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Music

Irish Grinstead, a member of the ’90s and ’00s R&B girl group 702, died on Saturday, September 17. LeMisha Grinstead, Irish’s sister and fellow member of the group, confirmed the news in a statement on social media. The group was arguably best known for their single “Where My Girls At.” Irish Grinstead was 43.

“It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening,” LeMisha Grinstead’s statement reads. “She has had a long battle and she is finally at peace. That girl was as bright as the stars! She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also within. Sharing the stage with her was a joy I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family.”

Named for their hometown area code for Las Vegas, the group’s debut album No Doubt arrived in 1996. It included the single “Get It Together” and the Missy Elliott-featuring track “Steelo.” Their self-titled follow-up album was released in 1999 and featured “Where My Girls At.” Missy Elliott wrote and co-produced the song, once acknowledging she intended it for TLC.  “I wanted it to be a Main chick anthem 4 the side chicks,” she wrote, adding, “it’s still a BOP.” 

The group contributed songs to multiple film and TV soundtracks, including Good Burger, Stuart Little, Cousin Skeeter, and the Pootie Tang theme “Pootie Tangin.” Their final album Star came out in 2003 with assistance from the Neptunes, Clipse, and Pharrell. The group disbanded after the album, but periodically reunited. In late 2022, Irish Grinstead took a leave of absence from 702 for undisclosed health reasons.

Read more about “Where My Girls At” in Pitchfork’s “Story of Girl Groups in 45 Songs.”

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Irish Grinstead, a member of the ’90s

Docs

Britain’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) are developing a new free TV service that will deliver live TV over broadband.

Set for launch in 2024, the service, called Freely, will allow viewers to browse and watch live TV channels together with on-demand content streamed to their smart TV via the internet. Freely will be built-in to the next generation of smart TVs and feature a lineup of public service broadcaster content and other free-to-air channels. It will replicate the terrestrial TV experience, building on the heritage and popularity of the Freeview TV platform, currently used in 16 million homes.

The initiative is being developed by Everyone TV, the organization which runs free TV in the U.K. and is jointly owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Jonathan Thompson, CEO, Everyone TV, said: “This new development is a reflection of the fact that a growing number of U.K. viewers are watching content online, but still want easy access to the shared experience of live TV. Our aim is to ensure that all viewers have access to a free, aggregated live TV experience that champions British content and is delivered in a way that suits audience needs and preferences. Every one of us should be able to share in the best of British ideas and creativity on TV.”

Live TV delivers over half of all viewing in the U.K.. On average, 57% of viewing time is live broadcast per person per day, across all devices, per viewing data from Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board, which also shows that 15% (some 4 million) of U.K. TV homes are currently IP-only (broadband-only homes).

Director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, said: “Ensuring the universality of public-service television is sustained into the future is of paramount importance to the U.K. and all its public service broadcasters. We are delighted to be deepening our collaboration in helping viewers access our content, ensuring that, in a digital age, we deliver value for all audiences and that no one is left behind.”

Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV, added: “As more and more U.K. households use internet-connected TVs, it’s critical that the public service broadcaster channels remain available and easy for them to find. This new collaboration enables the UK public to continue to get all of their favourite British TV channels, for free – just as Freeview did at the advent of digital TV.”

Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, said: “Streaming TV is increasingly the new normal for audiences, particularly young viewers, so it has never been more important for trusted PSB content to be readily available to everyone, for free.”

Maria Kyriacou, president of broadcast and studios, international markets at Paramount, which owns Channel 5, said: “This new collaboration across the PSBs will ensure that, as these viewers continue to shift to IP enabled televisions, they continue to have an easy way to access the channels and content they know and love.”

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Britain’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) are developing

Global

TYRANT Kim Jong Un wears a Russian fur hat as he is greeted by war-monger Vladimir Putin’s defence minister.

The North Korean despot shook hands with Sergei Shoigu in 22C heat at Russian port city Vladivostok and they inspected bombers at an airfield.

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Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Sergei Shoigu during a visit to Vladivostok, RussiaCredit: EPA
The pair inspected bombers at an airfield near Vladivostok

2

The pair inspected bombers at an airfield near VladivostokCredit: AFP

Western forces are concerned each side may provide arms to the other.

The north Korean leader arrived in Russia last week but “will only meet Vladimir Putin’s lookalike”, a bizarre theory claims.

Photos showed the moment the dictator, surrounded by brief-case wielding guards, arrived in Vladivostok train station and was greeted by a Russian minister.

Russian officials welcomed the iron fist ruler as he disembarked from his luxury train, as Putin continues to attend the Eastern Economic Forum.

Chilling vid shows passengers boarding plane before deadly crash
You have 20/20 vision if you spot the hedgehog in the field in 15 seconds

But according to Russian opposition sources, Kim will not be meeting the real president during his visit to Russia.

It is claimed that he is seriously ill with terminal cancer and has not been seen in public for more than a year.

Instead, a doppelgänger dictator – or even several lookalikes – now replace the real ex-KGB spy at public events.

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TYRANT Kim Jong Un wears a Russian

Trending

In a recent interview with the British Film Institute, Tim Burton discussed the impact of Warner Bros. scrapping “Superman Lives,” which had Nicolas Cage attached as the titular hero, as well as how he felt seeing Cage as Superman and Michael Keaton’s Batman in DC Studios’ “The Flash.” 

“No, I don’t have regrets,” Burton said of the scrapped Superman project. “I will say this: when you work that long on a project and it doesn’t happen, it affects you for the rest of your life. Because you get passionate about things, and each thing is an unknown journey, and it wasn’t there yet. But it’s one of those experiences that never leaves you, a little bit.”

Following the success of the Batman movie franchise for Warner Bros., Burton was set to direct Cage as the Man of Steel in “Superman Lives” in the late 1990s. However, the film got shelved after spending nearly two years in pre-production.

Cage made a surprise appearance as Superman in Warner Bros.’ “The Flash,” in which he battles a giant spider as the multiverse begins to collapse. The 2023 superhero film also sees the return of Keaton as Batman, with whom Burton directed in 1989’s “Batman” and its 1992 sequel “Batman Returns.”

Burton reacted to Cage’s Superman and Keaton’s Batman in “The Flash,” comparing the cameos to the recent trend of reimagining films and characters using an AI platform.

“But also it goes into another AI thing, and this is why I think I’m over it with the studio. They can take what you did, ‘Batman’ or whatever, and culturally misappropriate it, or whatever you want to call it,” Burton explained. “Even though you’re a slave of Disney or Warner Brothers, they can do whatever they want. So in my latter years of life, I’m in quiet revolt against all this.” 

Burton criticized AI recreations of Disney characters in his trademark style in an interview with The Independent, saying, “I can’t describe the feeling it gives you. It reminded me of when other cultures say, ‘Don’t take my picture because it is taking away your soul.’”

“What it does is it sucks something from you,” he continued. “It takes something from your soul or psyche; that is very disturbing, especially if it has to do with you. It’s like a robot taking your humanity, your soul.”

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In a recent interview with the British

Tech

Anyone who was inside Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre on Friday, Sept. 8, for the world premiere of American Fiction — an Amazon/MGM film that came into the festival with virtually no profile — could feel it: Cord Jefferson’s satire about American racial dynamics was clicking on all levels. Audience members were howling with laughter, choking back tears and completely riveted from start to finish. It was all enough to prompt Amazon/MGM to encourage Jefferson, who had left Toronto after the film’s first screening, to come back to town for subsequent screenings. He did.

And now, nine days after the film’s unveiling, TIFF attendees have chosen it as the winner of the festival’s Audience Award, cementing its status as one of this season’s top-tier Oscar contenders.

As I noted in an analysis that posted yesterday (in which I predicted that American Fiction would take home this prize), this was my 17th year covering TIFF. Over the 16 prior festivals, 14 TIFF audience award winners (all but 2007’s Eastern Promises and 2011’s Where Do We Go Now?) went on to nominations for the best picture Oscar. And five of them — Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The King’s Speech (2010), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Green Book (2018) and Nomadland (2020) — took home that ultimate prize.

