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TV

Prime Video is restructuring its international business along regional lines in EMEA, APAC and the Americas.

Kelly Day, VP of Amazon’s Prime Video, has rejigged the Bosch and The Boys streamer with expanded roles for Barry Furlong and Gaurav Gandhi.

Furlong, currently VP of Prime Video Europe, is adding all Africa and Middle East businesses to his role and will lead EMEA.

Gandi takes on a new role as lead for the APAC region, adding Japan and South East Asia to his current role overseeing India. Sushant Sreeram, Director – SVOD Business, will become Prime Video Country Director for India to replace Gandhi.

Kari Roe remains in charge of the Americas (Brazil, Mexico, Latin America and Canada), Australia and New Zealand.

Director of International Expansion, Josh McIvor, who has overseen Prime Video’s expansion in Africa and South East Asia, will continue to own “priority international Prime Video initiatives that sit outside a regional remit.”

The changes will go into effect in early April. 

In a memo to staff, Day said: “This new organizational structure is designed to enable us to reach our ambitious goals for global growth while remaining the most local of the global streaming services. It will also expand the career development options for Prime Video International team members. Our plans are designed to create global consistency in our ways of working, simplify decision-making across our increasing number of priority countries and regions, and allow us to quickly scale Prime Video globally while retaining our focus on delivering for local customers.”

The changes take place in early April. They follow a major restructure of Amazon Studios in the U.S., with Marc Resteghinim Laura Lancashire and an unnamed third IP- and talent-focused exec reporting into Amazon Studios co-heads of TV Vernon Sanders and Albert Cheng. They also follow the departures of key international execs such as Georgia Brown and Kaspar Plueger.

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Prime Video is restructuring its international business

What to Watch


By Angela Tricarico

If you, like me, are loving this moment Pedro Pascal is having and want to watch more of his filmography, don’t miss Kingsman: The Golden Circle. The sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service introduces the American equivalent to the Kingsman intelligence service: Statesman. Joining the already-great cast of the first movie (which includes Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong) are Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and yes, Pedro Pascal. After the Kingsman organization’s base is destroyed, they head to America to work with Statesman on taking down a new global threat in the form of a drug cartel, The Golden Circle, led by Moore’s Poppy Adams. Like the first movie, The Golden Circle is packed full of highly stylized, incredibly violent action sequences with meat grinders, robotic dogs, landmines, and Pascal showing off his lasso skills. And just when you think it can’t possibly get any wilder, Elton John shows up.

20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection

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By Angela Tricarico If you, like me, are loving

Awards

The 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place from Feb. 8 through Feb. 18, has already announced an impressive lineup of screenings and a star-studded roster of actors and actresses who will attend career-retrospective tributes at the fest, including Cate Blanchett (whose evening I will be moderating on Feb. 10), Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

On Monday, the fest revealed that a vast majority of this year’s Oscar-nominated directors, writers and producers will also be in attendance to participate on special panels.

At the Arlington Theatre on the evening of Feb. 17, three of the five best director nominees — Tár’s Todd Field, Everything Everywhere All at Once’s Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and The Banshees of Inisherin’s Martin McDonagh — will be on hand to collect the fest’s Outstanding Directors of the Year Award following separate and group conversations, which will be moderated by yours truly. (Additional honorees/participants may yet be added — stay tuned!)

Earlier in the fest, on Saturday, Feb. 11, those four individuals will also represent their three films on the Writers Panel alongside Living’s Kazuo Ishiguro (the sixth Nobel winner to be Oscar-nominated, after George Bernard Shaw, John Steinbeck, Jean-Paul Sartre, Harold Pinter and Bob Dylan), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’s Rian Johnson (an original screenplay nominee for the first Knives Out and now an adapted screenplay nominee for its sequel), The Fabelmans’ Tony Kushner (a Pulitzer winner for Angels in America), Triangle of Sadness’ Ruben Östlund (winner of this year’s Palme d’Or), All Quiet on the Western Front’s Lesley Paterson and Women Talking’s Sarah Polley. IndieWire’s Anne Thompson will moderate.

Later that same day, Claudia Puig will preside over the fest’s Women’s Panel, which will include Anne Alvergue, the director of the best documentary short nominee The Martha Mitchell Effect; Oscar winner Ruth E. Carter, a best costume design nominee for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Hannah Minghella, the producer of the best animated short nominee The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse; Domee Shi, the director of the best animated feature nominee Turning Red; Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, a sound editor on the best sound nominee Avatar: The Way of Water; and Mary Zophres, a best costume design nominee for Babylon.

The following day, Sunday, Feb. 12, Glenn Whipp of the Los Angeles Times will anchor the Producers Panel, which will consist of Tár’s Field, Elvis’ Gail Berman, Top Gun: Maverick’s Jerry Bruckheimer, Women Talking’s Dede Gardner, All Quiet on the Western Front’s Malte Grunert, The Fabelmans’ Kristie Macosko Krieger, Avatar: The Way of Water’s Jon Landau and Everything Everywhere All at Once’s Jonathan Wang.

And later that day, the fest will debut a new gathering, the International Directors Panel, under the oversight of fest director Roger Durling, on which all five best international feature nominees will be represented: The Quiet Girl’s Colm Bairéad, All Quiet on the Western Front’s Edward Berger (whose film is also nominated for best picture, a rarity for a non-English-language film), Close’s Lukas Dhont, Argentina, 1985’s Santiago Mitre and EO’s Jerzy Skolimowski.

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The 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival,

Music

Babyface on Upcoming Super Bowl Performance, Rihanna’s Half-Time Show and New Music (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight

































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Docs

It’s no secret that women make up a large majority of the documentary world’s executive positions. Cara Mertes, director of the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms; Tabitha Jackson, director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program; Diane Weyermann, executive vice president, documentary films at Participant Media; Molly Thompson, senior vice president of A&E IndieFilms; and Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films are just of a few of the nonfiction genre’s gatekeepers.

But for most women, show business and almost all other career-oriented disciplines are uphill battles. But while that climb has become less difficult in documentary, it’s still a very tricky endeavor to reach the peak, which is why Dyllan McGee, executive producer at Kunhardt McGee Productions, founded Makers.

A multi-platform initiative developed by AOL that aims to be the largest collection of women trailblazer stories ever assembled, and includes a growing collection of over 250 original interviews online, Makers is about “bringing to life new and unforgettable stories, preserving those stories and letting every household in America have access to them.”

Makers.com launched in 2012 with the stories of 100 groundbreaking women. In 2013, Makers premiered the three-hour documentary Makers: Women Who Made America, telling the story of the modern American women’s movement for the first time on television. The film aired on PBS to 4.3 million viewers.

On September 30, a series of six new one-hour Makers documentaries is scheduled to premiere on PBS every Tuesday for six consecutive weeks. The hour-long specials will tell the stories of women in six spheres of influence: comedy, Hollywood, space, business, politics and war.

 

The Makers presentation at the Television Critics Associaiton Press Tour, left to right: Dyllan McGee, executive producer; screenwriter Linda Woolverton, from Women in Hollywood; for US Congresswomen Pat Schroeder,from Women in Politics; and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, from Women in Holllywood. Photo: Rahoul Ghose/PBS 

“Makers is not just a media project, it’s a movement,” explains McGee, series executive producer. “The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media reports that since 1946, gender inequality on screen has remained largely unchanged and unchecked. Our goal at Makers is to help change that statistic.”

Nine years ago, McGee had no idea that she was going to build a multi-media empire. Back then, she just wanted to tell the story of Gloria Steinem, so she approached the feminist icon, only to get rejected. As McGee recalls, “In her egoless way, [Steinhem] said, ‘You can’t tell the story of the women’s movement through the story of one person. There’s a much bigger story to be told.'”

The rejection initially felt like a failure to McGee because she figured that the women’s movement was a story that had surely been told “a million times” in nonfiction form. She was wrong. Instead there were hundreds of important stories that had never hit the screen, let alone been taped. McGee did eventually make a film about Steinhem—Gloria: In Her Own Words, which aired on HBO in the summer of 2011 and earned an Emmy nomination. “Gloria inspired me to do more than just one film, and now I have made it my passion to capture and preserve the story of women both known and unknown,” McGee states.

In order to do that, McGee decided to flip the documentary model on its head by kicking things off online. She and her team posted individual stories on the Web, with the goal to then take the best material and create a documentary from the bottom up.

“When this project started almost 10 years ago now, video was just kicking off on the Web, and I knew it was going to change the documentary film medium,” McGee says. “The way people consume media now is more and more in short form, but I’m an old-fashioned documentary filmmaker in that I believe in the long form. That said, I think there is a place for both the long and short form. What was important for this project was to reach a young demographic that isn’t necessarily connected with the idea of how important it is for women to keep advancing.”

In order to reach that young demographic, McGee knew that she had to create something that was short-form. Makers.com launched two years ago, with the stories of 100 groundbreaking women including Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Oprah Winfrey. Today the site features over 2,500 videos and more than 250 women, with new short films/interviews launching each week on “Makers Monday.”

When it came time for the latest documentary series, McGee said that it was “very hard to narrow it down to six one-hour episodes. The first documentary was about the women’s movement. Now we are looking at what’s been the ripple effect of the women’s movement. Where are we in each of these industries? At the end of the day, it’s about picking really good stories. Sometimes there’s a really interesting topic, but there are no stories in it.”

Each documentary examines the impact of the women’s movement on six fields once largely closed to women. Veteran documentary directors Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Grace Lee and Jamila Wignot direct all but one of the films. Michael Epstein serves as the sole male director, while all six episodes are narrated by women, including Julia Roberts, Leslie Mann and Jodie Foster.

 “Dyllan was very persistent and really courted Rachel and me,” says Ewing, who directed and produced Makers: Women in Comedy and Makers: Women in War with Grady. “Initially we were concerned with finding an original angle because, as a filmmaker, you want to have your own approach and make it as original as possible.”

When it came to Women in Comedy, Ewing explains that she wasn’t looking to grapple with gender inequality or for subjects to “gripe over and complain about lack of opportunity. We really just wanted to understand what it’s like to stand alone on that stage with a mic. It’s such a powerful position. All the women [we spoke to] had to confront that there is something very male about standing on stage and talking at people.”

Comedians including Chelsea Handler, Mo’Nique, Sarah Silverman, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Lynch and Kathy Griffin participated in the documentary. But Ewing admits that Joan Rivers made her the most nervous. “None of these women suffer fools,” Ewing says. “So we really went into each interview prepared. But that said, I was still terrified to speak to Joan. Not only was it hard to get her to sit with us, but she’s a force to be reckoned with. When we finally sat down [to do the interview], the first thing I said was, ‘By the way, I’m not going to ask you about the [losing your friendship with] Johnny Carson episode.’ I think she appreciated that.”

 

Heidi Ewing (left) interviews Joan Rivers for Women in Comedy. Courtesy of PBS/MAKERS 

Epstein, who directed Makers: Women in Space, appreciated being the sole male helmer on the project. “I see myself first and foremost as a storyteller, and the women’s movement is as much my story as an American as anybody else’s,” Epstein says. “It has had a profoundly positive influence on my life. So I never felt out of place as the only male director on the series. It was remarkably collaborative group of filmmakers.” That said, Epstein admits that Makers is “unequivocally Dyllan’s baby and vision,” which presents its own challenges. “You need to find your own voice inside what is so clearly someone else’s creation,” explains Epstein. “For me, it’s about finding the story, a story that excites me and one you think can be well told. I was able to find that with Dyllan. She gave me freedom to tell a story in my own voice.”

 

NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, who appears in Michael Epstein’s Women in Space. Courtesy of PBS/MAKERS 

McGee foresees working with many more female as well as male directors on Makers. “The dream is that we can create an ongoing series,” McGee says. “My goal is to make sure that all women’s stories are told. So we have a long road ahead of us to make sure that that happens.”

Addie Morfoot writes about the entertainment industry for Daily Variety, The Wall Street Journal and Adweek. She has also written for The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Marie Claire. She holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School.

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Viola Davis 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Premiere Ceremony, Los Angeles, USA - 05 Feb 2023


Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde accept the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for 'Never Wanted to Be That Girl' 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Premiere Ceremony, Los Angeles, USA - 05 Feb 2023


Samara Joy 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Premiere Ceremony, Los Angeles, USA - 05 Feb 2023

Image Credit: Bobby Singh/Shutterstock

  • Steve Lacy is a successful singer widely known for his hit “Bad Habit.”
  • Aside from his work as a solo artist, he is also a member of the band The Internet.
  • Steve was nominated for four Grammy Awards at the 65th annual ceremony on Feb. 5, 2023.

There are many up-and-coming singers out there, and Steve Lacy is one of them! Not only did the 24-year-old perform on Saturday Night Live on Nov. 5, 2022, but he also hit the stage for the first time in his career! That evening comedian Amy Schumer hosted and introduced Steve to the lovely Studio 8H! The talented musician is currently on tour to support his second studio album, Gemini Rights, which features his first No. 1 hit “Bad Habit.” Steve is crushing it in the music industry at the moment, as he also performed his hit single during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, 2023. Keep reading to learn more about the star!

Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy at the 2020 Grammy Awards (Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock)

1. Steve Is In A Band

Steve gained fame as the guitarist in the alternative R&B band The Internet. His bandmates include vocalist Syd, keyboardist Matt Martians, bassist Patrick Paige II, and drummer Christopher Smith. The Internet formed in Los Angeles in 2011. They’ve since released four studio albums including 2015’s Ego Death, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016.

2. He’s Co-written Songs With Huge Stars

Steve is credited with co-writing songs with other huge artists such as Solange Knowles, Chloe x Halle, and Kendrick Lamar. He memorably collaborated with Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator on the 2017 song “911/Mr. Lonely.” He also announced his upcoming tour with “Retrograde” hitmaker James Blake via Instagram on Feb. 1 (see above). “coming to a city near u @jamesblake @toroymoi @fousheelive i’m absolutely GEEKED to be touring with some absolute legends ru kidding me???????? love y’all,” he captioned the tour poster.

3. He Has Been Nominated For Grammy Awards

Steve’s debut studio album Apollo XXI earned a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. He lost to Lizzo for her album Cuz I Love You. His first Grammy Award nomination in that same category was with The Internet in 2016, for their album Ego Death. They lost to The Weeknd for his album Beauty Behind the Madness. Later, in 2023, Steve was nominated for an additional four trophies! His most recent nominations include: Record Of The Year for “Bad Habit”, Best Progressive R&B Album for Gemini Rights, Song of The Year for “Bad Habit”, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Bad Habit.” The Compton native also took music’s biggest stage on Feb. 5, 2023, and performed “Bad Habit”. Sadly, Steve did not take home any of his nominations.

Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy performs in concert in Canada on December 9, 2018 (Photo: Bobby Singh/Shutterstock)

4. He Has A Matching Tattoo With Kanye West

Steve, Kanye West, and Lil Uzi Vert all got a matching tattoo together in August 2022. The tattoo is on their arm and it says “We Here Forever Technically.” The trio showed off the ink in a photo taken by L.A.-based tattoo artist Mez Afram. Steve was part of Kanye’s Donda countdown livestream event in 2021, telling GQ that the experience “was cool, it was cool.” It’s unclear if Steve is still friends with Kanye after the rapper’s anti-semitic controversy.

5. He’s Bisexual

Steve came out as bisexual back in 2017. He confessed his sexuality on Tumblr and revealed that he’s open to romantic relationships with men, but not Black men. “I never viewed or saw myself doing anything sexual with my neighbors..i literally, like I said, see them as brothers,” Steve wrote, referring to other Black men. He went on to write, “I don’t dislike black people, I prefer to live here and be around poc bc I love black people, I’m just not attracted to black boys. that is it.”

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View gallery Image Credit: Bobby Singh/Shutterstock Steve Lacy is

Tech

Normal Gossip, the breakout podcast from Defector Media that shares anonymous morsels of gossip from everyday people, will appear at this year’s On Air Fest to give fans a peek behind the curtain and share some gossip from attendees along the way.

