.  In a significant discovery, emails sent to the Santa Fe district attorney last fall and acquired by The New York Times, Reeb believed working on the case could help her electoral campaign.

Reeb was selected by District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies last June to handle criminal charges filed against Baldwin and Gutierrez related to the accidental death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.  Those charges are of Involuntary Manslaughter and carry a potential 18-month prison sentence.

Reeb was also running as a Republican for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the November midterm elections, and subsequently won her election.  New emails, which were acquired by the New York Times via a request under the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act, showed that Reeb told Carmack-Altwies when she was hired that she understood the DA’s decision not to inform the press about her appointment.

“At some point though,” Reeb wrote, “I’d at least like to get out there that I am assisting you … as it might help in my campaign lol.”

Reeb, was part of the team that brought the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed while striking a plea deal with “Rust” assistant director David Halls.

 

Update:  March 14, 2023 – Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb Steps Down

With less than two weeks to go before the court hearing on the motion to have Andrea Reeb removed from the case, she has stepped down.

On Feb 7, 2023 Alec Baldwin’s lawyer filed a motion to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, arguing that she cannot simultaneously serve as a prosecutor and a state legislator and that it was unconstitutional for Reeb to serve as special prosecutor because of her dual role as an elected GOP New Mexico legislator.

New Mexico First Judicial D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies’ office has released a statement on behalf of Reeb, announcing that the special prosecutor will be stepping aside:

After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case — and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career — has been justice for the victim. However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols led to the death of Halyna Hutchins. I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.

The hearing on the motion to disqualify Reeb was set for March 27 in front on Judge Mary Marlow Sommer.

 

Update:  March 9, 2023 – State’s Notice of Intent to Call Expert Witnesses/Subject Area of Testimony…

On March 9, 2023, the State’s Notice of Intent to Call Expert Witnesses/Subject Area of Testimony has been filed with the Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico, County of Santa Fe.  In the document, State of New Mexico vs Alexander Rae Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez, and David Halls, District Attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, gives notice that it intends to call the following witnesses as experts, providing the subject area in which the designated experts will testify:

  1. Bryan W. Carpenter – Expert in the area of Training Actors/Stunt Performers/Crew Members in the proper use of firearms and weapons on set.
  2. Robert W. Gillette, FBI/Lab Division Explosives Unit – Expert in the Area of Forensic examination of explosives.
  3. Jerrilyn M. Conway, DNA Casework Unit, FBI, Laboratory – Expert in the area of Serological and Nuclear DNA analysis and examinations.
  4. Shannon E. Prince, Physical Scientist/Forensic Examiner, FBI, Laboratory, Latent Print Operations Unit – Expert in the areas of examination of latent prints.
  5. Bryce A. Ziegler, FBI Laboratory Division, Firearms/Toolmarks Unit – Expert in the area of forensic examination of firearms and tool marks.
  6. Brianna L. Peterson, PhD., F-ABFT Forensic Toxicologist – Expert in Toxicology
  7. Heather Jarrell, MD OMI, Chief Medical Examiner OMI – Expert in toxicology, expert in toxicology in the field, Forensic Neuropathology.
  8. Brianna Peterson, PhD, F-ABFT Toxicologist II – Clinical and forensic toxicology analysis.
  9. Lee Stewart Anderson, Jr. MD – Expert in the treatment of patients in emergency situations.

 

Update:  March 9, 2023 – D.A. Refutes Alec Baldwin’s Legal Team Claim that the Gun at the Center of this Case, has been Destroyed

During a virtual hearing in the criminal case, attorney Alex Spiro, a member of Alec Baldwin’s legal team, made it known that they recently learned that the prop gun [.45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) calibre F.lli Pietta single-action revolver] that delivered the fatal shot that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, has been destroyed.

“The court, I don’t think is aware of this point, but I think I should tell the court that the firearm in this case, that’s a great subject of it, was destroyed by the state,” Spiro told the court in a statement obtained by Deadline. “So, that’s obviously an issue and we’re going to need to see that firearm, or what’s left of it.”

Back in August 2022 the FBI released their forensic analysis findings of the deadly shooting and in particular the accidental discharge testing determined the following;

  • The hammer in the quarter and half-cock positions, the gun could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger.
  • With the hammer fully cocked, the gun could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger while the internal components were intact and functional.
  • With the hammer de-cocked on a loaded chamber, the gun was able to detonate a primer without a pull of the trigger when the hammer was struck directly, which is normal for this type of revolver.
  • Damage was done to internal components of the gun during the FBI’s functionality testing.

