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“Kate Winslet Is A Treasure,” Says HBO Boss Casey Bloys – Series Mania – Deadline

Casey Bloys wants Kate Winslet to be venerated in the States.

During a closing keynote session here in Lille, France at Series Mania, HBO and HBO Max Chairman and CEO Bloys told delegates he had recently visited London, where Winslet is filming the Stephen Frears, Will Tracy and Frank Rich series The Palace (WT).

“If the U.S. could make her a national treasure I would like to do that,” he said, to laughs and applause in the room. “I think she’s great and the dailies I’ve seen of the show are fantastic.”

In February, HBO released a first look of Mare of Easttown star Winslet in The Palace, which tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of an authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel. Cast also includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton and Hugh Grant.

Bloys delved deep into his slate, pointing to new seasons of House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and True Detective along with Colin Farrell-starring series The Penguin.

He also revealed how HBO domestic is now trying to work closer with its international counterparts on programing following the merger of Warner Bros and Discovery last year.

“At HBO the domestic and international operations were very separate and didn’t have a lot of contact regarding program making. Gerhard [Zeiler, Warner Bros Discovery President of International] and I and our teams are trying to be very coordinated and look at the programming investment across the globe as one team. Where are we putting our bets and on what shows?

“I think you come out with a better result that way. Obviously, the best case is something like a Squid Game – produced solely as a local original that breaks out. You can’t engineer any hit show but to then say, ‘let’s make something that works in this market but then travels’ is very hard to do.”

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March 23, 2023

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Casey Bloys wants Kate Winslet to be

Film

“The Saddest Person I Ever Met” – Deadline

Sam Neill has special memories of Robin Williams, who worked with him in 1999’s Bicentennial Man. Neill, 75, looked back on their time together in his new March 21-released memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?

Neill recalled their “great chats” throughout their visits to each other’s trailers.

“We would talk about this and that, sometimes even about the work we were about to do,” he said, calling Williams “irresistibly, outrageously, irrepressibly, gigantically funny.”

But even during those good times, Neill could sense something was wrong, calling Williams, “The saddest person I ever met.”

Williams died by suicide at the age of 63 on Aug. 11, 2014.

“He had fame, he was rich, people loved him, great kids—the world was his oyster. And yet I felt more sorry for him than I can express. He was the loneliest man on a lonely planet,” Neill wrote.Williams seemed “inconsolably solitary and deeply depressed.”

Williams used humor as a form of self-medication, Neill theorized, saying “funny stuff just poured out of him.”

“And everybody was in stitches, and when everybody was in stitches, you could see Robin was happy,” Neill said.

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March 23, 2023

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Sam Neill has special memories of Robin Williams,

Top Chef recap: season 20, episode 3

It’s a problem that’s plagued even the best of reality TV competitions: the too-revealing edit. By giving a player or team considerably more screen time than their fellow competitors, the edit immediately forewarns savvy viewers that said challenger(s) is either winning or losing–there’s no in between. So when cameras turned their focus during this week’s Top Chef: World All-Stars to Dale and May, the mismatched pair tasked with transforming and transcending that British barroom staple, the Scotch egg, the likelihood was clear that their Thai-spiced snack wasn’t going to tickle the judges’ fancy.

Episode three’s brief was to refashion some of the U.K.’s most popular pub foods–fish and chips, bangers and mash, and the like–which the competitors got to sample and study over pints during a bar crawl with Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons in place of a regular Quickfire Challenge. While some chefs gamely tossed back their ales, others, like Charbel Hayek and Tom Goetter, were busily and suspiciously taking notes. “I feel like the one thing on Top Chef is that you don’t get to have a good time,” Goetter said. “The moment you feel comfortable, they throw you in a kitchen and start screaming, ‘COOK!’” (Someone’s been watching The Menu.)

Their apprehensions were justified: After filling their bellies with pints and potatoes (much to the delight of our cheery Polish gal, Sylwia Stachyra), the judges had the competitors pair up based on the numbers printed on coasters beneath their beers. Each duo would select one of the “humble, beautiful dishes” that they tasted and “create elevated versions of them,” Gail instructed, which would be served the next day to a full dining room and guest judge Brett Graham (chef-owner of the Michelin-starred The Ledbury) at London’s Trafalgar Tavern. And to amp up the couples’ drama, this would, of course, be a double elimination.

Some twosomes were excited by the idea of teaming up (“His flavors are bomb,” Amar said of last week’s victor, Ali), some were worried (“Our styles are pretty different,” stated May, of her partner Dale), and others were downright confused. “What is this? Toad in the wall? Toil in the woil?” questioned the fantastically French Victoire about the classic English dish “toad in the hole” that she and Sylwia were set to reimagine. “I didn’t like toad in the hole…but we don’t have a lot of time.”

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The fissures in Dale and May’s team foundation were quickly made apparent, with the chefs disagreeing on everything from presentation to even the plate itself. (Dale voted fish and chips, but “May felt stronger about the Scotch egg.”) “I would like to make something different but Dale just wants to do something safe…it’s double elimination so I have to support the team,” said May, while Dale worried that their Thai-style Scotch egg with cilantro aioli and fish-sauce dressing simply wasn’t as refined as its competition.

Things initially didn’t go smoothly, either, for Buddha and Luciana. “I just don’t think [the judges are] going to like that,” Buddha said of the potato mousseline Luciana had whipped up to replicate a fish pie’s traditional mash topping. “Fixing the potatoes is not a problem. Trying to convince a Top Chef winner that their potatoes are not good enough is the harder part,” he snarked in a confessional. Though Luciana stood by her spuds (“the potatoes I made are delicious”), Buddha ended up remaking them.

Victoire Gouloubi, Sylwia Stachyra

Photo: David Moir/Bravo

That effort paid off–Luciana and Buddha’s cod with zucchini “scales,” pomme puree, salmon roe, and champagne sauce was “done so elegantly,” Gail stated. And despite never having encountered bangers and mash before, Begoña and Gabri’s rendition made with pork belly, potato foam, and a crunchy onion “cookie” was simultaneously beautifully modern and “so familiar and comforting,” praised Brett Graham.

With those two teams at the top–and Buddha and Luciana’s cod ultimately dubbed the dish of the week–it was obvious which Top Chef pair would be packing their knives this week. However, the bottom-two teams suffered from the same cooking fault: The crust on Ali and Amar’s seaweed-battered cod and the minced-meat breading of Dale and May’s Scotch egg simply weren’t crispy enough. “Last week I won and now I am in the bottom…it was embarrassing standing in front of the judges for such a simple mistake,” confessed Ali.

It was apparent that lack of communication, not a lack of crunch, was really what hindered Team May and Dale, with both chefs throwing the other under the bus during judging. “Going home at this point is devastating…over something as stupid as a Scotch egg,” said Dale upon the team’s elimination. “I’m sad because I didn’t show them all of my talent,” May said in tears. “I’m still proud of myself, standing among the great chefs of the Top Chef world.”

Stray observations

With such an international bunch, it’s natural that some things might get lost in translation from time to time, with Polish Sylwia oddly opting for Spanish at one point to explain a dish component to French Victoire. “I don’t speak perfectly English but I speak food!” exclaimed the latter.
Speaking of Sylwia, our potato-loving Pole was truly in her happy place this week. “I am potato girl. Let me talk about the potatoes.” We need an entire potato podcast starring Sylvia immediately, please and thank you.
Gail Simmons was the queen of British food facts this week. Did you know that a shepherd’s pie should only ever be made with lamb because lambs–duh–have shepherds? (If it’s made with beef, it’s considered a cottage pie.) And bangers and mash, i.e. sausages over mashed potatoes, are called as such because the links used to contain a lot of water to make them cheaper, and would often explode when cooked. The more you know!

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March 23, 2023

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It’s a problem that’s plagued even the

What to Watch

‘History of the World, Part II’ | Decider

By Greta Bjornson

Mel Brooks is back with History of the World, Part II, his delightful comedy series now streaming on Hulu. The show, which includes parodies of some of the key moments in humanity’s brief time on earth, boasts a truly wonderful cast. Bringing to life everyone from the creator of the Kama Sutra to a mudpie-slinging peasant are Johnny Knoxville, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Kumail Nanjiani, Ike Barinholtz, Pamela Adlon, Danny DeVito and Fred Armisen. If you’re still missing Drunk History, the void has been filled.

Photo: Everett Collection

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March 23, 2023

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By Greta Bjornson Mel Brooks is back with History of

Awards

2023 Emmys Best Actress in Comedy Predictions

With two-time winner Jean Smart likely out of the running this year, there is a good chance TV breakouts like Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) and Jenna Ortega (“Wednesday”) receive lots of Emmys attention.

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

Jean Smart, who won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, is likely sitting out of this year’s Emmy race as she recovers from a heart procedure, and gets back to filming “Hacks” Season 3, leading a whole number of possibilities on who could win in her absence.

The easiest assumption is Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of “Abbott Elementary” who has won several awards this year including a Golden Globe. Some other contenders with circumstances to take into account are former winner Rachel Brosnahan, who enters the race for the last time as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are also on a farewell tour for Netflix’s “Dead to Me,” which has earned them both nominations in this category before. Though the stakes are even higher for Applegate post-multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The actress has indicated that this may be her last awards season in general, as she finds a new normal regarding her health.

The last actual recent nominee to be back is Elle Fanning, in contention for Season 3 of Hulu’s historical comedy “The Great,” but there are also the actresses who were right on the cusp of getting in last year, coming back stronger with their second season like Devery Jacobs (“Reservation Dogs”), Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”), and Bridget Everett (“Somebody Somewhere”).

Ana Gasteyer (“American Auto”) and Rose McIver (“Ghosts”) are two other examples who could be added to that list, but differ from the rest of the pack by being the stars of network sitcoms. An interesting question to think about this Emmy season is if “Abbott Elementary” is an outlier, or have TV Academy voters generally warmed back up to primetime TV comedies as a whole this year.

As for the contenders coming off of debut seasons, the most likely nominees are “Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega” and “Poker Face” creator/star Natasha Lyonne, who’s streaming series have managed to capture the zeitgeist, but it would be unwise to diminish the Emmy prospects for “Unprisoned” star Kerry Washington and “Loot” star Maya Rudolph, two actresses that are popular with the TV Academy.

Current Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):
Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me” (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Linda Cardellini, “Dead to Me” (Netflix)
Bridget Everett, “Somebody Somewhere” (HBO)
Elle Fanning, “The Great” (Hulu)
Ana Gasteyer, “American Auto” (NBC)
Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
Devery Jacobs, “Reservation Dogs” (FX)
Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face” (Peacock)
Rose McIver, “Ghosts” (CBS)
Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday” (Netflix)
Maya Rudolph, “Loot” (Apple TV+)
Kerry Washington, “Unprisoned” (Hulu)
Ali Wong, “Beef” (Netflix)

More Comedy Category Predictions:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

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

Last Year’s Winner: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: With Smart out, there are not any major prospects for any kind of hot streaks. Even the network “Hacks” is on, HBO Max, has little to no prospects in the category this year.
Notable Ineligible Series: Jean Smart, “Hacks” (Season 3 was not eligible); Tracee Ellis Ross, “Black-ish” (ended)

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March 23, 2023

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With two-time winner Jean Smart likely out

Music

Ela Minus / DJ Python : “Abril Lluvias Mil (Ricardo Villalobos Remix)” Track Review

Ricardo Villalobos doesn’t do half measures. Just as the Chilean German electronic musician’s DJ sets are marathons, so are his productions. Consider 2008’s “Minimoonstar (Full Session),” nearly 32 minutes of pitter-patter percussion and meandering digital steel pans. Or “Fitzheuer Zieheuer,” in which he flipped the sounds of a Serbian Roma brass band into 37 minutes of keening horns and dubby backbeats. Now, remixing Ela Minus and DJ Python’s “Abril Lluvias Mil,” he outdoes himself again, stretching the duo’s downy ambient reggaeton into nearly 41 minutes of grinding, pins-and-needles techno.

Even Villalobos’ fans will acknowledge that his remixes can stray pretty far from the source material. Villalobos does away with DJ Python’s ethereal dembow groove, swapping in his own gravelly bass synth and a nervous, staccato pulse pinging along at 130 beats per minute. What he keeps from the original are just short, meditative loops of Minus’ voice—“La luz o la sombra” (“The light or the shadow”); “Sin tocarte” (“Without touching you”)—which he weaves through his brittle synths and drums, blunting their edges. The further Minus seems to delve into her own thoughts, wisps of delay trailing her murmured vocals, the more that Villalobos’ bass and drums open up, revealing unexpected dimensions in its labyrinthine depths. The power of the original song came from the feeling of eavesdropping on Minus’ innermost emotions; Villalobos’ herculean remix turns that brooding interiority into a wide-screen epic.

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March 23, 2023

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Ricardo Villalobos doesn’t do half measures. Just

Docs

Fighting Olympus | Film Threat

Writer-director Julian Hampton’s action drama, Fighting Olypmus, is his sophomore feature-length effort. As the title implies, Hampton updates the characters from ancient Greek myths for a modern and more grounded approach. While this is a noble task, the film is an indie production. So, does Hampton’s ambition exceed his grasp, or does he create a novel experience?

Biddle (Devinair Mathis) has recently retired from SWAT and is now pursuing his dreams. He’s hired by a tenacious reporter, Ayasha (Anaya T. Kaur), and unfortunately, the assignment goes pear-shaped. Now, Biddle’s brother, Rucker (Leslie A. Jones), who served on the same SWAT unit, investigates his brother’s supposed murder. But, to find the truth, Rucker must wade through the petty rivalries of underworld gangsters and drug lords.

After paying the Ferryman, jealous Athena (Caroline Hallum) gives Rucker an impossible task: take out the “monster” Medusa (Haley Jackson). Recognizing a good opportunity when it appears, Rucker turns the tables and allies with Medusa. Now, the two must follow the clues and fight through compounds filled with masked soldiers, hoping to find Hades (Rich Sands). Once they have him, they’ll get what they each want. The question is, will they survive long enough to encounter the feared criminal boss face to face?

Fighting Olympus shows its low budget in a few action sequences. Specifically, the camera occasionally follows the characters’ movements (think Upgrade or Venom, if you hate good movies). Unfortunately, it’s jerky and awkward as the camera wobbles to and fro in these moments. It’s too bad, really, as the choreography is excellent. The various battles, be they hand-to-hand, gun battles, or some combination thereof, are exciting. A lot of stunt work went into them, and all that hard work pays off with some of the best fighting scenes in an indie film in a very long time.

“…fight through compounds filled with masked soldiers, hoping to find Hades.”

The cast is just as good. Jones is a terrific hero, easy to root for, and charismatic enough to hold the viewer’s attention. Sands is a formidable baddie, ably being goofy (the part is quite funny) and threatening all at once. Hallum is fun as the not-so-well-meaning miniboss. Kaur is spunky and brave, though she rushes through her lines in her first scene (which establishes her tragic backstory). Then there’s Jackson. She’s perfect in every way as the disfigured lady seeking revenge. She steals the entire film, and hopefully, this will launch her career to the next level.

Helping Jackson right along is the script for Fighting Olympus. Hampton has written a fun story with engaging characters. But, much like with the acting, it is Medusa who steals the show. Her arc, motivations, and conclusion are brilliant and heartbreaking. The way the filmmaker uses the accepted character traits of the gods’ namesakes throughout the movie is also quite clever. The way he upends expectations is even better.

Finally, the costumes are a mixed bag. The masks used for the foot soldiers are interesting but don’t make too much sense world-building-wise. There’s a throwaway line or two about it, but it still doesn’t work as intended. Athena’s costume is lovely and works for this interpretation of the character splendidly. Most other outfits do the job well enough, even if they’re unremarkable.

Fighting Olympus is very ambitious, which means its budgetary restrictions occasionally show. But the cast is great, especially Jackson, while the plot is very original. Although more world-building would have strengthened certain aspects, Hampton and his cast and crew should be very proud of what they accomplished.

For more information, visit the official Fighting Olympus site.

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March 23, 2023

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Writer-director Julian Hampton’s action drama, Fighting Olypmus,

Global

Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers blocked by U.S. appeals court – National

U.S. President Joe Biden’s order that federal employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 was blocked Thursday by a federal appeals court.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans rejected arguments that Biden, as the nation’s chief executive, has the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation to require that employees be vaccinated.

The ruling from the full appeals court, 16 full-time judges at the time the case was argued, reversed an earlier ruling by a three-judge 5th Circuit panel that had upheld the vaccination requirement. Judge Andrew Oldham, nominated to the court by then-President Donald Trump, wrote the opinion for a 10-member majority.

Opponents of the policy said it was an encroachment on federal workers’ lives that neither the Constitution nor federal statutes authorize.

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Biden issued an executive order in September 2021 requiring vaccinations for all executive branch agency employees, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons. The requirement kicked in the following November, and the White House said in January that 98% of federal workers were vaccinated. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued a nationwide injunction against the requirement in January 2022.

The case then went to the 5th Circuit.

One panel of three 5th Circuit judges refused to immediately block the law.

But, a 2-1 ruling on the merits of the case by a different panel upheld Biden’s position. Judges Carl Stewart and James Dennis, both nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton, were in the majority. Judge Rhesa Barksdale, nominated by President George H.W. Bush, dissented, saying the relief the challengers sought does not fall under the Civil Service Reform Act cited by the administration.

A majority of the full court voted to vacate that ruling and reconsider the case. The 16 active judges heard the case on Sept. 13, joined by Barksdale, who is now a senior judge with lighter duties than the full-time members of the court.

&copy 2023 The Canadian Press

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March 23, 2023

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Twitter Blames N-Word Surge After Musk Takeover on Trolling Campaign

Tech

Twitter to Revoke Legacy Verification Blue Check-Mark Badges in April

As Elon Musk promised, Twitter’s previous blue check-mark verification regime will soon be history.

The social network, which the mega-billionaire bought last year in a debt-heavy $44 billion deal, announced on Thursday that starting April 1, it will remove the verified check-mark status of accounts that Twitter had been verified as notable before Musk’s takeover unless they have subscribed to Twitter Blue or the business-focused Twitter Verified Organizations plan.

On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks. To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOpLp

Organizations can sign up for https://t.co/RlN5BbuGA3…

— Twitter Verified (@verified) March 23, 2023

The only individual Twitter users who will have verified blue check-marks are those paying for Twitter Blue, which in the U.S. costs $8/month via the web and $11/month through in-app payment on iOS and Android. Earlier Thursday, the company announced that Twitter Blue was now available worldwide.

For companies and brands, Twitter recently introduced a gold check-mark and has shifted government accounts to a gray check-mark. As previously indicated, a subscription to the social network’s new Twitter Verified Organizations program in the U.S. — which will be the only way to keep a gold or grey check-mark badge — will cost $1,000/month (plus tax) and $50/month (plus tax) for each additional affiliate subaccount. (See pricing here.)

Twitter first introduced verified accounts in 2009 to help users identify that celebrities, politicians, companies and brands, news organizations and other accounts “of public interest” were genuine and not impostor or parody accounts. The company didn’t previously charge for verification.

Musk opined that Twitter’s old system of verification was “corrupt” and opened up blue check-marks to any paying customer — a move to democratize the status symbol, perhaps, but also a means for Musk to generate a much-needed new revenue stream. “Far too many corrupt legacy Blue ‘verification’ checkmarks exist, so no choice but to remove legacy Blue in coming months,” Musk had tweeted in November.

Prior to Musk’s change allowing anyone to get a blue check-mark, Twitter had more than 420,000 verified accounts. After he took over, Twitter changed the wording on the description of legacy verified accounts to say that they “may or may not be notable.” (Musk claimed he was responsible for the wording.)