It’s hard to say why TIFF attendees and Academy members tend to respond to films similarly. I suppose it might be a matter of demographics — Toronto is filled with people from all around the world, as is the Academy, and the average TIFF attendee’s age, educational background and level of affluence might well mirror those of Academy members. Whatever the reason(s), that track record of the audience award presaging Academy recognition is undeniably long and impressive.

I suspect that it will be further confirmed by the trajectory of American Fiction, a film that is smart, funny and has something to say about the world — just like recent best picture Oscar winners Parasite and Everything Everywhere All at Once. (Incidentally, had either of those titles had their world premiere at TIFF, as opposed to screening first at Cannes and SXSW, respectively, I’d bet a lot that TIFF audiences would have chosen them over the films that they instead gave their audience award to, Jojo Rabbit and The Fabelmans, respectively.)

At this point, I suspect that Amazon/MGM is reevaluating its awards priorities. Heading into the fall fests, it seemed as if they thought that Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn was their most promising contender, but that film — which I saw at Telluride and happened to like quite a lot — has proven to be rather polarizing, whereas virtually everyone I know who has seen American Fiction at least liked it.

Now, I would expect the campaign engines to rev up for not only American Fiction for best picture but also Jefferson for best director and best adapted screenplay, Jeffrey Wright for best actor, Sterling K. Brown for best supporting actor and Erika Alexander — as well as, perhaps, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Uggams — for best supporting actress. (Talk about a big and incredibly likable cast — a best ensemble SAG Award nomination has to be on the wish list, too.)

Most importantly, every Academy member who wasn’t in Toronto — as in, the vast majority of them — but who pays attention to the news, will now be itching to see American Fiction. Perhaps that’s the real value of the TIFF audience award and explanation for its longstanding track record of foretelling best picture Oscar nominations: Academy members, like other moviegoers, are simply looking for a recommendation. And this is a big one.

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Entertaintment

The Berlin State Opera’s production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” begins with the madly ambitious Lady Macbeth slowly walking over a burning battlefield, carrying a sword as she negotiates a stage littered with corpses.

As the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, who sang that role at the State Opera on Friday, crossed from left to right, the scene was a hallucinatory version of real life: a powerful woman attempting to make her way through a world aflame with war.

Netrebko, one of opera’s biggest stars, has been under fire in the West since the Russian invasion of Ukraine for her long history of support for President Vladimir V. Putin. But on Friday, she was appearing in a staged opera in Germany for the first time since the war broke out, the latest milestone in her return to major cultural institutions.

She received a warm ovation at her curtain call, even as she performed in the face of opposition from political leaders and robust, angry protests outside the opera house that continued through the end of the show, including rounds of chants that her appearance was “Schande,” a disgrace.

Inside, isolated but loud, sustained boos were mixed with the applause after both parts of her opening aria. She responded by standing center stage with arms folded and lips pursed, breaking character to blow kisses to the conductor and orchestra.

After the Russian invasion, in February 2022, Netrebko’s performances were called off for a time as she gave confused signals about her position. That March, the Metropolitan Opera canceled her contracts, and did not change course after she announced she opposed the war but refused to denounce Putin. (Last month, Netrebko sued the Met for discrimination, defamation and breach of contract.)

But over the past year and a half, she has gradually returned to stages in South America and Europe, including the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera and Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The response has been a mix of protests (usually outside) and cheers (in).

Berlin, though, is a hotbed of pro-Ukraine sentiment. So her appearance at the State Opera — she was engaged for four performances of “Macbeth” that continue through Saturday — has been the object of intense scrutiny.

“It’s a difficult decision, of course,” Matthias Schulz, the company’s general director, said in an interview. But, he added, “I’m still absolutely behind that decision.”

He and Netrebko’s other defenders argue that her statement was sufficiently clear — “She used the word ‘war,’” Schulz said, “and she used the words ‘against Ukraine’” — and that she distanced herself from Putin, even if she stopped well short of criticizing him.

Such direct criticism, they add, is nearly impossible when dealing with an authoritarian government, as it might expose Netrebko, her family and friends, especially those still living in Russia, to security risks. (Netrebko, a citizen of Russia and Austria, lives in Vienna.)

Schulz emphasized that her behavior since the war began has not further compromised her. Unlike some Russian artists — including her mentor, the conductor Valery Gergiev — she did not remain in the country, nor has she returned to perform there. The Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis has drawn criticism for the support he received from a sanctioned Russian bank, but has continued to be engaged in the West, though he has made no public statement about the war.

It is crucial, Netrebko’s supporters say, not to tar all Russian artists with the same brush and thus play into the hands of Putin, who claims that the West is implacably Russophobic.

Yet agreeing that all Russian artists shouldn’t be condemned isn’t the same as saying that none should. Given Netrebko’s stardom, and her documented history praising and receiving recognition from Putin, her case is different from that of less prominent Russian musicians who have condemned the war. Nevertheless, her posture has been that of victim.

“She just doesn’t understand why she’s been made responsible for this,” Schulz said.

Netrebko seems to believe that she is being held responsible for actions in which she’s had no part, and that she has been blamed for her behavior before the war more than, say, political leaders in Germany and elsewhere who did business with Putin. The Met and other companies were protested for years for engaging her and Gergiev as Russia passed anti-gay laws and annexed Crimea.

But many of those people and institutions have admitted that they were wrong. Netrebko’s statements have expressed no remorse for her support of Putin, nor for an incident in 2014 in which she gave a donation to an opera house in Donetsk, a Ukrainian city controlled by Russian separatists, and was photographed holding a separatist flag.

And on social media, Netrebko has kept up her prewar parade of lavish dinners, designer fashion and family vacations — a spectacle that was amusing enough before the invasion but feels dishearteningly tone-deaf now.

“Yes, I think she was politically naïve or stupid in the past,” Schulz said. “But is this enough to say you cannot sing any more on any stage?”

Netrebko, though, doesn’t have any inherent right to be onstage. And yet her artistry is still formidable. For a listener who had not heard her live since well before the pandemic, she has maintained her immediately recognizable, seductively dark and heavy sound, with its slightly, excitingly breathless quality.

Lady Macbeth has been one of her greatest triumphs, and she still clearly relishes the character’s machinations and chesty exclamations, even if the top of her range is now more effortful and less powerful. Her soft singing doesn’t quite have its old floating presence, making the final sleepwalking scene impressive rather than unforgettable.

Her future is not entirely clear. Some of her performances, including a concert in Prague next month, continue to be canceled under pressure. Serge Dorny, of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, which canceled her engagements early in the war, wrote in a text message that there were no current plans for her to appear there, declining to comment further.

But she is scheduled to return to Vienna, Milan and Paris in the coming months. At the Salzburg Easter Festival early next spring, she will sing the title role in Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda,” directed by Oliver Mears, the artistic leader of the Royal Opera in London.

“At the beginning of the war, things were very raw,” Mears said in an interview about the possibility of her return to London, adding: “Never say never.”

Nikolaus Bachler, the Easter Festival’s director, said, “The passage of time always has a big meaning.”

Things inevitably take on a Rorschach quality in these polarized situations. If you’re for her, the fact that Netrebko is appearing at the plainly pro-Ukraine Berlin State Opera, and that “Macbeth” depicts the devastation wrought by war, is a kind of covert admission of feelings she cannot openly express. If you’re against her, she is merely using the company’s — and Verdi’s — ethical bona fides without earning them.

As with so much else in our politics, the battle lines have been drawn, and are wearily unmoving. What has happened, as Macbeth puts it in the opera, has happened.

This is all really between Netrebko, her conscience and what she hopes will be written in the obituaries when she’s gone. “She did the bare minimum” is hardly the noblest epitaph, and even her defenders can’t argue that she’s shown courage.