While Baldwin has maintained throughout, that “The trigger wasn’t pulled, I didn’t pull the trigger,” the FBI findings refute that claim, however it would seem that additional testing on the gun will not be possible, as internal portions of the gun are damaged.

A rebuttal was issued in response to Spiro’s statement from DA spokesperson Heather Brewer; “The gun Alec Baldwin used in the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins has not been destroyed by the state. The gun is in evidence and is available for the defence to review.”

 

Update:  March 8, 2023 – L.A. Court presses pause on Negligence Trial

While a cascade of lawsuits plagues Alec Baldwin and Rust Productions stemming from the accidental fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on Oct 21, 2021, it seems that a temporary reprieve is in the offing.

The Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Michael E. Whitaker has stipulated that, subject to approval by the Court; “The trial date be continued from May 17, 2023 to February 21, 2024…” in response to a petition from the legal team representing Baldwin and Rust producers et al, including the plaintiff Maime Mitchell in her negligence lawsuit, which postpones action until after the expected criminal trial in New Mexico is over.

Mitchell, who was the script supervisor on the film, and who was standing next to Hutchins and Souza when the shooting occurred, filed her lawsuit for punitive damages against Baldwin, the producers, Reed, Halls, property master Sarah Zachry and others on November 17, 2021.  Baldwin’s cross-complaint for negligence and indemnification against Reed, Halls, Zachry and Rust weapons and rounds supplier Seth Kenny is also halted until next year.

 

Update:  February 27, 2023 – More Developments Since the Feb 24th Hearing…

  • Hannah Gutierrez was not required to enter a plea at her initial hearing on February 24th, but she was ordered by the Judge to have no contact with any potential witnesses in this case, which will be made easier since it has been confirmed that she will not be a part of the resurrected version of the Rust movie when it resumes production in the spring at the Yellowstone Ranch in Montana.
  • Actor and producer Alec Baldwin will be participating in the production of Rust when it resumes, therefore he is allowed to communicate with some people on the D.A.’s witness list, but only in the course of business related to the film.
  • Back in April 2022, the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau issued a 136,793 penalty to Rust Movie Productions, which is the highest amount allowable by law. Just prior to the February 24th hearing, OSHA returned its ruling and under a settlement with the producers, the bureau reduced its maximum fine of $136,793 to $100,000 and altered a “Willful-Serious citation” of conditions on the Rust set to “Serious.”

This ruling carries some significance, since in the wake of additional crew members filing their own lawsuits alleging physical and emotional damages, in what could otherwise be considered workplace accident circumstances, employers can direct such claims be handled by the state workers’ compensation system.  The crew members would be able to circumvent this path if the employer (in this case Rust Productions) committed a “willful” violation that led to the injury.  A “willful” violation means that the employer “knowingly” and “purposely” ignored safety standards.  The ruling that has reduced the penalty to “serious” could result in crew members finding it more difficult to sue for damages, to avoid being forced into workers comp.

  • While it remains to be seen if the reduced penalty against Rust Productions by OSHA funnels damage lawsuits in the direction of the Workers’ Compensation system, another suit has been filed. This is another negligence lawsuit involving Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin and Reese Price.  The trio of crew members were present during the accidental shooting and have articulated sound, force and physical trauma injuries, for which they seek compensation.
  • It is noteworthy that the now retired First Assistant Director David Halls, who handed Baldwin the “cold gun” (one without ammunition) that shot Hutchins and Souza, made a plea deal (unreleased) with prosecutors that will see him serve no jail time and appear as a witness for the D.A.

 

Update:  February 27, 2023 – Baldwin and Hall Enter pleas of Not Guilty…

Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were formally charged with manslaughter by Santa Fe D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies on January 31, 2023 in the October 21, 2021 death of Halyna Hutchins.  The charges were amended on Friday February 17, removing the firearm enhancement and reducing the possible prison sentence from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 18 months, leading up to the ‘virtual’ arraignment on Friday February 24.  Friday’s hearing was to be the first and would give the defendants the opportunity to enter a plea, if appropriate to do so.