In November, two weeks after Musk closed the Twitter deal, the company launched Twitter Blue with the check-mark badge as one of the premium perks. But after two days, it suspended signups when a deluge of users set up fake and parody accounts that appeared to be “verified.” The company relaunched Twitter Blue the following month with new measures designed to prevent impersonators.

In Musk’s first companywide memo to Twitter staffers last fall, he said the company would need roughly half its revenue to come from subscription services. “Without significant subscription revenue, there is a good chance Twitter will not survive the upcoming economic downturn,” he wrote.

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March 23, 2023

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As Elon Musk promised, Twitter’s previous blue

Video

Blockbuster Video Goes Live With Mysterious Website

Blockbuster Video has sprung back to life online with a sole page featuring the brand’s iconic logo and the text, “We are working on rewinding your movie,” giving hope to many fans.

It’s been 19 years since the chain of video stores hit its peak with 9,000 stores worldwide — and subsequently came crashing down. But Blockbuster has seen a resurgence in pop culture relevance in recent years after Netflix produced and released one season of a Randall Park-starring sitcom based on its last location a year after a popular documentary, “The Last Blockbuster,” played on the streamer. The last store also released a Super Bowl commercial last month.

Blockbuster’s owner, Dish Network, has not commented on the sudden revival of Blockbuster.com. It has previously said it was not franchising new locations of the once hugely popular video store chain, with the one outlet famously remaining in Bend, Oregon. Dish said it would continue pursuing merchandising opportunities related to apparel, board games, and the like.

Dish Network bought Blockbuster out of bankruptcy in 2011 when it had 600 stores, down precipitously from its peak of 9,000 in 2004. In 2013, that number had plunged to 300, and Dish announced it would close most of those. By 2017, only 12 stores remained. That dwindled to four a year later, three of which were in Alaska. Those three were then closed in 2019.

Word of the relaunching of the website, however rudimentary it was, began circulating this week and has sparked widespead speculation online, with memories of the video-store customer experience rekindled.

See a variety of reactions to the launching of the website below.

Could this be true? Is @blockbuster coming back? Unless it’s just another streaming service, Fridays evenings will be lit. Something about going to a brick and mortar on a weekend evening browsing their film selection. pic.twitter.com/ZiV9BbZjXQ

— Oscar (@HydeTheCatalyst) March 21, 2023

I think I still owe blockbuster some late fees from 1993 ?

— Matt (@op_matt) March 23, 2023

How the Last Blockbuster Store Is Surviving the Pandemic: Nostalgia, Sleepovers and T-Shirt Sales

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March 23, 2023

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Blockbuster Video has sprung back to life

Entertaintment

Wim Wenders Tells Young Filmmakers: ‘Trust in a Place Is Something That Can Give You Wings’

“A Sense of Place,” a collection of six short films by young Iranian directors, had its world premiere this week at Copenhagen’s CPH:DOX. The films are inspired by Wim Wenders’ eponymous 2005 book, and the Oscar nominated director – best known for “Paris, Texas,” “Wings of Desire,” “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Pina” – served as the project’s “godfather,” he explained at the festival.

Curated by Iranian producer Afsun Moshiry in collaboration with The Wim Wenders’ Foundation, which supports young directors and innovative filmmaking, the anthology takes viewers on a journey that starts in Iran, travels to the country’s southern border, onto a plane to Germany, and ends up in France, where two of the films are shot.

The idea for the collection was born from a Wenders retrospective and masterclass Moshiry was planning in Iran in 2019, which never happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Wenders mentored the young filmmakers online as they developed their own projects exploring the sense of place.

Speaking at a live talk with Moshiry in Copenhagen, Wenders told the mostly young audience how this sense has informed his filmmaking from the beginning, and offered a word of advice.

“Don’t think this doesn’t concern you. It’s a human sense that used to be necessary for survival – to know where to live, where there was danger, where to find food and water. It’s one of our original senses, and the fact is that, worldwide, this sense is disappearing.

“People don’t even know how to read a map anymore: all you have to do is follow your navigator,” he said, adding that if he were given a lot of money to make a film where all the locations had been pre-selected by someone else, he would turn it down.

“I wouldn’t know where to put my camera: I’d be lost. I work the other way round: I chose the place first, and then I start to write the story,” he explained, adding: “It helps me but it also helps the actors – they get great support from a place if they know they belong there, and the cameraman is so much more at ease if he’s been there before: knowledge of a place is very useful for everyone on set.”

The German director went on to cite as examples Berlin for “Wings of Desire” or the American West for “Paris, Texas,” and “Songs of Earth,” which he executive produced – Margreth Olin’s long-awaited epic, shot in Norway’s stunning mountainous landscapes, which is vying for this year’s top award at CPH:DOX.

“The place is gorgeous, and the film is, too. A sense of place can lead you to miraculous discoveries. Trust in a place is something that really can give you wings,” he said, adding with characteristic self-deprecation, “no pun intended,” drawing laughs from the crowd.

As the anthology took shape, Wenders told Variety ahead of the talk, it took on a life of its own, which he hadn’t anticipated. “I must say that I was amazed how the subjects shifted from places to non-places. I realized that it’s a contemporary disease, but it’s also very typical for Iran: the absence of the identity of place. It showed that the places where they live or where some of them are in exile no longer inspire confidence.”

Asked about the current climate for filmmakers in Iran, which is experiencing its biggest wave of demonstrations in decades and where several filmmakers and actors have been jailed for speaking out against the regime, Moshiry said her team did all they could to support the filmmaking community by working with local talent, including Iranian DOPs and editors, and doing as much post-production as possible in Iran.

“Over the last 44 years, Iranian filmmakers have become very creative – Wim’s friend Abbas Kiarostami established his own rules: his way of resisting was to never shoot a scene of a woman inside a house because it would not be natural for a woman to wear a scarf inside a house. This is one kind of answer and it’s a very peaceful one,” she said, adding, “Iranian filmmakers have always been creative, but they are tired, we are tired, at some point enough is enough.”

As the talk wrapped up in Copenhagen’s historic Bremen Teater, Wenders reminded the audience that culture is a powerful instrument in times of conflict.

“It’s such a fantastic tool for freedom but it is always treated as the least important. Culture is always the first to suffer, and that is a disaster. I would ask all of you, wherever you come from, to confront that.”

“A Sense of Place” is produced by Moshiry’s Road River Films (“Subtotals,” “Road 99”) and Hamidreza Pejman’s Pejman Foundation (“See you Friday Robinson”), in co-production with Baptiste Bertin’s La Onda Productions and The Perfect Kiss Films, with Iconoclast Germany as associate producer.

SplitScreen is handling world sales.

CPH:DOX runs until March 26.

The six films in the project are:

“Hollow” by Mohammadreza Farzad (“Subtotals,” “Blames and Flames”)
“The Density of Emptiness” by Shirin Barghnavard (“Poets of Life,” “Scenes from a Divorce”)
“Port of Memory” (original title: “Phobos”) by Mina Keshavarz
“In Transit” by Azin Faizabadi (“The Art of Living in Danger,” “Braving the Waves”)
“Mal Tourné” by Pooya Abbasian (“Triumph,” “Last Summer in Europe”)
“Great Are the Eyes of a Dead father” by Afsaneh Salari (“The Silhouettes,” “The Forbidden Strings”)

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March 23, 2023

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“A Sense of Place,” a collection of

Movies

Parineeti Chopra Dating Raghav Chadha? Actress, AAP MP Spotted Together On Dates

Last Updated: March 23, 2023, 22:09 IST

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha clicked at dates

Parineeti Chopra and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha sparked dating rumours after they were clicked together at lunch and dinner dates.

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra has sparked dating rumours with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha after the duo were spotted together this afternoon. The videos shared by the paparazzi show the two coming out of a restaurant together. While Raghav went straight to his car, Parineeti stopped to pose for the shutterbugs and interacted with them for a brief period before stepping inside the same car. The actress was seen wearing a casual black top which she paired with pants of the same colour.

Raghav, on the other hand, wore a beige shirt. Watch the video:

Last night, the rumoured couple was also clicked in Bastian Worli. They twinned in white. Photos and videos of the same have gone viral on social media. Parineeti and Raghav also posed for the shutterbugs. Take a look at the photo shared by the actress’ fanclub:

Their outing together has sparked dating rumours, although, there is no official confirmation from either of them.

This comes a couple of months after Parineeti, Raghav, Adar Poonawalla, and Indian women’s football team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan became the recipient of the first-ever India UK Outstanding Achiever Honours in London.

Parineeti made her debut in Bollywood with Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl. She was last seen in Sooraj Barjatya’s multi-starrer movie Uunchai along with Boman Irani, Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Denzongpa, Anupam Kher and Sarika. Currently, she is gearing up for Chamkila, which is a biopic on Punjabi popstar duo of the 80s- Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjot Kaur. The two were assassinated in Mehsampur Village in 1988. The movie is helmed by Imtiaz Ali and will also star Diljit Dosanjh. The actress recently wrapped up the shooting of the film.

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Srijita Sen

Srijita Sen is constantly curious about figuring out the meaning of films, music, life and everything in between. With a great love for 2000s Bollywoo…Read More

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March 23, 2023

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Last Updated: March 23, 2023, 22:09 ISTParineeti

‘Saturday Night Live’ Editors Unanimously Ratify First-Ever Contract

The post-production crew at NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” unanimously ratified their first-ever union contract, a deal that will offer immediate pay boosts for all members of the unit and will avert a strike deadline the members had set for April 1st.

The vote took place during a Wednesday night meeting of the crew and Editors Guild representatives. The contract now goes into effect immediately and runs until the summer of 2026.

“The solidarity and bravery of this crew are just so impressive,” said Cathy Repola, National Executive Director of the Editors Guild. “They fought not just to improve their own working lives; they have also set a standard that will benefit all those who follow in their footsteps at this TV comedy institution. It was an honor to work with them on reaching this significant agreement.”

Under the terms of the contract, workers will see pay hikes of up to 60%, in addition to immediate ratification bonuses. Every member of the crew will receive initial increases, ranging from 7.5% to 33.5%, effective upon the show’s return from hiatus next week. It will also provide healthcare benefits for all crew members as well as provisions for meals, hotel stays, and car services given the nontraditional working hours of the long-running NBC sketch series. A joint commitment was also made to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on the crew.

The ratification of the contract comes after it was reported last week that the parties involved had reached a tentative agreement. The crew made up of 12-20 members had previously organized with the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and is a part of IATSE Local 700. They had originally announced plans to negotiate a contract in October.

Most of their colleagues on the show have long had union contracts. But these workers – who help create the show’s music-video parodies and other popular pre-taped segments – had been unrepresented and paid rates far below industry standards.

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March 23, 2023

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The post-production crew at NBC’s “Saturday Night

MCU

Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s Lengthy Runtime Revealed by New Listing

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s record-breaking runtime was officially revealed.

The next film in line for the MCU is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which will round out the Guardians trilogy and bring an end to the franchise.

The story for the upcoming movie has been teased as being “emotional” and “beautiful,” and the trailers that were released for Vol. 3 echo her comments.

Director James Gunn recently stated that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be “longer than 1 & 2,” but didn’t actually give a specific runtime.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s Official Runtime Revealed

Marvel

According to an official listing on ticket seller Atom Tickets, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will have a runtime of 2 hours and 29 minutes.

This will set a new record, making Vol. 3 the longest film in the entire Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 runtime, Atom Tickets — Atom Tickets

For reference, Guardians of the Galaxy was 2 hours and 2 minutes long, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was 2 hours and 17 minutes, and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was only 44 minutes.

This runtime would also tie the movie with Avengers: Infinity War as the fourth longest MCU movie ever, beating out gargantuan films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Captain America: Civil War, but not quite reaching the lengths of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avengers: Endgame:

Avengers: Endgame – 3 hours, 1 minute
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – 2 hours, 41 minutes
Eternals – 2 hours, 36 minutes
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – 2 hours, 29 minutes
Avengers: Infinity War – 2 hours, 29 minutes
Spider-Man: No Way Home – 2 hours, 28 minutes
Captain America: Civil War – 2 hours, 27 minutes
The Avengers – 2 hours, 23 minutes
Avengers: Age of Ultron – 2 hours, 21 minutes
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – 2 hours, 17 minutes

Why Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is Longer

As previously mentioned, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is going to take the emotional aspects of the first two films and crank them up to 11.

It was already confirmed that this will be the last movie in the MCU that Dave Bautista’s Drax appears, and one of the official trailers showcased baby Rocket enduring some grueling torture.

Vol. 3 is also set to introduce Will Poulter‘s Adam Warlock and Chukwudi Iwuji‘s High Evolutionary into the MCU.

With all of those elements present in the same film, it only makes sense for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 to have such a long runtime.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be released in theaters on May 5.

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March 23, 2023

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10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is humongous, to put it lightly; there are plenty of movies and television series watched by millions to show for it. Over the years, Marvel has made it abundantly clear that they are interested in superwomen that are strong, and can hold their own in the thick of it. Take Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and the Scarlet Witch all as valid cases. There is a pattern, and for the most part, it is for the better. The world of superheroes was once dominated by men, with the superwomen receiving little to no care in their film and television appearances.

Now, we can all rejoice in seeing these complex characters shown in their full glory. There are more opportunities for them to continue this trend, and these are the characters with the most potential to make an impact on the Marvel brand.

10 Nicholette Gold (or just Nikki)

Marvel Comics

Nikki is a human who has had her genetics altered to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions. While she isn’t the most interesting in terms of her backstory of being part of a planet’s colonization, and being lost in space until found by the Guardians of the Galaxy, her character design is neat. Nikki is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat, gymnastics and sharpshooting, so she is not useless at all despite not being superpowered.

The most popular interpretation of Nikki outside the comics would have to be in the Guardians of the Galaxy game, where she is the adopted daughter of another important character in the game’s narrative. She is portrayed as a young girl here rather than an adult. It would be up to Marvel to decide which version of Nikki to incorporate, but both versions have likable personalities that would benefit the live action films.

9 Teresa Parker

teresa parker thinking about the kingpin — Marvel Comics

Not everyone knows that Peter Parker has a long-lost sister, and that is because she is hardly featured in the comics. Teresa Parker is a character shrouded in mystery, with so much of her origin story being left in the dark. She was adopted and did not go to live with May, so that is why she has never met Peter. Everything else would be up to the MCU to explain in its own way, or to keep it intentionally vague. Fans also know that Nick Fury recruited her into the CIA, and starts off believing that her biological parents are not really her parents, due to some long-winded manipulation from some recognizable villains. One of those villains is Kingpin, who will certainly be brought back in Daredevil: Born Again. Peter Parker is lonely now in the MCU, so why not bring in his sister to lighten up No Way Home’s somber and polarizing ending?

8 Snowguard/Amka Aliyak

close up shot of snowguard in the comics — Marvel Comics

Amka Aliyak is Inuk-Indigenous teenager, and adventurer from Nunavut, Canada—a region with a low population, scattered towns, and villages. She had been blessed with the essence of Sila, a spirit in her culture whom she had managed to save. With the new power she had been granted, she decided to train and become a superhero with the group known as the Champions. This is interesting, in that there have been rumors brewing about the MCU thinking about forming that very group.

If those rumors ever come to fruition, we believe that Snowguard is a must-have on that team. Not only is she a representation for Indigenous people, but her origins provide insight on a lesser known group of powerful spirits from the comics, called Inua. They are also referred to as the Northern Gods, so they are fairly important to the universe. In brief, Snowguard should be brought aboard regardless of the Champions being formed, but seeing her adapted faithfully from her unique comic origins is the ideal scenario we would like to see.

7 Magik/Illyana Nikolaievna Rasputina

Anya Taylor-Joy Talks Magik and The New Mutants Finally Coming Out [Exclusive] — 20th Century Studios

Illyana (or Magik) made her live action debut in the critical and commercial failure, The New Mutants. While the movie did not perform well, it still had its better moments, and Magik (Anya Taylor-Joy) played a key role in that. While it is unlikely that Taylor-Joy would ever reprise the role with her busy schedule, the film brought a lot of eyes to the character, and helped her garner a lot of new fans. Magik is a mutant with a laundry list of powerful abilities, but her most notable, and what she is most known for is the ability of interdimensional transportation.

She is most often tied to the X-Men, and is the younger sister of Colossus (who is part of the X-Men), so we would probably need to wait for the team of mutants to be brought to our screens first before we ever see Magik again. Nevertheless, she is often said to be one of the most powerful women in the comics, so it would be neat to see that happen.

6 White Tiger/Ava Ayala

Ava Ayala is a young woman from Puerto Rico who is powered through the mystic White Tiger amulets, after they came into her possession after a tragic chain of familial events. Some of the powers these amulets give her are: above-average strength, speed, agility, durability, and fantastic technique in fighting. When she does not have these amulets, however, the side effects are often painful. This plays a role in her character development.

There is hearsay going around that Ava Ayala might make an appearance in Daredevil: Born Againas the White Tiger, but that has yet to be confirmed by anyone that can verify their sources. It is hard to guess what her role would be in the show, and whether she should be a friend or frenemy to Matt Murdock. Either way, she would be refreshing and bring something new to the table if it were to be true.

5 Moon Girl/Lunella LaFayette (and Devil Dinosaur)

Disney+

You might not believe us when we say that a 9 year-old is just as smart as Tony Stark, but you better believe. Moon Girl is, and she now has her very own animated series streaming on Disney+. This series is not canon to the MCU, however. Moon Girl creates her own gadgets, gets the job done even when the adults around her fail to do so. She is vibrant, funny, and irresistibly charming; everything that Marvel could want from a protagonist they ultimately want to profit from.

While there is no confirmation on any plans for her outside the animated series, it would be wise to capitalize on the newfound popularity, and let her have her live action moment sometime in the future. Even if it means aging her by a couple of years, so she feels a little less out of place with her counterparts. You can’t have Moon Girl without Devil Dinosaur, either. The big, red companion would need to be front and center.

Related: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Star Diamond White Wants to Inspire Black Young Girls

4 Angela

Marvel Comics

As the canonical sister of Thor and Loki, Angela’s introduction into the MCU would not be difficult to pull off, and would not have to be convoluted. She was originally a part of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn animated series, and made appearances within the pages of Image Comics, but was later acquired by Marvel for their usage. Her background with the two aforementioned characters would be intriguing to see adapted to screen, big or small.

Angela is also just very strong in her own right, if we are going off her individual characteristics. Angela herself is a god, who is also an heir to the throne of Asgard. Her main powers and abilities include the ability to move faster than lightning, amazing strength, and superhuman durability that allows her to withstand attacks. She would make an excellent member of the new Avengers lineup, and any enemy that were to face her would be wise to turn the other way.

3 Squirrel Girl/Doreen Green

Marvel Comics

Doreen Green is Squirrel Girl, and it is impossible not to adore her. In short terms, she has the strength, agility, speed, reflexes, and more, of a squirrel… if those skills just so happened to be proportionate to someone who is the size of a human girl. She can also communicate with squirrels, because why not?

She has also defeated the likes of Thanos and Doctor Doom alone, and yes—that is canon. Those winning moments do not even scratch the surface of similar battles she had won, and is where she gets the nickname of the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. While seeing her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe might need to see her ability to defeat seemingly impossible odds reduced a bit, she would still prove to be a likable, and highly marketable addition to the live action roster.

Related: The Best Marvel Animated Projects

2 Black Cat/Felicia Hardy

Marvel Comics

If we are throwing Disney having the rights to the character currently out the window, there is no reason for Felicia Hardy to not be on this list. The daughter of a cat-burglar, who trains in martial arts to be able to defend herself and the people around her after a traumatic experience in her life involving an ex-boyfriend. She is one of the most iconic Spider-Man love interests and partners; unique in the fact she only has interest in Spider-Man, and not Peter Parker, who is usually with a variant of Mary Jane in most forms of media.