Host Kelsey McKinney and producer Alex Sujong Laughlin will appear on the main stage at the three-day audio and podcasting festival in Brooklyn on Feb. 25. That same day, Pivot co-host Kara Swisher will join CNN’s Audie Cornish for a main stage conversation reflecting on Cornish’s long career in public radio and, more recently, podcasting as she is awarded with the festival’s top honor, the Audio Vanguard Award.

Peabody Award–winner Krista Tippett will also lead a relaunch of her show, On Being, with a live interview with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, while Mobituaries host Mo Rocca will lead a live taping with Dead Eyes creator and comedian Connor Ratliff.

Previously announced activations at the festival include an immersive walk-through experience of podcasts like My Favorite Murder, Radiolab, poet Hanif Abdurraqi’s Object of Sound and The Heart.

On Air Fest takes place at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25.

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Normal Gossip, the breakout podcast from Defector

Video

President Joe Biden reiterated during his State of the Union speech Tuesday night that the U.S. government should do something about the mismanagement and sky-high fees charged by concert promoters like Ticketmaster.

The remarks came as part of a larger portion of the speech addressing the ways Americans are nickeled and dimed by major companies, during which Biden declared, “Americans are tired of being played for suckers.”

“We can stop service fees on tickets to concerts and sporting events and make companies disclose all fees up front,” Biden said during his congressional address on Tuesday.

Biden’s comments could also signal his willingness to get the US justice Department involved in taking anti-trust action against the Live Nation/Ticketmaster conglomerate.

Alongside concert fees, Biden also called out other expenses incurred by Americans as consumers.

“The idea that cable internet and cellphone companies can charge you $200 or more if you decide to switch to another provider — give me a break,” Biden said.

Biden’s comment follow a recent Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, called after reports that service failures and significant delays on Ticketmaster’s website prevented fans from purchasing Taylor Swift concert tickets in November.

A flood of fans — and bots — crashed Ticketmaster’s website in a Nov. 15 pre-sale for the pop star’s upcoming Eras Tour, leading the company to cancel public sales.

As complaints have mounted against Ticketmaster in the wake of its merger with Live Nation Entertianment, the company has invested nearly $6 million dollars in lobbing Congress.

Ticketmaster Apologizes After Bad Bunny Fans’ Concert Tickets Are Falsely Deemed Fake

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President Joe Biden reiterated during his State

Entertaintment

Whitney director Kevin Macdonald has struck a multi-project deal with rebranded Banijay label Workerbee Group.

Macdonald, whose past credits include the celebrated Houston doc, Oscar winner One Day in September and Marley, will work closely with Workerbee’s new Films division to jointly identify premium unscripted projects to collaborate on. 

The pair have previously collaborated on hit A+E Janet Jackson doc series Janet and the new partnership has already spawned a major feature doc for a streamer, which will be announced shortly.

“On a personal level I’m huge fan of Kevin’s approach to storytelling and his partnerships with our lead Director Ben Hirsh have produced our most exciting documentary projects to date,” said Workerbee CEO Rick Murray. “Knowing we are going to forge more high-profile films together is a great way to kick start our Workerbee Films division.”

Macdonald added: “I’ve had a rewarding time working with Rick and the Workerbee team on several projects over the last few years and am excited to formalise our relationship and work with them on a host of new documentaries.”

The move comes as Workerbee rebrands to Workerbee Group. It is now split into two divisions – Films and Formats – and has forged a new senior team under Creative Director Ben Mitchell and newly-promoted Managing Director Michelle Chappell. Speaking to Deadline last year, Banijay UK Exec Chair Patrick Holland said Workerbee, which has credits including Channel 4/HBO’s The Bridge and Netflix’s upcoming Idris Elba-narrated Human Playground, would be given additional investment as a reward for being high performing. The indie recently unveiled plans to invest in unscripted businesses and talent based outside of London.

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Whitney director Kevin Macdonald has struck a

Film

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey stole our hearts in the iconic rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Neither can Hudson or McConaughey.

On February 6, the former coworkers paired up for a joint Instagram Live to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the rom-com, taking time to answer fans’ burning questions. One question Hudson has received “all the time” is one on everyone’s mind: What is it like to kiss Matthew McConaughey? 

After working with McConaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Fool’s Gold, Hudson has the unique experience of kissing the heartthrob many, many times. “My whole thing is like, we’re always in weird environments,” she recalled. “It’s never like…there was only one time when we kissed that was like so nice and gentle, in the bathroom.” 

©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Despite how badly fans hoped their onscreen spark was real offscreen, both actors agreed that the possibility of anything more than friends was off the table. “When you’re kissing anyone in a movie, it’s professional,” Hudson said. “We’re actually trying to create something that evokes something in a certain way that might not exactly be the way you would necessarily do it in real life.” 

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Can you believe it's been 20 years

TV

WWE has announced its annual “SummerSlam” will take place at Detroit’s Ford Field on Aug. 5.

The announcement marks the first return of “SummerSlam” to Michigan in 30 years and the first WWE event to take place at Ford Field since “WrestleMania” in 2007.

“Landing WWE ‘SummerSlam’ at Ford Field is a signature win for Detroit and continues the momentum of the Detroit Sports Commission in attracting major sporting events to the region,” said DSC executive director Dave Beachnau in a statement. “Metro Detroit enjoys a special place in WWE history and has produced many iconic moments. Thank you to the entire WWE family for entrusting us with this incredible opportunity, and we look forward to delivering a first-class experience.”

Tickets for the event will be available for purchase April 15 on Ticketmaster.com.

Also in today’s television news:

NEW HIRES

Two new multi-platform reporters are joining ABC News, according to an announcement today from Wendy Fisher, the network’s senior vice president of newsgathering. Jaclyn Lee will fill one of the positions from New York effective Feb. 7, while Melissa Adan will join the Los Angeles team later this week.

Prior to being hired at ABC News, Lee worked as a reporter and anchor at ABC-owned television station WPVI-TV as well as at WVEC-TV, a Virginia-based ABC affiliate. Lee’s previous coverage spans topics like the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 presidential election and the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes.

Adan spent over six years at NBCUniversal, most recently serving as a general assignment news reporter and anchor for NBC7 and Telemundo 20 since 2018. As a bilingual journalist, Adan has traveled across the globe to report on the Mexico-U.S. border crisis and the effects of wildfires on climate change — the latter of which earned her a regional Emmy.

*

Multimedia journalist CB Cotton starts a new position today at Fox News Channel (FNC) as a correspondent, the network alerted today. In the role, Cotton will cover breaking news from FNC’s New York headquarters.

Before being hired at FNC, Cotton worked at KMGH-TV, a Denver-based ABC affiliate, as a lead night side reporter with an emphasis on crime, justice and law enforcement. Cotton was also a multimedia journalist at Nashville’s WKRN-TV from 2018 to 2020 and took the helm at WITN-TV as Jacksonville bureau chief for two years prior to that.

Notable work from Cotton includes her tenacious reporting on the increase in social justice protests following the murder of George Floyd and her coverage of the Boulder King Soopers supermarket shooting in March 2021.

AWARD SHOWS

Movieguide has announced UP Entertainment founder and CEO Charles “Charley” Humbard will receive its Visionary award at its 30th annual gala. Humbard is receiving the award for his positive influence on the entertainment industry and culture.

In his 40-year career in the entertainment industry, Humbard also served as a senior executive at Discovery Networks and a founding member of Discovery International Networks. Prior to Discovery, he wrote, recorded and performed music for TV on Rex Humbard Worldwide Ministries.

“Charley continues to be a beacon of light in an industry that often gets bogged down in immorality,” Movieguide publisher Ted Baehr said in a statement. “UPtv content is inspirational, encouraging, and tells quality stories without sacrificing values. We are proud to call Charley a friend of Movieguide.”

UP Entertainment, a brand based on uplifting entertainment, houses UPtv, UP Faith & Family, aspireTV, aspireTV Life and Cine Romantico.

“From the beginning we recognized a need for uplifting and positive entertainment for viewers across America,” said Humbard. “Today, with five unique brands serving diverse audiences, we can truly say we are doing our part to uplift someone. Thank you to Movieguide for recognizing and championing the need to make and celebrate positive, uplifting programming in Hollywood.”

The Movieguide gala will take place Feb. 10 at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood.

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WWE has announced its annual “SummerSlam” will

What to Watch

Paramount Pictures

We like her … we really like her!

Since her TV debut in the 1960s as ‘Gidget’ and ‘The Flying Nun,’ actress Sally Field has gone on to receive 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in ‘Norma Rae’ and ‘Places in the Heart,’ while she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in ‘Lincoln.’

She’s also appeared in such classic and beloved movies as ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ ‘Steel Magnolias,’ ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ and ‘Forest Gump.’

Field’s latest, ’80 for Brady,’ which also stars Jane Fonda,Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno, opens in theaters on February 3rd.

In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the top 20 movies of Sally Field’s career, including ’80 for Brady.’

Let’s begin!

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures

Lilah Krytsick (Field) is a mother and housewife who’s always believed she could be a stand-up comedian. Steven Gold (Tom Hanks) is an experienced stand-up seemingly on the cusp of success. When the two meet, they form an unlikely friendship, and Steven tries to help the untried Lilah develop her stage act. Despite the objections of her family and some very wobbly beginnings, Lilah improves, and soon she finds herself competing with Steven for a coveted television spot.

Punchline

Punchline

“Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.”

55

R2 hr 3 minOct 7th, 1988

It’s fire and brimstone time as grieving mother Karen McCann (Field) takes justice into her own hands when a kangaroo court in Los Angeles fails to convict Robert Doob (Kiefer Sutherland), the monster who raped and murdered her 17-year-old daughter (Olivia Burnette).

Eye for an Eye

Eye for an Eye

“What do you do when justice fails?”

61

R1 hr 41 minJan 12th, 1996

An American woman (Field), trapped in Islamic Iran by her brutish husband (Alfred Molina), must find a way to escape with her daughter (Sheila Rosenthal) as well.

Not Without My Daughter

Not Without My Daughter

“In 1984, Betty Mahmoody’s husband took his wife and daughter to meet his family in Iran. He swore they would be safe. They would be happy. They would be free to leave. He lied.”

66

PG-131 hr 56 minJan 11th, 1991

Now a rising young lawyer, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is about to make partner at her firm, but when she finds out her dog’s relatives are being used as cosmetic test subjects, she heads to Washington D.C. to fight for animal rights. Field plays Congresswoman Victoria Rudd.

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde

A dishonest businessman asks rich layabout Craig Blake (Jeff Bridges) to help him buy a gym, which will be demolished for a development project in Alabama. But after spending time with weightlifter Joe Santo (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and gym worker Mary Tate Farnsworth (Field), Craig wants out of the deal. The property negotiations turn ugly, causing a brawl at the gym and a spectacle at a big bodybuilding meet, as Craig learns that it’s not easy to turn your back on fair-weather friends.

Stay Hungry

Stay Hungry

“If you’ve got an appetite for life:”

59

Not Yet Rated1 hr 42 minApr 23rd, 1976

Roadside Attractions

Roadside Attractions

A self-help seminar inspires a sixty-something woman (Field) to romantically pursue her younger co-worker (Max Greenfield).

Hello, My Name Is Doris

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an outcast high schooler abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today.

As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father (Campbell Scott), he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Emma (Field), a divorced single mother seeking to start her life over, moves to a small town in Arizona. She befriends Murphy (James Garner), the older local pharmacist, but things turn complicated when her ex-husband (Brian Kerwin) shows up.

Murphy's Romance

Murphy’s Romance

“Just when you think you’ve found the right guy, someone even worse comes along.”

61

PG-131 hr 47 minDec 25th, 1985

12. ‘Hooper‘ (1978)

Legendary stunt man, Sonny Hooper (Burt Reynolds) remains one of the top men in his field, but due to too many stressful impacts to the spine and the need to pop pain killers several times a day, he knows he should get out of the industry before he ends up permanently disabled. Field plays Gwen Doyle, Sonny’s girlfriend.

Hooper

Hooper

“The greatest stuntman alive!”

65

PG1 hr 39 minJul 28th, 1978

In 1930s Texas, a widow (Field) and her family fight to save their home by harvesting cotton.

Field received her second of two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performance.

Places in the Heart

Places in the Heart

“The story of a woman fighting for her children, for her land, for the greatest dream there is…the future.”

72

PG1 hr 51 minSep 11th, 1984

Bill Irwin stars as Bob, Sally Field as Marilyn, Ben Aldridge as Kit Cowan and Jim Parsons as Michael Ausiello in director Michael Showalter’s 'Spoiler Alert,' a Focus Features release.

(L to R) Bill Irwin stars as Bob, Sally Field as Marilyn, Ben Aldridge as Kit Cowan and Jim Parsons as Michael Ausiello in director Michael Showalter’s ‘Spoiler Alert,’ a Focus Features release. Photo: Linda Källérus / © 2022 Focus Features LLC.

Based on Michael Ausiello’s best-selling memoir “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies,” the film is a heartwarming, funny and life-affirming story of how Michael (Jim Parsons) and Kit’s (Ben Aldridge) relationship is transformed and deepened when one of them falls ill. Field plays Kit’s mother, Marilyn.

Spoiler Alert

Inspired by the true story of four best friends (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Field) living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play.

80 for Brady

80 for Brady

“Best friends get into the best kind of trouble.”

PG-131 hr 38 minFeb 3rd, 2023

Showtimes & Tickets

80 FOR BRADY is inspired by the true story of four best friends living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero… Read the Plot

Celeste Talbert (Field) is the star of the long-running soap opera “The Sun Also Sets.” With the show’s ratings down, Celeste’s ruthlessly ambitious co-star, Montana Moorehead (Cathy Moriarty), and the show’s arrogant producer, David Seton Barnes (Robert Downey Jr.), plot to aggravate her into leaving the show by bringing back her old flame, Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline), and hiring her beautiful young niece, Lori Craven (Elisabeth Shue).

Soapdish

Soapdish

“All that glitter… All that glamour… All that dirt.”

62

PG-131 hr 37 minMay 31st, 1991

A race car driver (Burt Reynolds) tries to transport an illegal beer shipment from Texas to Atlanta in under 28 hours, picking up a reluctant bride-to-be (Field) on the way, while chased by a local Sheriff (Jackie Gleason).

Smokey and the Bandit

Smokey and the Bandit

“What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!”

69

PG1 hr 36 minMay 27th, 1977

Megan Carter (Field) is a reporter duped into running an untrue story on Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman), a suspected racketeer. He has an alibi for the time his crime was allegedly committed—but it involves an innocent party. When he tells Carter the truth and the newspaper runs it, tragedy follows, forcing Carter to face up to the responsibilities of her job when she is confronted by Gallagher.

Absence of Malice

Absence of Malice

“In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?”

67

PG1 hr 56 minDec 18th, 1981

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox

Norma Rae (Field) is a southern textile worker employed in a factory with intolerable working conditions. This concern about the situation gives her the gumption to be the key associate to a visiting labor union organizer (Ron Leibman). Together, they undertake the difficult, and possibly dangerous, struggle to unionize her factory.

Field received the first or her two Academy Awards for Best Actress for this performance.

Norma Rae

Norma Rae

“The story of a woman with the courage to risk everything for what she believes is right.”

73

PG1 hr 50 minMar 2nd, 1979

The revealing story of the 16th US President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

Field plays First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

Lincoln

Lincoln

69

PG-132 hr 29 minNov 16th, 2012

A young beautician (Daryl Hannah), newly arrived in a small Louisiana town, finds work at the local salon, where a small group of women (Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Olympia Dukakis) share a close bond of friendship and welcome her into the fold.

Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias

“The funniest movie ever to make you cry”

72

PG1 hr 59 minNov 15th, 1989

Loving but irresponsible dad Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams), estranged from his exasperated spouse (Field), is crushed by a court order allowing only weekly visits with his kids. When Daniel learns his ex needs a housekeeper, he gets the job — disguised as an English nanny. Soon he becomes not only his children’s best pal but the kind of parent he should have been from the start.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire

“She makes dinner. She does windows. She reads bedtime stories. She’s a blessing… in disguise.”