“She is no Marlene Dietrich,” Schulz said, referring to the German film star who renounced her citizenship in 1939 and spent World War II rallying American troops through the U.S.O., earning a Medal of Freedom. “And she will not be rewarded as such.”

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Movies

Last Updated: September 17, 2023, 21:55 IST

Shah Rukh sends wish to PM Modi; Atlee on Jawan sequel

From Shah Rukh Khan wishing to PM Modi to Karan Johar breaking his silence over leaving X handle, check out all important happenings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating his 73rd birthday today. The wishes from across the globe have been coming in for him. Even celebrities including Akshar Kumar, Salman Khan, Anupam Kher, and many others also wished him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social handles. Shah Rukh Khan, who has been enjoying the success of Jawan, also wished PM Modi. He sends an adorable wish.

For more info: Shah Rukh Khan Wishes PM Narendra Modi With Sweet Birthday Note, Says ‘Have A Bit Of Fun…’

Director Atlee has confirmed that he will make Jawan 2 but there is a catch. The filmmaker, in a new interview, said he will return with Jawan 2 only if the script is strong enough to make a film on it. Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan in a double role, concluded with an open ending. The final scene hinted that Shah Rukh will return as Azad and Vikram Rathore, his father-son characters in the film, for yet another heist.

For more info: Jawan 2: Atlee Confirms Plans For Shah Rukh Khan Film Sequel, Says ‘I Will Make Part Two If…’

As we all know, amid the tremendous Gadar 2 success, Sunny Deol had flown to the US with his father and veteran actor Dharmendra for a vacation with his first wife Prakash Kaur. While the fans have been eagerly waiting to catch glimpses from their leisurely holiday, Sunny Deol finally obliged them with a wholesome picture with Dharmendra.

For more info: Sunny Deol And Dad Dharmendra Pose For A Happy Photo, Esha Deol’s Reaction Goes Viral

Prajakta Koli is engaged! The popular social media influencer and Jugjugg Jeeyo star announced that she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend Vrishank Khanal. The actress shared a selfie on Instagram on Sunday to make the announcement. In the photo, Prakajta was seen posing with Vrishank and revealing her engagement ring. Sharing the photo, a witty Prajakta wrote, “@vrishankkhanal is now my ex boyfriend.” The happy post received love from many, including her Jugjugg Jeeyo co-stars Varun Dhawan and Anil Kapoor.

For more info: Prajakta Koli Gets Engaged To Boyfriend Vrishank Khanal; Anil Kapoor Says ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’

Filmmaker Karan Johar finally opened up about leaving Twitter, now known as X. The Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani director left the social media platform last October. At the time, he said he was leaving the platform to make ‘space for more positive energies.’ In a new interview, Karan shared the real reason he left it was because he began reading abusive messages about his children, Yash and Roohi.

For more info: Karan Johar BREAKS Silence About Leaving Twiter, Says ‘I Started Reading Abuse to My Children’

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Last Updated: September 17, 2023, 21:55 ISTShah

Latest News

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

The most iconic movie monsters in the “Universal Monsters” stable, such as Dracula, Frankenstein and Wolf Man, are the stars of a new Halloween campaign from NYX Professional Makeup, announced today.

The “Mon-Star Bash” campaign aims to introduce these classic ghouls and goblins to a new generation, which is why the Loreal makeup brand tapped up-and-coming Gen-Z talent to star in their campaign.

Landon Barker, musician, stars as The Werewolf; Reginae Carter, social media personality and model, stars as one of The Mummi Twins; Phoenix Brown, content creator and DJ, stars as the Bride of Frankie; and musician Grace McKagan stars as Drakulah.  

The brand will also introduce a new “Mon-Star Bash” Halloween product collection to support the campaign. Adding to their existing portfolio of SFX face paints, the vegan and cruelty-free assortment will launch seven new ultra-pigmented shades of SFX Face and Body Paints inspired by the classic monster colors; metallic silver and gold SFX Glitter Face and Eye Paints adding an updated shine; and new lightweight, full-body, Spiky Fringe Jumbo Lashes to unlock pro-level artistry.

They’ve also partnered with globally renowned special effects makeup artist, Mimi Choi, who in a series of campaign images has created fix exclusive and reimagined looks inspired by the Universal Monsters — with a modernized twist, and using all NYX SFX makeup.

NYX will also release a custom music video featuring the Gen-Z talent. The original song will be leveraged across digital platforms, including a social media global influencer program, where creators will post videos transforming themselves into their favorite “Mon-Star.” 

Shop the entire NYX “Mon-Star Bash” collection on NYX’s website starting Sept. 18.

Nyx Mon-Star Bash Collection Buy Now

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MCU

According to Marvel Studios, the Eternals can do something as a team that the Avengers never could. 

Avengers: Endgame may have been the last time the Avengers assembled, but it’s not the last fans saw of a Marvel superhero team. 

Marvel Studios released Eternals in 2021 and introduced 10 new heroes who, unlike the Avengers, aren’t from Earth at all nor are they human. But even so, that’s not the only way this ancient team differs from Nick Fury’s group of remarkable people. 

How the Eternals Differ from the Avengers In the MCU

Marvel

In Marvel Studios Eternals: The Art of the Movie, producer and Marvel Studios executive Nate Moore explained what makes the Eternals “different to other groups” is that “they can pool their energy:”

“What makes the Eternals different to other groups in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – including the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy – is they can pool their energy.”

Despite each member of the team possessing unique powersets, the Eternals demonstrated their ability to “pool their energy” via the Uni-Mind, a connection between the team serving as “an amplification device” for their powers:

“The Uni-Mind allows the Eternals to amplify the power of any single Eternal. However, they all must be somewhat connected to do so. They can’t be on opposite sides of the world and create a Uni-Mind – they must be in proximity of each other. But it could allow Makkari to run faster than ever. It could let Druig control every mind on a planet. It is an amplification device but requires the power of all the Eternals together.” 

While the Avengers also worked together, each of their powers stemmed from different sources and neither could enhance the other.

For instance, technology was responsible for Iron Man’s abilities while Captain America’s was the result of a super soldier serum. And, while they often benefitted from working alongside one another, they were never able to connect or able to amplify one another’s abilities.

Marvel Studios Head of Visual Development, Ryan Meinerding, further explained how the Eternals are unique and that Marvel needed to demonstrate that via “visuals that stand out against the previous successes:”

“In Phases One through Three, we established a consistent and coherent language for all the different projects we worked on. Luckily, a lot of those visuals resonated with audiences. They understand who Captain America is, who Iron Man is, who is on the Avengers team. The challenge with creating a new team is coming up with visuals that stand out against the previous successes, and making something that feels compelling and different but still part of the MCU.”

Meinerding also noted that the size – and that “every character will be introduced” in a single 2021 film – was an MCU first:

“Those challenges are explicit and heightened in this project because of the size of the team and the fact that every character will be introduced in this film. We haven’t tried that before in a similar way with so many characters – it was a big challenge.”

The Purpose of Eternals’ Uni-Mind

Eternals truly was a groundbreaking undertaking for Marvel Studios. 

During the Infinity Saga’s Phase 1, Marvel released five films, three of which were origin stories, ahead of 2012’s The Avengers. Meanwhile, Eternals had to accomplish tha same feat, plus an ensemble third-act battle, in a single film. 

While the fact that the Eternals team shared the same history helped, their Uni-Mind – their major difference from the Avengers – helped as well. 

For instance, despite having been superpowered beings all along, this described “amplification device” allowed Sersi and her team to realize they’re capable of more than they thought, a hallmark of all superhero origin stories. 

And, at the same time, the Uni-Mind let audiences know that Eternals is only the start and there’s more to see from this team. 

While it’s true that the Eternals MCU future is unknown, it’s unlikely that fans have seen the last of these ancient protectors; and when they do return, it will be truly interesting to see this group alongside the MCU’s future Avengers. 