With Sony not making the most of the hot commodity outside their video games, it would be smart for the MCU to try and strike a deal that would allow them to use her to her fullest potential. People are waiting for Black Cat to meet Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and with him going to college soon, there is a chance he will meet all types of new people, including her. Her planned solo movie from Sony is still up in the air, with no recent news being made on its development.

1 Jessica Jones

Marvel

We don’t know how Marvel would reintroduce Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones—we just know that they should be thinking about doing it soon. Jessica Jones as a character made her live action debut in her own Netflix series in 2015, taking on the style of a neo-noir thriller, where Jones did private detective work while also battling the roots of her own trauma. The series was a massive hit, but ultimately met its demise in 2019, along with every other Marvel-Netflix production that was being produced at the time. With Charlie Cox reprising his role as Daredevil, seeing Ritter return as Jessica Jones is not off the table—and they would be smart to at least be considering it. The character is popular, and the show was a favorite of many. All in all, Ritter was born to play this role, and it is safe to say that it’s hard to envision anyone else under the name of Jessica Jones. At least temporarily while we get used to the change.

But after all that we have been through with Jessica Jones, we still hope that we will reunite with her again. Not with her hardships necessarily wiped away, but a soft reset akin to Cox’s Daredevil if possible. The deep history we have with this character is what grants her the top spot on this list.

There are more characters that Marvel should be pondering, but these are just the top ten we think would make a big splash. Even if they are not on this list, it is rejuvenating to see women brought forward in leading roles—especially in comic book media.

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March 23, 2023
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Comics

Why These Ex-Nintendo Employees Think Super Smash Bros. Melee HD Will Never Happen

Two former Nintendo employees have shared their thoughts on why they believe Nintendo is unlikely to ever release an HD version of the popular mascot brawler Super Smash Bros. Melee. Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis left Nintendo in 2022 after numerous years with the company, later establishing a podcast where they discuss a variety of video game industry topics.

On their latest episode, Ellis said a hypothetical Melee HD “makes a lot of sense,” but also remarked that “it’s never going to happen.” Yang added, “It’s absolutely 100% never going to happen.”

Yang went on to say that Melee is surrounded by “negative things” that she believes Nintendo would not want to go anywhere near, like black market emulation and “all this other stuff that Nintendo does not like.”

Ellis said one of the reasons that Nintendo would not pursue making Melee HD is “how annoying the community would be around it. If you change even one miniscule detail about this game, [the community would say], ‘Oh, this game is not viable.'”

It would have to be “pixel-perfect” to get the fans onboard, Ellis said. “You can’t do it.”

“There is no way you can satisfy the zealousness of that community,” Yang added.

Ellis went on to say that he believes Nintendo sees no incentive to make Melee HD, agreeing with Yang that it would cause headaches for the company. Yang said she has “residual trauma” from her time working on the Smash Bros. series at Nintendo. “Dealing with that was truly a nightmare,” she said.

Additionally, Ellis and Yang questioned whether or not Smash Bros. designer Masahiro Sakurai would be up for the challenge of developing a Melee HD and everything that comes with that. “His level of aggression, perfection, passion, coupled with the Melee community… that is like the most toxic relationship you could get into. I think, for his health, he would not make it,” Yang said.

Ellis and Yang also agreed that Sakurai would attempt to veto any move to have another studio make Melee HD.

Officially, Sakurai has stepped away from the Smash Bros. series following the conclusion of Smash Bros. Ultimate’s DLC campaign. He now runs a YouTube channel and posts videos about cats.

The latest Smash Bros. game, Ultimate, has sold more than 30 million copies and is one of the best-selling games for the Switch.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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March 23, 2023
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Festivals

Filmstro’s Customizable Scores Put The Orchestra in Your Hands

Have you ever wanted to be the composer of your own score? Filmstro can help you do just that.

Back in the day before the web took over every part of our lives, scoring a film required a talented composer and sometimes an orchestra. But now, a myriad of music libraries can help you add the right music to your project.

However, there was always one issue. What if the music you chose just needed that final tweak?

Filmstro aims to change the way you score with its customizable royalty-free music library. But how is it done? And can it truly achieve the work of a dedicated composer?

Scoring In Your Browser

Everything you do while working with Filmstro happens in your browser (at least for now). A nice surprise right off the bat was that creatives can upload their scene, trailer, or clip into the browser app and watch their content as they score the material. Kind of like you would when you score your project.

Filmmakers can then choose their music from the Filmstro library based on music or video genre or by mood and instruments.

This isn’t going to be your ordinary music libraryCredit: Filmstro

Pretty straightforward, right?

Well, this is where things get interesting. The music is divided into stems, which are the individual instrument tracks that make up the score. Creatives can then turn them off and on depending on their needs.

A few other platforms give you this ability, but Filmstro takes the whole concept a step further.

Changing the Music To Suit Your Needs

Being a filmmaker that’s had to rely on music libraries to score my projects, this next feature really blew my mind.

Filmstro music tracks are completely customizable. We’re not talking about just turning stems off and on, but actually fine-tuning their presence within your scene by using a special edit mode.

Completely customize your scoreCredit: Filmstro

When in this edit mode, creatives can start with three different types of mixes or have a blank slate to work from. Filmstro then provides a timeline, and three different sliders called Momentum, Depth, and Power. By playing the scene, filmmakers can make changes to the sliders and increase or decrease the intensity of the score with Momentum, the booming undertones with Depth, and the force of instruments with Power.

All of these changes are recorded as you fine-tune the sounds. It’s almost like having the orchestra right in front of you. Whatever score your scene demands for that moment, you can make the change as you see fit.

If you want even more control, you can make the changes in your timeline without playing your scene, which also comes with its own transition shapes.

The power this provides to filmmakers on a tight budget or deadline is mind-blowing, and the future of Filmstro is looking pretty grand.

Leaving The Browser Behind

As the web application keeps developing, Filmstro plans to add plugins for either Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro. Which plugin comes first is up to you, so check out the Filmstro site and share your support for the NLE of your choice at the bottom of the page. You can also check out the Filmstro YouTube Channel for an in-depth look.

This is definitely not your ordinary music library. The process of scoring your projects has never been so cool, especially if you’re a lone filmmaker shooting your own material.

But what do you think? Would Filmstro change the way your score your projects? Lets us know in the comments!

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March 23, 2023
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Film

Keanu Reeves on John Wick 4 Set Accident: I Cut Open a Man’s Head

Keanu Reeves revealed in a new interview with ComicBook.com that he once split open a man’s head during a stunt scene gone wrong while making one of the “John Wick” movies. Reeves has four “John Wick” movies under his belt, and the action franchise has required him to do insane stunts involving speeding cars, nunchucks, swords and more.

“Well I mean everyone is pretty tired – but it’s the best kind of tired,” Reeves said when asked about what kind of accidents have taken place on the action-heavy “John Wick” sets. “It’s like you climbed a mountain now you’re resting; like you finished the game and you won.”

“So in terms of accidents: I made a mistake once – I cut a gentleman’s head open,” Reeves continued. “So that really fucking sucked – excuse my language. But other than that…oh, one guy got hit by a car. He was in the car, so he had to go to the hospital, but he was okay. All of this to say that you do have to take care. But it’s great that everyone [on set] is watching out for each other.”

Reeves concluded, “There’s some bruising and aches and pains, but [imitates official PSA announcement] ‘No humans were harmed in the filming of this motion picture!’”

Variety has reached out to “John Wick” distributor Lionsgate for further comment.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” is the latest installment in the franchise, and Reeves previously told Total Film magazine that it was the hardest action movie he’s ever had to make.

“’John Wick: Chapter 4′ has the most action of any of the [‘John Wick’] films, which is saying a lot,” he said. “And it’s more by a good margin. It’s a big show… ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ was the hardest physical role I’ve ever had in my career so far. They really trained me up to be able to have what we call the toolbox.”

Reeves spent nearly three months exclusively training for the stunts in “John Wick: Chapter 4.” The most challenging one to prep for was a car stunt in which Reeves’ character races around the historic Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The actor had to learn how to do a reverse 180 and drift all while reloading his prop gun and shooting it out of the door.

“It’s been about 12 weeks of training. It’s new levels of action,” Reeves said in a featurette for the sequel. “You know, nun-chucks, which was challenging…’ John Wick’ action asks just a little bit more. And you see the effort and the commitment from the team.”

In “John Wick: Chapter 4,” Reeves’ eponymous assassin faces off with new enemies and reunites with old friends on his mission to destroy the villainous High Table once and for all. Reeves is joined by Bill Skarsgård as Marquis, Donnie Yen as Caine, Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King, Lance Reddick as Charon, Rina Sawayama as Akira, Shamier Anderson as Tracker, Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, Scott Adkins as Killa and Ian McShane as Winston.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” hits theaters on March 24 from Lionsgate.

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March 23, 2023
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Keanu Reeves revealed in a new interview

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TV

See Where Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss and Scheana Shay Will Sit at ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Reunion

See Where Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss and Scheana Shay Will Sit at ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Reunion | Entertainment Tonight

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March 23, 2023
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What to Watch

Mrs. Davis: Premiere Date, Cast And Other Things We Know About The Peacock TV Show

Artificial intelligence has long been a part of the sci-fi genre, with movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Terminator (and its various sequels), and Ex Machina all exploring the technology and using it as a core element of their respective stories. With A.I. becoming far more powerful and present than ever before, we’ll surely be seeing more stories centering around it in the near future, like the upcoming Peacock TV show titled Mrs. Davis.

The soon-to-be-released sci-fi drama action series from some of the minds behind shows like Lost, Watchmen, and The Big Bang Theory is about to introduce Peacock subscribers to a world that is controlled not by a God in the heavens above, but a hyper-intelligent program in everyone’s mobile devices, as well as the group of people trying to free humanity from its clutches. Here is everything we know about the new project from co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez.

What Is The Mrs. Davis Premiere Date?

(Image credit: NBC/ Comcast)

You don’t have to wait until the distant future to check out Mrs. Davis, as the new Peacock original series is slated to premiere Thursday, April 20th. Peacock has announced that the first four episodes of the 10-part first season will be released on Day One with each subsequent chapter premiering weekly throughout the spring.

This has become the standard for the streaming platform as of late, with shows like A Friend of the Family, and the 2023 breakout, Poker Face, utilizing similar release models.

The Mrs. Davis Trailer Introduces The Incredible Power (And Reach) Of The Titular Artificial Intelligence

(Image credit: Peacock)

In March 2023, Peacock released the first full-length Mrs. Davis trailer showcasing what the upcoming sci-fi drama (with some humor) is all about. Much like the teaser trailer that preceded it by a couple of weeks, this two-minute video provides an introduction to the incredible power and reach of the artificial intelligence at the center of the upcoming series. Though the brief teaser felt more like a fictional commercial you’d see on Black Mirror or Upload, this new video showed the resistance movement whose aim it is to bring an end to the A.I.:

The action-packed and mysterious trailer offers glimpses of the journey that is to come, which will prove to be no easy task for those dedicated freedom fighters who want to be in control of their own destiny and not one dictated by an app on your phone or other mobile devices.

Betty Gilpin And Jake McDorman Lead The Mrs. Davis Cast

(Image credit: Peacock)

When Mrs. Davis takes to Peacock in late April, it will feature an incredibly rich and versatile cast, but before we dive into the supporting actors who will make appearances throughout the show’s first season, let’s talk about the two leads: Betty Gilpin and Jack McDorman.

Gilpin, who made small appearances on Law & Order before landing major roles on shows like Nurse Jackie, GLOW, and Gaslit, will take on the role of Simone, a nun who ends up being part of a resistance movement to take down the A.I. after first being tasked with working for the program. McDorman, whose recent credits include shows like The Right Stuff and Dopesick, comes in as Simone’s ex-boyfriend, Wiley, a major figure in the underground anti-tech movement.

Peacock has also announced that Margo Martindale, Andy McQueen, Ben Chaplin, David Arquette, Elizabeth Marvel, and multiple others will appear throughout the first season.

Mrs. Davis Follows A Nun As She Is Tasked With Destroying An All-Powerful A.I.

(Image credit: Peacock)

Like Neo in The Matrix, Sarah Connor in The Terminator, and countless other protagonists set on destroying a machine or artificial intelligence to free humanity from its clutches, the series will follow Gilpin’s Simone as a nun caught between faith and technology who attempts to destroy the world’s most powerful A.I. before it’s too late. But with the Mrs. Davis A.I. already in control of much of everyone’s day-to-day lives, breaking the system, and freeing people from its influence, will prove to be no easy task.

The 10-Episode Peacock Original Series Was Created By Lost’s Damon Lindelof And The Big Bang Theory’s Tara Hernandez

(Image credit: Peacock)

The team bringing the 10-episode first season to life is quite the dynamic duo, with a few of the most popular and consequential shows of the 21st century between them, which makes the upcoming series all the more promising.

Peacock has announced that Mrs. Davis is the partly brainchild of Damon Lindelof, the creator of shows like Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen, which should give you an inclination of the series’ scope and scale. At the same time, Tara Hernandez, who wrote more than 100 episodes of The Big Bang Theory and a few dozen episodes of its spinoff series, Young Sheldon, is serving as showrunner, which could lead to a great balance of drama and comedy.

The Idea Behind Mrs. Davis Came From The Show’s Creators’ Fears And Reliance On Technology

(Image credit: Peacock)

Though the concept of an all-powerful artificial intelligence taking control of humanity seems like something ripped from the pages of a pulp sci-fi paperback, the idea behind the series actually spawned from creators Hernandez and Lindelof’s fears about and reliance on technology. During a panel at SXSW 2023 (via The Hollywood Reporter) following the show’s world debut, Lindelof broke down where it all came from, stating:

The idea [came from] taking something that was really worrying us. [We were] saying, ‘Oh my God, I am too reliant on technology. But at the same time, I really like it and need it and it is sort of connecting me to people. How do we start to reconcile this anxiety through a fun lens?

During the same conversation, Hernandez explained that the future of A.I. and where it’s going served as the inspiration for the series and the moral dilemmas it brings up.

Damon Lindelof Was Looking For The Venn Diagram Where The Sound of Music, Black Mirror And True Romance Overlap

(Image credit: Peacock)

Though this show touches on a subject that could lead to a dystopian future quite easily, Lindelof and co-creator Tara Hernandez were trying to avoid the trappings of the subgenre while initially conceptualizing the show. When speaking with Vulture ahead of its release, the three-time Primetime Emmy winner said the show needed to be “fun to watch” instead of a “huge downer,” adding:

Where in the Venn diagram do The Sound of Music, Black Mirror, and True Romance overlap? That’s what we were gunning for.

Those three titles don’t seem to have much in common with one another, but the analogy of a Venn diagram makes perfect sense for the tone of the show, as is evident in the Mrs. Davis trailer. However, we don’t yet know if Betty Gilpin will be dancing and singing like Julie Andrews in the iconic Sound of Music hill sequence.

Expect to hear much more about Mrs. Davis as we get closer to its April 20th premiere. In the meantime, check out the 2023 TV schedule to get all caught up on all the new and returning shows coming our way.

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March 23, 2023
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Awards

‘Saturday Night Live’ Editors Ratify New Labor Contract, Averting Strike

The Motion Picture Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700) announced on Thursday that the post-production team of “Saturday Night Live” has approved its first-ever labor contract with NBCUniversal, averting what would have been the first show-specific strike for the hallowed late night comedy show.

Effective immediately, the editor team will receive pay increases ranging between 7.5% and 33%, with the increases rising to 60% over the duration of the contract through summer 2026.

The contract also provides healthcare benefits for all crew members and codifies provisions for
meals, hotel stays and car services to address the unusual working hours on the show, where
the pre-taped sketches that the editors work on must be completed from start to finish in less than a week to be ready for the live broadcast on Saturday. A joint commitment was also made to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on the crew.

The “SNL” editor team unionized with the Editors Guild this past October, but continued to work without a contract as talks with NBCUniversal stalled. On March 9, the team announced a strike deadline on April 1, and a tentative agreement was reached eight days later.

“The solidarity and bravery of this crew are just so impressive,” said Cathy Repola, National Executive Director of Editors Guild. “They fought not just to improve their own working lives; they have also set a standard that will benefit all those who follow in their footsteps at this TV comedy institution. It was an honor to work with them on reaching this significant agreement.”

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March 23, 2023
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Music

Flo and Missy Elliott Share Video for New Song “Fly Girl”: Watch

UK R&B trio Flo have shared a new song with Missy Elliott called “Fly Girl.” It comes with a new music video directed by Tajana Tokyo. Watch the “Fly Girl” visual below.

“‘Fly Girl’ is all about confidence, good vibes and feeling your best. It’s a lively, feel good song that still incorporates clever lyrics and fire vocals, if we do say so ourselves,” Flo said. “It’s quite literally a perfect fusion of old school meets modern day R&B, with a nod to and feature from the original fly girl Missy Elliott herself. We love it and are so happy to be putting out a song that can hopefully make whoever plays it feel confident and most importantly, FLY.”

Missy Elliott added, “Working with Flo has been nothing less than amazing. I remember a few of their fans sent me clips of their performances, and I immediately felt the authentic ’90s vibe. I loved the fact they all sang lead so well—great vocal control—so when I was asked to be a part of the ‘Fly Gir’ record, it was a no brainer. They used the inspiration from my song ‘Work It,’ and I felt they did it justice. I enjoyed it and I believe they have a long, great career ahead of them.”

Renée Downer, Jorja Douglas, and Stella Quaresma are Flo. Last year, the trio released its debut EP, The Lead, featuring single “Immature.” Since sharing the EP, Flo have shared the single “Losing You” and also joined Stormzy for “Hide & Seek (Flo Remix).”

Last month, Missy Elliott joined Skrillex and Mr. Oizo’s on a new song called “Ratata.” She also performed alongside a cadre of hip-hop legends for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop celebration at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Plus, she got nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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March 23, 2023
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Docs

‘Only on Earth,’ ‘Red Zone,’ ‘Cuba & Alaska’ Pick Up CPH:DOX Project Awards

Three projects pitched at CPH:FORUM – the industry program of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen-based documentary festival – have been awarded cash prizes. They are Robin Petré’s “Only on Earth,” Iryna Tsilyk’s “Red Zone” and Yegor Troyanovsky’s “Cuba & Alaska.” The filmmakers were awarded at a ceremony in the Danish capital on Thursday.

Petré’s “Only on Earth” garnered the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award worth €20,000 for best pitch. The docu, produced by Signe Skov Thomsen, and Malene Flindt Pedersen, depicts a journey deep into one of Europe’s hottest fire zones, Galicia, where wild horses roam the mountains under the watch of local cowboys. These horses are excellent at fire prevention, but now they are vanishing in the clash between humans and nature.

Emma Scott (head of distribution, short film production, Screen Ireland), Rikke Tambo Andersen (producer at Tambo Film) and Heino Deckert Makri (producer at ma.ja.de.) made up the team of jurors for the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award.

On their motivation for selecting “Only on Earth” for best pitch, the jurors said: “The Eurimages co-production development award goes to a visually stunning project that brought us to a place where nature is burning, climate change is evident, but hope is to be found between humans and animals.”

This marks the tenth year that the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award has been presented at the CPH:FORUM.

“Red Zone” conveys the idea that the war not only kills people – it also changes those who survived.
Courtesy of CPH:DOX

Scott, Andersen and Makri also served as jurors for the new special Eurimages Development Award, which was created to express CPH:DOX’s support of and solidarity with the Ukrainian film industry.

The award, presented to Tsilyk’s “Red Zone,” comes with a cash-prize of €20,000, which was provided by the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund.

Produced by Darya Bassel, “Red Zone” conveys the idea that the war not only kills people – it also changes those who survived. In the doc, Tsilyk, a Ukrainian filmmaker, shares her intimate, female perspective on the question of what it means to be a woman in times of war.