72

PG-132 hr 5 minNov 24th, 1993

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

A man with a low IQ (Tom Hanks) has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love (Robin Wright) eludes him. Field plays Forrest’s mother, while Gary Sinise plays Lieutenant Dan Taylor, and Mykelti Williamson plays Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

“The world will never be the same once you’ve seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump.”

85

PG-132 hr 22 minJul 6th, 1994

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Paramount PicturesWe like her

Awards

The World Trailer Awards on Tuesday unveiled regional winners for its 2023 edition, with more than 70 projects selected from seven regions representing excellence in entertainment marketing across cinema, television (broadcast and cable), streaming and games.

The group advances to the final round of voting by a panel of senior executives from production, distribution, broadcast and streaming alongside creative directors and industry opinion leaders. The global winners will be announced February 25 in a ceremony at the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura resort in Algarve, Portugal. Deadline is a media partner.

“The World Trailer Awards are all about shining the spotlight on entertainment marketers and creatives across the globe,” said World Trailer Awards global director Tim Cole. “We are delighted to have seen a full and diverse range of entries from independent and major players, across all territories this year, with some exceptional work being submitted.”

Africa, Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & North Africa, and North America creative is represented in the competition, from trailers and posters to sizzles and campaigns repping social media and out-of-home.

Last year in its inaugural edition, campaigns from the likes of Focus Features’ Last Night In Soho, Netflix’s Ozark and Amazon Prime Video’s The Tomorrow War took home prizes.

Here are this year’s regional winners:

AFRICA

Cinema

Best Trailer

KOFA (The Door)
Jude Idada, Kismojie Martins, Chibuzo (Chibie) Louis-Okoye
A ThinkingMan Media

Best Social Media

Wakanda Forever
Olanrewaju Aileru
Filmone Entertainment

Asia

Cinema

Best Trailer

Fireflies in the Sun
Shang Huang, Ningbo Wang
Beijing Yingshang Culture & Media Co.

Best Motion Poster

Puss ‘N Boots: The Last Wish
Stewart Hopewell, Clayton Glenn, Antonello Parlato, Rich Boull’t
The Refinery

Best Sizzle

Moon Man – Behind the Scenes: King Kong Roo
Jing Xia, Tian XU, Jiahao Tian
Beijing Piu Culture Media Limited Company

Streaming

Best Teaser Trailer

Delhi Crime S2
Chinni Nihalani
Promoshop

Best Trailer

Indian Predator – The Butcher of Delhi
Chinni Nihalani
Promoshop

Television

Best Trailer

Rehna Hai Saath Saath (Zee Cinema Brand Campaign)
Amit Gaurav, Samrat Das Gupta, Lowe Lintas
ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd

Best Motion Poster

Morbius
Alok Paranjape, Shilpesh Kothare, Dinesh Nair
ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd

Asia Pacific

Cinema

Best Trailer

The Last Daughter
Veina Yang, Walter Bienz
The Solid State

Best Poster

Embrace Kids
Demi Hopkins, Andy D’Cruze, Cassandra Chapman
Carnival Studio

Best Online Advertising

Millie Lies Low | Behind the Scenes
Mark Westerby
West Mark Productions

Streaming

Best Teaser Trailer

Heartbreak High
Netflix Creative Studio
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Trailer Streaming

Alice In Borderlands
Netflix Creative Studio

Television

Best Poster

Crazy Fun Park – Key Art
Demi Hopkins, Mike James, Nick Sullivan
Carnival Studio

Best Sizzle

WB – Theatrical Reel
Muthu Browning, Sam Russo, Stephanie Cholakyan
Warner Bros. Discovery

Europe

Cinema

Best Teaser Trailer

Mr Malcolm’s List – Tea With Mrs Covington
Paul Spencer, Archie Walker, Faiz Ahmed
Ignition Creative London

Best Trailer

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Silk Factory

Best Sound Design

Flux Gourmet
Jez Beasley, Joe Argent, Duncan Cornell
Zealot

Best Poster

Raindance Film Festival Artwork Design
Robyn Larkin
What Is Bobo

Best Motion Poster

Was man von hier aus sehen kann
Adam Cockerton, Sara Simpson, Daniel Browne
The Dream Factory Film Advertising GmbH

Best OOH/Outdoor Advertising

See How They Run St Pancras OOH Takeover
Mia Matson, Chris Warrington
Creative Partnership

Best Online Advertising Cinema

Downton Abbey: A New Era EPK
Silk Factory

Best Experiential Marketing

Back To Hogwarts 2022
Silk Factory

Best Social Media

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Silk Factory

Games

Best Trailer

Dead Island 2
Sam Passmore, Eliot Albon, Darren Young
Fire Without Smoke

Best Reveal Trailer

Blanc
Moog Gravett, Alys Elwick, Kevin Hayes
Trailer Farm

Streaming

Best Teaser Trailer

Man Vs Bee
Silk Factory

Best Trailer

Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes
Silk Factory

Best Sound Design

1899 Morse Code Teaser
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Poster

Maid
Rafal Szymanski, Jolyon Meldrum
Once Upon A Time

Best Motion Poster

Fate: The Winx Saga
Chris Sharpe, Sabrina Church, Frank De Sousa
Territory Studio

Best OOH/Outdoor Advertising

1899
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Online Advertising

13 Lives – Dream Audience
Teddy Powel, Sophia Kotretso, Kathy Schumacher
Special Treats Productions

Best Experiential Marketing

13 Lives – Dream Audience
Nicolas, Pignatelli, Nick Frontiera, Alastair Mcmullan
Special Treats Productions

Best Sizzle

Becoming Diana
Lisa Fass, Bram De Jonghe, Sophia Kotretso
Special Treats Productions

Best Mixed Media

The Devil’s Hour
Jolyon Meldrum, Tom Evans, Justin Harris, Tal Cicurel
Once Upon A Time

Best Social Media

The Boys: Season 3 – Destruction
Paul Spencer, James Vaughan, Kial Kirlew
Ignition Creative London

Television

Best Teaser Trailer

The Baby – Petrol Station Tease
Gregg Clark, Lee Parker, Kara Cox
Sky UK Limited

Best Trailer

The Midwich Cuckoos
Gregg Clark, Lee Parker, Jack Byrne
Sky UK Limited

Best Sound Design

Disney Junior Christmas
Jaime Sainz, Carlos Guglieri, Eduardo Blanco
The Walt Disney Company

Best Online Advertising

Peaky Blinders
Will Handley, Rob Darvell, Victoria Bourke
The Picture Production Company

Best Sizzle

HBO: October Monthly Image Spot
Miklós Hadházi, Ádám Horváth, Péter Mihola
Miklós Hadházi

Best Mixed Media

The Amazing Maurice
Jolyon Meldrum, Kelly Lacroix, Adam Carter
Once Upon A Time

North America

Cinema

Best Teaser Trailer

Strange World
Philip, Daccord, Matt Wizan, Darrin McKie
IGN + Daccord Creative

Best Trailer

The Batman – “Fear” Trailer
Kathleen Philips, Maggie Notaro, Massey Rafani
BOND

Best Print Advertising

The 35th Israel Film Festival, Key Art
Daniel Bishop, Paul Hoegh-Guldberg, Meir Fenigstein
InSync PLUS

Best Sound Design

Resurrection – Guilty
Chazz “Fiyastarta” Padilla
Epicenter Trailer Music

Best Motion Poster

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, International Motion Poster
Stewart Hopewell, Clayton Glenn, Rich Boull’t, Jesse Riley
The Refinery

Best OOH/Outdoor Advertising

Strange World OOH
Adam Cooper, Chris Roys
Tiny Hero for Walt Disney Studios Creative Content

Best Online Advertising

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – 60 Destruction
Juan Capdet, John “Ibby” Ibsen, Lauren T. Wright
The Picture Production Company

Best Sizzle

Thor: Love and Thunder – A Taika Waititi Adventure
Adam Cooper, Mike Sylvester, Samantha Abrahams
Tiny Hero for Walt Disney Studios Creative Content

Best Social Media

Amsterdam – Social Campaign
Matt Bornstein, Barrett Daniels, Taylor Kidd Zegarra
Tiny Hero for Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution

Games

Best Trailer

New World: Blunderbuss Trailer
Brennan Ieyoub, Michael Doherty, Anthony Fregosi
Layer Media

Best Reveal Trailer

Greatsword Weapon Reveal Trailer
Brennan Ieyoub, Michael Doherty, Anthony Fregosi
Layer Media

Best Sound Design

Déjà Vu_Deathloop_Xbox
Mike Zarin, Kris Kovacs, Alexandra Petkovski
Beryl of Laughs

Best Social Media

New World: Aeturnum Valentine’s Day Getaway
Taylor Wynn, Mikey Doherty, Trist Murray, Anthony Fregosi
Layer Media

Streaming

Best Teaser Trailer

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Trailer

Decision to Leave
Michelle Cho, Sauman Wang, Pablo Martín
Mubi

Best Audio Trailer

A League of Their Own – Pitching In
Aaron Goodman, Kerianne Connor Lentz, Chris Roys
Tiny Hero for Prime Video

Best Sound Design

Wednesday: Symphony of Woe
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Poster

Russian Doll Key Art
Netflix Creative Studio

Best OOH/Outdoor Advertising

Disenchanted OOH
Adam Cooper, Chris Roys
Tiny Hero for Walt Disney Motion Picture Studios

Best Online Advertising

Blonde, Finding Norma Jeane
Jim Pascoe, Jacqueline Little, Lindsey Sawyer, Rich Boull’t
The Refinery

Best Sizzle

Lionsgate International Television Sizzle
Laura Yurich, John Carmona, Kevin Brader
Tiny Hero for Lionsgate, Worldwide Television Marketing

Best Mixed Media

Ozark Season 4: The Final Episodes
Netflix Creative Studio

Best Social Media

See How They Run Social Media
Samantha Abrahams, Matt Bornstein, Kobe Henderson
Tiny Hero

Television

Best Trailer

Gaslit
Brett Winn, Pablo Proenza, Ron Drynan
The Refinery

Best Online Advertising

Next Level Chef
Gabe Converse, Jesse Mandapat, Matthew Fallabel, Acquille Dunkley
The Refinery

Latin America

Streaming

Best Teaser Trailer

Palpito S1 – Mood Teaser
Netflix Creative Studio

Television

Best Teaser Trailer

Iron Island Season 2
Eduardo Calvet, Tony Pereira, Paula Lobato
Globo

Best Trailer

Iron Island Season 2
Eduardo Calvet, Tony Pereira, Paula Lobato
Globo

Middle East & North Africa

Streaming

Best OOH/Outdoor Advertising

Disney+ Launch
Marta Bilbao Gomez, Ajay Bangar, Alex Ho, Cenk Aksun
Once Upon A Time

Television

Best Teaser Trailer

Motherland
Joe Jarjoura, Badry Moujais
Steve Barakatt

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The World Trailer Awards on Tuesday unveiled

Music

Beyonce has broken the record for the most Grammy wins in history.  The legendary performer and former Destiny’s Child member took home four of the nine nominations during Sunday night’s broadcast of the 2023 Grammy Awards.  Following her glorified Best Dance/Electronic Album win for Renaissance, Queen Bey has thirty-two Megaphone Statues, beating classical conductor George Solti who won his thirty-first and last Grammy in 1997.

Adding to the Best Dance/Electronic Album, Beyonce also won Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa,” Best Dance/Electronic Recording for “Break My Soul” and Best R&B Song for “Cuff It.”  For the latter, music producer and co-writer of “Cuff-It,” Nile Rodgers accepted Beyonce’s Grammy on her behalf, for she didn’t make it to the show on time due to the Los Angeles traffic.

As for Grammy nominations, she is now tied with her husband, Jay-Z, with eighty-eight.   Her count is attributed to when she was with Destiny’s Child, one of the “greatest girl groups of all time,” according to Billboard. During Beyonce’s tenure with the group, she and her bandmates took home three Grammys, including one for “Survivor.”

In her appreciation speech on Sunday night, the Texan native honored her Uncle Jonny, who died from HIV and was a big part of her childhood.  She also shined on her husband, her daughter Blue Ivy, and twins Rumi and Sir.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional.  I’m trying to just receive this night.  I want to thank God for protecting me.  Thank you, God.  “I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who’s not here.  But he’s here in spirit.  I’d like to thank my parents — my father, my mother, for loving me, and pushing me.  I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching.”

Beginning in May, Beyonce will begin her Renaissance World Tour.  Her first stop will be in Sweden, with the last in New Orleans in late September.  This will be her first tour in nearly five years.

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Beyonce has broken the record for

Docs

Former NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf tells his story — both on and off the court — in the Showtime documentary “Stand,” with the guidance of director Joslyn Rose Lyons.

The documentary examines how Abdul-Rauf’s standout playing career was derailed by controversy over his decision not to stand during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But it also aims to capture more than just the protest — which came some 20 years before NFL star Colin Kaepernick caught flack for kneeling on the sidelines — and instead focuses on the finer points of Abdul-Rauf’s life before and after professional basketball, revealing how he found himself taking a stand for his beliefs.

“I don’t know if this was the right time, only God knows,” Abdul-Rauf tells Variety, when asked why he decided to share his story now. “However, over the years I’ve read more, I’ve met a wide array of people, so much has changed, while remaining the same. With the uptick in athletes being more vocal, I just felt that this was as good a time as any. And we’re not promised tomorrow.”

The film, which debuted last Friday, dives deep into Abdul-Rauf’s history. Born Chris Jackson in Gulfport, Mississippi, the son of Jacqueline Jackson, a single mother who worked hard to raise him and his two brothers, Omar and David. The youngster dreamed of becoming one of the world’s best basketball players, all while battling undiagnosed Tourette’s syndrome, eventually becoming a star player at LSU and getting drafted into the NBA in 1990. In 1991, he converted to Islam, changing his name a couple years later.

Throughout his career, Abdul-Rauf was known for his specific style of play, described in the documentary by Mahershala Ali (who was a college basketball player before becoming an Oscar-winning actor) as “Stephen Curry before Stephen Curry.” In fact, Curry also appears in the documentary to discuss the comparisons in their skills, acknowledging that Abdul-Rauf was a pioneer of the game. But Abdul-Rauf’s career was cut short.

In 1996, members of the media noticed that Abdul-Rauf wasn’t standing alongside his teammates during the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The player’s personal decision became an international controversy, with Abdul-Rauf becoming the target of hate speech and Islamophobia. He was suspended and fined by the league and ultimately compromised, opting to pray silently instead, but the controversy had a profound effect on his playing career, with opportunities falling away left and right. Off the court, Abdul-Rauf continued to be attacked, with the criticism growing so violent that his home was burned to the ground.

When Lyons boarded the documentary last summer, she was already aware of Abdul-Rauf — particularly his diagnosis with Tourette’s syndrome, his conversion to Islam and the news coverage of his protest.

“The media did a great job of creating the narrative: he didn’t stand for the anthem, period, and he was Muslim,” she recalls. “Because social media didn’t exist, because there wasn’t an opportunity for him to have a movement behind him in the way in which we’ve seen a lot of other athletes have now when they’ve made their stance.”

So, it wasn’t until she got the opportunity to dive deeper Abdul-Rauf’s life that she began to understand the man behind the headlines.

“I was very sensitive to the fact that there was a much deeper story there, that was not told,” Lyons adds. “And it really excited me to get an opportunity to direct this film. Because part of our job as storytellers is to bring things into focus that were left in the dark.”

From Lyons and Abdul-Rauf’s first meeting, it was clear they were on the same page.

“Joslyn Rose is easy to talk to,” Abdul-Rauf says, praising the filmmaker. “She’s willing to share her ideas and what she has and she’s a good listener. She’s a creative visionary.”

Part of their connection could be chalked up to their religious background — Lyons converted to Islam in 2003 – but the link was also, somehow, deeper.