Eternals is available to stream on Disney+.

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DCU

Blu-ray Review: BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM (1993)

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Directors: Bruce Timm & Eric Radomski

Story: Alan Burnett

Screenplay: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, & Michael Reaves

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Dana Delany, Stacy Keach, Mark Hamill, Abe Vigoda, Hart Bochner, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Reviewed by: Joshua Raynor

 

 

Summary

Gotham City’s most feared gangsters are being systematically eliminated, and the assumed blame is falling on the Caped Crusader. But prowling the Gotham night is a shadowy new villain, the Phantasm, a sinister figure with some link to Batman’s past. Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his own name? Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in this dazzling animated feature, which provides new revelations about Batman’s past, his archrival the Joker, and Batman’s most grueling battle ever — the choice between his love for a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right.

 

Positives

There are so many great things to say about Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, so many that I’ll probably forget some. So, let’s start with the two things we get right off the bat (pun intended) — the score and the animation.

While the score for Batman: The Animated Series has always been top tier, composer Shirley Walker kicked it up a notch for this theatrical film by making it much more operatic. This gave the score a far more grandiose feel, which felt right at home on the big screen. It helped to create the dark and brooding atmosphere so well known with the Dark Knight, but in a bigger way.

Then there’s the animation. For those of you who know, Batman: The Animated Series was a unique case of animation style, where they painted their backgrounds on black paper to make the scenes darker, and that was carried forward into this film as well. Even though it’s 30 years old, the animation is simply incredible, and the new 4K version makes it all pop even more. It’s just stunning to look at.

Positives Cont’d

Alright, let’s get into the film itself now. Batman: The Animated Series, and therefore Mask of the Phantasm, is the greatest version of Batman ever put on screen. He embodies everything the comic book version of Batman has built, and did so right from the beginning. And in this film, we get to dive deeper into who this character really is and what motivates him.

We see Bruce’s early days as a budding vigilante, ten years prior to where we see him in the movie, wearing just an all-black outfit with a black coat and ski mask. He does, however, have one thing that has become a staple in Batman’s wardrobe — the utility belt. And we even get a glimpse of a young Bullock when he was still a patrol officer.

I loved getting to see the early side of Bruce, without getting the death of his parents, yet again. A large portion of this story is spent in the past, setting up Bruce’s relationship with Andrea Beaumont and what it meant to him, and for his future, to lose her the way he did. She was the one that got away. I’m sure many of you out there know just what that feels like, but for Bruce, it sent him on a path, a path toward being the vigilante hero we all know him to be.

He was completely ready to give up his quest for vengeance for a happy future with her, which is funny because he barely gave her the time of day at first. He showed no real interest in Andrea until she takes him down with a martial arts move. This is where he sees that there’s so much more to her than all these other women that surround him. She’s a strong, capable woman, and we all know that’s Bruce’s type — Selina Kyle, Talia al Ghul, even Wonder Woman occasionally. But when she leaves him, this pushes him deeper into the darkness, and he spends the next decade as Batman before he sees her again.

His willingness to give it all up shows how deeply he just wants to be loved and to love someone in return. We even get a heartbreaking scene where he begs his dead parents to let him break his promise to them so he can finally have some joy in his life. He’s been holding onto an incredible amount of guilt all these years, and his subconscious makes it very difficult for him to move forward in any way. This is one of the best displays I’ve ever seen for why he continues to do what he does, and why none of his relationships ever seem to work out.

Positives Cont’d

While I absolutely love the past storyline in this film, it’s the story structure that really makes it work. The cutting back and forth at key moments to give present day scenes more context was a perfect way to tell this story. One of my favorite moments to do this was toward the beginning of the film, where Bruce is at a party and a woman comes up to him and throws a drink in his face, saying that he essentially led her on and then ghosted her. This woman has red hair and blue eyes. Right after that scene, we are introduced to Andrea Beaumont in a past scene and we see that she too has red hair and blue eyes. This tells me that Bruce was attempting to recreate what he lost after she left, to no success. It’s a very small detail, but one that really fascinated me upon my rewatch of the film.

One other thing I love about Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is how the mob plays a major role in the story, something most on-screen Batman tales fail to utilize, though the recent Matt Reeves film, The Batman, did a great job with that. In this, Batman is being blamed for the mob murders perpetrated by The Phantasm, and we get a major tie-in with the mob, Andrea’s father, and even The Joker. We also get a small peek into Joker’s past because of this, and I thought that was really intriguing.

I would also be remiss if I failed to talk about the stellar voice acting throughout this film. Kevin Conroy shines as Batman/Bruce Wayne, as he always does. He will forever be the extremely high bar set for anyone else voicing the character. The way he is able to show such complex emotion just through his voice is simply incredible and shows how much art and skill there is in being a true voice-over artist. He is joined in this by Dana Delany as Andrea Beaumont and she does such a wonderful job, especially as she came into this never having done any voice-over work before. And, of course, Mark Hamill is superb as The Joker.

 

Negatives

I honestly have no real negatives about this movie. I love it so much. But if I had to list anything, I would say that the lack of resolution to what happens to The Joker would be one. We see Andrea take him in a cloud of mist to presumably kill him, and Batman doesn’t stop her. So she’s gone with Joker and we never know what happens to him, leaving the audience to assume she finished the job.

However, three years after the film, DC released the comic book issue Batman & Robin Adventures Annual #1, which explains what happens after she leaves with Joker. It’s a fascinating issue to read, and that part is just the beginning, so go check it out if you want more Phantasm.

Special Features

The 4K Blu-ray includes three special features: a 4×3 version of the film, the episode of Justice League Unlimited titled “Epilogue”, and the short documentary Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight.

4×3 Version – It was really cool to see them include this version, as the series was all done in 4×3. You actually get to see more of the screen with this, as the widescreen just cuts the top and bottom off of this version. So, if you want to enjoy more of the amazing art that is the animation of this film, check out this version.

“Epilogue” from Justice League Unlimited – This is one of my favorite episodes of JLU, and for multiple reasons. This episode serves, as the name suggests, as an epilogue to both Batman Beyond and Mask of the Phantasm. The events that take place show that she still cares about him after all these years.

It also has one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of Batman history with Batman and Ten from the Royal Flush Gang. If you haven’t seen it, you need to watch it.

Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight Documentary – This was an incredible tribute to the man who voiced Batman for three decades, the man who many of us still hear in our heads anytime we read a Batman comic, Kevin Conroy. The documentary included many great people who all praised Kevin’s work as the Dark Knight. And we even got some interview footage of Kevin himself, which was absolutely wonderful to see.

 

Verdict

For me personally, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the best Batman film ever made. It is an absolute gem and a classic that everyone who is even slightly a fan of this character needs to watch. And with the documentary about Kevin Conroy included on the Blu-ray, this is a must buy for all fans. So, do yourself a favor and pick this up today!!

 

Score: 5/5

 

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129 Blu-ray Review: BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM

Comics

The new Titans: Fall of Ulduar mini-set for Hearthstone is primed to introduce game-changing effects in the form of Anomalies. But it’s also adding dozens of new cards, giving every class some new tools. The new Druid package gives the shapeshifting class some versatile new tools that should fit nicely into current decks.

Two new minions will give Druids the chance to summon tokens and make big plays, albeit in very different ways. Aerosoilizer summons a 2/2 Treant as both its Battlecry and Deathrattle, giving you lots of value in a single sticky minion. Meanwhile the Contaminated Lasher refreshes four Mana crystals as long as you’ve fulfilled the criteria of casting five spells over the course of the game, giving you good mid- or late-game boost for big plays. Finally, the versatile Forbidden Fruit spell lets you trade all of your Mana for equivalent attack power or two times the armor.

You can see each of the cards, along with the created tokens for Forbidden Fruit, below.