On their motivation for choosing “Red Zone,” the jury said: “This innovative look at the inner lives of women as they go about their daily lives with humor and courage while in the midst of a terrifying war captivated the imagination of the jury.”

Ukrainian productions and co-productions, eligible for both Eurimages awards, had a strong representation of 12% of this year’s projects lineup, across the selection of CPH:FORUM, CPH:WIP and CHANGE, CPH:DOX’s development co-production training program in collaboration with IMS and EAVE, featuring projects from the European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries.

Finally, the Unifrance Doc Award for the best French majority or minority co-produced pitch was given to Troyanovsky’s “Cuba & Alaska.”

This marks the first time the CPH:FORUM has given the Unifrance Doc Award, which consists of €2,300 in post-production support for subtitling at TitraFilm, to be used within three years. Additionally, the prize, provided by Unifrance and TitraFilm, comes with a Unifrance membership for one year for the value of €1,590 for the producers of “Cuba & Alaska,” Olha Beskhmelnytsina and Christian Popp. A Unifrance membership also gives access to other support such as the refund of promotion expenses in a limit of €1,500, totaling the value of the award to €5,390.

“Cuba & Alaska” depicts two young paramedic women, Cuba and Alaska, who live on the edge in the war-torn Kharkiv region.
Courtesy of CPH:DOX

“Cuba & Alaska” depicts two young paramedic women, Cuba and Alaska, who live on the edge in the war-torn Kharkiv region. Their mission is to save lives while sharing good humor, and belief in victory.

The Unifrance Doc Award jury was composed of Nora Philippe (director at EURODOC, France), Vibeke Vogel (producer at Bullit Film, Denmark), Emelie Persson (deputy program director culture and society, SVT, Sweden) .

“This pitch took us to a space and time where life and death dwell together in an unspeakable proximity, where courage and combat are female, and where fight against oppression is led in the name not only of Ukraine, but also of us further in Europe and in the world,” the jurors said. “We wish to acknowledge a project that is bold and strikingly alive, the intimate access to a singular sisterly duo, a portrait that embraces the complexities of youth, care, creativity and trauma, and finally a coproduction endeavor (Ukraine + France) that will hopefully, bring the project to full funding and rapid completion.”

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March 23, 2023
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Global

Should You Take an Antiviral to Prevent Long COVID?

The only guaranteed way to prevent Long COVID is to avoid getting infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Recently, however, researchers have found promising signs that certain drugs may reduce the risk of developing Long COVID if they’re taken shortly after infection.

Those studies are preliminary, but they raise an intriguing question: Should everyone who gets COVID-19 take medication in hopes of avoiding Long COVID?

Here’s what experts say.

Which drugs might prevent Long COVID?

Studies have recently highlighted two promising drugs: Paxlovid and metformin.

Paxlovid is an antiviral authorized to treat COVID-19 among people at high risk of severe disease, including elderly adults and people with underlying health conditions. Last year, researchers found that high-risk people who took Paxlovid within five days of testing positive for COVID-19 were 26% less likely to have Long COVID symptoms after 90 days, compared to people who weren’t treated. On Mar. 23, the same researchers published updated data in JAMA Internal Medicine. Among a larger group of high-risk people who were tracked for six months—more than 35,000 of whom took Paxlovid—the drug showed the same reduction in risk.

Metformin, meanwhile, is not a classic antiviral; it’s long been approved as a Type 2 diabetes treatment. But studies suggest that it may have antiviral properties, potentially limiting SARS-CoV-2’s ability to copy itself. In one recent study (which has not yet been peer-reviewed), metformin cut the risk of Long COVID by more than 40% among overweight or obese adults who took it when they had COVID-19, compared to those who didn’t take the drug.

I have COVID-19. Should I take an antiviral to prevent Long COVID?

It’s too soon to recommend that for the general population. Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a professor at the Yale School of Medicine who is studying Paxlovid as a potential treatment for Long COVID, says even the most promising study results need to be confirmed before they influence medical decisions.

“We zig and we zag on evidence all the time. To simply start telling everybody to start taking a medication” before there’s solid data is overzealous, he says.

More from TIME

There’s still debate about what causes Long COVID, adds Stefan Sarafianos, a professor at Emory University who studies antivirals. Some experts think remnants of the virus linger in the body and cause long-lasting symptoms. If that’s true, it’s “intuitive” that an antiviral drug could help prevent that outcome—but, Sarafianos says, it’s not clear if that hypothesis is the right one. “Long COVID is a big mystery,” he says.

Despite the unknowns, certain patients may want to pursue Paxlovid prescriptions, says Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an assistant professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and co-author of the JAMA study on Paxlovid. For people at high risk of severe COVID-19, who already stand to benefit from Paxlovid, the possibility of preventing Long COVID is an added bonus, Al-Aly says.

But “in people who don’t have risk factors,” Al-Aly says, it’s basically “an evidence-free zone.”

Studies have shown that Paxlovid has minimal effect among lower-risk people up to 28 days after their illnesses began. Krumholz says it’s worth tracking the drug’s effects over a longer period of time, but as of now, there’s no strong data to suggest younger, healthy people should be taking it.

Metformin may be useful for a larger group of people, argues Dr. David Boulware, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and co-author of the study on the drug’s potential ability to prevent Long COVID. Boulware and his colleagues studied adults ages 30 to 85 who were either overweight or obese. More than 70% of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, so that includes a large swath of the population.

Boulware personally decided to take metformin when he caught the virus last summer. But, he says, it’s one thing for a physician to make a personal choice, or to recommend a drug for a specific patient based on their health profile, and another to make a sweeping recommendation for the whole population.

Dr. Anand Viswanathan, a clinical assistant professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, agrees that it’s too soon to recommend metformin to the general public. The research “represents a good early signal,” he says. But “we need more studies to corroborate that data before I would vouch for mass use.”

That’s especially true, Krumholz says, because metformin isn’t a classic antiviral. He’d like more information on how it may work against SARS-CoV-2 before recommending it to patients for the prevention of Long COVID.

Is it risky to take Paxlovid or metformin to prevent Long COVID?

Both Paxlovid and metformin are safe, but they come with possible side effects including gastrointestinal issues, muscle pain, and unpleasant aftertastes, as well as rarer but more serious issues.

Plus, Paxlovid interacts with a number of common medications, Viswanathan says, meaning patients may have to pause their other treatments while they take it. That may be worthwhile for someone who could get seriously ill from untreated COVID-19, but it’s a harder sell for someone who may not even benefit from taking Paxlovid.

Widespread Paxlovid use could also theoretically raise the risk of antiviral resistance, Sarafianos says. Drug resistance happens when pathogens mutate enough to stop responding to the medications meant to tame them. Overuse or misuse of drugs (such as by missing doses or stopping treatment early) increases the chances of that happening.

Although resistance to Paxlovid is not currently a major concern, Sarafianos says it is possible—potentially more so if the drug is widely used, since some patients might not take Paxlovid properly because of its unpleasant aftertaste and side effects.

It’s “a numbers game,” Sarafianos says. “As more people take [a drug], the more possibilities there are to come up with a resistant strain.”

Viswanathan adds that there could be shortages if everyone with COVID-19 starts clamoring for these drugs, regardless of whether they really work. “These medications are a limited resource, they have side effects, and we should be prioritizing their use for the intended patient populations that would actually get the [proven] benefit,” Viswanathan says.

The situation may change in the future, as more research comes together. But for now, experts say, it’s best to use Paxlovid and metformin in the ways regulators have authorized them.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Jamie Ducharme at jamie.ducharme@time.com.

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March 23, 2023
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The CW Hit By New Round Of Layoffs – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: The CW is undergoing another round of staff cuts, sources tell Deadline. We hear more than 15 people were affected, with the marketing/promotional team impacted, along with finance.

The laid-off employees are said to include mid- and high-level executives, including some in SVP roles. A rep for CW parent Nexstar Media declined comment.

Today’s staff reductions come a month and a half after Chris Spadaccini joined the CW as Chief Marketing Officer.

The first major wave of layoffs hit last November 1, less than a month after Nexstar closed a deal to take 75% ownership of The CW, when about 30 to 40 staffers across multiple areas left. Those reductions followed the October 3 exits of the CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz, president of streaming and chief branding officer Rick Haskins; and finance chief Mitch Nedick.

There has been a steady stream of executive departures since then, most recently that of Cyle Zezo, who oversaw alternative programming, earlier this week, as Deadline reported exclusively.

Nexstar has promised investors it will make The CW profitable by 2025. The company is substantially revamping the network’s programming slate, steering away from the young-skewing scripted dramas that were long its signature. Instead, the schedule will increasingly favor unscripted shows, with news and sports also entering the mix. Earlier this year, the network signed a deal to carry LIV Golf tournaments on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the first regularly scheduled CW broadcasts outside of prime time. Nexstar executives have said they will continue evaluating additional sports rights and have also indicated they could draw from cable news network NewsNation for programming down the line.

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March 23, 2023
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EXCLUSIVE: The CW is undergoing another round

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Tech

Semafor Media Live Event to Feature Jen Psaski and Chris Licht – The Hollywood Reporter

Semafor wants to bring back the splashy media summit.

The digital media startup founded by former Bloomberg CEO Justin Smith and BuzzFeed News editor in chief and New York Times media columnist Ben Smith is planning an expansion of its Semafor Media brand into live events, with its inaugural summit set for next month in New York.

The event, “Semafor Media at Genesis House,” will take place the evening of April 10, hosted by Ben Smith. Interviewees scheduled to attend include CNN CEO Chris Licht, IAC chairman Barry Diller, MSNBC host and former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, outspoken ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, journalist and podcaster Kara Swisher, and Group Black co-founder Bonin Bough.

Smith tells The Hollywood Reporter that with events becoming a significant part of Semafor’s strategy (he says they are on track for 40 this year), and with the success of the Semafor Africa Summit in December, the decision to bring its media column and newsletter to the format just made sense.

“We were just kind of blown away [at the Semafor Africa Summit] by the level of interest and having really prominent, interesting people showing up in person both onstage and in the audience,” Smith says. “So I think on one hand, there’s just a ton of demand for this kind of event. People really are eager to get back in person.”

He adds, however, that live journalism has become an important part of what Semafor is trying to accomplish.

“The other thing is that I just think live journalism — and Justin and I both kind of really share this view — it can be a real pillar of what we’re doing,” he says. “I think we see events as kind of co-equal with the written and video journalism we are doing, not as an afterthought.”

Events accounted for 30 percent of Semafor’s revenue in 2022, and that is expected to increase this year.

The list of interviewees is a good one: Licht frequently is at the center of the conversation, both when discussing the future of news and in trying to rejuvenate CNN’s brand, in particular, and Diller has long been game to share his thoughts on where the industry is going, and how technology can disrupt the status quo.

Psaki, meanwhile appears as a newly minted TV personality and a veteran of Biden’s press operation, while Bough’s organization is in the mix as a possible buyer for companies like Vice and BET.

“You know I’m just pleased that anybody will talk to me after that New York Times column that I wrote for a couple years,” Smith says, adding that we are in “this moment of change” with social media seemingly on the decline, and artificial intelligence ascendant.

“With financial markets, and national politics and global politics all changing really fast, and with the economy in a really complicated place, and then with consumers changing how they consume news and what they want from news,” Smith says there’s a lot to discuss, and that he hopes the guests will be able to answer questions about how they are adapting, and what might happen next.

Genesis House is the sponsor of the event (the owner of Genesis House is Genesis, the luxury automative brand that is also a Semafor launch partner), and will host a reception after the interviews are complete.

As for the attendees: “We hope it’ll be people who are really interested and connected to this world, and then, you know, to some degree obsessed with it,” Smith says. (The event is invite-only but free for invited attendees.)

Media has become one of Semafor’s signature beats, highlighted by Smith’s weekly Semafor Media newsletter, which he produces Sunday evenings alongside media reporter Max Tani.

It’s a beat Smith knows well now not only from the Times, but also from his days leading BuzzFeed’s newsroom and his time with Politico.

“I honestly think that I’ve been looking forward to competing with the New York Times on Sunday nights — they certainly left that space open for us,” Smith says.

The Times has been without a media columnist since Smith left more than a year ago, though recent reports suggest that Washington Post columnist Sarah Ellison has emerged as a favorite for the job.

“I look forward to them filling it in and us having some competition there,” Smith says.

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March 23, 2023
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Video

‘Bridgerton’ Prequel Spinoff Trailer & First-Look Photos Revealed – Deadline

Everyone is invited to the royal event of the year — not that one!

The first trailer (above) for Netflix’s Bridgerton prequel spinoff Queen Charlotte just dropped teasing that drama, love, and frustration lie ahead. All six episodes will be released on May 4.

From Shonda Rhimes, the series follows Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power. It will focus on how the young Queen’s (India Amarteifio) marriage to King George (Corey Mylchreest) sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.

Cast also includes Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Agatha Danbury), and Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) reprising their roles from Bridgerton in this series, along with Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta, Corey Mylchreest as Young King George and Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury. Rounding out the cast are Sam Clemmett as Young Brimsley, Freddie Dennis as Reynolds, Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim as Adolphus, Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor, Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury, and Hugh Sachs as Brimsley (older).

Newly released photos can be found below.

India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte

Netflix

Corey Mylchreest as Young King George

Netflix

Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury, center, and Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury

Netflix

From left: Corey Mylchreest as Young King George, India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte and Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta

Netflix

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte and James Fleet as King George

Netflix

Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton, left, and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Agatha Danbur

Netflix

From left: Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, Neil Edmond as Earl Harcourt and Michelle Fairley as Princess Augusta

Netflix

Connie Jenkins-Greig as Young Violet Ledger

Netflix

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March 23, 2023
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Everyone is invited to the royal event

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Entertaintment

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Release New Single ‘Dead to the World’ – Rolling Stone

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds has dropped a new single, “Dead to the World,” along with a lyric video for the track. The song will appear on the rock band’s fourth studio album, Council Skies, out June 2 via Sour Mash Records.

In a statement, Gallagher confirmed that “Dead To The World” is “by some distance my favorite tune on the album. It has this film noir vibe. It’s not like anything else I’ve ever done before. It’s very melancholic, but I like that. I’m a Gemini – I’m as up as I am down, and the trick is to meet somewhere in the middle and turn that into music.”

The song is one of several on the LP to feature strings arranged by Rosie Danvers, a long-time High Flying Birds collaborator.

“Rosie gets what I do,” Gallagher noted. ‘Spending a weekend recording strings in Abbey Road – that’s one of the great privileges in a musician’s life. It sounds majestic.”

Previously, the band unveiled two tracks off the album: “Easy Now” and “Pretty Boy.” Council Skies, named after a book by illustrator and Noel’s friend Pete McKee, finds Gallagher reminiscing about his adolescence in Manchester before he and his brother and their band moved to London and hit it big at the dawn of the Britpop era.

“It’s going back to the beginning,” Gallagher said of the album in a statement. “Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be… that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s. When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that.”

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The album, recorded at Noel’s own Lone Star Sound Recording Studio in London, was produced by Gallagher and Paul “Strangeboy” Stacey and features orchestration laid down at the famed Abbey Road Studios. Johnny Marr appears on three tracks over the course of Council Skies, including “Pretty Boy.”

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will tour in support of the album this summer. The North American dates will kick off on June 2 in Auburn, WA at White River Amphitheatre and continue through July 15 with a show in Boston at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Metric is set to open the majority of the dates.

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March 23, 2023
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Movies

Review: Rehabilitating Richard III in ‘The Lost King’

Richard III didn’t need a horse for his kingdom. He just needed Philippa Langley.

Langley, a single mother and amateur historian living in Edinburgh, Scotland, became increasingly obsessed with the late English monarch, long portrayed as one of the great villains of history. In the supposedly hunchbacked king who was said to have killed his nephews, Langley and others suspected a centurieslong smear campaign.

The long-held consensus on Richard III had been shaped by the Tudors, who killed Richard and assumed the throne. It’s a narrative, of course, forever since solidified by Shakespeare’s great play. For Richard and his sympathizers, it’s been not just a winter of discontent but some 500 years. “Every tale condemns me for a villain,” the king says in “Richard III.”

Except for “The Lost King.”

Stephen Frears’ new film, which opens in theaters Friday, dramatizes the true tale of Langley’s dogged pursuit to unearth the true story of Richard as well as his actual, long-lost remains — a journey that leads, remarkably, to a parking lot in Leicester.

It’s the kind of comic, eminently British underdog story that Frears excels at. And with Sally Hawkins playing Langley as a woman undeterred by pompous academics and condescending naysayers, “The Lost King” makes for a charmingly droll tale of long-ago and not-so-long-ago reappraisal.

“The Lost King” — which could make a good double feature with Al Pacino’s “Looking for Richard” — reteams much of the creative team behind Frears’ Oscar-nominated 2013 film “Philomena.” It’s penned by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope and based on Langley’s memoir. Coogan also plays Langley’s estranged husband, who maintains a mostly supportive relationship with her while sharing custody of their sons.

Despite it being a far more modest mystery than “North by Northwest“ — playing out mostly at kitchen tables, bookstores and the pub meetings of the Richard III Society — Frears gives his modest film a few big-screen flourishes, including Saul Bass-like opening credits and a Bernard Herrmann-like score by Alexandre Desplat. There’s an innocent man here, too. He just happens to be half a millennium old.

But mostly, Frears sensibly sticks to capturing every quicksilver gesture of the brilliant Hawkins. When we meet Hawkins’ Langley, she’s reached a middle-age ebb. Troubled by chronic fatigue syndrome, Langley is passed over at work. Her marriage has fallen apart. She’s withdrawing from life. But after attending a performance of “Richard III,“ she’s captivated by the monarch and recognizes in him someone else who’s been unfairly written off for their supposed disability. When she dives into researching Richard and eventually spearheads a dig in Leicester, Langley’s crusade is a doubled one: to resurrect a marginalized monarch and to assert her own place in the world.

Along the way, Langley is visited by Richard III himself, in the form of the actor (Harry Lloyd) who played him in the production that inspired her in the first place. These are muted scenes as far as apparitions go. I can’t help wondering if here might have been Coogan’s chance to play a war general and trot out his “Gentlemen to bed” line from “The Trip.” But as it is, Coogan is nicely low-key in “The Lost King” and gets one of the film’s best monologues, lamenting both the demonizing and sanctifying of historical figures, or anybody. “We’re all in the middle,” he says.

“The Lost King” very contentedly resides in that middle with a protagonist who accomplishes something extraordinary despite being repeatedly told how ordinary she is. Frears, who has found humanity in royalty and nobility in nobodies, animates every scene with little comic touches of everyday life. Richard may be validated but there are bad guys, here, too. In the film’s final third, University of Leicester officials descend to take the spotlight from Langley — a characterization the university has called unfair and inaccurate. The wheel goes round: If one villain leaves the stages, another must enter.

“The Lost King,” an IFC Films release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for some strong language and brief suggestive references. Running time: 109 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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March 23, 2023
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Latest News

Idris Elba spotted filming in Cape Town

Idris Elba spotted filming in Cape Town

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March 23, 2023
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Idris Elba spotted filming in Cape Town Source

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MCU

Hey Google, Talk to Feedly – Feedly Blog

Nick Felker has created a Google Assistant Action that integrates Google Assistant and Feedly.

Thanks to the Feedly action, Google Assistant can list the headlines in your feeds, read specific articles, and even save articles into boards for later access.

We are looking for fifty users to test drive the beta experience and provide Nick feedback on what works and what could be improved. If you are curious about how listening to your Feedly feels, join the beta program!

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March 23, 2023
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Nick Felker has created a Google Assistant

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DCU

FX Revival JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL Shares First Look Photos

The time has come to dust your hat off. Because Timothy Olyphant officially heads back to our screens. Olyphant will reprise his iconic role as US Marshal Raylan Givens in a Justified revival. This limited series, titled Justified: City Primeval, will take fans back to the iconic franchise in a new story. And we now have an official first look at the series.