“The creative trust was instantly there, and I don’t take that for granted, because it’s not always like that with storytelling and projects. But I also know that when that synergy is present in a project, you have a force behind you that’s bigger,” Lyons adds. “It’s the story asking to be told, and it’s telling us how to tell it.”

Director Joslyn Rose Lyons with Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Mahershala Ali in “Stand.”
Faith Auon/SHOWTIME

With more than a decade of experience directing music videos and short films under her belt, Lyons makes her feature directorial debut with “Stand.”

“I’m honored to have directed this film for Showtime, a network that has been a pillar of inspiration in my filmmaking journey,” she says. “I’m grateful to have worked with an amazing creative team – especially my editor Dan Schulman-Means, who spent countless hours with me finding the structure of this complex story, and my music composer Matthew Head – whose brilliant score was the rhythm that gave my vision a heartbeat.”

Much of Lyons’ work has existed at the intersection of hip-hop culture, social justice and sports, with the filmmaker serving as a producer on the NAACP Image Award-winning documentary “Speaking Truth to Power” and a directing music content featuring artists like Common, RZA Wu-Tang Clan, Robert Glasper, Mahershala Ali, E-40, Talib Kweli and Vince Staples, in addition to her lengthy filmography of award-winning short films.

“The storytelling techniques of music and hip hop and activism, there’s an edge there, and my creative process has always been to find the edges and go beyond,” Lyons says. “Because when you find the edges and you pass them, that’s where the medicine is of a story. That’s where we step out of our comfort zone, our excellence zone, and we find that genius zone where there’s something magical happening. So, I do feel connected to my roots in that way.”

In the case of “Stand,” Lyons was hired to helm the documentary with production already underway. The team of producers — led by Colleen Dominguez and Tom Friend, as well as executive producers Sarah Allen, Mike Tollin and Mason Gordon of Mandalay Sports Media — had spent a considerable amount of time in the field with Abdul-Rauf, who sat down for lengthy and candid interviews about his experiences.

The documentary also features exclusive interviews with Abdul-Rauf’s family; several basketball stars — including his former teammates and contemporaries, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O’Neal and Jalen Rose; and entertainment figures like Ice Cube, who founded the BIG3 basketball league where Abdul-Rauf now plays.

While mainly focused on the cinéma vérité elements of production, Lyons conducted the interview with Mahershala Ali, who she’s worked with for more than 20 years, partnering for music videos (“Honor Code,” “The Majors”) and a short film (2008’s “Umis Heart”). She also directed a remote shoot with Abdul-Rauf in Gulfport, as he met his paternal family for the first time.

“Before I came on board, our producers spent extensive time researching his life,” Lyons explains. “Something that really struck me [was] about his father. That everything that he did, was through the lens of hoping to gain the attention of his father, so that maybe his father would want to meet him. And that was very powerful.”

As Lyons reviewed the footage, the topic of Abdul-Rauf not knowing his father came up multiple times, including one interview in which he confirmed that it was a driving force for him.

“[That interview] crystallized for me a bit more how I could string some of these disconnected story beats together,” she says. “Because Tourette syndrome, basketball, his stand with the NBA and a spiritual conversion, all these different things, the connecting thread comes from something deep within him, of wanting to find, I suppose, peace. So, I leaned into that.”

Lyons could, again, relate, after learning how to navigate a relationship with her father.

“I made my first documentary “Soundz of Spirit,” when I was about 22 years old,” Lyons explains. “My dad never really could show up for birthdays and whatnot, but he showed up at that premiere, and was like, ‘That’s my daughter.’ I understood Mahmoud’s need for that.”

Joslyn Rose Lyons directed Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf on the set of “Stand.”
Courtesy of SHOWTIME

Lyons recognized that desire to be seen, which had turned into a motivating factor in Abdul-Rauf’s life, much as it did in her own.

“Through our pain, we often find our purpose,” she explains. “Mahmoud’s pain was potentially like a compass for him. And it maybe propelled him — like often it does in our lives — to pursue greatness, to do great things. Like they say, ‘Where the cracks are, that’s where the rose grows.’ I think Mahmoud is a testimony to that.”

That idea of a long-lost love, is something all audiences can relate to, she acknowledges.

“There is that for everyone — whether it’s a dream deferred, whether it’s a parent who never showed up, or it’s literally a long-lost love, it’s through those heartbreaks, and those struggles that we do find our strengths,” Lyons shares. “Oftentimes, those things that are missing are the very things that help us strive to, to become who we’re meant to be.”

One motif that Lyons used to capture Abdul-Rauf’s inner journey was shadowboxing, an exercise that, fortuitously, he had begun practicing years prior. It’s a visual metaphor, Lyons explains, “So that we could see visually how he faced these shadows and found his light.”

It was one of the first things filmmaker and subject discussed. “We talked about how [he] was a fighter in his life,” she recalls. “And I had been in the trenches studying shadowboxing for my first narrative scripted feature, ‘Shadowbox.’ I couldn’t help but think about Mahmoud’s journey through that lens because he walked through literal fires — his home was burned to the ground by the KKK — he walked through spiritual fires, emotional fires and he still rose like a phoenix. He still overcame. He was an alchemist.”

From there, Lyons began conceptualizing the shoot, creating a look book of the visuals, aiming to capture Abdul-Rauf’s “warrior spirit” on camera.

“Sometimes the armor that we have to put on to have the strength and the courage and the fearlessness to face those battles, we don’t always also have the ability to shine our light at the same time,” she says. “He never stopped shining, and that just makes him a very, very profound human being. I really wanted to show that the humanity of his story.”

Abdul-Rauf also shared what he hopes audiences will take away from the finished film.

“Whatever someone is going through in their life, we all have similar issues in our lives as human beings,” he said. “Some people are dealing with faith, family, finances, not feeling adequate enough because of their upbringing, how to navigate through all of that and develop yourself and stand up to be able to face anything that comes your way.”

Likewise, Lyons hopes audiences will be inspired by Abdul-Rauf’s story.

“I do hope that that his stand will be a pillar, a beacon of light, kind of a North Star to some degree for other people in our world to take their stand,” she says. “I want to believe that Mahmoud’s story is an example, that you can be fearless in the face of anything and overcome it. Because he was.”

Though we often equate vulnerability to weakness, she explains, it was Abdul-Rauf’s courage to be vulnerable in his interviews for the film, as well as throughout his career as a basketball player and as a man on a spiritual journey that were the key to finding his strength.

“I also would hope this film and Mahmoud’s story are a reminder for people that being vulnerable is actually part of being a warrior,” she adds. “It’s never too late to stand up for what you believe in.”

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in “Stand.”
Courtesy of SHOWTIME

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British holidaymakers travelling to Turkey are being advised to check with their airlines after three devastating earthquakes.

More than 5,000 people have been killed since the first quake struck yesterday. A third 5.8-magnitude quake struck at a depth of 1.2 miles in southeastern Turkey this morning, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.

In Turkey alone, the death toll has passed 3,400 – while neighbouring Syria has also reported a humanitarian crisis.

Tens of thousands have been left homeless and sleeping in their cars or searching for temporary accommodation after thousands of buildings were brought down on both sides of the border.

The WHO has warned that the death toll could rise to over 20,000 – with fears victims trapped under rubble could succumb to freezing overnight temperatures of -5C (23F). 

British holidaymakers’ chief hotspots are located on the country’s western Mediterranean coast, hundreds of miles away from the epicentre of the quake 

A man runs along a street strewn with debris, in Hatay, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast region

A man runs along a street strewn with debris, in Hatay, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s southeast region

Hugh Fraser, Founder of Corinthian Travel which offers upmarket private tours to Turkey, told MailOnline: ‘Southeastern Turkey and the area in the vicinity of Gaziantep, has many spectacular attractions and is noted for its delicious regional cuisine, but has traditionally been the preserve of the second or third-time cultural visitors to Turkey.

‘The earthquake is a human tragedy but it is unlikely to have much impact on Turkey’s major centres of tourism – Istanbul, Cappadocia, and the Aegean Coast – all of which are located hundreds of miles away to the west.’

Where have the earthquakes hit?

All three quakes occurred in Turkey’s south eastern Anatolia region, close to its border with Syria. 

A 7.8 earthquake hit Gaziantep and nine other Turkish provinces (Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Adana, Malatya) in the south east of Turkey yesterday morning at 4.17am. 

It was followed just hours later by a 7.5 earthquake which broke out in Kahramanmaras, near the town of Ekinozu, around 180km (111 miles) northwest of the first fissure.

Early this morning, a third 5.8-magnitude quake struck the region at a depth of 1.2 miles

What the UK Foreign Office said

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated: ‘The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. 

‘In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond. We stand ready to provide further support as needed.’

UK holidaymakers travelling to Turkey are advised to avoid the southeast region and contact their tour operator or local authorities but the Foreign Office has not issued any restrictions against travel.  

The Foreign Office has longstanding travel advice against all but essential journeys to Sirnak and the province of Hakkari, in the disputed region.

One customer who contacted British Airways seeking to cancel his flight to Istanbul was told to speak to his travel insurance provider, as the airline was still carrying flights as usual

One customer who contacted British Airways seeking to cancel his flight to Istanbul was told to speak to his travel insurance provider, as the airline was still carrying flights as usual

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: 'The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs'

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: ‘The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs’

A man sits on the rubble of a collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, close to the quake's epicentre

A man sits on the rubble of a collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, close to the quake’s epicentre

A man walks solemnly near a collapsed building after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit Hatay yesterday

A man walks solemnly near a collapsed building after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit Hatay yesterday

Civilians look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras

Civilians look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras

Stray pets are seen near collapsed buildings after three large earthquakes caused devastation in southeastern Turkey

Stray pets are seen near collapsed buildings after three large earthquakes caused devastation in southeastern Turkey

Where are the popular British holiday destinations in Turkey?

Britons made over three million trips to Turkey last year and despite longstanding guidance to avoid regions within 10km of the Syrian border, nearly all holidays were trouble-free.

The most popular British holiday destinations of Çeşme, Didim, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum and Antalya are located on Turkey’s western Mediterranean coast, over 1,000km (621 miles) away from the epicentre of the quakes.

Britons wishing to cancel their flights are advised to contact their operators to find out about their policies; and whether they are entitled to a refund. 

Is travel likely to be affected?

No airlines serving UK flights into Turkey have reported cancellations. There are currently no flights to Adana, located 220km west of Gazientep, however domestic flights from the popular airports of Istanbul and Bodrum are available.

The three airports closest to the scene of the disaster – Gazientep Airport, Hatay Airport and Ceyhan – are closed from operations, Crisis 24 reports.

‘Currently, only planes carrying aid and rescue teams are allowed to land and take off from the two airports,’ Turkish newspaper the Daily Sabah reported. ‘Hatay Airport, whose runway was damaged because of the earthquake, was closed for all flights.’

One customer who contacted British Airways seeking to cancel his flight to Istanbul was told to speak to his insurance, as the airline was still carrying flights as usual.

Why did it happen? 

Catastrophic earthquakes are caused when two tectonic plates that are sliding in opposite directions stick and then slip suddenly.

They are composed of Earth’s crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle, while below is the asthenosphere: the warm, viscous conveyor belt of rock on which tectonic plates ride.

They do not all move in the same direction and often clash, which builds up a huge amount of pressure between the two plates.

Eventually, this pressure causes one plate to jolt either under or over the other.

This releases a huge amount of energy, creating tremors and destruction to any property or infrastructure nearby.

Severe earthquakes normally occur over fault lines where tectonic plates meet, but minor tremors – which still register on the Richter sale – can happen in the middle of these plates.

Earthquakes are detected by tracking the size, or magnitude, and intensity of the shock waves they produce, known as seismic waves.

The magnitude of an earthquake differs from its intensity, as the former refers to the measurement of energy released where the earthquake originated.

Intensity relates to the size of the seismic waves recorded by a seismograph during the event.

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Grayson Arroyo-Smiley, the son of Real Housewives of Orange County alum Slade Smiley, died on Sunday, February 5. He was 22. 

Grayson’s mother, Michelle Arroyo, confirmed the news of her son’s passing via social media on Tuesday, February 7. A cause of death has not been revealed, but according to Arroyo’s support website, Grayson was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006 — just three days after his sixth birthday. 

“I’m heart broken to share that my sweet Gray passed away Sunday night. It was very unexpected as last week he had CSF drawn from his shunts and they adjusted the valve setting of his shunt and he was doing much better,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of her son. “We were still struggling with his diarrhea and I was giving him potassium 3 times a day because it was dropping so low. His heart stopped here at home and I performed chest compressions to get it going until the paramedics arrived and took over. When he left for the hospital he looked good and was breathing on his own but his heart gave out again at the hospital.” 

While Arroyo said that she doesn’t “have all the answers now,” she shared that Grayson had been dealing with “fevers, infection and low potassium” for the last few months and that “most likely took a toll on my sweet boys heart.”

She continued, “I’m still in shock and going through the motions of dealing with all the details. I know Gray is playing cards with Gramma and playing Trouble with our beloved Diane. His dog Mo is right at his side as he never left him. #prayforgray #amazinggray #believeinmiracles #lovemygray #captaingraythelord.”

Following the heartbreaking news, Smiley’s fiancée and fellow RHOC alum Gretchen Rossi — who shares daughter Skylar, 3, with the actor, 49 — honored Grayson with a touching tribute. 

“Our rational minds told us this day might come, but our hearts always held onto the hope that this day would not come to fruition ?,” the Bravo personality, 44, captioned a carousel of images of Smiley and his son. “We are beyond devastated and heartbroken over the loss of Gray. Grayson Arroyo-Smiley was such a special human being.”

Rossi referred to Grayson as “an angel on earth” and “an incredible warrior” before detailing how the California native managed to stay positive despite struggling with his health for the majority of his life. 

“He fought every day through his pain and discomfort to find joy in the smallest of things,” she shared. “He was always singing & dancing & laughing despite his circumstances. He was a true beacon of light and hope.”

She ended her post by asking for privacy as the family “mourns this unbearable loss” together. 

“This isn’t goodbye but rather see you soon little man…..We love you Grayson. You will forever be in our hearts ❤️. Love your Dad, Gretchen & your sister Skylar Gray,” she wrote. 

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Grayson Arroyo-Smiley, the son of Real Housewives

Tech

Canon announced two new mirrorless cameras and two new lenses on February 8, 2023: the Canon EOS R8 and Canon EOS R50, along with the RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 and RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1. 

In September 2023, Canon’s EOS R system celebrates its five-year anniversary. The range already boasts some of today’s best mirrorless cameras, especially in its full-frame lineup, which the Canon EOS R8 enters, sitting between the EOS R6 II and the entry-level EOS RP.  

We had a sneak preview at Canon UK’s HQ ahead of launch and have written a hands-on review, and while the camera impressed us in some areas, we’ve still got some burning questions – here are our early thoughts.

(Image credit: Future)

1. The EOS R8 is full frame

Surprised that the Canon EOS R8 isn’t APS-C? We wouldn’t blame you. Canon has thrown a little confusion into its lineup by way of the Canon EOS R8’s name. 

The Canon EOS R3 is the current mirrorless full-frame flagship, followed by the EOS R5 and R5C, then the EOS R6 and EOS R6 II (plus the EOS RP and EOS R). Crop-sensor APS-C mirrorless cameras are the Canon EOS R7, EOS R10 (and now the EOS R50). Where does the full-frame EOS R8 pop up? Within the APS-C nomenclature. 

Canon is to be commended for filling its EOS R system camera and lens range so quickly, given it’s not even five years since launch. There’s a grand total of 13 cameras and 33 Canon RF/RF-S lenses. But now things are starting to get confusing, especially with regards to the EOS R7 and EOS R8. 

Perhaps, though, sensor format is becoming less relevant, and it’s more about what a camera can do. The EOS R7 might have a smaller APS-C sensor, but it has 32.5MP (vs 24MP in the EOS R8), a superior battery and IBIS (in-body image stabilization), so can be seen as more capable than the EOS R8. Figure that one out. 