Gallery

Hearthstone’s most-recent expansion, Titans, introduced the titular Titans characters, powerful minions that each have three unique abilities that can be used in any order. The mini-set expansion to Titans, Fall of Ulduar, will add 38 new cards to the set, as well as randomized Anomaly effects for a limited time in Standard, Wild, and Twist matches.

The new set will also be accompanied by a big update to the newly launched Twist mode, upgrading the Wonders format to “Wonders XL” which will allow you to build decks up to 40 cards with health to match the size of your card pool. The mini-set will be available as a single purchase for $15 or 2000 gold, or you can open Fall of Ulduar cards in regular Titans packs.

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

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Festivals

Observing a helicopter zip across a mountainous skyline accompanying a fleet of cowboys on horseback, running at full speed below is a jarring visual. It’s as if time and space have suddenly fused. In an instant, the past and the present meet in the middle to produce something that is at once familiar and entirely unexpected. Some 60 years removed from Western films dominating the box office, fans of the genre can now turn on their televisions weekly, diving into Taylor Sheridan’s neo-western “Yellowstone.” The series originally debuted in 2018 on the basic cable channel Paramount Network, spawning an enormous fandom and two spinoffs, “1883” and “1923,” on corporate sibling streamer Paramount+. Now, amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which have generated a sparse fall TV lineup, “Yellowstone” is getting a big platform boost and a new home on the Paramount-owned broadcast network, CBS.

Audiences aren’t entirely unfamiliar with neo-Westerns. The Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning “No Country For Old Men,” many of Quentin Tarantino’s films and Sheridan’s own “Sicario,” presented varied viewpoints of these lawless communities. Yet, in our current political climate, few modern middle-American conservative-leaning shows have been as well-cast, massive and intricate as “Yellowstone.” The series first gained traction in more rural areas, garnering huge ratings amid the pandemic lockdown that brought viewers from coastal cities into this cowboy-filled world. 

Though the politics within the show aren’t quite overt, Sheridan has long cast himself as a Hollywood outsider. Having written every single episode of “Yellowstone” and its spinoffs, the prolific writer and showrunner has been lambasted in the press for his criticism of the WGA’s demands for a minimum number of writers in rooms. “The freedom of the artist to create must be unfettered,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “My stories have a very simple plot that is driven by the characters as opposed to characters driven by a plot — the antithesis of the way television is normally modeled.” He added, “So for me, writer’s rooms, they haven’t worked.”

Personally, the American Western has never appealed to me. Envisioning cowboys as the heroes never quite aligned with my worldview. As a Black American woman born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, James Baldwin’s quote from 1965’s “The American Dream and the American Negro” has always come to mind when I consider the classic Western film. Baldwin says, “It comes as a great shock around the age of 5, 6, or 7 to discover that the flag to which you have pledged allegiance, along with everybody else, has not pledged allegiance to you. It comes as a great shock to see Gary Cooper killing off the Indians, and although you are rooting for Gary Cooper, that the Indians are you.” Still, amid the frenzy surrounding “Yellowstone” and the forthcoming David Oyelowo starrer “Lawman: Bass Reeves,” which centers on a formally enslaved man who became the first Black U.S. Marshall (Sheridan serves as an executive producer), I thought it was time I took a look at “Yellowstone.” 

The pilot begins with a fatal accident, a maimed horse and a gushing head wound. While the opening scene would be enough to rattle even the most even-keeled person’s nerves, John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), stoic patriarch, Livestock Commissioner and owner of the mammoth-sized Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, appears mostly unaffected. As the world around him begins to take shape, centering the (stark white) community of Bozeman, Montana, secrets, desires and all of the horrors John can inflict come to life.

Towering men like John Dutton aren’t propped up alone. In the film-length opener, Sheridan carefully peels back the layers of the rancher’s life, including his four children. The adopted Jamie (Wes Bentley) is a lawyer who understands the family business but doesn’t work the land. Lee (Dave Annable) is a cowboy, but his apathy toward networking and negotiating makes him an ill-suited heir. Kayce (Luke Grimes) is the family black sheep who has distanced himself from his father and the Dutton dynasty to live with his Indigenous wife and son on the nearby Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Finally, there’s Beth (Kelly Reilly), the prodigal daughter who may be the only other Dutton as menacing as John.

While the layered intricacies of the Duttons’ family history sit at the core of “Yellowstone,” Sheridan carefully unfurls the other intense connections shaping this society. A development company, Paradise Valley, is attempting to build condos near Yellowstone, which would be another unsettling erosion in a rapidly gentrifying community. While John is more than willing to wield his influence and money to halt the subdivision, he also finds himself at odds with the people of Broken Rock and the reservation’s newly instated and formidable Chief, Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham). Chief Rainwater has no qualms about reminding John what true encroachment really is. By the end of Episode 1, a life-altering confrontation shows how far these men will go to prove a point and maintain strongholds in their respective communities.

“Yellowstone” was always going to be a massive undertaking. Sheridan showcases the world he knows on screen while shifting some focus toward Broken Rock. By highlighting the fundamental inequities and hardships Indigenous communities continue to face, the audience must sit and assess (or continue to deny) American history as it is and has always been. Throughout the pilot, “Yellowstone” manages to keep a certain standard for itself both with its setting and by highlighting what works best about the series: its familial dynamics.

Since “Yellowstone’s” debut, Sheridan has become a larger-than-life figure who positions himself as an every-man (despite his mounting millions) with an all-American appeal — in spring 2022, he appeared on the cover of Variety on a horse, and he occasionally appears on “Yellowstone” as a cowboy. Despite the iron-clad control he has over his shows, including Paramount+’s “Tulsa King,” “Mayor of Kingstown” and “Special Ops: Lioness,” he will undoubtedly pull in millions more fans since “Yellowstone” is now more wildly accessible. A nostalgic moment for fans who have tuned into the Duttons since the beginning, “Yellowstone’s” turn at CBS is a chance to revisit their world as it was before its recent descent into disarray. 

Now in its fifth and final season, Sheridan initially planned for six final episodes of “Yellowstone,” though he told THR he is now hoping for 10. However, Costner has exited the series amid creative and salary disputes. For his part, Sheridan appears determined to give “Yellowstone” a conclusion, even if it’s not exactly the one he originally planned. “I’m disappointed,” Sheridan told THR. “It truncates the closure of [Costner’s] character. It doesn’t alter it, but it truncates it.”

While this may be the end of “Yellowstone,” as many fans have known it, it is also a rebirth for the show in many ways. CBS has told Variety that the network will air nearly identical episodes to those that originally debuted on Paramount+. Moreover, the “Yellowstone” saga is set to continue. A new spinoff starring Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey is in the works. Sheridan has hinted that the series, though adjacent to the original, will likely showcase an entirely new cast and location. Since both McConaughey and Sheridan are Texans, the Lone Star state could play a central role in the story. “My idea of a spinoff is the same as my idea of a prequel — read into that what you will,” Sheridan said. 

For now, at least on CBS and Peacock, “Yellowstone” exists as it was. Ironically, the show is not streaming on Paramount+ because Peacock’s parent company, NBCUniversal, purchased the streaming rights to the series in 2020 before Paramount+ launched in 2021. CBS’ re-platforming of “Yellowstone” with a stoic Costner at the center may feel a bit absurd. However, since it will undoubtedly reach a new streaming-weary audience, it is the perfect send-off of sorts to a mountainous character, this branch of the Dutton family tree, and a relic-filled genre. “Yellowstone’s” new broadcast home is precisely where the massive and wildly entertaining epic should have been from the beginning.

“Yellowstone” will make its broadcast debut on Sept. 17 on CBS, with episodes airing weekly on Sundays. Seasons 1-5 are currently streaming on Peacock. 

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Film

The worlds of Michael Myers and Halloween collide with Archie and the Riverdale gang in new artwork made for the film’s 45th anniversary.