This time, the FX limited series will be inspired by the late Elmore Leonard’s novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit. A release for the Justified revival shares:

Having left the hollers of Kentucky eight years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 14-year-old girl. His hair is grayer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind.

A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit. There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again. Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.

FX

It sounds like this Justified revival will feel every bit as intense as the original.

The release also shares that Olyphant will reunite with Justified producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner. The duo will serve as “Showrunners, Writers and Executive Producers, with Dinner directing.” Graham Yost, Sarah Timberman, and Carl Beverly also join as Executive Producers. In addition, Peter Leonard, Taylor Elmore, and Chris Provenzano will write for the series.

We’re excited so much of the original team can come back together for this revival. Getting back the people who created the show to begin with is often key to these revivals. Hopefully, Justified: City Primeval will capture the drama and the modern western spirit that the original show executed so well. The show releases this summer.

Originally published on January 14, 2022.

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March 23, 2023
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Comics

Apex Legends Gives Players What They Want: Swimsuit Loba

Apex Legends players have been begging for one thing since Loba’s release, and that’s a cosmetic of her in a swimsuit. And it’s seems like Respawn has finally bent the knee to its exceedingly thirsty player base (and big stacks of cash).

Apex Legends Gives Players What They Want: Swimsuit Loba

On March 28, players will be able to grab hold of some summer vibes with the Sun Squad Collection Event in Apex Legends. This event, meant to celebrate and unlock Ash’s Heirloom (nunchaku), features not only a new limited-time mode called Heatwave but also 24 limited-time cosmetics.

And you know what that means. The thief with a harem of beautiful women and every purple and gold item in a 112 meter radius finally has her swimsuit cosmetic.

Countless artists have created renditions of what they believed (and desperately hoped) Loba would look like in a swimsuit, but the reality is far more tasteful. Loba has opted for a tankini with a skirt, and of course, gladiator heels. Despite that, I know Loba mains everywhere already have their credit cards primed. I know that because I am she. I am the Loba main and my credit card is ready.

Other legends got swimsuit cosmetics too, I guess. Mirage, Catalyst, and Seer are all strutting their stuff in a variety of swimwear, and there are plenty of gun skins to match with their ensembles,

Related: Store Bug Allows Players to Use any Weapon Blueprint in COD MW2 Ranked Play

Players hoping to grab Loba (or other) cosmetics will have a chance to do so either through the singular free Apex Pack that comes with every new Collection Event, by purchasing them with Crafting Materials, or using Apex Coins.

If you miss your chance to grab the swimsuit cosmetic of your dreams, don’t despair. Collection Skins will eventually return to the shop pool after a six-month period has elapsed. While summer will be a dimming memory by then, you’ll be just in time for Halloween.

But before you grab that skin, make sure you file your taxes with your very own waifu: Let a Waifu File Your Taxes in This Anime Dating Sim.

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March 23, 2023
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Festivals

The 2023 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival announces film lineup for 29th edition (April 25-May 7)

Matt Johnson’s BLACKBERRY is the Opening Night
selection and Marvin Samel’s IMORDECAI
is the Closing Night selection

SLO Film Fest’s’s special screenings, events, and programs include
Hunter S. Thompson Tribute, Surf Nite at the Fremont,
MicroHorrors, Cal Poly Shortcuts, E.T., Roman Holiday, and
Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now


BlackBerry, IMordecai


San Luis Obispo, CA (March 22, 2023) – The 29th Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (April 25-30) announced this year’s robust film lineup, led by the Opening Night selection of Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry and the Closing Night selection of Marvin Samel’s IMordecai. Also on tap are the return of SLO Film Fest’s famous Surf Nite to the historic Fremont Theater, the always popular Central Coast films, Cal Poly Shortcuts, and more special presentations and top lining film events featuring MicroHorrors, Coastal Awakening: A Tribute to Hunter S. Thompson, R.A.C.E. Matters Textures of Love program, and the SLO Jewish Film & Learning series which will extend the film festival following its traditional closing night date.


E.T., Roman Holiday, Nuclear Now

Additional Special Presentations include retrospective screenings of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra Terrestrial(1982), Daisy von Scherler Mayer’s Party Girl (1995), which introduced Parker Posey into indie film fame, a 70^thAnniversary screening of William Wyler’s classic Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck starrer Roman Holiday (1953), Oliver Stone’s latest, the documentary Nuclear Now, which looks at the use of Nuclear energy through new eyes disputing common held beliefs about its safety and viability, and Christopher Fitzpatrick’s festival hit music documentary Oklahoma Breakdown, complete with a live performance by the film’s subject, midwestern music legend Mike Hosty.

San Luis Obispo Film Festival Director Skye McLennan said, “This year, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is focused on programming films and creating fun and exciting film events that are not available to our film fans every weekend at the multiplex. Film festivals give us an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the love of cinema and filmmaking and to see something unique or rare or inspired that can’t easily be found on our television screens or laptops at home. Seeing great films, meeting, and rubbing elbows with the filmmakers and actors responsible for them, and going to fun events built around all of it is what we promise to bring to SLO this year.”

Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry comes to SLO Film Fest on Opening Night following its debut at SXSW. The film is a decidedly funny take on the true story of the whirlwind ride through Silicon Valley that led to the creation and development and ultimate crash and burn of the Blackberry smart phone. Along with Johnson, the film stars Jay Baruchel (How to Train Your Dragon), Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and Rich Sommer (Mad Men). On Closing Night, Marvin Samel’s comedic drama IMordecai stars Sean Astin stars an ambitious cigar maker trying to support his own family while still being there for his aging parents, played by Academy Award-nominee Judd Hirsch and the beloved film icon, Carol Kane. When Mordecai’s ancient flip phone breaks, he starts to take lessons on his new iPhone, opening him up to all kinds of novel experiences and adventures, making him feel like a kid again.

100 Foot Wave

SLO Film Fest’s Surf Nite, the film festival’s signature one-of-a-kind surfing film event, will return this year to its traditional home at the historic Fremont Theater The event will be highlighted by a presentation of HBO’s 100 Foot Wave series directed by and featuring legendary Big Wave Surfer Garrett McNamara and Nicole McNanmara. Along with the traditional celebration of surfing, it will be a rare opportunity to see the show on the big screen and hear from Garrett himself and what’s upcoming in Season 2.

Coastal Awakening: A Tribute to Hunter S. Thompson will screen three films in celebration of writer Hunter S. Thompson, whose appreciation for countercultures and consciousness expansion exemplifies the mission and vision of the Coastal Awakening, a loose collective of local writers, artists, historians, chefs, surfers, and philanthropists committed to preserving and promoting the unique creative spirit of the Central Coast from Ojai to Esalen. Accompanying screenings of Wayne Ewing’s Animals, Whores & Dialogue: Breakfast with Hunter Vol. 2 (2010), Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (1998), and Alex Gibney’s Gonzo (2008), will be audience talkbacks with David S. Wills, founder of the literary journal Beatdom and author of High White Noise.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Intruder

Horror film lovers will enjoy a special treat at SLO Film Fest this year with the addition of MicroHorrors. Katie Neville and Jason Kaiser, founders of the killer annual October DIY Film Festival, will present a special evening of tricks and treats featuring some of the top films from the past two fests along with an exclusive retrospective slasher straight from the archives, Sam Spiegel’s influential 1989 underground classic, Intruder.

Cal Poly Short Cuts films created by Cal Poly students under the mentorship of Screenwriter and Editor, Professor Randi Barros returns, R.A.C.E. Matters will team with the film festival to present Textures of Love, a free program of five contemporary short films that will evoke the experience of feeling the different textures of love. Before the program, there will be a brunch mixer with appetizers, bubbles, and exciting updates. Another exciting addition to SLO Film Fest is the SLO Jewish Film & Learning series (April 30-May 7) that will follow Closing Night. The presentation of Jewish themed films will be led by Amanda Kinsey’s Jews of The Wild West. The documentary is a look at Western Jewish pioneers and the role they played shaping the expansion of the country.


The Beehive, Rodeo, Dusty and Stones

More film highlights include Alexander Lasheras’s The Beehive, a Canadian sci-fi drama follows a family facing an unexplainable cosmic event and threat from an unusually large beehive growing on a branch of one of their trees. Justin Chon’s Jamojaya comes to SLO Film Fest following the film’s debut at Sundance. The film follows an aspiring Indonesian rapper, who must wrestle control of his career and life from his suffocating but loving stage dad, while trying to find his voice. Lola Quivoron’s Rodeo is an exciting French feature which debuted at the Venice Film Festival. The film focuses on a young woman in the high-octane world of urban ‘Rodeos’— illicit gatherings where riders show off their bikes and latest daring stunts.  On the documentary side, Ahsen Nadeem’s Crows Are White finds the filmmaker seeking guidance at a Japanese monastery. However, the only monk who will help him prefers ice cream and heavy metal over meditation. Jesse Rudoy’s Dusty and Stones looks at the film’s subjects struggle to sustain a country music career in their tiny African kingdom of Swaziland as they are unexpectedly invited to record their songs in Nashville and compete in a Texas battle of the bands.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will also once again put local filmmakers on a pedestal via its always-popular Central Coast Showcase and encourage the filmmaking ambitions of elementary, middle school and high school students with its Filmmakers of Tomorrow Showcase.

Passes are now on sale and information on the film festival can be found at https://slofilmfest.org.

The 2023 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival official selections:

Opening Night Gala Selection
BlackBerry
Director: Matt Johnson
Country: USA; Running Time: 122 min
The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone.

Closing Night Gala Selection
Imordecai
Director: Marvin Samel
Country: USA; Running Time: 102 min
Based on a true story, IMordecai is a comedy about a Holocaust survivor whose life changes when his son buys him an iPhone. Mordecai (Judd Hirsch) likes to fix things. It’s why his phone is 20 years old and held together with duct tape and tinfoil. It’s why he worked his entire life as a plumber and a painter. But this is a story about the things he cannot fix: Getting older, the Alzheimer’s diagnosis of his wife Fela (Carol Kane), his relationship with his son Marvin (Sean Astin). Sometimes, something small and unexpected can change your whole world. For Mordecai, this moment happens when his son, Marvin, replaces his ancient phone with a brand-new iPhone. This act sets off a series of unexpected events and magically changes both Mordecai and the people closest to him. Mordecai becomes friends with the “Einsteins,” led by Nina, who teach him to use this strange device with no buttons. He becomes open to new experiences and new perspectives. Ultimately, through letting go, he begins to heal the things he cannot fix and turn the pain of his past into something beautiful.

SLO Film Fest’s Surf Nite

100 Foot Wave
We’re excited to present the 100 Foot Wave Experience with legendary Big Wave Surfer Garrett & his partner Nicole McNamara in attendance. McNamara’s Emmy award winning show exploring big wave surfing and the pursuit conquering the 100-foot wave. This is a rare opportunity to see the show on the big screen and hear from Garrett himself and what’s upcoming in Season 2.

Coastal Awakening Presentations: A Tribute to Hunter S. Thompson

Animals, Whores & Dialogue: Breakfast with Hunter Vol. 2 (2010)
Director: Wayne Ewing
Country: USA, Running Time: 91 min
Documentary goes deeper into Gonzo journalism with intimate scenes of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson at work writing, editing, and recounting the creation of classics like Hells Angels and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)
Director: Terry Gilliam
Country: USA, Running Time: 118 min
An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades.

Gonzo (2008)
Director: Alex Gibney
Country: USA, Running Time: 120 min
A portrait of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Cal Poly Short Cuts

Cal Poly Short Cuts features 10 short films (TBA) created by Cal Poly students under the mentorship of Randi Barros, screenwriter, editor, and ISLA Lecturer, and James Werner, Associate Professor and Chair of Art & Design. These films depict stories reflecting the promising filmmaker’ shared sentiments and creative visions. Engage with emotionally charged stories exploring love, loss, discovery, and unexpected moments of connection. From writing the scripts to filming the scenes, students of different majors have come together to bring their stories to life. See tomorrow’s filmmakers at work today.

MicroHorrors

Intruder (1989)
Director: Scott Spiegel
Country: USA, Running time: 88 min
The overnight stock crew of a supermarket are stalked and slashed by a mysterious maniac.

MicroHorrors Shorts
Discernment (2021)
Director: Lakin Jacino

Massacre Of the Sorority Babes (2022)
Director: Matt McGill

Potty Mouth (2022)
Director: Ian Meyers

Silence Your Phones (2022)
Director: Jason Kaiser

Jewish Film Fest

Jews Of the Wild West
Director: Amanda Kinsey
Country: USA; Running time: 80 min
Western Jewish pioneers are a largely forgotten chapter in US History, yet they have played a definitive role shaping the expansion of the country. Nationally known names such as Levi Strauss, Samsonite founder Jesse Shwayder and the Guggenheim family built their great fortunes in California and Colorado, and by the end of the 19th Century nearly every notorious Wild West town had a Jewish mayor.

The Broken Candle
Director: Felix Kiner
Country: USA; Running time: 9 min
The heartwarming tale of Nira, a broken Hanukkah candle, who becomes the shamash (lead candle) on the last night of the Festival of Lights.

Omi
Director: Adam Lebowitz-Lockard
Country: USA; Running time: 15 min
A comedic nightmare about a young man about to take his next step with his shiksa girlfriend but gets possessed by the dybbuk of his Yiddish grandmother, who has plans of her own.

Additional Special Presentations

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Country: USA; Running Time: 115 min
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, it is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Naming the extra-terrestrial E.T., he brings his new friend into his suburban home and introduces the alien to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Though the children decide to keep its existence a secret, E.T. soon falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.

Mama Bears
Director: Daresha Kyi
Country: USA; Running Time: 91 min
Spread across the country but connected through private Facebook groups, over 30,000 mothers in America—many from conservative, Christian backgrounds—fully accept their LGBTQ+ children. And they call themselves “mama bears” because while their love is warm and fuzzy, they fight ferociously to make the world kinder and safer for all LGBTQ+ people. Mama Bears explores the journeys of two mama bears and a young lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance exemplifies why the mama bears movement is vitally important.

Moon Garden
Director: Ryan Stevens Harris
Country: USA; Running Time: 93 min
When a little girl has a terrible accident and slips into a coma, she finds herself thrust into a darkly surreal industrial dreamworld. Haunted by a nightmarish spectre that feeds off her tears, she must follow her mother’s radio-static voice to find her way back to consciousness. Shot on expired 35mm film stock with vintage rehoused lenses, Moon Garden is a fantastical odyssey and a visionary, handcrafted, and fully practical work of art that shows how a child can shine light even in the darkest places.

Nuclear Now
Director: Oliver Stone
Country: USA, Running Time: 105 min
As fossil fuels cook the planet, the world is finally forced to confront a massive disinformation campaign about humanity’s cleanest, safest, and fastest energy source – nuclear energy. Beneath our feet, Uranium atoms in the Earth’s crust hold incredibly concentrated energy. Science unlocked this energy in the mid-20th century, first for bombs and then to power submarines, and the United States led the effort to generate electricity from this new source. Yet in the mid-20th century as societies began the transition to nuclear power and away from fossil fuels, a long-term PR campaign to scare the public began, funded in part by coal and oil interests. This campaign would sow fear about harmless low-level radiation and create confusion between nuclear weapons and nuclear power. With unprecedented access to the nuclear industry in France, Russia, and the United States, director Oliver Stone explores the possibility for the global community to overcome the challenges of climate change and energy poverty to reach a brighter future through the power of nuclear energy.

Oklahoma Breakdown
Director: Christopher Fitzpatrick
Country: USA; Running Time: 92 min
Mike Hosty is a one-man band, freak of nature, comedian, and talented musician able to produce original pieces and performances on the fly. When Stoney LaRue turned Hosty’s “Oklahoma Breakdown” into the #1 hit of 2007, few knew anything about the creator. Oklahoma Breakdown dives into why an underground legend has his reservations about fame and limelight.

Party Girl (1995)
Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Country: USA; Running Time: 94 min
A brand-new restored version of a cult classic that was the first film to ever premiere live on the internet in 1995! Parker Posey’s stars as a 20-something, irresponsible party girl who bailed out of jail by her librarian godmother. To repay the loan, she starts working at the library and gradually turns her life around. This is a rare opportunity to see this unique film oozing with fashion, one-of-a-kind characters, and a non-stop party!

Roman Holiday (1953)
Director: William Wyler
Country: USA; Running Time: 118 min
In celebration of its 70th anniversary, we bring back a cinematic classic in a beautiful, restored version. Audiences are invited to fall in love with Oscar®–winners Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck all over again in this romantic comedy classic. Roman Holiday features a legendary, Oscar®–winning performance from Hepburn (in her first starring role). Nominated for a total of 10 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, it’s the story of a modern-day princess who, rebelling against the royal obligations, explores Rome on her own. She soon meets an American newspaperman (Gregory Peck) who pretends ignorance of her true identity, in the hopes of obtaining an exclusive story. Naturally, his plan falters as they inevitably fall in love.

Searching For Sugar Man (2012)
Director: Malik Bendjelloul
Countries: Sweden, United Kingdom, Finland; Running Time: 86 min
This music documentary still remains as a captivating tale about the best singer- songwriter you’ve never heard of. An Oscar®-winning documentary that tells the remarkable story about a man by the name of Sixto Rodriquez. Rodriquez, the child of a Mexican immigrant with working class parents in Detroit, Michigan, had the voice and songwriting skills of Bob Dylan but his albums failed to sell in the United States in the 1970s. Little did he know that he was in fact a cultural phenomenon, in South Africa. Two South African record store owners go on a quest to get to the bottom of what happened to their musical hero.

We Are Still Here
Directors: Beck Cole, Dena Curtis, Tracey Rigney, Danielle MacLean, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Richard Curtis, Chantelle Burgoyne
Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min
We Are Still Here is a unique Indigenous film that weaves together eight powerful tales to tell a sweeping story of hope and survival. Through the eyes of these protagonists, the film traverses 1,000 years (past, present, and future) to explore kinship, loss, grief, and resilience. In a universal story, We Are Still Here ultimately showing the strength of love and hope in overcoming shared traumas that Indigenous people from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific continue to face.

Additional Narrative Features

The Beehive
Director: Alexander Lasheras
Country: Canada; Running Time: 86 min
A captivating science-fiction drama follows a family facing an unexplainable cosmic event on their farm. When the young, curious, and adventurous Rosemary discovers what she assumes to be a large beehive growing on a branch of one of their trees, she visits it each day to carefully document its unusual growth and soon discovers it’s not what she thought it was. Featuring up-and-coming Indigenous talent and a scenic Canadian landscape, as the hive and threat grows, so do tensions within the community and family.

Everybody Wants to Be Loved
Director: Katharina Woll
Country: Germany; Running Time: 80 min
On a blisteringly hot summer day, psychotherapist Ina notices something is wrong with her but doesn’t have time to worry about it. With patients waiting at her practice, her daughter threatening to move in with her father, her boyfriend pressuring to move them to another country, and her self-centered mother’s 70th birthday party closing in, Ina is desperate to please everyone without losing herself.

Home Owners
Directors: Pablo Aragues, Marta Cabrera
Country: Spain; Running Time: 72 min
In search of their forever home, Ana and Maxi are shown the house of their dreams for less than their budget. Everything is perfect until they realize that it is even better than they thought: the house gives them everything they ask for. This fast-paced, surrealist, and thrilling comedy leaves you on the edge of your seat as Ana and Max discover what happens when they stop asking the house for what they want.

I Like Movies
Director: Chandler Levack
Country: Canada; Running Time: 99 min
Teenage cinephile Lawrence dreams of attending film school in the Fall. To raise the hefty tuition fee, he gets his dream job at a local video store, Sequels. Wracked with anxiety about his future, he begins alienating the most important people in his life — his best friend Matt and his single mother Terri — all while developing a complicated friendship with his older female manager, Alana. As graduation looms, a series of painful realizations force Lawrence to realize that he has some growing up to do.