Canon EOS R8 in the hand with vari-angle screen flipped out and photographer looking at the screen

(Image credit: Future)

2. The EOS R8 is Canon’s lightest full-frame camera

Despite taking much of the tech from the Canon EOS R6 II, including the 24.2MP full-frame sensor, the EOS R8 has the same form factor as the entry-level EOS RP. It even manages to shed a further few grams, too. The EOS RP weighs 485g while the EOS R8 is 461g, and that’s with the battery and memory card inserted. 

Complementing the EOS R8 is the new RF 24-50mm f/5-6.3 lens, which is available in a kit with the new camera. On paper, this new lens hardly excites, but at 210g and with a collapsible design, it’s a logical pairing with such a lightweight camera. 

The EOS R8 and RF 24-50mm f/5-6.3 lens combination weighs less than 700g – that’s quite an achievement for a full-frame camera with a viewfinder, and lighter than many full-frame cameras body-only. 

Canon EOS R8 on a table close up of video photo switch

(Image credit: Future)

3. It has some impressive video chops

Hybrid is a buzzword for Canon right now, and it’s rolling out greater video versatility in its latest RF-mount mirrorless cameras to complement powerful photo performance. We’re seeing the 30-minute video-record limits axed and, just like the EOS R6 II, the EOS R8 can – in theory – shoot for an unlimited time, although 4K/60p oversampled from 6K might push the camera’s actual capability to keep rolling.

Canon’s most popular log profile – Canon Log 3 – is included. More simply known as C Log 3, this video color profile enables a quick turnaround in production, with lots of control over contrast and color. Our ears perked up at hearing of the inclusion of false color, too. It’s a supremely handy tool that filmmakers use for checking exposure levels, although you’ll have to dig into the menu to find it. 

A mic input and headphone jack are also squeezed into this tiny camera, which packs a vari-angle screen and a dedicated photo/video switch. All in all, the EOS R8 seems equally adept for photo and video.

Canon EOS R8 on a table side upside down with battery door open and battery on the table

(Image credit: Future)

4. You still pay a premium

Canon cameras almost always carry a higher price tag than the direct competition from the likes of Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, and Panasonic. So to have a camera with much the same oomph as the EOS R6 II, but more affordably priced, is welcome, and the EOS R8 is a very capable shooter. 

There’s a big ‘but’ though, and it’s one of the reasons why the EOS R8 is cheaper than the EOS R6 II – it’s in an entry-level body, with entry-level stamina. Yes, you get similar shooting features and performance as in the EOS R6 II, but you don’t get the same design. So is it really a better-value camera? Does it fare better against the alternatives? 

We think Canon superfans will welcome the EOS R8 warmly, and it could be a compelling choice for upgraders, or those switching from a Canon DSLR. But for the impartial, or for those looking to go mirrorless for the first time, most other brands (excepting perhaps Sony) still represent better value.

Canon EOS R8 in the hand

(Image credit: Future)

5. We’re not really sure who it’s for

If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, then the EOS R8 is a camera that packs a much bigger punch than its exterior lets on. A full-frame 24MP sensor, viewfinder, and vari-angle screen, 4K/60p video with Canon C-Log 3… heck, there’s even false color.

But if you’re of a glass-half-empty mindset, you’ll be questioning whether the target audience for this camera would even be able to make use of these features. The control layout is super simple; too simple really to easily utilize some of the best features. If you’re going to get the most out of the EOS R8, navigating the in-camera menu will need to become a familiar experience – for instance, the 30fps Raw Burst mode isn’t on the shooting mode dial. And not all photographers and filmmakers are that patient with menus. 

It’s also a camera that’s positioned between less expensive entry-level full-frame cameras like the EOS RP and Nikon Z5, which boast sensor format as their big selling point over a features list that’s longer than your arm, and mid-level full-frame cameras that deliver better build quality, longer battery life and a generous array of physical controls.

So the real question we keep coming back to is, “who is the EOS R8 for?”

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Canon announced two new mirrorless cameras and

Video

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first look at The Real Housewives of Nairobi, the latest chapter in the Universal International Studios reality format.

The series debuts on Showmax in Africa on February 23, with new episodes dropping every Thursday, following a new group of influential women, who live lavish lifestyles in Kenya’s capital city.

Shortly after announcing The Real Housewives of Abuja, which marks the second Nigerian instalment of the smash-hit franchise, Showmax has revealed the cast for The Real Housewives of Nairobi(RHONairobi), premiering on Showmax on 23 February 2023, with new episodes dropping every Thursday.

First announced in September 2022, The Real Housewives of Nairobi will follow five influential and successful women as they navigate their lavish lifestyles, relationships and careers in Nairobi, Kenya.

And the housewives are luxury fragrance and skin care entrepreneur Susan Kaittany, media personality Vera Sidika, influencer and fashion collector Sonal Maherali, actress Minne Kariuki and interior designer Lisa Christoffersen.

Denise Mwende, Showmax Content Specialist in East Africa said: “Each of the ladies has a strong personality and sure identity of themselves. They are hardworking, affluent, influential and unapologetic women who are not ashamed to live large and live well because they have earned it. They’re also a representation of the diverse communities we have in Kenya.”

The series produced by Eugene Mbugua’s D&R Studios (formerly Young Rich Television). It’s based on the Real Housewives franchise NBCUniversal Formats, which is part of Universal International Studios. 

The version joins other African adaptations such as RHO Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban and Lagos, which was among the top 10 most-watched shows of 2022 on Showmax in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. A version set in Abuja, Nigeria, debuts on Showmax on 17 February 2023.

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EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first look at The Real Housewives

Entertaintment

LeBron James scored his 38,388th career point Tuesday evening, becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. James surpassed fellow Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had held the record since April 1984.

James went into Tuesday evening’s match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder with 36 points left to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s record 38,387 points. He broke the record with roughly 10 seconds left in the third quarter, scoring two points off of a step-back fallaway jumper.

The game was immediately halted for a ceremony to commemorate the historical moment. Abdul-Jabbar, who watched the game from a baseline seat, took the floor to congratulate James, who was joined by his mother, wife and three children.

In a speech during the pause, James addressed the crowd, hailing the ferocious crowd of Lakers fans for their support and offering thanks to his family, former NBA commissioner David Stern and Abdul-Jabbar.

“I just want to say thank you because I wouldn’t be me without y’all,” James said, before voicing some profanity on TNT. “Fuck man. Thank you guys.”

Abdul-Jabbar was far from the only celebrity in attendance for the game. Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Bad Bunny, LL Cool J, Usher, Andy Garcia and Dwyane Wade and many others turned out, ready to witness history be made.

More to come…

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LeBron James scored his 38,388th career point

Movies

Last Updated: July 31, 2020, 13:34 IST

Avrodh-The Siege Within

Cast: Madhurima Tuli, Amit Sadh, Darshan Kumaar, Neeraj Kabi, Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, Vikram Gokhale

Director: Raj Acharya

Based on a chapter of the bestseller India’s Most Fearless by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, web series Avrodh sets the chronology of the Indian Army’s attack across the line of control with Pakistan right. Told mostly from a journalist’s point of view, and partly from the on-ground officers’ perspectives, the show features the series of events leading up to the forceful retaliation by the Indian Army to avenge the Uri terrorist attack of September 2016.

It’s more like documentation with a particular focus on not letting it become another Uri-The Surgical Strike, the film. The makers have cut down on the drama part, thought at one point Major Videep Singh (Amit Sadh) comes really close to screaming ‘how’s the josh!’

With each of the nine episodes of around 23-25 minute effective runtime, Avrodh doesn’t face the problem of being lethargic or tedious to comprehend. In fact, the actual action begins much later into the show, with a lot of weaving around the Delhi diplomacy and how the PMO kept the entire operation a secret from even the well-placed ministers.

Neeraj Kabi’s NSA and Ananth Mahadevan’s Principal Secretary add an interesting ‘bureaucratic’ layer that was the hallmark of the Uri retaliation attack. The book and the show believe that the prime minister, played by Vikram Gokhale, personally monitored the operation, and thus the director Raj Acharya has put enough emphasis on not letting the strings cut loose and the atmosphere appear lighter than the occasion demanded. Thankfully, Gokhale has kept it only to body-language and hasn’t tried imitating Narendra Modi’s voice.

Namrata Joshi (Madhurima Tuli) fits into the stereotypical bracket of female TV journalists that the Hindi showbiz has been feeding us for the longest time, but her ‘I mean business’ attitude has saved the day for her. In fact, she and Mahadevan try to neautralise Kabi’s theatrics that go overboard at times.

Read: Betaal Review-The Night Is Dark And Full Of Errors

Read: Undekhi Review-Welcome To The World Of Hyped Family Honour

But all said and done, anything related to the national pride, especially something like surgical strikes, has a distinct appeal and capturing that emotional highpoint remains the main highlight of any such show or film, and Avrodh does it just right.

Also, Amit Sadh has become quite dependable for those silent-strong type characters we love to see in uniform. After Breathe, he has once again presented his shoulders at the frontline.

Because the heavily reported chain of events is so fresh in the public memory, the show faces the problem of novelty. The pace of the show tries to supplement for it but then how much can you do about it! Nevertheless, Avrodh is quite a breezy watch and if you are a fan of action across the enemy lines then this might be the show you’re looking for.

Rating: 3/5

Rohit Vats

A former film student himself, Rohit ‘Vats’ feels that a good film is made with a zealous heart rather than brilliant technique. He thinks that films …Read More

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Last Updated: July 31, 2020, 13:34 ISTAvrodh-The

Film

You People ends with a romantic moment between leads Jonah Hill and Lauren London, but one member of the Netflix film’s team claims it was never actually filmed.

During a conversation on the latest episode of podcast The Brilliant Idiots, co-hosts Charlamagne Tha God and Andrew Schulz discussed director Kenya Barris’ film, which centers on interracial couple Ezra Cohen (Hill) and Amira Mohammed (London) dealing with their families’ complicated reactions to the relationship. Schulz plays Ezra’s cousin Avi in You People, which was released last month and also stars Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny.

After podcast guest Nyla Symone mentioned agreeing with recent social media commentary suggesting that Hill and London don’t make a believable couple, Schulz stated that the stars never actually filmed Ezra and Amira’s wedding-altar kiss, which takes place about a minute before the end credits start rolling. According to Schulz, their nuptials lip-lock, which is seen in a medium shot but is partially obscured by falling flower petals, was achieved in post-production by CGI wizardry.

“There’s a hilarious thing — I don’t even know if I should share this shit — but the final scene, they don’t even kiss,” Schulz said. “It’s CGI. Swear to God.”

After Charlamagne Tha God expressed his incredulity, Schulz continued, “I’m there — I’m watching the wedding — and I see them go in for the kiss, and their faces stop like this far. And I’m like, ‘I wonder how they’re gonna play that in the movie. Oh, they’re probably just gonna cut right there.’ But the movie, you could see their faces come close, and then you could see their faces morph a little bit into a fake kiss.”

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Netflix for comment.

During a previous interview with Harper’s Bazaar, London admitted that she was initially reluctant to play the role, explaining that she worried about whether Ezra and Amira’s bond could feel genuine.

“I thought, ‘Why would these two people really like each other?’” she said. “We have to showcase a real connection. They’re from two totally different worlds, and if you see them, you would never think that they would meet or hang out, whatever the case is.”

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You People ends with a romantic moment

TV

Andy Samberg (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney), Jean Smart (Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)
Image: The A.V. Club

After doing the Groundhog Day thing with Palm Springs in 2020, Andy Samberg has signed on to another high-concept romantic comedy movie. Titled 42.6 years, the movie stars Samberg as a man who had to be cryogenically frozen in an experimental procedure in order to save his life, and he wakes up nearly 43 years later to discover that everything from his old life is gone… except for his ex-girlfriend, who is now physically older than him (by about 42 years or so). With no one else to turn to, the two will (presumably) get back together in a way that is both romantic and comedic. Jean Smart will play the ex-girlfriend.

The Hollywood Reporter describes this as a “unique May-December romantic comedy,” with Craig Gillespie, who previously made I,Tonya and Cruella, directing. Samberg apparently came up with the idea himself and co-wrote the story with Seth Reiss, who recently worked on the similarly concept-y black comedy The Menu. Reiss’ script for 42.6 was also included on the 2022 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays.

Samberg is now a few years out from the end of his Fox/NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, having only done voices in stuff like Hotel Transylvania 4 and Chip ’N Dale: Rescue Rangers since then (so it’ll be nice to see his face again). Smart had a memorable role in HBO’s Watchmen and popped up in Damien Chazelle’s divisive Babylon, but her most high-profile role lately has been on HBO’s hit Hacks (which she won multiple Emmys for).

42.6 is currently in development at Amazon Studios, so it will probably be on Prime Video at some point in the future. Maybe, like, more than 40 years but fewer than 45 years? Some nice middle ground?

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Andy Samberg (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney),

What to Watch

There’s an argument to be made that, while Disney Parks are often seen as the epitome of themed entertainment, it was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort that truly revolutionized the industry, creating a world completely themed around a single franchise, with every moment dedicated to making you feel like you were inside the movie. 

Disney itself took this idea and ran with it with both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a unique combination of theme park and hotel all in one. So what if Universal tried to follow the Starcruiser model and created a lived-in experience that made you feel like you were staying at Hogwarts Castle? That’s the idea a fan on Reddit suggested, and the responses have been very eye-opening. Here are a few things fans would love to see.

Dining In The Great Hall 

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Entertaintment, TV

Episode three came as quite a surprise last Sunday night. In one of the most controversial and a beautifully put together masterpiece, we were given a reprieve from the usual grim outlook of the show. We got the love story of Bill and Frank. Lets dive right in.

Spoilers below… stop reading if you haven’t seen the episode.

Courtesy of HBO/HBO Max

The calm before the storm

The episode starts off without the dreaded backstory on how this all came to be. Instead it starts off by showing our main protagonists Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) walking 10 miles away from Boston. You can sense the tension between them after everything that happened with Tess last episode. Joel doesn’t seem to want to talk. Ellie even tries to talk to him and make him understand that it wasn’t his or her fault with what happened. He nods in understanding and they begin their journey. Joel still remains guarded and starts to talk about Frank, who they are going to see for supplies.

They come across a place Joel has supplies stashed called Cumberland Farms. Ellie starts to get curious, even playing with a broken game machine and explaining to Joel she heard about these excitedly. She starts to look around and finds a trapped door underneath. Going down there out of curiosity. Seeing nothing at first but then spotting and hearing an infected who is trapped under debris. She gets close to it and starts to realize that there really is a person in there, but she takes her knife and cuts them on their forehead seeing it completely consumed by fungus underneath. Using her knife she stabs the infected to take them out their misery.

In the game it’s never really explained if these infected people are conscious to what is happening to them, but this is the first glimpse to where we can see that they are. There are different types of injected. The first are the runners who appear to experience hair loss, discolored skin accompanied with lesions, and bloodshot eyes. Stalkers are the second stage and can be seen with significant fungal growth around their eyes and shoulders. Skin will begin to peel from the face, sometimes causing the nose to fall off, as the fungus begins to break open the skull. Clickers are the third stage and are horrifically disfigured by the infection. By this stage, the skull has been split open due to advanced fungal growth on the brain, growing over or outright destroying the host’s eyes, leaving only a maw of teeth which are rotten and jagged. Their skin is covered in mold and scaly fungal growths. Bloaters are the fourth stage and the fungal growth on these are so advanced that it begins to form armored plates on the host, while also causing the body to bloat significantly. Clusters of pods filled with mycotoxin will begin to sprout from the body, which can be ripped off and thrown by the host. The fungus also seems to offer the host some protection against the elements, such as the cold. When the host is killed or dies from advanced fungal growth, the fungus continues to grow throughout the body, eventually emitting spores. There are more types but will more than likely be introduced in the second season.

A turning point

Courtesy of HBO/HBO Max

The episode continues on as Joel and Ellie start to make their way to Franks. Elle starts asking Joel how this all started to be and he explains to her how this all started with the cordyceps being able to mutate into our food supply such as grains, cereal and pancake mix. Which brings us back to the first episode as to how the next door neighbor gets infected. He explains that if you eat enough of it, that is how you got infected. They then come across a clearing with skeletons and Joel explains that on Outbreak day soldiers told civilians they were going to a QZ and if their wasn’t room they were killed.