It has been 45 years since the release of John Carpenter’s Halloween. And while there are so many unique approaches to celebrating the occasion – killing your babysitter, purchasing Laurie Strode’s house, etc. – there is now yet another way. Debuting at the H45: 45 Years of Terror convention, new prints that bring Michael Myers to Riverdale (or is it Archie to Haddonfield?) is the crossover you had no idea had been inked into existence.

The Halloween / Archie crossover is part of the Archie Horror line, which launched in 2015. While there won’t be a run of comic books themselves, the great Matt Talbot has designed two special prints that will be featured at the aforementioned con. On the work, Talbot said, “Every so often, if you’re really fortunate, a dream project comes along—and this was one of those times. The Archie gang… meeting up with Michael Myers? When I was asked if I was up for drawing what that might look like, I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough…Archie Horror and Halloween are two of my very favorite spooky things—and the chance to not only see them together, but draw them together? It doesn’t get any better than that!”

Archie Halloween 02

Adding to the excitement, Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater stated, “When we launched the Archie Horror line of comics ten years ago, we knew there was a strong bond between Archie fans and horror fans — both are such integral parts of American pop culture, with beloved tropes and iconic characters. And it’s hard to think of a more iconic character in horror than The Shape himself, Michael Myers.”

Archie Halloween 03

The Halloween celebration takes place from September 29th to October 1st in Pasadena, California. Special guests include a numerous of familiar faces – and shapes – throughout the Halloween series, including Nick Castle, PJ Soles, Tom Atkins, Anthony Michael Hall, and many more.

Archie Comics first launched in 1939, seeing a new level of popularity with the live-action series Riverdale, which concluded just last month. Halloween, meanwhile, has stood the test of time better than nearly any other slasher film, consistently ranking as one of the greatest horror movies ever.

How do you feel about the Halloween and Archie crossover? Would you hang one of the Matt Talbot prints in your home?

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The worlds of Michael Myers and Halloween

TV

The Jennifer Hudson Show is joining other daytime talk shows in postponing its season premiere while writers remain on strike.

Hudson’s syndicated show, distributed by Warner Bros., was slated to premiere Monday but is now on hold. The decision follows that of The Drew Barrymore Show and CBS’ The Talk. Sources say Hudson advocated for the postponement.

All three shows are signatories to the Writers Guild of America’s minimum basic agreement and employed WGA scribes in the past. They had all been scheduled to open their seasons on Monday but came under scrutiny — and sharp criticism — in the past week.

The catalyst for that was Barrymore’s Sept. 10 announcement that she’d be debuting the fourth season of her show. “I own this choice,” she said in an Instagram post. “We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind.”

After a backlash from striking writers and actors, including pickets outside her New York studio, Barrymore issued an apology on Friday but did not announce plans to pause production. That came on Sunday, with the host writing on Instagram, “I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote in a statement on Instagram Sunday. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today.”

Though much of the criticism focused on Barrymore — partly because of her public statements and because of the fact that the opted out of hosting the MTV Movie and TV Awards in the early weeks of the writers strike — striking writers also questioned the decisions by The Talk and The Jennifer Hudson Show to announce Monday premieres (Hudson’s show did so several weeks ago). The Talk was picketed as it did some pretaping last week.

A fourth daytime talker that’s a WGA signatory, NBCUniversal’s Kelly Clarkson Show, is in the midst of moving production from Los Angeles to New York and hasn’t announced a premiere date yet. ABC’s The View has remained in production during the writers and actors strikes (and has been picketed), though it says the work of its striking writers is not being done by anyone else.

Several other daytime shows, including Live With Kelly and Mark, Tamron Hall and Sherri, hosted by Sherri Shepherd, do not employ WGA writers and are in production as usual.

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What to Watch

 

Great news! “Bhola Shankar (Tamil)” is available to watch on Netflix UK!

 

Date Added: 15th September 2023

Known expiry dates are shown above as well as on the Last Chance page.

Want to keep forever? Try looking for ‘Bhola Shankar (Tamil)’ on Amazon (paid link)

Watch in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada

 

Description:

While attempting to build a life in Kolkata with his sister, a taxi driver must confront his dark past as he faces off against the city’s underworld.

 

Certificate: Suitable for ages 15 and up

Year: 2023

Duration: 2hr 36m

Audio: Tamil

Subtitles: English

 

Cast and Crew

Director: Meher Ramesh

 

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Tamannaah Bhatia, Keerthy Suresh, Sushanth, Tarun Arora, Shawar Ali, Murli Sharma, P. Ravi Shankar, Vennela Kishore, Raghu Babu, Tulasi, Sreemukhi, Bitthiri Sathi, Satya, Getup Srinu, Rashmi Gautam

 

Production & Box Office Details:

“Bhola Shankar (Tamil)” was produced by AK Entertainments and was originally released on August 10th 2023.

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Tim Burton’s abandoned “Superman Lives” movie is one of the great what-if stories in Hollywood history. After successfully turning Batman into a blockbuster film franchise, Burton was recruited to apply his touch to DC Comics’ other most iconic superhero with Nicolas Cage in the titular role. The film was scrapped after a highly publicized development process, and remains the most well-known unmade project of both Burton and Cage’s careers.

In a new interview with BFI, Burton revealed that he still thinks about the abandoned film and wonders what could have been.

“No, I don’t have regrets,” Burton said when asked about the scrapped project. “I will say this: when you work that long on a project and it doesn’t happen, it affects you for the rest of your life. Because you get passionate about things, and each thing is an unknown journey, and it wasn’t there yet. But it’s one of those experiences that never leaves you, a little bit.”

The fate of “Superman Lives” has been a popular topic in recent years, with many speculating that renewed interest in Cage’s career and the prevalence of superhero multiverses could lead to some version of the movie eventually being made. Cage eventually paid tribute to the scrapped project by suiting up as Superman for a cameo in “The Flash,” though he joked about the brevity of his blink-and-you’d-miss-it appearance.

When asked if he was interested in playing Superman in a full movie, Cage didn’t entirely rule it out — though he made it clear that he’s perfectly content to simply let fans wonder what his take on the character would have looked like.

“That’s always been both a positive and a negative to me,” Cage said in 2022. “It’s a positive in that it left the character, and what Tim [Burton] and I might have gotten up to, in the realm of imagination — which is always more powerful than that is concrete. And a negative in that I think it would have been special. Is there a chance? Who knows.”

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Tim Burton’s abandoned “Superman Lives” movie is

Music

Billboard is bringing its signature artist showcase Down Under. The media company is teaming up with American Express to deliver The Stage at the inaugural South by Southwest in Sydney, Australia. XG will take the stage as the evening’s headliner for the one-night-only Oct. 20 concert, which will open with Lil Cherry and GOLDBUUDA.

“It’s an honor to work with our partners at SXSW Sydney to bring THE STAGE to a global audience,” Dana Droppo, chief brand officer of Billboard, said in a press statement. “We pride ourselves on providing unparalleled music experiences and with the help of American Express are thrilled to have XG headlining our first Australian show.”

“Billboard’s legendary SXSW shows have long been a highlight in Austin,” added Colin Daniels, SXSW Sydney’s managing director. “We’re so excited to partner with them in our inaugural year to provide SXSW Sydney attendees and the public an exclusive performance from one of the buzziest pop artists in the world right now.”

Since the group’s 2022 debut, XG have been making waves in Korea, Japan and the United States. The septet — which consists of members Jurin, Cocona, Chisa, Hinata, Maya, Juria and Harvey — are gearing up to release their first mini album New DNA on Sept. 27. “Every stage we’ve had the honor to perform on has been incredibly special and unforgettable,” said Harvey. “The memories of meeting our ALPHAZ in-person and the scenery we’ve seen with our fellow members are all unforgettable. We look forward to visiting more countries and regions, sharing our music, and creating beautiful memories with everyone we meet! I’m really excited about the opportunity to perform at a festival in Australia. It would mean a lot to me if I could show my performance to my grandparents, and I’m feeling very nervous about it!” 