Jamojaya
Director: Justin Chon
Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min
Straight from Sundance, Jamojaya follows James, an aspiring Indonesian rapper, as
he records his debut album for a major U.S. record label. Accompanied in Hawaii by his father and former manager, who is still mourning the death of James’ brother and unwilling to surrender control of his career, James sinks deeper in debt to the label. Caught between the music industry’s commercial demands and a power struggle with his suffocating but loving stage dad, James is forced to find his voice.

Land Of Gold
Director: Nardeep Khurmi
Country: USA; Running Time: 105 min
First-generation Punjabi truck driver Kiran is a soon to be dad. When on the job he
hears pounding inside his shipping container and finds a young Mexican American girl inside, his already tumultuous life takes a drastic turn as he seeks to reunite her with her family. What begins as a road trip to Boston becomes much more as they form a friendship and teach each other unforgettable lessons.

Mediterranean Fever
Director: Maha Haj
Countries: Palestine/Germany/France/Cyprus/Qatar; Running Time: 108 min
Waleed, an aspiring writer suffering from chronic depression, develops a close relationship with his new neighbor, a small-time crook. Though having an ulterior plot in mind, the scheme turns into an unexpected friendship between the two men and leads them through a journey of dark encounters.

Our Father, The Devil
Director: Ellie Foumbi
Country: USA; Running Time: 108 min
An African refugee works as the head chef at a retirement home in small-town France, but her quiet existence is upended by the arrival of Father Patrick, a charismatic priest with whom she’s convinced she shares a traumatic past in her homeland. As Father Patrick charms all her co-workers, Marie must decide if she will exact her revenge or cling to the new life she’s built. Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Content Warning: Mature themes and sexual trauma.

Rodeo
Director: Lola Quivoron
Country: France; Running Time: 107 min
A unique and high-speed first-time feature from Venice Film Festival, Rodeo shares the story of a hot-tempered and fiercely independent Julia, who thrives in hostile environments and turns every situation to her advantage. Her obsession with the high- octane world of urban ‘Rodeos’— illicit gatherings where riders show off their bikes and latest daring stunts — sparks a chance meeting with a volatile clique. Striving to prove herself to the ultra-masculine gang, Julia performs cons and runs errands for their incarcerated ringleader.

Scrapper
Director: Charlotte Regan
Country: UK; Running Time: 84 min
Following her mother’s death, a resourceful 12-year-old girl, Georgie, continues to live alone in their London-outskirts flat. Making money stealing bikes and keeping the social workers off her back by pretending to live with an uncle, her plan works like a charm until Jason (Harris Dickinson, Triangle of Sadness), her long-estranged father, shows up. Sizing him up as a rubbish dad, Georgie wonders why he’s suddenly taking an interest. Straight from Sundance, this vibrant, joyful, imaginative father-daughter story beautifully brings together two emotionally tangled people: a grieving kid thrust into adulthood and a father in over his head.

Unidentified Objects
Director: Juan Felipe Zuleta
Country: USA; Running Time: 100 min
Peter is a misanthropic little person hiding from the world in his shabby New York City apartment. When an unexpected visit from his upbeat and unhinged neighbor Winona forces him out of his shell and onto an impromptu road trip to what she believes to be an upcoming alien visitation site, he reluctantly agrees. On their increasingly surreal odyssey, Peter and Winona encounter bickering lesbian cosplayers, shroom-addled survivalists, and even extraterrestrial highway cops. But the further they go and the more their trauma comes to light, it becomes clear that the only thing more nerve-wracking than being abducted is being alone in the universe.

Additional Documentary Features

Body Parts
Director: Kristy Guevera-Flanagan
Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min
In an industry historically dominated by the male gaze, Body Parts, featuring Jane Fonda and other prominent actresses in the industry, traces the evolution of intimacy on screen, uncovering the often invisible and uncomfortable realities behind some of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history. Exploring the toll, it takes on those directly involved and their impact on women in the real world, this insightful and revealing documentary celebrates the positive changes now rippling through the entertainment industry and the bold creators leading the way.

Butterfly In the Sky
Directors: Bradford Thomason, Brett Whitcomb
Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min
This nostalgic and feel-good documentary tells the story of the beloved PBS children’s series, Reading Rainbow, its iconic host LeVar Burton, and the challenges its creators faced in cultivating a love of reading through television. With the series focused on bringing books to life and finding fun in reading, Reading Rainbow and Burton became a conduit to learning for children of every background, delving behind the pages to the people, places, and things each story explored.

Crows Are White
Director: Ahsen Nadeem
Country: USA; Running Time: 100 min
After decades of living a secret life and struggling to reconcile his desires with his faith, a filmmaker travels to a strict Japanese monastery in search of guidance. But the only monk who will help him prefers ice cream and heavy metal over meditation. Together they forge an unlikely friendship that leads them to higher truths and occasionally a little trouble. Shot over five years on three continents, Crows Are White is an exploration of truth, faith, and love, from the top of a mountain to the bottom of a sundae.

Dusty And Stones
Director: Jesse Rudoy
Country: USA; Running Time: 83 min
Dusty and Stones struggle to sustain a country music career in their tiny African kingdom of Swaziland and yearn for greater recognition. When they are unexpectedly invited to record their songs in Nashville and compete in a Texas battle of the bands, the two cousins journey to the heart of American country music, determined to win big and turn their careers around.

The Grab
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Country: USA; Running Time: 104 min
In the newest documentary by the director of Blackfish (2013), an investigative journalist uncovers the truth behind the money, influence and rationale that goes into the covert efforts to control the most vital resources on the planet — food and water.

Hollywood’s Finest
Director: Claire Hannah Collins
Country: USA; Running Time: 78 min
An intimate portrait of motherhood on the streets of Los Angeles, Hollywood’s Finest follows Mckenzie through pregnancy in a Hollywood unhoused encampment to the fight to recover her child from the custody of the city’s Family Services.  By detailing the support Mckenzie received from her street family, nomadic mom, and social worker with her own history of addiction and housing insecurity, Hollywood’s Finest investigates the complex network of social workers and bureaucracy she encounters while struggling to find her footing in mainstream society.

In Pursuit of Flavor
Director: Gerod Bond
Country: USA; Running Time: 61 min
An apologetic sommelier returns to his once-home of Georgia, to explore the humble and hidden truth about wine and its inception. In touring the lush countryside and documenting the deceptively simple process of Georgian winemaking and the unique fruits of its labor — namely, orange wine — Ashwin rediscovers the original magic that saved his life and brought him to the world of flavor.

Lovely Jackson
Director: Matt Waldeck
Country: USA; Running Time: 104 min
Following the longest wrongfully incarcerated person in U.S. history, Lovely Jackson is the harrowing true story of Rickey Jackson, a man who spent 39 years on death row and in prison for a crime he was convicted of based solely on the eye-witness testimony of a 12-year-old neighborhood paper boy. In a retelling of his experience, Jackson returns to the prison he was sent to as an innocent man and guides his younger self from death row to freedom.

No Ordinary Campaign
Director: Christopher Burke
Country: USA; Running Time: 82 min
At just 37, Brian Wallach was diagnosed with ALS and quickly discovered that there is no system built to help patients like him deal with this new reality. Instead, he found a broken and failed system in which doctors told patients to “get their affairs in order and get ready to die.” From executive producer Katie Couric and featuring interviews with Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg, No Ordinary Campaign follows the formation of I AM ALS, Brian’s patient-led nonprofit dedicated to patients taking control of the fight for their lives, breaking down walls and finding new solutions.

Okay! The ASD Band Film
Director: Mark Bone
Country: Canada; Running Time: 87 min
Following the members of The ASD Band, four talented musicians with autism embark upon the challenging journey of writing their first original album and gearing up to perform in their first live show.

Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest
Director: Nancy Svendsen
Country: USA; Running Time: 71 min
Though Nepalis assist as sherpas for tourists daily, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa risked everything to become the first Nepali woman to summit Everest. As an uneducated, indigenous woman and a Buddhist in a Hindu kingdom, Pasang’s dream to scale the legendary mountain pitted her against family, foreign climbers, her own government, and nature itself. Her determined pursuit of Everest plays out within the context of her nation’s quest for democracy and the emergence of the commercial climbing industry.

Relentless Ride
Directors: Brian Hill, Adam Harbottle
Country: USA; Running Time: 106 min
Every year, cyclists brave the Arkansas High Country bike-packing race on some of the
best and worst gravel roads in the state, riding 1,000 miles and climbing 80,000 feet. With little to no sleep and having to carry, find, or buy everything needed to complete the course, some cyclists push their limits to achieve the fastest known time while others simply try to finish the race and find themselves along the way. As bodies fail and minds betray, these cyclists explore the depth of their own humanity.

Surf Nation
Directors: Jessica Chen, Jeremiah Bogert Jr.
Country: USA; Running Time: 88 min
As China trains its first generation of Olympic surfers, two promising young athletes navigate adolescence, freedom, and their love of the sport. Filmed over a two-year period, Surf Nation follows as hundreds of young recruits leave their families and are paid to live together in a communal hotel, take classes six days a week, and become elite surfers. Though the recruits face extreme pressure to avoid being kicked out of the program, their Australian coaches teach not only technique, but surfing’s central attribute: individuality, in a culture that demands conformity.

Vicuna Salvation
Director: Luis Ara
Country: USA; Running Time: 65 min
At more than 5,000 meters above sea level, Vicuna Salvation tells the incredible story of the conservation of a species and the empowerment of a community that lives in the Peruvian mountains. With the vicuña producing the finest wool fiber in the world and its garments costing thousands of dollars, poachers and the black market led to the near extinction of the species. Alerting the Peruvian government to the situation, global brands and communities made a pact to only market garments that were made with certified fiber.

Narrative Shorts

Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings
Director: Cara Lauren Lawson
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min

Hit Man: Secrets of Lies
Director: Elias Plagianos
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min

I Have No Tears, And I Must Cry
Director: Luis Fernando Puente
Country: USA; Running Time: 13 min

Keep/Delete
Director: Kryzz Gautier
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min

Laika And Nemo
Director: Jan Gadermann, Sebastian Gadow
Country: Germany; Running Time: 15 min

The Mattress
Director: Arash Hassanpour
Country: Iran; Running Time: 7 min

Miso
Director: Kelly Walker
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

My Dear Son
Director: Wing Yan Lilian Fu
Countries: Hong Kong/UK; Running Time: 9 min

My Eyes Are Up Here
Director: Nathan Morris
Country: UK; Running Time: 14 min

Mysore Magic
Director: Abijeet Achar
Country: USA; Running Time: 14 min

Other Half
Director: Lina Kalcheva
Country: UK; Running Time: 14 min

Out Of Tune
Director: Portlynn Tagavi
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min

Rest Stop
Director: Noah Sellman
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min

Rosemary A.D (After Dad)
Director: Ethan Barrett
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

Smoke Eater
Director: Gloria Mercer
Country: Canada; Running Time: 12 min

The Sprayer
Director: Farnoosh Abedi
Country: Iran; Running Time: 9 min

They Grow Up So Fast
Director: John F Beach
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

The Van
Director: Bernard Badion
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min

Wei-Lai
Director: Robin Wang
Country: USA; Running Time: 14 min

Wild Ones
Director: Hanly Banks Callahan
Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min

Documentary Shorts

Below Surface
Director: Lukas Hauser
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min

Dani’s Twins
Director: Brad Allgood, Steve Dorst
Country: USA; Running Time: 39 min

Decolonizing Dinner
Director: Alejandro Miranda Cruz
Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min

Good Boy
Director: Russell Chadwick
Country: USA; Running Time: 35 min

Imalirijit
Directors: Vincent L’Hérault, Tim Anaviapik Soucie
Country: Canada; Running Time: 27 min

Kylie
Director: Sterling Hampton
Country: USA; Running Time: 5 min

Outside Line
Director: Jack Gordon
Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min

Until The Rain Comes Back
Directors: Lauren Tyler Brimeyer, Jack Bushell
Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min

Central Coast Presentations

The Amphora Project: Past Forward
Director: Libbie Agran, Tim Clott
Country: USA; Running Time: 39 min

Ángulos De La Hora
Director: Kyle Novak
Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min

Bread Bike
Director: Beth Gage, George Gage
Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min

Epic Bill
Director: Quinnolyn Benson-Yates
Country: USA; Running Time: 92 min
A bankrupt self-made millionaire finds success again in extreme endurance athletics. Returning to a race that’s defeated him for years, Bill pushes beyond his limits and questions whether finishing these events defines his identity — or if he can discover a deeper reason for being in the arena.

Fresh To Frightening – The Sharon Green Story
Director: Gareth Kelly
Country: USA; Running Time: 20 min

Friends Call Us Unlucky
Director: Alyssa Toledo
Country: USA; Running Time: 30 min

The Greatest of All Tina
Director: Brody Gusar
Country: USA; Running Time: 94 min
A woman struggling with depression decides that life is too hard, and things will be better off if she becomes her spirit animal, a goat. Expertly balancing humor and heart, The Greatest of All Tina will take you on a wild and absurd journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Jack Has a Plan
Director: Bradley Berman
Country: USA; Running Time: 73 min
When Jack, a man with a terminal brain tumor for 25 years, decides to end his life, his family and friends struggle to accept his decision. Jack’s best friend documents his three-year quest to die a happy man in an inspiring story about self-determination, creativity, and transcendence.

Shoe Shine Caddie
Director: Leonard Manzella
Country: USA; Running Time: 63 min
Shoe Shine Caddy humanizes the homeless experience by capturing the irresistible spirit of 61-year-old Adrian Spears. After years of incarceration, he’s now homeless, surviving on the streets by shining shoes on a street corner, while fighting for custody of his 3-year-old daughter.

Something To Crow About
Director: Robin Smith
Country: USA; Running Time: 40 min
Every October, local artists stage hundreds of handmade scarecrows throughout Cambria for an acclaimed annual scarecrow festival. Something to Crow About follows the crow makers over the summer as they whip together unique works of art out of an array of random craft supplies.

Whale-Roads
Directors: Ethan Takekawa, Michael Lee, Meg Kievman, Emma Holm-Olsen
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min

Woodsman
Director: Elliot Peters
Country: USA; Running Time: 25 min

Music Videos

Better Now
Director: Eric Alt

Bones
Directors: Jill Sachs, Angeline Armstrong

Call It What You Will
Director: Deanna Wardin

Circle 12: Foam and Sand
Director: Shawn Knol

Clear
Director: Jedediah Roberson

Fade Into You
Director: David M. Helman

A Feast That Never Comes
Director: Maria Juranic

Good Day
Director: Angelo Deprater

Happy Song
Director: Sasha Solodukhina

Kje Med Are
Director: Anika Salvesen

Ramon
Director: Katie Neville

Wilderness
Director: Andrea Diaz

Texture Of Love Shorts

A Real One
Director: McKenzie Chinn
Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min

Dear Mama. . .
Director: Winter Dunn
Country: USA; Running Time: 14 min

Jahleel & Star
Director: Monique Wilhoit
Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min

The Marigolds Listen
Director: Jacob Figueroa
Country: USA; Running Time: 6 min

We Were Meant To
Director: Tari Wariebi
Country: USA; Running Time: 28 min

Filmmakers Of Tomorrow

HIGH SCHOOL
Beth
Filmmaker: Ava Bounds
Country: UK; Running Time: 10 min

Hardcore
Filmmakers: Madeleine Case, Grace Rynerson
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

The Hole
Filmmakers: Piotr Kaźmierczak, Łukasz Kościelny, Jacek Łuczyński
Country: Poland; Running Time: 3 min

Lost: A Backyard Adventure
Filmmakers: Coleman Seamus, Freeman Howe
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

Maximus
Filmmakers: Brielle Lubin, Sarah Morton, Sophie Ramirez
Country: USA; Running Time: 7 min

Mona
Filmmakers: Lori Mae Hernandez, John Rourke, Cado Dhinsa
Country: USA; Running Time: 7 min

A Piece of Ranch
Filmmaker: Jiayang Liu
Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min

Pistachio Ice Cream
Filmmaker: Amira Kopeyeva
Country: USA; Running Time: 6 min

The Reflection on My Screen
Filmmakers: Abida Chowdhury, Leslie Gomez, Christell Pelico, Zaira OrtizCountry: USA; Running Time: 6 min

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Extra Cheese
Filmmakers: Benny Eldridge, Maggie Cross, Otto Nixon, Phoebe Cross
Country: USA; Running Time: 2 min

Magic Eraser: Delete!
Filmmakers: Zi-Jun Wang, Yun-Yen Li, Zi-Fei Wang, Yun-Hua Li, Chia-Chao Li
Country: Taiwan; Running Time: 9 min

Stop Pebble Mine
Filmmaker: Mason Mirabile
Country: USA; Running Time: 5 min

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Badminton Journey
Filmmakers: Sean Kang
Country: USA; Running Time: 1 min

Playground
Filmmakers: Walter Duncan, Marie-Pierre Bonniol
Country: Germany; Running Time: 2 min

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March 23, 2023
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   Matt Johnson’s BLACKBERRY is the Opening

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Film

Sheryl Lee Ralph alleges a “famous TV judge” assaulted her

Another harrowing story of assault and corporate cover-up has emerged from a woman in Hollywood. Sheryl Lee Ralph—the beloved, Emmy-award winning star of Abbott Elementary—recently came forward with allegations that she was assaulted years ago by a “famous TV judge” who she has not named. She has also alleged that “everybody at the network saw it,” but she was told to stay quiet to prevent “bad press.”

On an episode of the podcast Way Up With Angela Yee that came out this week (via Variety), Ralph emotionally recounted the assault, which she says occurred “at a very public place.”

“I was suited. I had my suit on. I was handling my business for the television show I was on at that time. He and I were on the same network,” she said of the unnamed judge (who she did make sure to note was not Judge Greg Mathis, who she called “a great man”).

She continued: “This man walked in, grabbed me by the back of my neck, turned me around, and rammed his nasty ass tongue down my throat… And everybody at the network saw it.”

While Ralph did not explicitly state what network she and the judge were a part of at the time, she did go on to detail a call she made to former mayor of New Orleans Marc Morial, who Variety notes served from 1994-2002. In that timeframe, Ralph was starring in the sitcom Moesha, which aired on the now-defunct network UPN.

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Ralph says that Morial immediately jumped to her aid when she called to report the incident from the event, asking, “You want me to send the police there right now? ‘Cause we will fix his you know what right now.”

The network, however, asked her to remain silent about the attack. “Somebody at the network tapped me on the shoulder, and they said ‘Please don’t,’” she alleged.

“Do you know that they did not want any bad press around their show, and did not care what had just happened to me,” she continued. “That’s the kind of stuff that happens. That’s what happens. That’s what makes it hard for women to speak up about these things.”

If you or someone you know is suffering from sexual abuse, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

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March 23, 2023
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Another harrowing story of assault and corporate

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TV

Robin Thede to Write, EP New Comedy in the Works at HBO

Robin Thede will write and executive produce a new comedy series titled “Disengagement” at HBO, the network announced Thursday.

The half-hour comedy series, which is currently in development, follows the chaos stirred up within the Cole family after a business deal gone wrong and shatters the perfectly curated image they’ve spent years building.

The official logline from HBO is as follows: “‘Disengagement’ centers on the prestigious Cole family after a very public and embarrassing business implosion shatters their perfect Midwest image. And it was just an image, because behind closed doors, even their dysfunction has dysfunction, proving family is the ultimate pyramid scheme.”

In addition to Thede, Meghan Cheek is attached to the project to produce through For Better or Words, Inc.