We are then brought back to September 30, 2003, Outbreak day. Here we meet Bill (Nick Offerman) , doing everything he can to survive in his bunker underneath his house. He has a whole bunch of surveillance equipment set up to see what the soldiers are doing. He surveys them in his house, waiting for them to leave. Once the coast is clear he comes out with his gun raised and realizes everyone has left. Then we are shown a bunch of clips on how Bill takes over the whole town and makes it his own. Gathering equipment, gas, food and anything needed to survive this apocalyptical world. Even building an electrical fence to keep the infected out.

Now we are taken to four years later, Bill gets a notification that someone is by the fence. He goes out to check, gun raised and comes across Frank (Murray Bartlett). Who is completely by himself, stuck in a hole from his group that he lost from the Baltimore QZ.  Bill offers him a way out. He scans him to see if he is not injected, which he isn’t. This is a man who has completely lost hope in humanity. Hardened with all that has happened he is adamant about offering food or shelter to Frank. Bill then relents and offers him a shower and clothes.

He still doesn’t trust him but Frank starts to make him open up. Where Bill is all darkness, Frank is all light and seeing the positive in everything left in this hopeless place. Bill makes him a 5 star course meal paired with wine. Frank is overwhelmed and doesn’t remember the last time he has eaten like this. Being gracious as ever Frank says his thanks and is about to leave till he goes to the piano and starts to play. Bill just awkwardly stands there and doesn’t know how to act. He was so used to being alone. Emotional he tells him to stop and Frank gestures for him to play. Dejectedly Bill starts to play and sing a very beautiful ballad that rings true to both of them. The lyrics hitting them both and realizing they both don’t want to be alone. Overcome by their emotions they start to emotionally kiss. This starts their beautiful relationship.

Love always wins

Courtesy of HBO/HBO Max

Even in the darkest of times love can manage to overcome just that. The pair start to make love and Frank tells Bill that he will stay with him for a couple of days. Switch to three years later we see them both fighting and bickering about the world around them. Frank just wants some normalcy and some paint and Bill just wants to keep them isolated. Frustrated Frank tells him he wants to do normal things and fix some shops in town. He tells Bill he wants some friends. Then tells him he is talking to a women on the radio who we then learn is Tess. Cue the next scene, we see Tess, Joel, Frank and Bill all sitting down for lunch working together on an mission.

Bill holds onto his gun and Joel realizes he doesn’t trust anyone except Frank. He tells him that they are decent people and mean no harm. He still doesn’t trust them but let’s go of his gun. Joel tells him he has a year tops left on that fence, but Frank doesn’t listen to him.

One they leave Frank tells Bill he traded his gun for strawberry seeds. They take the strawberries and start to eat them in happiness. It’s the little things they start to remember about a time of how it was before the world became this way. One moment of happiness till all hell breaks loose and we see raiders trying to get into the fence that Joel told him was going to break. Frank runs outside seeing Bill shot and severely hurt. He brings him inside and starts to tend to him, but Bill thinks he doesn’t have much time left. Telling him to call Joel and not to stay by himself. Frank stubbornly doesn’t listen to him and takes care of him.

Ten years later we see the pair outside, much older with Frank in a wheelchair. Hardly being able to paint but trying anyway. We can see he is clearly sick but fighting to carry on for Bill. Caring for him Bill gives Frank his pills and staying by his side carrying him to bed. When times are the hardest we always stick to the people we love no matter what. The next morning, Frank tells Bill this is his last day. Bill can’t believe what he is saying and tries to convince him to live. Emotional he can’t accept why, but Frank makes him understand that he can’t live on like this. He tells him he has bad many bad days but more good days. He tells him what he wants to do and says that they will get married finally, cook a delicious dinner and crush all the pills up to put in the wine. We are then given a beautiful montage of the pair doing everything on his last day. Cue the tears, they are at the last meal with it being the first meal Bill cooked for Frank when they met. At the last scene of the pair, we see Bill crush the pills and put them in Frank’s wine. Frank realizes there is more pills in the bottle of wine. Bill tells him that he was his purpose and wants to die with him. Frank is angry but then says it’s incredibly romantic and we see Bill take Frank into the bedroom where they will both die in bed.

Finally we see Joel and Ellie at the fence getting in thanks to the code Frank told him. They enter the house looking for them. Ellie thinks they are gone. We see the half done painting Frank painted and Ellie finding a note. She then begins to read it and they both realize they are dead. Bill leaves Joel the key to the house for anything that they will need. The letter explains everything that happened. He left him all his weapons and equipment to keep and Tess, who didn’t know was dead safe.

Joel finally goes outside all emotional, everything hitting him at once. He goes in the garage finding a truck and a car battery. Everything that he will need to get to his brother and the Fireflies. Going back inside he asks Ellie to show her his arm. Finally believing that she is the cure all along he explains that his brother is out in Wyoming and is connected to the Fireflies. He gives her some ground rules as they start their journey to leave. They grab what they can from Bills to bring with them. Even grabbing clothes and taking a shower. Straight out the game Ellie is wearing the infamous red shirt. Stumbling upon a gun downstairs Ellie take it and hides it. They both get into the truck and Joel realizes this is Ellie’s first time. It ends with them listening to an old song from Linda Ronstadt leaving while we see an open window.

Below courtesy of HBO is a trailer on what is to come for Episode 4:

 

Cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star in the series.

Brace yourselves because we are going to be in for quite a ride. New episodes of HBO’s The Last of Us will be airing on Sunday at 9:00 PM EST, running up to the Season 1 finale on March 12, 2023.

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After Avengers Endgame took place and we lost Tony Stark and Steve Rogers went back in time, only one character has made it to 4 solo movies, Thor played by Chris Hemsworth. Both Captain America and Iron Man ended their solo stories with a trilogy and continued on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Now it looks like Ant-Man, the goofiest of all the Avengers might be getting a fourth solo movie as well.

 

Despite the third Ant-Man film not having premiered yet, as the “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” pre screenings start, the reviews come out and the hype builds even more with only a few days left until the release conversations are already underway about a possible fourth film. “We’re already thinking about it,” They revealed.

 

Speaking with ComicBook.com, Marvel Studios Producer Stephen Broussard said “It’s like, every movie’s its own battle and you bear the scars of making it and wanting to make it great. But hope springs eternal and you start to put yourself back together after the journey of making the movie. You’re like, ‘Yeah, what if we did X and what if we did Y?’ Like the wheels start turning, you can’t help yourself. I don’t want to say anything about specifically what those are, but yeah, you can’t help yourself. Those conversations, those whispers have already started to happen between myself and Peyton and Kevin.”

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible and facing off against Kang the Conqueror.

 

The sequel to Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) is the 31st film of the MCU. The film is directed by Peyton Reed, written by Jeff Loveness, and stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne alongside Jonathan Majors as Kang, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, William Jackson Harper, Katy O’Brian, and Bill Murray.

The thrilling new storyline will kick off phase 5 of the MCU and will premiere of February 17th.

 

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Awards

Sam Smith just outdid their recent “Saturday Night Live” performance with “Unholy” collaborator Kim Petras in a horror movie-inspired performance of the smash hit. Smith started the song in red leather, surround a fleet of dancers that evoked Samara from “The Ring,” before cutting to Petras dancing in a cage, flanked by some dominatrices wearing satanic headgear. Smith also donned a satanic top hat, as huge flames heated up the stage.

Smith and Petras won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance earlier in the evening, and Petras gave an emotional speech.

“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, to cheers and many of the musicians in the crowd giving her a standing ovation. “I just wan to thank all of the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open before me so I could be here tonight. Sophie, my friend who passed away two years ago, who told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for you inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Kim Petras (C) performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy )
Getty Images for the Recording Academy

When asked about the fiery performance backstage, Petras said it was inspired by not feeling accepted by religion.

“I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool, and I personally grew up wondering about religion and wanting to be a part of it but slowly realizing it didn’t want me to be a part of it,” she said. “So it’s a take on not being able to choose religion. And not being able to live the way that people might want you to live, because as a trans person I’m already not kind of wanted in religion. So we were doing a take on that and I was kind of hellkeeper Kim.”

In 2015, Smith won four Grammys, including best new artist, pop vocal album for “In the Lonely Hour,” record of the year and song of the year for “Stay With Me.”

While Petras hid underneath Smith’s fluffy pink dress during part of the duo’s “SNL” performance two weeks ago, the two came on stage together to perform their massive hit. As two queer musicians, the duo has set a historical precedent for the LGBTQ community, after reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart for their collaboration.

Smith’s performance Sunday night follows their debut performance at the 2015 ceremony when they sang their Grammy-winning song, “Stay With Me” from their debut album “In the Lonely Hour.”

Although this is Smith’s seventh nomination, Petras has scored her first nod after releasing two studio albums and four EPs, including her latest EP “Slut Pop.” The two were nominated among ABBA for “Don’t Shut Me Down,” Camila Cabello featuring Ed Sheeran for “Bam Bam,” Coldplay and BTS for “My Universe” and Post Malone and Doja Cat for “I Like You (A Happier Song)” for best pop duo/group performance.

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Sam Smith just outdid their recent “Saturday

Global

Police have named the two victims of a double homicide reported on Saturday in Bowmanville, Ont., saying one of the victims was pregnant at the time.

A wellness check was reportedly made to police after 2 p.m. on Saturday for the residents of a home on Crombie Street. Police said they arrived at the scene to find two adults “suffering from obvious signs of trauma.”

Homicide detectives took charge of the investigation.

Read more:

‘They were the nicest people’: Neighbourhood shocked after Bowmanville. Ont. double homicide

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On Tuesday, Durham police named the two victims. They were identified as 28-year-old Aram Kamel, who previously went by the name Aram Al-Kamisi, and 26-year-old Rafad Alzubaidy.

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Police said Alzubaidy was pregnant at the time.

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“There is no suspect information currently available; however, at this time this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no risk to public safety,” police said.

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Homicide detectives investigating after 2 found dead in Bowmanville, Ont.

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A neighbour who has lived across the street from the victims said she didn’t know the couple very well, but that they were “lovely”.

“The wife always took the time out of her day to say hello, and she even made the effort to remember everyone’s names. They were quiet, friendly, and I want to cry when I see what happened,” she previously told Global News.

Global News agreed not to name her after she cited concerns based on how close she lived to the scene.

— with files from Global News’ Lexy Benedict

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

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Katherine Schwarzenegger Reveals Biggest Change When It Comes to Having 2 Kids With Chris Pratt (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight
































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“Rick and Morty” is expected to fulfill its 70-episode order despite Adult Swim’s recent decision to cut ties with creator Justin Roiland, who has been charged with felony domestic violence related to an incident that first surfaced in a January 2020 criminal complaint.

An individual with knowledge of the matter told TheWrap that Roiland has been less involved in the series in recent years, but affirmed that not only is “Rick and Morty” moving forward, the series also is not expected to cut short its expansive episode order. There are 40 episodes left to produce and air from the initial 70-episode order.

Roiland has voiced both titular characters since the series premiered back in 2013, though the source noted that those roles will be recast moving forward.

In January, Adult Swim confirmed that the cast and crew are hard at work on the long-running adult-animated comedy’s seventh season. In an interview with TheWrap held prior to the allegations surfacing, Roiland said “Rick and Morty” was designed to be ongoing for years and could run as long as 1000 episodes.

While Roiland and co-creator Dan Harmon ran the series for its first two seasons, Mike McMahan served as showrunner for Season 3 and from Season 4 onward, Scott Marder has been the “Rick and Morty” showrunner.

In an interview with TheWrap last August, Harmon said the show’s more regular schedule was due to Marder taking over showrunning duties.

“This is the strangest thing I’ve ever said about the show and it still feels unreal to say it, but we’ll be doing a season a year now,” Harmon said last year. “I still don’t understand how that’s possible. But that’s why it never happened on my watch. [Showrunner] Scott [Marder] is able to keep us on a schedule that mostly involves being so ahead of schedule that we can actually release things in a timely manner.”

The Emmy-winning, half-hour show follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe.

Rounding out the rest of the main “Rick and Morty” cast is Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”), Chris Parnell (“Saturday Night Live”) and Spencer Grammer (“Greek”). Co-creator Dan Harmon now serves as the sole executive producer.

In addition to “Rick and Morty,” the 20th Television Animation and Hulu Original shows “Solar Opposites” and “Koala Man” will continue without Roiland’s involvement. Roiland was a co-creator on “Solar Opposites,” which was renewed for a fifth season in October 2022, and an executive producer on “Koala Man,” which premiered on Jan. 9.

News of Roiland’s lessened creative involvement in recent years was first reported by THR.

Adult Swim Cuts Ties With ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland Over Felony Domestic Violence Charge

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“Rick and Morty” is expected to fulfill

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There’s more audience crossover than one might think between pro-wrestling and the former “Live P.D.” — including the guy who founded MLW.

With Major League Wrestling making its debut tonight on Reelz, the ad-supported cable channel hopes to recreate the impossible. Launched in 2006 as Reelz Channel, then best known as home to Leonard Maltin’s “Maltin on Movies” and hosting the Visual Effects Society Awards, it went through many iterations — until recently, none terribly successful. A year ago, it ranked a dim 51 in cable primetime among its key demo for advertising, adults 25-54.

And then, a miracle. On July 22, 2022, Reelz premiered “On Patrol Live,” its revival of the format behind canceled A&E hit “Live P.D.” Today, Reelz is No. 19 and its year-to-year ratings rose a whopping 274 percent

“We thought it would do well… it just blew everything out of the water,” Steve Cheskin, SVP of programming at Reelz, told IndieWire. “And it’s pulling everything up with it.”

Wisely, Cheskin will not refer to “On Patrol Live” as the return of “Live P.D.” For starters, “On Patrol Live” is a new program that has just enough differences to keep an arm’s length from “Live P.D.” And… there is an ongoing lawsuit between Big Fish (which produced both programs) and A&E.

A&E canceled “Live P.D.” in June 2020 amid ongoing protests surrounding the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin in May. Around the same time, the Austin-American Statesman published a report that “Live P.D.” producers destroyed footage of a man being arrested and dying in custody in March 2019. (“Live P.D.” producer Big Fish said it shared the never-aired footage with investigators and then destroyed it, per studio protocol.) A&E ratings have yet to recover.

The hosts of Reelz’s “On Patrol Live” L to R: Sean “Sticks” Larkin, Dan Abrams, and Curtis Wilson

Courtesy of Reelz

“Clearly, ‘On Patrol Live’ has set us in a different direction,” said Cheskin, who also invented Shark Week for the Discovery Channel. A different direction indeed. The channel (tagline: “Stories about the famous and infamous.”) now leans almost exclusively into crime programming with key shows that include “COPS” (Paramount Network canceled the show around the same time A&E ended “Live P.D.”), “Jail,” and its No. 1 program before the “On Patrol Live” days, “Autopsy.”

Some of the most successful “Autopsy” episodes focused on professional wrestlers and the revamped Reelz research department found it “amazing how many of the viewers of ‘On Patrol Live’ love wrestling,” Cheskin said.

Among them is Court Bauer, founder and CEO of MLW and an “On Patrol Live” fan. Crossing over even more directly is Biff Lawson, who produces both Major League Wrestling and “On Patrol Live.”

“Over the course of the 10 years I’ve been here, a lot of different wrestling leagues have come through and pitched that they want to be on our network,” said Cheskin. “And I’ve got to say, these guys at MLW, they were just persistent.”

Plus, “they’re fans of Reelz — like, they really knew our shows,” he continued. “It’s nice when somebody who wants their show to be on your network knows your programming almost as well as I do.”

MLW

MLW (Major League Wrestling)

Courtesy of MLW

Bauer told IndieWire he had “discussions with three Top 25 networks,” including Reelz, about a potential TV deal.