The Stage at SXSW Sydney will take place at The Hordern Pavilion at Moore Park. Tickets will be available to purchase for American Express cardholders starting Wednesday (Sept. 20) at 10 a.m. AEST. The general on-sale will begin at 10 a.m. AEST on Friday (Sept. 22). Additionally, a reserved number of tickets will be available exclusively for SXSW Sydney Platinum Badge holders, SXSW Sydney Music Badge Holders and SXSW Sydney Music Festival wristband holders on a first come, first serve basis.

Billboard will be reporting live from SXSW Sydney on October 20, and viewers can tune in by visiting Billboard.com and following @billboard on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news and announcements.

Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is an investor in SXSW.

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Billboard is bringing its signature artist showcase

Docs

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” has pushed back its previously-planned premiere date and paused production amid backlash during the writers strike, Variety has learned.

Jennifer Hudson’s talk show was supposed to premiere its new season on Monday, Sept. 18. But after mounting criticism — spurred by Drew Barrymore publicly announcing her talk show would be returning while writers are on the picket lines, and then reversing course — all eyes on have been on daytime.

On Sunday, Barrymore announced that her talk show would not be returning, after all. Her decision has now created a domino effect across daytime. Barrymore had been facing intense blowback after she posted on her Instagram that her talk show would be returning amid the strikes. Shortly after Barrymore’s decision to pause production on her show until after the strikes are over, CBS’ “The Talk” also pushed back their premiere date.

On Monday, Sherri Shepherd’s talk show “Sherri” will return, though it is not a struck show covered by the Writers Guild of America. Kelly Clarkson’s talk show, which moved from Los Angeles to New York City over the summer, has not announced a premiere date yet. “The View,” which has two WGA writers on staff, has been airing throughout the strikes without its writers.

Talk shows operate under the SAG-AFTRA Network Code, allowing hosts like Hudson and Barrymore to continue in their hosting role, so none of the hosts are violating SAG-AFTRA rules.

Hudson’s nationally-syndicated show, which is covered by the WGA, had been planned to begin its season without writers, and intended to resume WGA writers once a new contract is in place.

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“The Jennifer Hudson Show” has pushed back

Global

Over 300 people were in attendance at the Conexus Art Centre in Regina on Sept. 16, as the community looks to heal from one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history.

Named “The truth telling gathering” and hosted by the Keeseekoose First Nation, the event hosted over 30 speakers, many of whom shared stories of their times students in residential schools, facing mental, physical and sexual abuse.

The Keeseekoose chief, Lee Katchemonia, said remembering the uncomfortable history is important, adding that those unfamiliar with residential schools, tend to brush off the experiences of survivors.

“That’s the whole reason why a lot of them won’t come forward, because of the backlash they might get, plus there’s a lot of shame involved,” Katchemonia said.

He added, “a person has to carry that shame, for all those years, and it’s not their shame to carry, it’s not their fault. They were just children when it happened.”

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Katchemonia attended a day school where students were abused. He said the healing process will take a while as the best approach is helping one person at at time, as everyone is on a “different step in their healing journey.”

He added that teaching this history to the next generation will help them understand and connect with their elders.

Trending Now

Alvin Musqua Jr. Is the first generation in his family to not attend a residential school.

He said he saw first hand, his grandparents and parents deal with the trauma of residential school, but is grateful that his parents broke the cycle when they had him.

It’s a tradition he aims to continue with his own children, he said.

“I also wanted to be a good role model to them, I work in Keeseekose but I also work a full time for Mosaic at the Esterhazy mine, to show them that there’s a lot of opportunities out there that you can get, you don’t only have to stay on the reserve like how it was in the past,” Musqua Jr. said.

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Over 300 people were in attendance at

Trending

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce probably knew he would get a lot of kidding when he revealed that he tried to give Taylor Swift a friendship braclet with his phone number on it when he attended her Kansas City concert.

But he probably didn’t think that the alleged romance – which hasn’t been confirmed by either party — would be used as a reference in an NFL broadcast.

Today, when Kelce scored a nine-yard touchdown in the second half of the Chiefs game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, CBS announcer Ian Eagle had some fun.

“Kelce finds a blank space for the score,” Eagle said, a reference to Swift’s song, “Blank Space.”

But there was still a lot of football left to play in the game, so Kelce had time to Shake It Off.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

Tech

In an online meeting with anti-vaccine activists on June 27, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat running for president, falsely said there was good evidence that vaccine research had caused millions of deaths during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. He also claimed that such research could have created Covid-19, H.I.V. and other deadly viruses.

But in an appearance before Congress on July 20, Mr. Kennedy made none of those assertions. When lawmakers asked him about vaccines, he said: “I have never been anti-vax. I have never told the public to avoid vaccination.”

Even as Mr. Kennedy is a long shot for the Democratic nomination, he remains a case study of how a political figure can spread falsehoods and conspiracy theories at a large scale. And since he declared his presidential run in April, a gulf has appeared between what he says at political and campaign events and what he says on podcasts, at events and on shows that cater to anti-vaccine activists and conspiracy theorists, according to a review of his comments by The New York Times.

In large public forums like Congress, Mr. Kennedy, 69, has moderated his extreme views, while continuing to advocate them in other settings. At campaign stops in Iowa, Vermont and Virginia this summer, he spoke about the environment, foreign policy and the war in Ukraine, according to The Times’s review. He did not mention vaccines and limited his comments on Covid to criticism of pandemic lockdowns.

Yet during that same period, Mr. Kennedy appeared on more than two dozen podcasts hosted by personalities popular with the right wing, such as Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan, as well as in online meetings and video streams where he brought up a variety of fringe ideas. At times, he made unfounded claims about vaccines and questioned whether chemicals in the water supply were causing “sexual dysphoria” among children in the United States.

The shift in Mr. Kennedy’s behavior is stark after his nearly two decades of promoting unsubstantiated theories about vaccines and other matters. Misinformation researchers said the candidate had probably tempered his most extreme positions to appeal to a wider audience and win over voters.

“If you only hear what he says in those big, open forums, you might think this is a reasonable, moderate person I want to support — and that is the point,” said Kolina Koltai, a misinformation researcher who has studied anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. “He is making himself mainstream.”

When Mr. Kennedy raises topics that he has extreme views on, he now does so more subtly, Ms. Koltai said. In campaign forums, he often poses his ideas about vaccines as questions, such as asking if coronavirus vaccines were produced too quickly or questioning the safety protocols around other vaccines, she said.

Mr. Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but previously said in a statement to CNN that the candidate was being “mischaracterized.”

Recent opinion polls suggest that Mr. Kennedy, a scion of the Kennedy family and an environmental lawyer and activist, has the support of around 12 percent of Democratic voters. He has attracted some high-profile backers, including Elon Musk, the Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, the National Football League star Aaron Rodgers and the actress Alicia Silverstone.

Mr. Kennedy’s public work against vaccines began in 2005, when he published articles in Rolling Stone and Salon claiming a link between vaccines and autism. The news outlets later withdrew the articles. In 2018, he founded Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit in Washington that has promoted anti-vaccine ideology.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Kennedy spoke at dozens of events where he claimed that the drugs ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine could help treat Covid. Numerous studies published during and after the pandemic have found otherwise. Mr. Kennedy has not addressed those studies.

Mr. Kennedy also produced a 2021 movie that suggested Black Americans should not get vaccinated, even as health officials said such claims were dangerous. And he wrote a book claiming that Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Biden’s top medical adviser for the pandemic, and Bill Gates, a founder of Microsoft, conspired with drug companies to profit from vaccines. Dr. Fauci and Mr. Gates have rebutted the claims.

In 2021, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that conducts research on social media, named Mr. Kennedy as one of the “Disinformation Dozen,” which it called the top 12 superspreaders of misinformation about Covid on the internet.

Mr. Kennedy has also used his platform to promote other misleading ideas, including that 5G networks are being used for mass surveillance.