Both Hall and Baldwin filed waivers of first appearance on February 22 and February 23 respectively, meaning they have agreed to forgo having their rights explained to them and entered a plea of not guilty.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed made her virtual appearance on Friday Feb 24th.  She was not required to enter a plea, but instead was given her constitutional rights and Conditions of Release.  Court documents for this ongoing case show the waiver documents filed for Baldwin and Hall (links below) and conditions of release details for Baldwin (also below).  The conditions of release for Reed are listed, as follows;

  • Released on own Recognizance,
  • Maintain employment,
  • Maintain contact with her Attorney,
  • No Contact with Witnesses,
  • Be allowed to possess a firearm within her own home for protection.

The court will set a date for the Status Hearing in the days ahead.  The court will hear the Preliminary Examination once the motion to disqualify has been heard.

Update:  February 22, 2023 – Rust to Resume Filming in Montana this Spring…

In a sentiment that is echoed by many, it seems that honoring Halyna Hutchins’ last project, Rust, will move forward as planned.  The producers have announced today that they are aiming for a Spring re-start to complete the film at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana where the hit TV show “Yellowstone” is filmed.

Initially, it was announced last October 2022 that Rust would resume in January 2023.  Production was about halfway to completion when Hutchins was killed, and while Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in her death, he is still slated as the lead role on the film.

Exterior Photo-Courtesy Yellowstone Film Ranch

The production released a statement from Richard Gray, Carter Boehm, and Colin Davis, the founders of Yellowstone Film Ranch; “The dedication and passion of the entire ‘Rust’ production team to honor Halyna’s vision has deeply moved us,” they said. “We’ve learned so much about Halyna as a friend and colleague, the depth of her artistry, and the lasting impact she had on so many. We are honored to play a role in the realization of her vision and to carry forward her inspiring legacy through championing this film.”

Joel Souza, the director who was wounded in the shooting, also issued a statement: “I am deeply grateful to Richie, Carter, and Colin for the invitation to the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. Their unwavering friendship, support, and now partnership in completing ‘Rust’ and honoring Halyna means the world to me and our entire production team. The beauty of Montana surpasses words, and the warm hospitality and kindness extended by everyone I’ve met has been both humbling and inspiring. It is a privilege to work with such great partners as we see this through on Halyna’s behalf.”

Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, are due to be “virtually” arraigned on Friday in court in Santa Fe regarding the death of Halyna Hutchins.  As no working weapons are being used on set, Gutierrez-Reed is no longer involved in the production.

Update:  February 20, 2023 – Alec Baldwin’s Manslaughter Charges Downgraded…

While still facing manslaughter, prosecutors have downgraded the charges against Alec Baldwin, reducing the possible prison time for the fatal accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021.  Lawyers for Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed argued earlier this month that the Santa Fe D.A. were unjustly charging their clients under a version of the firearm enhancement law that had not been passed until May 2022, seven months after the incident occurred.

On Friday February 17, Carmack-Altwies filed altered charges for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, removing the firearm enhancement and reducing their possible prison sentence from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 18 months.

According to Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, these changes were filed “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the district attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” film set.”

On Tuesday February 7, 2023, Alec Baldwin’s lawyer filed a motion to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, arguing that she cannot simultaneously serve as a prosecutor and a state legislator.  The New Mexico First Judicial D.A. has filed a motion for “Extension of Time.”  New Mexico Judge Mary Marlow Sommer has granted the D.A. its request to have until March 6 to respond to the defence’s motion on Reeb.

Hannah Gutierrez Alec Baldwin
See Amended Charges-Click on the Image See Amended Charges-Click on the Image

Update:  February 17, 2023 – Halyna Hutchins’ Widower Added to D.A. Witness List…

With the looming February 24th first court hearing (Feb 24) fast approaching, the Santa Fe District Attorney has added Matthew Hutchins to its witness list.  This marks the fourth time the D.A.’s witness list has been updated since it’s first filing on January 31, 2023.  The initial hearing on Feb 24th will be held before state Judge Mary Marlowe Summer.  It seems an odd turn of events as Matthew Hutchins remains an active executive producer (EP) on the movie, the outcome of his own called off wrongful-death suit filed against Baldwin and Rust producers.