“Ultimately, it came down to Reelz believing in MLW and recognizing the power of pro wrestling grabbing eyes,” he said. “We were impressed with what the network had done, not just in terms of content but look at how they have performed as a whole.”

Both Reelz and MLW declined to disclose to IndieWire if their agreement includes a rights fee, and if the deal spans multiple years.

Reelz is available in more than 40 million homes via cable and satellite subscriptions; its library programing is available in more than 30 million additional homes via streaming.

MLW was founded by Bauer in 2002. The current roster features former WWE wrestlers “The Certified G” Real1 (fka Enzo Amore), John Hennigan (fka John Morrison), MLW World Champion Alex Hammerstone, Women’s Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie, and Jacob Fatu.

“MLW Underground Wrestling” airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Reelz. The pre-taped action will be followed by classic MLW matches at 11.

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There's more audience crossover than one might

Entertaintment

Glow up! Kim Kardashian and daughter North West may be known for their makeup tutorials — but their latest endeavor is conquering hair care.

In a TikTok video posted on Monday, February 6, Kardashian, 42, styles her 9-year-old’s hair for the day. The Skims founder first preps her daughter’s locks by spraying them down with water before sectioning them off into pieces and brushing out her curls. North, for her part, applies a large dollop of style gel on her tresses before her mom puts them back into a chic low bun. To complete the look, North lays her own edges, styling them in a swirl and securing the ‘do with a wax stick.

The video also showcases a few adorable mommy-daughter duo moments for the pair, who dance around while singing SZA’s “Good Days” into a hairbrush and laughing.

Both Kardashian and her eldest kept it casual for the clip, with the KKW Beauty founder donning a sleek black robe, while North rocks an oversized T-shirt with late singer Aaliyah embroidered on the front.

This isn’t the first time North has shown off her hair skills via social media. Last month, the California native helped guide her little sister Chicago, 5, through the process of laying her edges and detailing the proper order of styling products.

“This is so good, Chi. Are you going to be a hair person when you’re older?” North asks as Chicago brushes her crown. “Yes, I’m going to do people’s hair,” the little girl sweetly answers.

In addition to North and Chicago, Kardashian shares sons Saint, 7, and Psalm, 3, with ex-husband Kanye West. The pair tied the knot in May 2014 before calling it quits six years later. The twosome’s divorce was finalized in November 2022.

The exes have had their fair share of ups and downs following their split while navigating the process of coparenting. Both the Kardashians star and the rapper, 45, have publicly discussed the challenges of raising a family post-divorce.

In September 2022, West claimed that he had to “fight” for his voice to be heard by the reality star. “That hurts you when you have to scream about what your kids are wearing,” he said during an appearance on Good Morning America at the time. “It was all a disregard for something I cocreated. I cocreated the children.”


North West and Kim Kardashian Courtesy of KimAndNorth/Tiktok

Kardashian, for her part, slammed West earlier that year after he ranted on social media about her parenting decisions, including her choice to share a TIkTok account with North.

“Kanye’s constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create,” Kardashian wrote via Instagram in February 2022. “As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision — because it brings her happiness.”

In December 2022, the Hulu personality got candid about having to protect her children from the Grammy winner’s own controversial social media commentary including his recent antisemitic remarks that claimed she was going to go “death con 3” on Jewish people.

“I am holding on by a thread. I know that I am so close to that not happening, but while it is still that way, I will protect that to the end of the Earth as long as I can. My kids don’t know anything,” she explained during an episode of the “Angie Martinez IRL” podcast, adding that it’s a “full-time” job navigating what her children as exposed to.

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Movies

Edited By: Bohni Bandyopadhyay

Last Updated: February 07, 2023, 23:44 IST

Karan Johar called Sidharth and Kiara ‘two pillars of strength’ who can ‘create the most magical love story together’.

Karan Johar says watching Sid and Kiara ‘is a fairy tale that is rooted in tradition and family…’ as he pens an emotional note on their wedding.

For Karan Johar, who gave a gateway to Sidharth Malhotra into Bollywood through his directorial Student of the Year in 2012, watching the actor get married to Kiara Advani was an emotional occasion. One of the very few Bollywood celebs in attendance, the filmmaker had a mandap-side view of the nuptials that were held in a very private ceremony at Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer. And much like he did on the occasion of another ‘Student of the Year’, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar expressed his emotions via a long note on Instagram.

“I met him a decade and a half ago…. Silent, strong and still so sensitive…. I met her many years after… silent ,strong and so sensitive in equal measure…Then they met each other and i realised in that moment that the these two pillars of strength and dignity can make an irreplaceable bond and create the most magical love story together…. Watching them is a fairy tale that is rooted in tradition and family,” Karan wrote.

“As they exchanged vows on a mandap of mohabbat everyone around them felt the pulse…felt the energy… I sat proud, elated and bursting with only love for the two of them! I love you Sid…. I love you Ki…. May today be your forever,” he added.

Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan made their big Bollywood debut together with the Karan Johar film Student of the Year in 2012. Besides several career achievements in the past 10 years, the actors have also grown and taken big steps in their personal lives.

Varun was the first to have found love and enter wedlock, among the three students. He was followed by Alia Bhatt, who tied the knot with Ranbir Kapoor last year. With Sidharth Malhotra’s wedding with Kiara Advani today, he was the last of the ‘Students’ to give up bachelorhood.

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Edited By: Bohni BandyopadhyayLast Updated: February 07,

Film

The first court hearing over the involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed stemming from the October 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins isn’t for a couple of weeks, but already the sharp-elbowed legal battle between the actor and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has begun.

One day after Rust 1st assistant director David Halls was added to the prosecution’s already deep-bench witness list, lawyers for Baldwin are now trying to get the D.A.-appointed special prosecutor thrown off the case.

“Ms. Reeb’s continued service as a special prosecutor in this case is unconstitutional,” lead defense attorney Lubke Nikas said Tuesday in a motion to disqualify recently elected GOP state legislator Andrea Reeb from the high-profile case and subsequent trial. “The legal question is not a close one. She must be disqualified.”

“Under Section 1 of Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, however, a sitting member of the Legislature may not ‘exercise any powers properly belonging’ to either the executive or judicial branch,” the NYC-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan lawyer added in the motion (read it here). “As a special prosecutor, Representative Reeb is vested by statute with ‘all the powers and duties’ of a District Attorney, who is considered to be a member of either the judicial or executive branch of the New Mexico government.”

Picked by Carmack-Altwies last year near the conclusion of the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office’s long-awaited investigation into what really happened that terrible October 21, 2021 day on the Rust set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, longtime lawyer Reeb was elected as a Republican in November last year to serve the 64th district in the state House of Representatives.

Facing up to five years behind bars and deep fines if found guilty, Baldwin and Reed were formally charged January 31 by the D.A.’s office over the shooting of Hutchins. Baldwin has long denied he actually pulled the trigger on the 1880s prop gun that killed Hutchins and wounded Rust director Joel Souza.

“We’re trying to definitely make it clear that everybody’s equal under the law, including A-list actors like Alec Baldwin,” Reeb, an ex-former D.A. for New Mexico’s Ninth Judicial District, said after the charges were unveiled last month.

When those charges were initially announced January 19, Baldwin’s legal team called the move a “terrible miscarriage of justice” and vowed to “fight these charges, and we will win.”

Clearly, the strategy behind those words is taking incremental form with filings like today’s disqualification motion. The D.A.’s office had very stern words for the strategy today in what was a dismissal of their own.

“Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys can use whatever tactics they want to distract from the fact that Halyna Hutchins died because of gross negligence and a reckless disregard for safety on the Rust film set,” Heather Brewer, spokesperson for New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney told Deadline. “However, the district attorney and the special prosecutor will remain focused on the evidence and on trying this case so that justice is served.”

The first hearing in front of Judge Mary Marlowe Summer is scheduled for February 24, with Baldwin and Reed sent to appear virtually. If the state judge thinks there is enough evidence to move forward, the case will start to check off more calendar dates for a preliminary hearing and eventually a trial. Of course, today’s motion by Baldwin’s team could throw a spanner in the works if Reeb is tossed out and a new special prosecutor has to be found.

In another chess or checkers move depending on your perspective, the addition of Halls to the D.A.’s witness list (read it here) could prove unpleasant for Baldwin and Reed.

David Halls, First AD on ‘Rust’

Dave Halls Twitter

Long at the heart of the horrible incident, industry vet Halls was the one who handed Baldwin the gun and supposedly announced “cold gun” in the hand-off. While no one publicly seems to be saying how live ammo tragically got on the Rust set, Halls was in the chain of responsibility for on-set safety.

Likely putting pragmatism and financial resources ahead of ego, the now-retired Rust 1st AD struck an as-yet unreleased or judicially approved plea deal with prosecutors. Pleading no contest to a misdemeanor count of negligent use of a deadly weapon, he will get a suspended six-month sentence of unsupervised probation, some community service, safety training and a $500 fine if the court green lights the agreement.

“Dave Halls approached us and was cooperative with our inquiry, with our investigation,” stated D.A. Carmack-Altwies when Halls’ deal was made public last month. “He will be testifying or cooperating in the prosecution.”

At the time, Halls’ Albuquerque lawyer Lisa Torraco was vague about who her client would be taking the stand for. However, being that Halls already countersued Baldwin and other Rust crew members in December last year for “active and primary negligence” as a part of script supervisor Maime Mitchell’s wide-ranging civil litigation in Los Angeles Superior Court, it wasn’t too hard to tell what side he was likely taking in the criminal case.

Halls now officially joins the previously announced 44 individuals — including director Souza, Mitchell, armorer mentor Seth Kenney, prop master Sarah Zachary and a ton of Santa Fe cops — on the D.A.’s list, and clearly has something to say the defense doesn’t want to hear.

Set to eventually go before a jury, under New Mexico law, the first of the two involuntary manslaughter charges Baldwin and Reed face is a fourth-degree felony with sentencing of up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. The second charge, which is formally a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act, is also a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in jail and up to a $5000 fine. That second charge additionally carries a firearm enhancement. That gives the offense a punishing mandatory five years in state prison if the high-profile defendants are found guilty.

In what will certainly become a flashpoint down the line, the D.A. will permit the jury to choose which charge they want to center on in deliberations.

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The first court hearing over the involuntary

TV

‘Outer Banks’ Star Madelyn Cline Talks Working With Ex Chase Stokes, Shares Current Relationship Status | Entertainment Tonight
































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The first clip from Marvel Studios’ upcoming Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has been released featuring Scott Lang meeting Kang the Conqueror for the first time. The film will arrive in theaters on February 17.

In the video, Ant-Man tries to use his Avenger status against Kang by warning him that he had “already called” the other Avengers for backup. However, Kang remains unfazed as he questions Scott if he was one of the Avengers he had killed before.

Check out the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania clip below:

In Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly once again share top billing as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne/Wasp, respectively. They were both last seen by fans during Avengers: Endgame. The film also features the return of Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer as they reprise their roles as Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne.

The third installment will mark the start of Phase 5 and is expected to bring permanent changes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In addition to Kang the Conqueror, fan-favorite Marvel villain M.O.D.O.K will be making his live-action debut in the film.

The upcoming sequel will also introduce MCU newcomer Kathryn Newton (The Society, Freaky) as she now takes over the role of Cassie Lang. Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors plays Marvel villain Kang the Conqueror, while Ghostbusters star Bill Murray appears as Lord Krylar. In addition, The Good Place alum William Jackson Harper has also been tapped to appear as Quaz.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is once again being directed by Peyton Reed from a screenplay written by Jeff Loveness.

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The first clip from Marvel Studios’ upcoming

Awards

The soapy series booted “13 Reasons Why” from Netflix’s chart.

Right on the heels of being mocked by “Saturday Night Live,” “Ginny & Georgia” has entered the top echelon of Netflix viewership. Season 2 of the mother-daughter series has reached Netflix’s Top 10 list of English TV seasons at No. 10.

Season 2 of the series, which premiered all eight episodes on January 5, has reached a total of 504.77 million hours watched in its fifth week of availability, according to numbers provided by Netflix. The streamer additionally estimates that 56 million households watched the season, although that’s based on its total hours viewed divided by its roughly 9 hour runtime. The show’s ascent means Season 2 of “13 Reasons Why,” another teen series, has been booted from the list.

Season 2 of “Ginny & Georgia,” which stars Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry, debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s weekly English-language TV charts, with 180 hours viewed. It remained at No. 1 on the chart for two more weeks, logging an additional 305 million hours. On Netflix’s chart dated January 30 through February 5, the season is at No. 2 behind fantasy show “Lockwood & Co,” with an additional 38.09 million hours viewed. Season 1 of “Ginny & Georgia” also makes the list, logging 22.5 hours watched.

The all-time English series Top 10 is lead by billion hour series “Stranger Things 4” and “Wednesday,” with “Dahmer,” two seasons of “Bridgerton,” “Stranger Things 3,” “Lucifer” Season 5, “The Witcher” Season 1, and “Inventing Anna” filling out the rest of the entries. The all-time most-viewed Netflix series remains, of course, “Squid Game,” which tops the non-English language chart at 1.65 billion hours. Netflix’s all-time list, which the streamer began publicly updating in June 2021, is based on the number of views over the course of a season’s first 28 days of availability.

More to come…

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The soapy series booted "13 Reasons Why"

Music

Sharon Van Etten has dug up a previously unreleased music video for her classic song, “Serpents,” off her 2012 album, Tramp, which will get a special anniversary reissue this year.

The video for “Serpents” was directed by Galazie 500’s Naomi Yang. It begins with Van Etten singing the song against a white brick wall, though the space is soon filled with an entrancing light display that adds a moody, slightly surreal tinge to the clip.

In a statement, Van Etten recalled why she chose not to release the “Serpents” clip back when it was made. While she was comfortable as a songwriter and performer at the time, she still felt “insecure about being the focus a video. “…baring my soul on camera felt like an entirely different thing, and when I looked at myself, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin.” 

It was Yang who rediscovered the video and sent it to Van Etten, who was already thinking about the anniversary of Tramp (the LP celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, but the new reissue will arrive on its 11th). “While reading Naomi’s email during the pandemic, and watching this younger version of myself, I felt empathy for the emotions I was trying to express in the song and the video form,” Van Etten said. “I could see the drive within me to share my soul and connect with others that felt a similar drive and desperation for answers, resolution.”

Yang also shared her recollections of hearing “Serpents” for the first time and making the video: “Upon hearing ‘Serpents,’ I was struck by the emotion in the song, the raw anger. I imagined showing this fury escaping and overtaking the room — Sharon’s rage as expressed in the song manifesting itself in physical space. We made the video on a cold January day in 2012, in an East Village walk-up loft borrowed from friends. It was me, on camera, with Susanne Sasic running the projections she had designed, and Sharon performing.”

The 11th-anniversary edition of Tramp will arrive on March 24 via JagJaguwar. The reissue, which is available to pre-order, will feature one previously unreleased song, “This Is Too Right.”

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“I had almost forgotten about a song titled ‘This Is Too Right’ that didn’t make it onto the record,” Van Etten said. “It was one of the first guitar ‘riffs’ I had ever written and [Wye Oak’s] Jenn Wasner sang on it with me. A song about not believing how good I had it. Like the other shoe was about to drop.”

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Tramp was Van Etten’s breakthrough third album and first with JagJaguwar. The National’s Aaron Dessner produced and played extensively on the album, which featured contributions from various indie heavyweights like Wasner, Bryce Dessner (also of the National), and the Walkmen’s Matt Barrick, Doveman’s Thomas Bartlett, Beirut’s Zach Condon, and Julianna Barwick. 

“I feel so blessed to celebrate this anniversary with you,” Van Etten said. “It means so much that all these amazing musicians gathered around me to help me find my voice. I still have so much to figure out, in my life and my work, but I still feel the support and community to this day, even though we are all a bit scattered. I hope everyone that helped make this record, and that supported it, feel the love and admiration that I continue to hold for all of you.”