The comedy series marks Thede’s latest collaboration with HBO under her three-year overall deal with the network, which was inked in May 2022, under which the five-time Emmy-nominee will develop content exclusively for HBO, HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television under her For Better or Words, Inc. banner.

The news also comes ahead of the fourth season of Thede’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” in which Thede serves as the creator, showrunner, executive producer, writer and star. The comedy series’ fourth season premieres Friday, April 14, on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

The comedian, writer, actor and producer will also star in upcoming Amazon Studios feature “Candy Cane Lane” alongside Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Thede is repped by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

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March 23, 2023
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Robin Thede will write and executive produce

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What to Watch

Zack Snyder Shares Batman & Man of Steel BTS Photos to Hype SnyderCon

Director Zack Snyder has posted multiple behind-the-scenes photos from his DC movies to his Vero account to celebrate the upcoming SnyderCon event.

The first of the posts features costume designer Michael Wilkinson, who worked on the costumes from Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. In the photo, Wilkinson is holding a Batman cowl. The caption praises Wilkinson, describing him as incredibly talented and stating, “What amazing work.”

The second post features Ayelet Zurer in-costume as Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s biological mother, who Zurer played in Man of Steel. The post is captioned “Ayelet Zurer mother of the sun.”

The third post shows photos of Julian Richings in-costume as Lor-Em and Mary Black as Ro-Zar — both Kryptonian leaders from Man of Steel. The post is captioned “Look to the stars…” and credits Clay Enos for the photo.

The final post shows Michael Shannon’s General Zod wearing the handcuffs that the Kryptonian Law Council binds him with near the beginning of Man of Steel. The post is captioned “I WILL FIND HIM!!!!!! ON APRIL 28th” and once again credits Clay Enos for the photo.

Snyder’s posts come ahead of April’s SnyderCon, where there will be a screening of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League in Los Angeles. The movies will be screened on April 28, 29, and 30, respectively, with the IMAX version of Zack Snyder’s Justice League being played on April 30.

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March 23, 2023
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Director Zack Snyder has posted multiple behind-the-scenes

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Entertaintment, Maisel, News, TV

One Last Gig: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 1 to 4 Recap

Its almost curtains up on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , the award winning comedy is about to come to an end with its fifth and final season, let’s take a look back at what’s happened over the past 4 seasons.

Courtesy of Prime Video

The show which is set in 1958 New York City follows the many misadventures of Miriam “Midge” Maisel played by Rachel Brosnahan, a young Jewish-American housewife and mother, living on Manhattan’s Upper West Side who discovers she has a talent for stand up comedy, And what a journey it has been for Midge Maisel, battling sexism, discrimination, facing her family, forging new friendships and relationships, but most importantly, facing herself.

Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. It also stars Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin Pollak, Caroline Aaron, Jane Lynch and Luke Kirby.

In season one Midge’s husband, Joel, performs stand up at The Gaslight Café. Midge considers it a hobby, unaware the untalented Joel wants to be a professional comic. After a particularly dismal performance, a dejected Joel leaves Midge for his secretary. Midge, upset and drunk, returns to the Gaslight in her nightgown and stumbles onstage. In a bawdy impromptu set, Midge vents her predicament to the audience, then is arrested for obscenity. In the police car, Midge meets comic Lenny Bruce, also arrested for using obscenity. Gaslight manager Susie Meyerson bails Midge out of jail after having seen her performance the night before, and Midge later bails out Lenny. Recognizing Midge’s raw talent, Susie coaches her to be a stand-up comic. The season ends with Midge declaring herself in front of the audience at the Gaslight as Mrs. Maisel, in a triumphant return to the place where it all started for her. Midge takes her place in the spotlight now ready to begin a new career regardless of what anyone else thinks.

In the second season, Midge hones her comic skills at the Gaslight. As Susie works to book paying gigs, meanwhile Midge works to hide her new career from her family. Susie and Midge hit the road for a short comedy tour. Touring is harder than expected and female comics are discriminated against by their male counterparts. Midge later runs afoul of Sophie Lennon, a famous Great Depression-era female comedian who performs as an uncouth housewife from Queens. Midge rejects Sophie’s advice to develop a similar gimmicky persona to compete in the male-dominated field. When Midge ridicules Sophie’s corny act during a Gaslight set, a vindictive Sophie has her blacklisted from most clubs. To her families dismay, Midge continues to pursue stand up comedy professionally. Season 2 also ushers in a new romantic interest for Midge, a successful doctor named Benjamin (played by Zachary Levi). The pair bond over their shared love of the arts and similar values, leading Benjamin to ask Abe for Midge’s hand in marriage. Everything seems perfect until Shy Baldwin who Midge met during a Telethon hires her as his opening act for a six-month tour. Even though her feelings for Benjamin are genuine, Midge realizes that she’s too ambitious to settle down again so soon after her separation from Joel and spends one last night with him before she sets off on tour.

Courtesy of Prime Video

In the third season, Midge’s career is on an upswing touring with Shy Baldwin going from city to city. After ending her engagement with Benjamin, her parents are now furious. For Midge balancing her comedy career and family life is difficult. Although Midge and Joel are divorcing, they remain in each other’s lives, even as both navigate new romantic relationships. Midge is furious when Susie agrees to manage the eccentric and unpredictable Sophie Lennon, Midge then realizes Susie needs multiple clients to financially survive. Joel forges a different path into the entertainment industry by opening a nightclub in Chinatown, later discovering his landlords run a gambling den downstairs. Midges parents are seemingly coming to accept her new profession as they come and visit her on tour, but when Joel visits Midge in Las Vegas, a drunken night leads to a big mistake. Season 3 focuses more on the relationship between Midge and Lenny Bruce. In the final episode, Midge opens for Shy’s big showcase at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater. Nervous about the whole experience, Shy’s manager Reggie (Sterling K. Brown) encourages her to talk about Shy and the USO tour, however, some of her jokes nearly out Shy to the audience. As a result, the season ends with Reggie kicking her off of the tour without warning.

The fourth season finds Midge enraged and humiliated after being fired from Shy’s tour. She struggles to restart her career and vows to only do headliner gigs, not opening acts. To complicate matters, a Daily News reporter continually disparages Midge’s performances in print. Meanwhile, a jealous Sophie Lennon once again thwarts Midge’s career. Rose Weissman, Midge’s mother starts a matchmaking business, much to the anger of the other women who “own” the New York matchmaking scene, Susie is under the influence of two seemingly sweet, but still very dangerous, mobsters after having gotten into some money trouble, Joel’s landlords are unhappy that his successful club draws attention to their illegal activities. Joel also copes with girlfriend Mei’s unexpected pregnancy, his mother’s meddling, and his father’s heart attack. It feels like a lot was going wrong for Midge and her family in season 4, at one point Midge even became the comic emcee at a strip club. In the final episode Lenny Bruce gets Midge out then helps reboot her career. Lenny tells Midge he has recommended her to replace him as Tony Bennett’s opening act at the Copacabana, but she refuses. Still not wanting to take opening acts. In a moment that has been building up since the very first episode, we finally get to see Midge and Lenny cut the sexual tension in the room as the two finally slept together after years of anticipation. Things soon took a turn when Midge discovers an injection vial and a syringe in Lenny’s travel case the morning after, though he brushes off her concern. Things come to a boiling point at the end of the episode at Carnegie Hall when Lenny finally tries to talk some sense into Midge about deciding not to take the gig opening for Tony Bennett that he helped secure. The season ends with Midge walking out into a blizzard, not sure of where she’s going but the question remains, will she take Lenny’s advice? Only season 5 will tell.

In season 5 Midge finds herself closer than ever to the success she’s dreamed of, only to discover that closer than ever is still so far away.

Season 5 of Mrs Maisel will premiere on April 14th on Prime Video.

March 23, 2023
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Its almost curtains up on The Marvelous

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Awards

Nearly 20 Million Tuned In – The Hollywood Reporter

ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ longtime broadcasting partner on the annual Academy Awards, shared on Thursday that the 95th Oscars telecast reached nearly 20 million viewers throughout the week of the ceremony across multiple platforms, an encouraging sign for a show that was coming off its two lowest-rated installments ever.

This news comes on the heels of night-of ratings hitting a three-year high, with the telecast averaging 18.76 million viewers (up two million from the 94th Oscars, a 13 percent improvement) and a 4.03 rating among adults 18-49 (a seven percent increase), according to final same-day ratings from Nielsen.

The new information: After seven days of viewing across linear and digital platforms, the 95th Oscars drew an average audience of 19.9 million total viewers and scored a 4.43 rating among adults aged 18 to 49 (equivalent to about 5.8 million people in that age range). Nielsen’s seven-day ratings, which don’t include streaming, have the telecast at 19.41 million viewers and a 4.2 rating, which would mean the remaining 500,000 or so viewers and 0.23 ratings points in the 18-49 demographic came from other platforms.

Additionally, the telecast’s ‘Nominees Spotlights,’ online featurettes that viewers were encouraged to access via QR codes at the end of segments, garnered 12.85 million collective views on YouTube.

And the Academy’s digital content views of the Oscars increased by 359 percent over the prior year and accumulated more than 760,000 new followers between January and March.

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March 23, 2023
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ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts

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Music

Kelly Clarkson Covers Lenny Kravitz’s ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way: Watch – Billboard

Kelly Clarkson just covered another artist’s hit song, but as per usual, she did it her way. On the Thursday (March 23) episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the three-time Grammy winner and her band Y’all put their own special spin on “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” the 1993 smash that solidified Lenny Kravitz‘s place in music stardom.

The Thursday (March 23) performance came complete with all the hallmarks of Clarkson’s best Kellyoke performances, including flashing lights, epic solos and the “Stronger” singer’s own signature vocal power. She belted out one sky-high note after another throughout the song while her electric guitarist shredded sizzling riffs behind her.

“So tell me why we got to die/ And kill each other one by one/ We’ve got to hug and rub-a-dub/ We’ve got to dance and be in love,” Clarkson sang, her audience clapping along to the hardcore beat.
“Are you gonna go my way?/ And I got to, got to know/ Are you gonna go my way?”

Released in 1993 as the title track and lead single off Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way album, the rock anthem is one of the Hunger Games star’s best-known songs. It topped Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart the year it was released and picked up two Grammy nominations in 1994, earning nods for best rock song and best male rock performance. Meanwhile, the album reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200, at the time blowing away Kravitz’s previous chart peaks with Mama Said and Let Love Rule.

“It just did what it wanted to do,” the musician told Billboard in 2013, reflecting on the then 20-year-old record’s success. “It was an amazing time. I was touring the world and seeing the world for the first time that extensively, and my life was very, very free, very wild, a lot of craziness going on — a lot of emotions and a lot of feelings. But I had no idea that this record was going to catapult me into that next level, no idea at all. I was just really enjoying the creative process.”

Watch Kelly Clarkson rock out to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” in the video above.

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March 23, 2023
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Kelly Clarkson just covered another artist’s hit

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Docs

Is AI Going to Put Filmmakers Out of a Job?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced in recent years, leading to concerns that it could replace human workers in various industries. The film industry is no exception, and many people are wondering whether AI will eventually put filmmakers out of a job. In this blog post, we’ll explore the role of AI in filmmaking and whether or not it poses a threat to human filmmakers.

AI in Filmmaking: What is it?

AI technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, are already being used in various aspects of filmmaking. For example, AI algorithms can analyze audience behavior and preferences to help filmmakers make better decisions about the content they produce. AI can also be used in the pre-production process to analyze scripts and provide recommendations for improvements.

Another area where AI is making an impact in filmmaking is post-production. Video editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro already use AI to automate some tasks, such as audio and color correction. AI algorithms can also be used to create special effects, such as CGI characters and landscapes.

However, despite these advancements, AI is still limited in certain aspects of filmmaking. For example, while AI can generate basic storylines and scripts, it cannot replicate the creativity and emotion that human filmmakers bring to their work. Similarly, AI cannot replicate the human touch in the more nuanced aspects of filmmaking, such as directing actors and capturing authentic performances.

The Role of Human Filmmakers

The use of AI in filmmaking raises important questions about the role of human filmmakers. While some may argue that AI technologies will replace human filmmakers entirely, others argue that AI will complement and enhance human creativity, rather than replace it.

At its core, filmmaking is a creative endeavor that requires imagination, intuition, and human emotion. While AI can automate certain tasks, such as video editing and special effects, it cannot replicate the human perspective and decision-making process that goes into making a film.

Furthermore, filmmaking is a collaborative process that involves the contributions of many different professionals, including writers, actors, editors, and cinematographers. AI may be able to perform certain tasks, but it cannot replicate the collaborative energy and creative synergy that comes from a team of human professionals working together towards a common goal.

The Future of Filmmaking

While it’s impossible to predict the future of AI in filmmaking with certainty, it’s clear that AI will continue to play an increasingly important role in the industry. However, it’s important to remember that AI technologies are tools that can assist human filmmakers, rather than replace them entirely.

In fact, some experts argue that AI could actually enhance the creative process by providing new insights and perspectives that human filmmakers may not have considered. For example, AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that may be useful in developing new and innovative storylines.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that AI is not a substitute for human creativity and emotion. While AI technologies may be able to automate certain tasks, they cannot replicate the human perspective and decision-making process that goes into making a film. Human filmmakers bring a unique perspective and a level of emotional intelligence that cannot be replicated by machines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI is an increasingly important tool in the film industry, but it is not going to put filmmakers out of a job. While AI technologies can automate certain tasks and provide useful insights, they cannot replicate the human touch and creativity that human filmmakers bring to their work.

Filmmaking is a collaborative process that involves many different professionals, and AI is just one tool that can assist them. Human filmmakers bring unique perspectives, emotional intelligence, and intuition that cannot be replicated by machines. In fact, AI could enhance the creative process by providing new perspectives and insights that human filmmakers may not have considered.

The future of filmmaking is likely to involve an increasing use of AI technologies, but it will still depend on the creativity and emotional intelligence of human filmmakers. AI will be a useful tool that complements and enhances human creativity, rather than replacing it entirely. Ultimately, the role of AI in filmmaking will depend on how well it is integrated into the collaborative creative process, and how well it is able to serve the needs of human filmmakers and audiences alike.

Raindance promotes and supports independent filmmaking and filmmakers.

From new and emerging to industry pros, Raindance connects, trains, supports, and promotes visual storytellers through every step of their career.

The Raindance Film Festival runs each Autumn in London’s Leicester Square.

Raindance has been delivering film training since 1992. A wide range of Open Classes to a 2 year HND Level 5 BTEC in Moving Images to a Postgraduate Film Degree are delivered to students on five continents, both in person and online.

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March 23, 2023
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Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced in

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Global

Prince William lays a wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Poland

The Prince of Wales was all smiles this afternoon as he posed for selfies with young Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw.

On the second day of his surprise visit to Poland, Prince William, 40, visited Hala Koszyki Food Hall in the country’s capital.

The famous food hall – which was built in 1908 as an indoor market – has been refurbished in recent years and now boasts a variety of bars, bookstores, restaurants and shops.

During his tour of the premises, the father-of-three spoke with refugees and learned about how they are adapting to life in Poland – after having to flee Ukraine after war broke out last year.

For the engagement, William – who last night dined at a LGBTQ+ restaurant with his team – was dressed casually in a navy button-down jumper, and trousers.

The Prince of Wales poses for photos after speaking with young Ukrainian refugees at Hala Koszyki Food Hall

The Prince of Wales was all smiles as he posed with royal fans outside of the hall on the second day of his visit

After hearing their stories, William was pictured happily posing for photograph with the group of refugees inside the refurbished market.

The royal shared a laugh with the young royal fans as they stood in a group at the end of the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Prince of Wales has paid tribute to those who ‘made the ultimate sacrifice’ as he visited a war memorial during a visit to Poland.

In the morning, the royal laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, a monument dedicated to Polish soldiers who have died in conflict.

The prince’s visit was a poignant echo of that by his late grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, who laid a wreath at the Tomb during their state visit to Poland in 1996.

The prince, who arrived in a dark suit amid tight security, was greeted by dignitaries and a guard of honour which was made up of members of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Military drumming and a moving trumpet refrain to honour the fallen accompanied the prince’s solemn walk to the monument, where he spent around 10 minutes before leaving.

He laid a wreath at the tomb, which bore the message: ‘In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice’ and was signed with his name.

After hearing their stories, William was pictured happily posing for photograph with the group of refugees inside the refurbished market

The royal father-of-three speaks with refugees inside the historic market Koszyki Hall in Warsaw

Prince William, 40, was sombre today as he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a visit to Poland

On the second day of his visit today, he arrived in Warsaw where he visited the tomb, which is dedicated to Polish soldiers who lost their lives in conflict

The prince, who arrived in a dark suit amid tight security, was greeted by dignitaries and a guard of honour which was made up of members of the Army, Navy and Air Force

The future King also signed his name in a visitor’s book, which had a similar printed message in Polish that read: ‘To commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice’.

A small group of local people gathered to watch the prince’s visit, with some waving and cheering as he left the scene.

The prince visited the Hala Koszyki food hall to hear from those who have fled Ukraine after Putin’s brutal invasion last year.

He went on to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace.

The prince visited the Hala Koszyki food hall to hear from those who have fled Ukraine after Putin’s brutal invasion last year

The royal was animated as he spoke with crowds who had gathered in the food market

Royal fans and wellwishers patiently waited with signs ahead of the Prince’s visit to the food hall today

The prince accepted some tulips earlier today, and spoke with locals who had gathered at the food hall

Prince William has said the two-day trip will allow him to personally thank troops and ‘underline’ his support and gratitude for the Polish people who have aided Ukrainian refugees.

It came after he thanked British troops roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border for ‘defending our freedoms’ by ‘keeping an eye on’ the situation in Ukraine.

After arriving at the defence military base in the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow yesterday afternoon, the prince, dressed casually in a black puffer jacket and trousers, was shown a missile launcher.

Speaking to the soldiers, he said: ‘I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you’re doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what’s going on.

‘So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis.’

Prince William has said the two-day trip will allow him to personally thank troops and ‘underline’ his support and gratitude for the Polish people who have aided Ukrainian refugees

A small group of local people gathered to watch the prince’s visit, with some waving and cheering as he left the scene

It is his first trip to Poland since he visited in 2017 with his wife, the Princess of Wales

Dressed in a smart navy suit, he appeared deep in thought as he laid the wreath at the tomb

The prince’s visit was a poignant echo of that by his late grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, who laid a wreath at the Tomb during their state visit to Poland in 1996

It comes after he yesterday visited Rzeszow, which sources said was ‘a personal mission’ to ‘recognise the duty’ of service personnel largely consisting of the Royal Artillery Regiment

The Prince of Wales, 40, is currently undertaking his first visit to Poland since going to the country with his wife Kate in 2017

He added: ‘You’re doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.’

Earlier yesterday, the prince visited Poland’s 3rd Brigade Territorial Defence Force at a military base in Rzeszow.

He was greeted by Poland’s defence minister and deputy prime minister Mariusz Blaszczak, met British and Polish troops to hear about their work supporting Ukraine, and was shown an impressive display of military equipment.

The royal then left diners stunned when he dined at an LGBTQ+ restaurant with his team last night and selected a £7.50 meal from the menu.

Pictures from the Butero Bistro in Warsaw showed the Prince of Wales sitting around a table with a group of Kensington Palace staff, while placing an order with a waiter.

The images were shared by a local, who along with the photographs wrote: ‘Warsaw can surprise. I ate dinner today with the Prince.’ They were quickly picked up by local media, who shared their surprise at the royal appearance.

A source told Mail Online that William, 40, had asked to join Kensington Palace staff for dinner at a local restaurant they had booked nearby.

‘The team from Kensington Palace booked a local restaurant near where they were working and the prince decided to join them,’ the source said. ‘He asked them what they were doing and then asked to come along. It was a great night by all accounts.’