January 31, 2023
February 3, 2023
February 13, 2023
February 16, 2023
State’s Witness List for Preliminary Hearing, and Amended Versions

It is possible that the D.A. is looking to build a robust case to take before a jury.  The list includes Hutchins, Joel Souza, David Halls (who cut an as-yet-unrealeased plea deal with the D.A.), FBI agents, Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office detectives and Maime Mitchell (script supervisor who filed a negligence civil suit in L.A. against Baldwin and Rust producers).  Seth Kenney (armorer mentor) and prop master Sarah Zachry are also on the witness list, both of whom were under scrutiny for the shooting and the unresolved matter of how live ammo got on the set.

Update:  February 14, 2023 – Rust Movie Hoping for a Spring Restart…

The indie Western film Rust is hoping for a spring start date to resume work on the movie.  This is the second of such announcements, the first being last October which hinted at a January 2023 restart, that did not come to pass.  While there is no word yet on who is returning from the cast, the following crew members will continue their participation; stunt coordinator Allan Graf, costume designer Terese Davis, makeup department head Stacy Lockhart and hair department head Anna Williams.

Bianca Cline has been signed on as the movie’s new cinematographer.  Cline will donate her salary to charity in honor of Halyna Hutchins, the project’s original cinematographer who was fatally injured on set, October 21, 2021 when a prop gun held by Alex Baldwin, misfired, killing Hutchins and injuring the director, Joel Souza.

“Though bittersweet, I am grateful that a brilliant and dedicated new production team joining former cast and crew are committed to completing what Halyna and I started,” director Joel Souza said today in a statement. “My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud.  It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”

Souza and several members of the original Rust production are named on the D.A.’s potential witnesses list in the Baldwin and Reed criminal case, which could go to trial later this year.  The first hearing is set for February 24, 2023.

Update:  February 11, 2023 – Another Day, Another Motion…

“Another day, another motion from Alec Baldwin and his attorneys in an attempt to distract from the gross negligence and complete disregard for safety on the Rust film set that led to Halyna Hutchins’ death…” was the response by the Santa Fe D.A.’s spokesperson Heather Brewer in response to Baldwin’s legal team filing a motion to drop the five year firearm sentencing enhancement, which did not exist at the time of the accident.

Update:  February 10, 2023 – 5 Year Firearm Sentencing Enhancement Unconstitutional…

Friday February 10, 2023, the law firm representing Alec Baldwin has filed a motion to dismiss the five year firearm sentencing enhancement statute in the charges against him, stating that it is unconstitutional based on a law passed after the shooting.  The enhancement statute did not exist until May 18, 2022, a full seven months after the accident took place.  To see the motion document, click on the image below.

Alex Baldwin
Defendants Notice of Unlawful Enhancement and Motion Not to Bind Over Enhancement

Update:  February 10, 2023 – Halyna Hutchins Ukraine Family Files Lawsuit…

Halyna Hutchins family members from the Ukraine have hired Santa Monica, California-based attorney Gloria Allred to file a lawsuit seeking damages in connection with Hutchins death on the set of the Western movie, Rust.  The lawsuit against Baldwin was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Hutchins’ parents and younger sister.  While the lawsuit is being filed in California, it relies on provisions of New Mexico state law regarding the depravation of benefits, also known as “loss of consortium.”  In California only a spouse or registered domestic partner can sue for loss of consortium. The law suit alleges negligence and the depravation of benefits, based on the emotional or financial support that Hutchins previously provided to younger sister Svetlana Zemko and parents Olga Solovey and Anatolii Androsovych. The lawsuit also names as defendants a long list of “Rust” crew members, an ammunition supplier, producers of the film and affiliated businesses.

The Legal Process Begins

On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the beleaguered set of the independent film, Rust.  Over the course of the next sixteen months, the case has continued to make headlines.  Once the investigation provided enough evidence to determine probable cause to proceed, the judicial branch of New Mexico initiated the first steps of many in the federal criminal process.  That legal process has resulted in the filing of criminal charges against Hannah Gutierrez, David Halls and Alec Baldwin.  Gutierrez, Halls and Baldwin now find themselves facing the inevitable legal battle which will likely culminate in a trial.

Motion to Disqualify

On Tuesday February 7, 2023, Alec Baldwin’s lawyer filed a motion to disqualify special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, arguing that she cannot simultaneously serve as a prosecutor and a state legislator.  Andrea Reeb was brought in last year by Mary Carmack-Altwies the First Judicial District Attorney in Santa Fe, to assist on the case.  In November, Reeb was elected to the state House of Representatives.  Baldwin’s lawyers argue that the state constitution’s separation of powers provision prohibits Reeb from serving as a prosecutor and as a state lawmaker.