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Sharon Van Etten has dug up

Docs

As a filmgoer many people are willing to be frightened and induce anxiety and be sickeningly entertained through horror cinema? But why go out of your way to scare yourself?  On the other side, many others in society consider horror films to be depraved and lead to copycat crimes. I am not one of those individuals. I love horror. I love gore. I love watching and telling horror stories. I love being scared in the dark by sounds and images from the silver screen.

Other than being entertained on a primal level, horror cinema distracts me from my own mortality too. This artificial dread paradoxically relieves me from the fear of the end. It’s a way for me to face my fears head on, but safely hidden behind my popcorn.

Further, the horror genre provides one of the most shared experiences for audiences at the cinema. Collectively, this group experience scares us and provides ultimate relief by the time one leaves the cinema. Indeed, horror films are often a staple for teens or young adults looking for thrills on a Friday or Saturday night. They can also make great date movies that allow you to get closer to someone as you both share the fear in front of you.  

Don’t ever forget that horror cinema is big business. Often on a very low budget. The Blair Witch Project (1999), Eraserhead (1977), Paranormal Activity (2007) and the seminal, Night of the Living Dead (1968) are all great examples of low-budget horror films which did incredible numbers at the box office. Which is why if you’re a horror screenwriter or looking to get into creating fear on screen,  A Sense of Dread: Getting Under the Skin of Horror Screenwriting by Neil Marshall Stevens is an invaluable guide to get you started.

Neil Marshall Stevens is a screenwriter and film lecturer with many credits to his name. His book explores the nature of fear and developing the concept of fear within the horror genre. The opening chapters look at the science and biology of what scares us as a species. Are we born with such fears, or do we learn them? After which the writer digs downs into the specifics of what scares people and animals. We are animals after all. This takes in a plethora of phobias, creepy crawlies, urban legends, and things that go bump in the night. Stevens also superbly analyses the many fears prevalent within the real world and our nightmares. The final chapter exercises further cement the theories and concepts with valuable practical advice.

The second half of the book introduces the brilliant idea of the ‘Toolbox of Dread.’  Here Stevens takes some famous horror films and horror conventions and illustrates how filmmakers unnerve and frighten audiences. The ratcheting of suspense, fake tension and the classic jump scare are all explored in depth. These chapters certainly gave me great confidence when I write my next horror screenplay.

Stevens also further develops these ideas in analysing a treatment and scenes from his unproduced screenplay Horrorvision. Not only does this provide an excellent insight into the writing process, but it drills down into how to create tension and dread on the page. Ultimately, Stevens developed Horrorvision in 2000, but it never went into production due to the budget size being too similar to another project.

I really connected with this book. It gave me a whole new set of approaches and ideas to bring to my next horror projects. It is written in an intelligent and digestible style and gave me a renewed appreciation of the horror film genre. Yes, of course many horror films can be exploitative and often produces some truly terrible movies. However, when directed by the horror experts such as: George A. Romero, James Wan, Ari Aster, John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Wes Craven, Sam Raimi, and Julie Ducournau, to name a few, horror becomes a powerful and primal expression of the cinematic form.

Buy the book from here.

Publication from MWP.

Michael Wiese Productions (MWP) was launched in San Francisco in 1976 primarily to produce films. Today, the company is known worldwide having published some 200 books. Some of the bestsellers have been translated into 28 languages, are used in over 1000 film courses, in the Hollywood studios and by emerging filmmakers.

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As a filmgoer many people are willing

Global

THE last moments of a woman’s life were captured on film just before she drowned in a fishing boat tragedy.

Michele Bayerl de Moraes de Sena posed for a selfie video while out at sea two days ago.

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Michele Bayerl de Moraes de Sena died out at sea on SundayCredit: CEN
Her last moments were caught on camera before a storm hit

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Her last moments were caught on camera before a storm hitCredit: CEN

The short clip shows Michele enjoying a boat ride in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday before she was sadly killed.

Soon after the video was filmed, a heavy storm hit Guanabara Bay forcing the boat to capsize.

Michele, 43, and 13 other passengers were plunged into the water.

Her daughter Larissa, 23, said: “She texted me at 3pm, asking about my son, if he was okay.

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“I said he was with me, and then she didn’t say anything else.”

Michele’s husband Evandro Jose de Sena, 55, also died in the tragedy.

Footage filmed by fisherman Mateus Diniz – who’s boat survived the conditions – showed storm clouds creeping in as the water got choppy.

A total of six people have currently been confirmed dead while firefighters search for two who are unaccounted for.

They have been named as Fabio Dantas Soares, 46, and Isabel Cristina de Souza Borges, 38.

Among the couple who died are 14-year-old Eduardo Borges da Silva Correa and three-year-old Caio Gomes da Silva.

The two other victims have been identified as Everson Costa de Assuncao, 45, and Juliana Gomes de Lana da Silva, 35.

According to reports, the six survivors avoided death by clinging to the hull after the boat capsized.

They were picked up by a passing vessel and given first aid.

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THE last moments of a woman's life

Entertaintment, Film, Press Releases

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, the long awaited sequel to 2018’s Black Panther is now the most-watched Marvel film premiere on Disney+ globally, based on hours streamed in its first five days.

2018’s Black Panther saw T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) return home to Wakanda after the death of his father to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly appears, T’Challa’s will as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

The death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 forced a radical change in the franchise, which eventually led to the somber plot of Wakanda Forever. “The film, although about grief, shows the sort of rebirth that occurs in the face of insurmountable loss.” Said Ryan Coogler.

In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, ruler of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is now nominated for five Academy Awards®; fans of the film can watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of the making of the movie in “Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” streaming on Disney+ February 8th.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. The film is now playing in theaters and streaming on Disney+.

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Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', the

Video

If you’re not someone who dreams of Channing Tatum flipping you around like a flapjack in front of an audience of shrieking women, you may scoff at the release of a third “Magic Mike” film. But the first two weren’t without their delights. 2012’s “Magic Mike” was a gritty exposé of the American dream with a side of oiled abs. In a move both savvy and soul-crushing, “Magic Mike XXL” leaned fully into selling sex, to serve up a campy, raunchy romp.

It’s tragic, then, that “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” fully delivers neither style nor substance. The film desperately strives to be a spectacle with a tired, faux-feminist message. It is a grandiose love story made for a rowdy audience with unromantic expectations. A filthy early dance sequence promises more for the horndogs, and Stephen Soderbergh’s slick direction lends some artistic cred, but this threequel is gutless — and relatively crotchless.

While bartending at a swanky charity event in Miami, Mike meets his match in Maxandra “Max” Mendoza (Salma Hayek Pinault). After a guest reveals Mike’s salacious past, Max asks him for a private dance. She’s floundering in the wake of her failed marriage and desperate for an escape. Though he’s supposedly hung up his G-string, Mike delivers a show-stopping number and they end up in bed — and, soon, in business — together.

Awakened by his gyrations, Max whisks Mike off to her home base of London where she appoints him the new director of a theater her husband bought her. She expects him to turn the stuffy costume drama currently in production into a feminist smash that will thaw the hearts of London’s pandemic-numbed women. Mike must integrate into Max’s world and try to appease his mercurial new mistress whose baggage is as unwieldy as her vision.

At least, that should be the central conflict. Though screenwriter Reid Carolin — who also wrote “Magic Mike” and “Magic Mike XXL” — adeptly peppers this film with witty dialogue, its story is shaky at best. Bizarre conflicts between the love interests masquerade as plot beats. There are plenty of natural opportunities for tension here: Max, who married into her money, is essentially paying Mike, a failed businessman and former sex worker, for his company. Instead, the film has Max conjure fights out of thin air and Mike is somehow left to make things right.

Of course, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” would have to forego its eye-roll-inducing “feminist” conceit to address such complicated power dynamics. Max scorns the antiquated play being put on at her theater because it features a heroine who must choose between money and love. In a truly modern tale, the film posits, a woman would obviously choose neither, instead opting for a lot of casual sex. Cue the muscly dance ensemble and Ginuwine’s “Pony.”

Let’s set aside the hypocrisy of this assertion and address it head-on. Though, for the record, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” makes its own female protagonist, Max, make the very same choice. Such a thesis is laughably out of touch with modern women’s struggles. Some feminist thinkers posit that casual sex actually makes women miserable, and try telling any working mother who navigated the pandemic with school-age children that women can have it all. In the real world, these things could be aided by universal child care or increased labor rights. In Magic Mike World, upper-class female freedom costs just as much as a good lap dance.

It’s absurd for a “Magic Mike” film to tackle these issues at all. The franchise has succeeded, for better or for worse, because hordes of women and gay men will happily turn their brains off and surrender themselves to the film’s abundant glitter and glutes. Seeing this movie try to solve for female empowerment feels like watching your overly political cousin turn Thanksgiving into a hunger strike. Nobody asked, and in fact, we all came here with the opposite goal in mind.

‘Magic Mike 3’ Will End With a 30-Minute Dance Sequence

As it needlessly strives for meaning, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” also tones down the raunch factor. An ensemble of professional dancers in a London theater is no Tampa bar or South Carolina strip convention. Though there are some acrobatic simulations of cunnilingus, there is no chocolate sauce licked off of audience members and no pretend marriage that leads to a sex swing. The Kings of Tampa only reunite over Zoom, and there are certainly no drag queens. Banana hammocks are shockingly absent.

Sure, there are two dance numbers where Tatum does his dirty best, but a respectable sheen covers nearly everything. Mike’s climactic performance takes place not with an unsuspecting audience member but rather with a professional ballerina played by the dancer Kylie Shea.

Maybe this is all a sign of progress, or just of Mike — and his franchise — getting older, but it has a dulling effect. Tatum is winsome and agile as ever and Hayek is a capable comedian. Once or twice, the cinematography is playful enough to make you remember the franchise’s indie roots. But, on the whole, this needlessly elevated film is as frustrating as it is forgettable.

Maybe in an alternate universe, “Magic Mike” went the social commentary route; but we’re here, where audiences have decided to fixate on its audacious costumes and penis pumps. Why “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” chooses to teach viewers about love, consent, and having it all, then, is a mystery. The Galentine’s Day crowd will probably be too drunk to notice.

First ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ Trailer Brings Channing Tatum Abroad (Video)

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Entertaintment

Henry Cavill has become a big name in Hollywood now. Despite getting axed by the DC Studios, and leaving the iconic show, The Witcher, the British actor, has a special place in the hearts of his fans. Not only professionally, but fans have also supported the actor with his personal life choices, too. Do you remember the time when Cavill was in a relationship with Gina Carano? Fans were rooting for the couple to end up together. However, their breakup for unknown reasons shook them. Still, fans cannot figure out the real reason behind the breakup.

Along with a long professional life, The Witcher star has had a long history of dating as well. Before becoming the Man of Steel, Cavill started dating the face of women’s MMA. Just like every other relationship, their relationship also had some tests and trials. Unfortunately, their romance couldn’t pass the tests and they split up. Despite their breakup, the couple is attached, raising the question of the real reason behind their split.

ALSO READ: When Henry Cavill Took a Life-Changing Decision With His Girlfriend Gina Carano

Why did Henry Cavill and Gina Carano really break up?

After a brief relationship of two years, the ex-couple parted ways. However, they claimed to feel instantly connected to each other when they first met. Just like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Cavill and Carano were also the ideal couple then. Although their short-lived romance ended before their fans could see more of it, the question still remains, why did they really break up?

As per the reports by FandomWire, the reason behind their breakup is unknown. However, there were speculations it was a well-crafted publicity stunt. Despite the claims, the ex-couple hasn’t publicly spoken about the matter after their separation.

Currently, both actors have moved on with their lives, personally and professionally. The Tudors star is in a happy relationship with the Hollywood executive, Natalie Viscuso. They have been often spotted together, spending quality time with each other and sneaking out of their dates. While the former MMA star moved on with her past flame, Kevin Ross.

ALSO READ: CALM AMIDST STORMS! Henry Cavill Grasps Natalie Viscuso’s Hand After a Cute Dinner Date in Beverly Hills, LA

While there are speculations about the split of a once-loved couple, what do you think about it? Do you think the couple could have lasted longer? Would you have loved to see these two together? Share your thoughts about the same in the comments below.

The post Publicity Stunt? Why Did Henry Cavill and Gina Carano Break Up? appeared first on Netflix Junkie.

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Henry Cavill has become a

Movies

1.

In case you were wondering, this is what Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looked like when she was all of 23.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan now at 49.

2.

This is what Dhanush looked like when he was 23 years old.

3.

Remember that Kareena Kapoor Khan was only 23 when she delivered her groundbreaking performance in Chameli.

4.

Here’s Deepika Padukone from when she was 23.

5.

This is what Shahid Kapoor looked like when he was 23 years young.

6.

Here’s Allu Arjun as a 23-year-old.

7.

Here’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas from when she was 23.

8.

Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon happen to be the same age. Here’s a picture from when they were both 23 years old.

Tiger and Kriti now at approximately 32.

9.

Here’s Kiara Advani at 23.

10.

Here’s a picture of Kajol from when she was 23 years old.

11.

Here’s Aamir Khan from when he was just 23 years old.

12.

Here’s what Rani Mukherji looked like when she was 23.

13.

Here’s Alia Bhatt at 23 — which was not so long ago.

14.

Here’s Ram Charan from when he was approximately 23.

15.

This is what Abhishek Bachchan looked like when he was 23 years old.

16.

Here’s Prabhas from when he was 23 years young.

17.

This is what Shah Rukh Khan looked like at 23.

Shah Rukh Khan now at 57.

18.

Here’s Katrina Kaif from when she was 23 years young.

19.

Here’s Nayanthara from when she was 23.

20.

Here’s Rekha from when she was 23 years old.

21.

This is what Salman Khan looked like at 23.

22.

Here’s Samantha Ruth Prabhu at 23.

23.

And finally, here’s Saif Ali Khan as a 23-year-old.

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Awards, Entertaintment, Music

At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Lizzo had us all feeling special, with her beautiful acceptance speech.

Courtesy of Lizzo

Lizzo was nominated for was five Grammy awards including album of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, best pop vocal album and record of the year, which she ended up wining for “About Damn Time.”

Lizzo did not fail to point out the significance of the award in an Instagram post after the Grammys. “The last time a black woman won Record of The Year was Whitney Houston for ‘I Will Always Love You’.” She said “I don’t take this lightly, thank you.”

During the ceremony Lizzo took the stage to perform a medley of her hit songs “Special” and the award-winning “About Damn Time.” However it was the moving speech she gave while accepting her award that really captured everyone’s attention, and for good reason.

Acceptances speches are a platform that many artists have used to call attention to topics of importance that they are passionate about, highlight talented individuals or simply give thanks. Lizzo did not miss her chance to do the same. Calling attention to a topic very close to her heart.

Courtesy of Getty Images

While she accepted the award for record of the year, Lizzo delivered an inspiring and powerful speech. She began by saying, “Let me tell you something. Me and Adele are having a good time just enjoying ourselves, rooting for our friends. This is an amazing night, this is so unexpected.”

She then went on to dedicate her win to the late Prince. “When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music. I was like, ‘I don’t care if my positivity bothers you — what’s wrong with you?’ ” she said with a laugh.

“Positive and feel-good music wasn’t mainstream at that point and I felt very misunderstood.” She went on to say, “I felt on the outside looking in, but I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place, so I had to be that change to be a better place, and now, I look around and there’s all these songs about loving our body and being comfortable in our skin and feeling f—ing good and I’m just so proud to be a part of it!”

Lizzo is someone who never fails to be herself, and is always advocating for body image, self love and positivity. Most of her songs are considered anthems for body positivity, her social media posts challenge the norms of body image and her shapewear brand Yitty is designed for all body types.

After impressing upon her fans and the audience to “stay true to yourself,” and thanking her family, she then gave a special shoutout to Beyoncé, who earlier in the evening made history by becoming the most decorated artist in Grammy history after receiving her 32nd Grammy.

Watch Lizzo’s full inspiring speech here:

Lizzo continues to be a passionate and moving force who inspires everyone around her. She strives for self love and acceptance. Her 2023 is off to a Good as Hell start so far.

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At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Lizzo had