‘The team really appreciated him asking to join them,’ they added.

It is his first trip to Poland since he visited in 2017 with his wife, the Princess of Wales.

British forces are training Polish counterparts bolstering defences after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Troops have been training Poles in air defence for almost a year.

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March 23, 2023
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Keith Urban’s Kids – Hollywood Life

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Image Credit: www.matrixpictures.com.au / MEGA

Keith Urban is a country music icon

The Australian native married Nicole Kidman in 2006

The superstar couple share two daughters, one born via surrogate

Keith Urban was a bona fide country music star by the time he found out he was going to be a father in 2008. At the age of 40, welcoming his first child, a daughter, with wife Nicole Kidman was quite a surprise for the Grammy-winning musician. “I just love being a parent,” he told ABC News. “I didn’t know that I’d ever get to be one, It’s an incredible feeling.”

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman with their daughters Sunday and Faith. (www.matrixpictures.com.au / MEGA )

The feeling quickly returned two years later, when the superstar couple welcomed a baby sister for their first born. And it’s been cloud nine for Keith ever since. “I have good memories of many Father’s Days I’ve been able to have with our girls so far,” he said in a 2017 video shared by Rare. “For me … raising them right now, I feel like it’s Father’s Day most of the time,” he added. “They write nice things and draw pictures for me. It’s just heaven.”

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Meet Keith and Nicole’s beautiful girls, Sunday and Faith, below.

Sunday Rose Kidman Urban

Keith started a romance with Nicole after she split with Tom Cruise, whom she was married to from 1990 until 2001. Nicole and Tom had adopted two children while together, daughter Isabella and son Connor. By the time Keith and Nicole married in 2006, the Oscar-winning actress was ready to add to the brood!

In July 2008, Keith and Nicole welcomed home Sunday Rose. The beautiful name was actually suggested by Nicole’s father; Antony Kidman claimed his granddaughter was named after the Australian arts patron Sunday Reed. “I have read a bit about Sunday Reed and her husband John. She was a key mover and shaker in the arts around the beginning of the century.” Antony said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, via Reuters. “The name Sunday struck me as being a nice name for a woman, so my wife and I mentioned it.”

More AboutKeith Urban

Nicole Kidman’s Older Daughter Sunday, 14, Is Taller Now Than Dad Keith Urban On Outing With Sister, Faith, 12

Nicole Kidman, 55, Rocks White Shorts As She Holds Hands With Keith Urban In Australia: Photos

Nicole Kidman’s Daughter Sunday, 14, Is Almost As Tall As Mom Arriving In Sydney With Sister Faith, 12, & Parents

Faith Margaret Kidman Urban

Two years after Sunday came into their life, the couple welcomed Faith Margaret via surrogacy. And Keith could not be happier that his home is filled with three ladies! “I love having girls,” he told ABC News. “You know, I come from a family with no sisters, one brother. So, it’s been quite the learning curve in a really good way.”

Although they gush about Faith and Sunday whenever they can in interviews, Keith and Nicole keep their daughters out of the spotlight, and don’t show their faces in public photos, as seen on his Instagram. Of course, there is the occasional sighting here and there!

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Related:

Nicole Kidman’s Kids: Everything To Know About Her 4 Children With Tom Cruise & Keith Urban

But it sounds like Keith and Nicole keeping their family life private is working out lovely for the entire squad. “We have a real life in the sense that we do the most normal things as a family, and we don’t live on social media all the time,” the “Blue Ain’t Your Color” hitmaker said to ABCNews. “We don’t read tabloids… we don’t give it any attention.”

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.

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March 23, 2023
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View gallery Image Credit: www.matrixpictures.com.au / MEGA Keith Urban

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Tech

These malicious Google Chrome extensions could let hackers steal your Gmail messages

A malicious browser extension for Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers capable of stealing the contents of your Gmail email account has been discovered by security researchers.

The malware campaign was spotted by two national security agencies – the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and the National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea.

These two agencies issued a joint statement, warning about the campaign, urging people to be vigilant, but particularly diplomats, journalists, university professors, politicians, and government employees, who are all reportedly the main targets.

Delivered via phishing

AF is a Google Chrome add-on distributed by a threat actor known as Kimsuky (or Thallium). This threat actor is based in North Korea, the two agencies claim, and allegedly targets high-profile individuals in their cyber-espionage programs.

While initially focused on South Korean targets, Thallium recently expanded its target list into Europe, and the United States.

AF is delivered to its victims via phishing. The group would send out the usual “urgent” email, telling the victim to download the add-on on their endpoint (opens in new tab). If installed, the malware won’t show up in the list of add-ons on Chrome, and will only be visible in the extension list. Once installed, it only takes one visit to Gmail for the add-on to run and extract all of its activities.

Kimsuky seems to be a state-sponsored actor focused on cyber-espionage and intelligence gathering. According to CISA, the group has been active for more than a decade.

In 2015, it was accused of stealing sensitive data from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and four years later, in 2019, it was accused of targeting retired South Korean diplomats, military and government officials. Two years ago, Kimsuky was accused of lurking in the internal networks belonging to the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute.

Via: BleepingComputer (opens in new tab)

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March 23, 2023
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A malicious browser extension for Chrome and

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Video

The Linus Tech Tips YouTube hack is the latest in a line of crypto scam breaches

Popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips has been hacked this morning, with the channel’s 15.3 million subscribers seeing videos for crypto scams instead of tech hardware reviews. It’s the latest breach in a series of high-profile YouTube accounts being hacked, with scammers regularly gaining access to prominent accounts to rename them and livestream crypto scam videos.

The main Linus Tech Tips channel was breached earlier this morning, with several live videos broadcast before the hacker started making old private videos public. The account was eventually suspended, presumably as YouTube employees work to restore it. Other Linus Media Group YouTube channels, including Techquickie and TechLinked, have also been breached and given new names focused on Tesla.

It’s not immediately clear how the channels have been breached, but owner Linus Sebastian tweeted that he was aware of the situation.

This is just the latest in a series of breaches that have occurred over the past year, generally designed to promote livestreams that push viewers to amateur-looking crypto sites through links or QR codes. The British army’s YouTube channel was hacked to promote crypto scams last year, just months before tens of thousands of “viewers” watched a fake Apple crypto scam on YouTube. Popular Vevo channels on YouTube for artists like Lil Nas X, Drake, Taylor Swift, and more were also affected by a breach last year that saw videos uploaded from an “unauthorized source.”

We’ve reached out to Google to comment on this latest YouTube incident and to provide information on exactly what the company is doing to protect creators here. While today’s breaches could be from a combination of passwords and two-factor authentication being compromised, it feels like YouTube could do more to prevent the damaging effects of this.

These scams have been going on for months, and one YouTuber claims they work through fake sponsors reaching out to creators. The YouTubers are then convinced to download a file related to the sponsorship, which is just malware designed to steal cookies, remotely control PCs, and ultimately hijack YouTube accounts.

I would personally like to see YouTube implement a lockdown mode for high-profile accounts where if you sign in from an unknown browser or location (based on IP and other factors), then you can’t perform a channel rename or access livestreaming options or video deletion for a period of time. Combined with alerts for when a new location has signed in, this could help channel owners recover their YouTube accounts before any real damage is done.

YouTube could also implement a guardian system where you’d need second approval from another account to rename a channel or delete videos or even additional two-factor prompts for channel actions. This could also help slow down the impact of a YouTuber’s own machine being breached. Hopefully, YouTube has some even better ideas and can get this under control because I’m sick of waking up to a phone full of notifications about junk crypto videos from YouTube.

Update March 23rd, 10:05AM ET: Article updated with more information on how the scam works.

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March 23, 2023
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Popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips has

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Entertaintment

Spotify Has Spent 10% of Joe Rogan-Inspired $100Million Diversity Fund

In February of last year, as controversy broiled around Joe Rogan’s racially charged language and COVID-related misinformation on multiple editions of his Spotify podcast, the streaming giant’s CEO attempted to defuse the situation by apologizing to his aggrieved staff and pledging $100 million “for the licensing, development, and marketing of music (artists and songwriters) and audio content from historically marginalized groups.”

Nearly 14 months later, that $100 million “Creator Equity Fund” has spent less than 10% of its funding on that work,” according to a report in Bloomberg. The initiative was behind schedule in hiring an eight-person staff to oversee the project and “has suffered from shifting priorities,” the report said, citing unnamed people familiar with the effort. At the beginning of this year, the fund had not completed its 2023 budget and had not determined its priority projects, according to a memo the publication said it had obtained, and another fund intended to promote diversity in podcasts suffered after that business was hit by layoffs last year, a union representing workers said.

The $100 million was designed to be used over three years, according to Bloomberg’s sources, but the streaming service lacked a well-structured, clear system for vetting and approving projects or allocating money. Ideas were pitched but often not accepted.

A Spotify rep declined to comment on specific spending numbers for the equity fund, but said it backed a number of initiatives in its first year, including “Glow,” which highlights music from LGBTQ artists, and “Nailing It,” a podcast hosted by three Black women. It also recently announced an expanded partnership with Spelman College, a historically Black women’s school in Atlanta.

“The Spotify Creator Equity Fund is dedicated to a variety of initiatives that help elevate and support an inclusive and diverse portfolio of artists and creators on the platform,” the spokesperson wrote in an emailed comment. “We are able to empower and uplift underrepresented voices around the world.”

Contacted by Variety, a Spotify rep declined further comment but did not dispute the information in the report.

The $100 million number was seen as symbolic, as Rogan’s deal with Spotify — the world’s largest paid music-subscription service — was believed to be that for around that amount, but was later reported to be well over $200 million. The move was also seen by some as a cynical and vaguely defined attempt to defuse the situation, especially after the company spent $300 million on a sponsorship deal for Barcelona FC football club just weeks later.

At the time of the announcement, in a February 2022 letter to staff, CEO Daniel Ek, under fire from critics inside and outside the company over its partnership with Rogan, said he was “deeply sorry” for how the controversy over the podcast host had affected them. But after the company’s removal of 70 past episodes “The Joe Rogan Experience” amid Rogan’s use of the N-word and racially charged language numerous times on his show, Ek signaled that Spotify did not plan to terminate its deal to distribute the podcast, which has continued.

“I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer… canceling voices is a slippery slope,” he wrote in the memo Sunday, which was obtained by Variety. “If we believe in having an open platform as a core value of the company, then we must also believe in elevating all types of creators, including those from underrepresented communities and a diversity of backgrounds.”

Rogan has been a controversial figure ever since Spotify inked its exclusive deal with him in 2020, given his friendliness with several right-wing personalities he has hosted on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

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March 23, 2023
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In February of last year, as controversy

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Movies

This AI Quiz Will Tell You The Three Fictional Characters You’re Romantically Compatible With

My matches are Simba, Gru, and Han Solo. I’m wondering what that says about me…

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March 23, 2023
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My matches are Simba, Gru, and Han

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Olivia Colman stars in darker, grittier ‘Great Expectations’

There’s a palpable darkness in Steven Knight’s adaptation of “Great Expectations.” It’s figurative, embedded in the characters and the storyline, but also literal, with dirt and rot caking everything.

This retelling of Charles Dickens’ coming-of-age novel is not the romanticized version viewers have seen before.

“At the time, London was pretty horrendous, it was pretty dark,” says Knight, who wrote the limited series and was one of the executive producers. “Great Expectations” was published in 1861 after being released serially in a weekly periodical. Knight explained that, at that time, fiction writers like Dickens weren’t allowed to write about drug use or sex outside of marriage.

“It’s not that those issues didn’t exist — it’s not that people weren’t taking drugs or whatever else was going on,” he says. “I tried to think, if Dickens had the liberty, as he would now, to write about that stuff, which dark alleys would he have gone down?”

The series, which premieres on Sunday on FX on Hulu, was the ideal follow-up to “A Christmas Carol,” which Knight adapted in 2019, because it’s a “monolith,” he says. The story, about a young man named Pip (Fionn Whitehead) trying to ascend the class ranks in England, offered an opportunity to revisit iconic characters. There was a personal connection too.

“Pip is the son of a blacksmith; I’m the son of a blacksmith and farrier,” Knight says. “And Pip doesn’t want to do it. This book is about someone who decides to do something else, so it had a bit of a resonance for me.”

To adapt “Great Expectations,” Knight read the novel several times, but he decided not to go through it page by page. He didn’t outline or plan. Instead, he just started writing.

“The way I would describe it is, I read a book and then have a dream about it,” Knight says. “You read the book and then all these things are there. And these themes and these characters are there. And then you have this journey of your own where you plot the course through all of that stuff that you’ve absorbed.”

Although the episodes are generally faithful to the original text in plot and tone, they feature very few lines of dialogue from the novel, which Knight did purposely.

“Dickens’ dialogue is incomparable,” he says. “So you could either do that again — and I don’t see why you would do that — or you can take the spirit of the thing and the journey of the thing and do it your own way. It’s an adaptation, but it’s not a replica.”

Whitehead, who spent six months filming the series last year, says he felt it made the characters and the story more relatable, which may resonate with younger audiences.

“Sometimes people can struggle to relate to period dramas because it feels so disconnected from the way we live now, and it’s hard to empathize with the characters,” he says. “It was a relief for me to be able to make [Pip] feel closer to home and not feel too stilted by the language.”

Along with Whitehead, the cast includes Shalom Brune-Franklin as Estella, Johnny Harris as Magwitch and Owen McDonnell as Joe Gargery. But also of note is Olivia Colman, who joined the series as the reclusive, vengeful Miss Havisham, a character previously played by Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson and Anne Bancroft in other adaptations. Because of her schedule, Colman shot all of her scenes in only a few weeks.

“I came on quite late because I kept saying, ‘I don’t think I should do it. I don’t think I should do it,’” says Colman, who was nervous about the role, particularly after seeing her friends Anderson and Bonham Carter do it. “[She’s] a character that so many people can visualize and so many people think they know. After a certain amount of time, you’ve just got to go, ‘Well, it’s my opportunity to do it, and I want to do it.’”

Miss Havisham (Colman, left) and Estella (Shalom Brune-Franklin) in a scene from “Great Expectations.” The costume for Miss Havisham was made to appear as if it were decaying.

(Miya Mizuno / FX)

Miss Havisham, a wealthy spinster who is raising Estella as she conspires to meddle in Pip’s life, famously wears a wedding dress she hasn’t taken off since being left at the altar years before. Instead of the dress being dusty and covered in cobwebs like in past versions, the show’s costume designer conceived a look where Colman’s Miss Havisham appears to be decaying from the inside out.

“The costume — you can’t see it close enough — is covered in opium ash, and from the bottom, it’s going green and it’s rotting,” Colman says. “For me, that was a great way in. Her heartache was rotting her heart and mind.”

Visually, the series is enveloped in darkness. Many of the scenes take place at night, and Whitehead recalls being covered in dirt for much of the production. Sex and drug use are presented unabashedly, and London is chaotic and loud.

“My mum once said, ‘The younger generation thinks they’ve invented sex,’” Colman says, laughing. “And, of course, it’s been going on forever.”

Retelling a classic novel can sometimes mean imbuing it with modern-day issues. But Knight thinks the work is more timeless. He says the novel endures because it continues to connect to its readers, regardless of the era.

“I don’t think to adapt it you have to start inserting contemporary concerns,” he says. “They’re there already.”

Colman found the story “shocking” in its relevance because of the deeply embedded British class system that persists today. American audiences may not have firsthand experience with the restrictive class system, which can impact someone’s life trajectory via schooling and career opportunities, in the same way as British viewers. But Colman and Whitehead feel it’s important to showcase the way it can hold people back, regardless of who is watching.

“Dickens found it distasteful,” Colman says. “His heroes come from the lowest class. Sadly, depending on where you’re born, class still dictates so much of what might happen to you as you get older. And it’s disgusting. And it’s still there.”

“Dickens was one of the first writers to really talk about working-class characters in a nonpatronizing way and to actually give them agency as full, rounded characters,” Whitehead added. “That was a really important thing to do — and to keep doing.”

Knight remains busy with numerous other projects, including a forthcoming adaptation for Netflix of Anthony Doerr’s World War II novel, “All the Light We Cannot See.” He also recently opened Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham, England, where his forthcoming BBC series “This Town” and the much-anticipated “Peaky Blinders” film will shoot. But Dickens remains at the forefront of his mind. Next, he’s considering taking on “A Tale of Two Cities.”

“[I love] the way he writes and the way he writes dialogue and the fact that what he’s done has given you a kit for streaming television,” Knight says of his fascination with the author. “He wrote in episodes. It’s very contemporary, in that sense. There are so many possibilities.”

‘Great Expectations’

Where: FX on Hulu

When: Anytime, starting Sunday

Rating: Not rated

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March 23, 2023
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MCU

Feedly AI and Topics – Feedly Blog

Broad business and tech publications produce hundreds of articles per week. Not all those articles are relevant to the topics, companies, or products you care about. Manually filtering out the noise can be overwhelming and time-consuming.

Relevance is a problem we are very passionate about. We have spent the last two years designing and building Feedly AI to help declutter your feeds and save time.

Unlike opaque recommendation engines, Feedly AI has a set of AI Models that let you define and control what is relevant to you.

We are excited to show you how the Feedly AI Topic Model lets you track specific topics, companies, and keywords in your feeds.

Let’s get started!

Companies, people, and products

Feedly AI knows about all the companies, people, and products listed in Wikipedia and in the news. You can ask Feedly AI to look for any of those named entities (and their known aliases) and prioritize articles that are a match.

You can, for example, look for mentions of your competitors or prospects in your industry or tech feeds.

Train Feedly AI to prioritize mentions of Tesla across a set of trusted business sources

Smart Topics

Feedly AI understands how to recognize articles about hundreds of “smart” topics (like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, energy, health, etc..). He’ll be looking for thousands of different terms related to that smart topic. We designed smart topics because an article can be about artificial intelligence without including the term “artificial intelligence”.

Train Feedly AI to prioritize #AI across a set of broad business sources

We continuously teach Feedly AI new smart topics. If there is a specific topic you would like to sponsor, please email enterprise@feedly.com

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You can also ask Feedly AI to look for exact matches of a keyword you are interested in. In this mode, Feedly AI behaves like a saved search.

Train Feedly AI to look for exact matches of the “downsizing” keyword in your business feeds

Refine with AND and OR

You can design more sophisticated priorities by combining multiple topics using AND and OR. AND means that both of the topics need to be present. OR means that either of the topics needs to be present.

Train Feedly AI to look for mentions of DNA or CRISPER and cancer in your health industry feeds

Combine with other skills

The AI Model can be composed with all the other AI Models allowing you, for example, to easily prioritize articles that reference a product launch (business AI Model) while also being related to #artificial intelligence (technology AI Model)

Train Feedly AI to prioritize product launch articles related to #AI

Or high severity software vulnerabilities (cybersecurity AI Model) related to docker (topic AI Model)

Train Feedly AI to prioritize critical Docker vulnerabilities

Continuously learning

You can use the Feedly AI “less like this” down arrow to correct Feedly AI when a topic detection is incorrect. This feedback is channeled to the Feedly ML Team and to the datasets used to train Feedly AI, making topics increasingly more accurate and relevant over time.

Feedly AI continuously learns from your feedback

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We are excited to see many Feedly users declutter their feeds and dig deeper into the topics and trends that matter to them. Sign up today and discover what Feedly AIcan do for you!

If you are interested in learning more about Feedly AI’s roadmap, you can join the Feedly Community Slack. 2020 will be a thrilling year with models and bold experiments!

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March 23, 2023
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With two-time winner Jean Smart likely out of the running this year, there is a good chance TV breakouts like Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) and Jenna Ortega (“Wednesday”) receive lots of Emmys attention.

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Sunday Rose Kidman Urban

Faith Margaret Kidman Urban

Delivered via phishing

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