The D.A.’s office has previously said that Reeb’s role as a state legislator “will not impact her ability to thoroughly and effectively fulfill her role as special prosecutor in the Rust case.”  “Should any legislation before the House create a conflict of interest for her, Andrea would continue her record of doing the right thing and recuse herself from the vote,” the office stated previously.

Baldwin and co-defendant Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer on “Rust,” are due to make their initial appearance on the charges on Feb. 24.  To see the motion document, click on the image below.

Alex Baldwin
Motion to Disqualify Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb

Second Amended Witness List

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies submits to the court, and to the three defendants in this case (Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez, David Halls) that the names of the witnesses who may be called to testify at a preliminary hearing, may include but are not limited to those listed within.  As of February 6, 2023, David Halls has been added as a witness for whom the state may call to testify at the preliminary hearing set for February 24, 2023.

Witnesses
Second Amended Witness List for Preliminary Hearing

Entry of Appearance and the First Amended State’s Witness List

On or about February 3, 2023, the State of New Mexico, County of Santa Fe and the District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies accepted three documents outlining each defendants council, along with all three defendants being issued a first Amended State’s Witness List for the upcoming Preliminary Hearing, scheduled to be February 24, 2023 for Hannah Gutierrez and Alec Baldwin and for March 8, 2023 for David Halls.

Hannah Gutierrez David Halls Alec Baldwin Witnesses
Entry of Appearance / State’s Witness List
Will be represented in this case by Jason Bowles and Todd J. Bullion.  Will be represented in this case by Lisa Torraco.  Will be represented in this case by Luke Nikas. The Witness List is the same for all three defendants.

Certificate of Appointment

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appoints Andrea Reeb to act as Special Prosecutor in the case of the State of New Mexico vs. Alec Baldwin.  When clicking on the image you will see that the document attached pertains to Alec Baldwin, but all three defendants have been served with the same Certificate of Appointment.

Hannah Gutierrez David Halls Alec Baldwin
Certificate of Appointment

Criminal Summons

On February 1, 2023, the State of New Mexico, County of Santa Fe and the District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies issued three documents outlining the criminal summons for the three defendants.  The preliminary hearing for Baldwin and Gutierrez is currently set for February 24, while Halls who filed a plea is set to face a judge on March 8th.  Click on the images to link to the corresponding documents:

Hannah Gutierrez David Halls Alec Baldwin
Criminal Summons – Order to Appear before Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer

The Charges

On January 31, 2023, the State of New Mexico, County of Santa Fe and the District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies issued three documents outlining the charges as per the criminal information listed for the three defendants.  Click on the images to link to the corresponding documents:

Hannah Gutierrez David Halls Alec Baldwin
Criminal Information – The Charges

 


Stay Tuned

Stay tuned as we continue to walk you through the steps, share any developments and offer explanations along the way.

The preliminary hearing for Baldwin and Gutierrez is currently set for February 24, while Halls who filed a plea is set to face a judge on March 8th.

Story developing… bookmark this page to stay updated on all of the details related to the case.

[caption id="attachment_38053" align="alignright" width="169"] Halyna Hutchins-Photo by

According to a new rumor, a villainous organization will be introduced in Captain America: New World Order and which involves a familiar character.

MCU fans already knew Tim Blake Nelson‘s Leader was the confirmed villain of the 2024 film.

But this latest rumor suggests that Anthony Mackie‘s first headliner film involves more villains than originally expected.

Captain America 4’s New Antagonist Plot

The Direct

On The Hot Mic podcast with John Rocha, insider Jeff Sneider claimed that he’s heard Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ Val isn’t only in Captain America 4 but is “working along five other villains to form the group, the Serpent Society:”

“I’ve heard that she’s in the movie… In ‘New World Order’… working along five other villains to form the group, the Serpent Society… and their main mission is to obtain a special metal that is not Vibranium.”

In Marvel Comics, the Serpent Society is an organization comprised of villainous members whose identities are inspired by snakes.

SerpentSociety
Marvel

As for those “five other villains,” it’s worth noting that the society’s comic book members have included Viper, Princess Python, and Diamondback.

Interestingly enough, there was casting call buzz for a female character named Diamondback with an additional source claiming Serpent Society ties.

Some have speculated that Captain America 4 actress, Xosha Roquemore, may be playing this particular new MCU character.  

As for that “special metal that is not Vibranium,” prior rumors suggested Captain America: New World Order features “a new metal called Adamantium,” the same element coating Wolverine’s bones and claws.

This rumor also finally brings the Serpent Society into play years after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige first teased the group’s existence. At the 2014 El Capitan Theater event in which the Phase 3 slate was revealed, he announced Chris Evans‘ third movie as Captain America: Serpent Society before revealing the true title of Captain America: Civil War.

Val’s Ever-Growing MCU Resume

Even though Marvel Studios has yet to confirm Val’s new role within Serpent Society and the organization’s pursuit of Adamantium, Jeff Sneider’s information supports what other scoopers have heard in recent months. 

Now that filming is underway on Captain America 4, further evidence of this particular plot may not be long in coming. 

However, it’s worth noting that Val is already confirmed for another less than squeaky clean team, the Thunderbolts. 

Is her role as the Director of the CIA, a member of Serpent Society, and the Thunderbolts one affiliation too many? 

As for who will round out that five-villain team, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is a possibility. 

After all, she’s already been working with Val; and if the Contessa can belong to more than one group, why not Yelena?

While only time will tell, this new nefarious organization should make things interesting within the MCU moving forward. 

Also, their interest in Adamantium is a clear connection to Wolverine who, once again played by Hugh Jackman, is confirmed for another 2024 film, Deadpool 3. 

Hopefully, Marvel Studios should have more to share on Captain America 4 in the coming months as filming moves forward.

Captain America: New World Order arrives in theaters on May 3, 2024.

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As the new DC universe begins to take shape leading up to The Flash‘s release, some loose ends from the past still linger. Among them is David Ayer‘s cut of Suicide Squad from 2016, a film that underwent significant changes in its post-production


Since the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, fans and the director himself have been asking for the same thing for Suicide Squad, so they can see the movie that Ayer wanted to tell and not what finally hit theaters. At the moment, it has not been confirmed that this version will be released, but the fight continues.

Through his Twitter account, the director shared his own assessment of the film, comparing both versions, in response to a follower who later deleted his tweet:

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“My cut isn’t perfect. But it’s vastly better than the studio hack job. People have seen it. The typical reaction is shock at how much better it is. This is across a sample of ages and fans and non fans. You’re speaking from negativity not openness.”

In 2016’s Suicide Squad, as the US government is unclear how to respond to an alien visit to Earth with evil intent, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), the leader of the secret agency A.R.G.U.S., offers a curious solution: recruit the cruelest villains, with lethal and even magical abilities, to work for them. Without too many options to say no, the eight most dangerous supervillains in the world agree to collaborate with the executive in dangerous secret missions, almost suicidal, in order to clean up their file.

Related: David Ayer Regrets One Thing About Jared Leto’s Joker


What’s Next for DC?

Warner Bros. Pictures

After the failure of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which continues in theaters, all hopes are pinned on The Flash, the Andy Muschietti film that brings back Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen adapting Flashpoint. However, it is not the only DC adventure that remains to be released this year.

In August, Xolo Mariduena will debut as Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle, along with Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Raoul Max Trujillo, Damián Alcázar, and George López.

In December, Jason Momoa will return as Arthur Curry in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the sequel to the 2018 film that will continue the story of the King of the Seven Seas, although his future in the new DCU is uncertain.

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As the new DC universe begins to

Sony Interactive Entertainment will reportedly hold a PlayStation Showcase ahead of this summer’s planned video game events.

That’s according to Giant Bomb journalist Jeff Grubb, who has regularly reported on planned summer events ahead of their announcement in the past.

According to Grubb, a PlayStation Showcase will be held sometime before the Summer Game Fest event on June 8, the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on June 11, and Ubisoft Forward on June 12.

The report follows this week’s confirmation that the planned return of a physical E3 event has been cancelled due to a lack of support from major publishers.

“This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3,” ReedPop’s global VP of gaming Kyle Marsden-Kish said in a statement provided to VGC.

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“We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn’t have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome.

“For those who did commit to E3 2023, we’re sorry we can’t put on the showcase you deserve and that you’ve come to expect from ReedPop’s event experiences.”