“You have a bleeding-over from vaccines to broad conspiratorial ideas on a number of topics,” said Jonathan Jarry, a scientist and science communicator with McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. “He promotes a whole worldview that is not just about opposing vaccines — it is about distrust of government, media and other bodies, while promoting trust in him.”

When Mr. Kennedy said he was running for president, his behavior shifted immediately. In a nearly two-hour speech announcing his candidacy, he did not mention vaccines or promote conspiracy theories.

“My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power,” he said, going on to criticize government spending, corporate power and pandemic lockdowns.

In campaign appearances over the summer, Mr. Kennedy was circumspect. During a June 5 audio event with Mr. Musk on X, the service formerly known as Twitter, Mr. Kennedy made a passing reference to vaccines and limited his remarks to the difficulties that people faced during the lockdowns.

He similarly skirted mentioned of vaccines when he campaigned in June in Vermont and at last month’s Iowa State Fair, a popular stomping ground for presidential candidates. In an interview with Mr. Kennedy that was posted on Aug. 14, Tucker Carlson opened by noting that it would make no mention of vaccines.

At the same time, Mr. Kennedy espoused extreme views on podcasts. In June, he told Mr. Peterson, a psychologist and an author, that chemicals in the water supply could turn children transgender. That same month, Mr. Kennedy appeared on Mr. Rogan’s podcast and presented false or unfounded claims, including that aluminum in vaccines causes autism and that Wi-Fi causes chronic illness.

Late last month, Children’s Health Defense announced a “people’s bus tour” across the United States to collect stories from people who were harmed by vaccinations and other health protocols introduced during the pandemic. The side of the bus was emblazoned with “Vax-Unvax,” the title of Mr. Kennedy’s new book.

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In an online meeting with anti-vaccine activists

Entertaintment


By Raven Brunner

The 2022 Norwegian comedy-drama Sick of Myself is a gory, stomach-churning romp that might as well be a horror movie. Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the movie follows young couple Signe (Kristine Kujath Thorp) and Thomas (Eirik Sæther), who have an unhealthy relationship. They are sickeningly competitive and narcissistic, and are always trying to one-up each other. As Thomas, a sculpture artist, begins to get attention from the art community and magazines, Signe decides to poison herself with an illegal drug from Russia, which causes her to develop a skin disease. After Signe makes headlines for her “bravery” in battling the condition and signs onto a major modeling company, she begins to spiral into madness over her fears of getting caught. The movie is a devious satire on social media obsession, and takes things to the extremest of extremes. Give this one a watch, but maybe not on a full stomach.

Photo: Everett Collection

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By Raven Brunner The 2022 Norwegian comedy-drama Sick of

Movies

The comedian Russell Brand denied “serious criminal allegations” against him in a video he posted shortly before three British news organizations published an investigation Saturday in which four women accused him of sexual assault.

The investigation was a collaboration by The Sunday Times and The Times of London newspapers, and Channel 4 Dispatches, a television program that broadcast a documentary about the allegations on Saturday. They reported that the women had accused him of sexual assault in a series of incidents between 2006 and 2013.

Mr. Brand, an actor and former TV host who has more recently built a significant following on his YouTube channel, where he often opines on wellness and interviews prominent conservative figures, released a short video on social media on Friday in which he said he had received notes from media organizations listing “a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.”

“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” Mr. Brand said in the video, going on to say that while he has spoken previously about a “time of promiscuity” in his life, the encounters during that time were “always consensual.”

His literary agency, Tavistock Wood, announced this weekend that it had cut ties with him, saying in a statement that it believed it had been “horribly misled” by him when he denied an allegation in 2020.

The allegations were published as the comedian, 48, was on a short stand-up tour. At a show in northwest London on Saturday night, he opened the evening with an oblique reference to the accusations.

“I’ve got a lot of things to talk to you about,” he said, according to news media reports. “There are obviously some things that I absolutely cannot talk about and I appreciate that you will understand.”

In the investigation, one woman accused Mr. Brand of raping her against a wall in his Los Angeles home in 2012. The news organizations said that the woman had provided medical records confirming that she had been treated at a rape crisis center. Another woman accused him of forcing her to perform oral sex on him when she was 16, despite her pushing him away.

In his video, Mr. Brand did not address the specifics of the accusations by the four women, three of whom were not identified in the reports. He said there were “witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narratives” that had been put forward to him by the news organizations, but according to the article, a lawyer for Mr. Brand did not respond to an inquiry about providing such evidence. A legal representative The New York Times contacted on Sunday did not respond to a request for comment on the specific allegations in the investigation.

Known for raunchy, boundary-pushing humor that has gotten him in trouble at times, Mr. Brand’s fame grew in Britain in the 2000s with a one-man show about his heroin addiction, and then as a BBC radio and Channel 4 reality television host. He broke into American pop culture with a prominent role in the rom-com “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008 and a remake of “Arthur” in 2011, and was briefly married to the pop star Katy Perry.

The investigation reported on Saturday also included complaints about Brand’s workplace behavior, including from unnamed production workers from Channel 4. They said that Brand would ask staff members to approach female audience members so he could arrange to meet them after filming, according to the reports.

Channel 4 and BBC have said in statements that they are investigating allegations against Brand from the periods when he worked at their companies.

The Metropolitan Police in London released a statement in response to the article saying that the department had been in touch with the journalists behind the story, and it encouraged any victims of sexual assault to report it to them.

Brand did not address the workplace complaints in his video.

Mr. Brand’s commentary on his YouTube channel, which has 6.6 million followers, tends to revolve around health, spirituality, so-called woke culture and free speech, and his guests have included Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Tucker Carlson and the conservative commentator Candace Owens. In his video on Friday, he accused the “mainstream media” of launching what he called a “coordinated attack” against him. Elon Musk responded to Mr. Brand’s post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, writing: “Of course. They don’t like competition.”

Mr. Brand has spoken about and written extensively about battling addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex, writing in his memoir that he was treated for a sex addiction in 2005.

Alex Marshall contributed reporting from London.

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The comedian Russell Brand denied “serious criminal

Latest News

“Meet the Press” premiered Sunday morning with a new moderator, a former president and a disturbingly familiar pattern of mainstream media normalizing extremist chicanery for ratings.

Kristen Welker, NBC News’ co-chief White House correspondent, sat down with the Republican frontrunner for president for a segment that was teased as Donald Trump’s “first network interview since leaving office,” a tame descriptor for someone who’s been indicted on numerous felonies involving efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and who’s been found liable of sexual assault in a civil trial since losing the White House to Joe Biden.

But the television event also highlighted a problem that traditional news outlets have faced since Trump emerged as a potent figure on the political scene in 2016. Treating the former reality TV star like any other presidential candidate or victor before him assumes that he’s playing by the same set of rules as his predecessors. Newsflash: He’s not.

One storming of the U.S. Capitol and four indictments later, it’s clear that interview dynamic that “Meet the Press” has employed since Harry Truman was in office does not work in 2023. At least for folks who would actually like to see a substantive conversation — or grilling — of past or future leaders.

Sunday’s “new chapter” of “Meet the Press” set the stage for the interview with an opener mentioning impeachment, the president’s legal troubles and how his questionable dealings with family members might affect his chances in the 2024 election. But they were talking about President Biden, not Trump. The set up validated long-held complaints of bothside-ism in legacy journalism, when an issue between opposing beliefs is presented as more balanced than evidence supports.

The show’s producers surely saw this as opportunity to showcase the skills of Chuck Todd’s successor, to prove that she could hold her own against a notoriously difficult interview subject. Todd announced last week that he was leaving his post after nine years of hosting the public affairs talk show, though he remains with NBC News. Welker is the first Black journalist to moderate “Meet the Press,” which is the longest running show on television. Trump’s camp likely saw it as a chance to reach viewers beyond his loyal Fox News constituency, normalizing a troubled candidate for a wary electorate.

But it’s doubtful that Sunday’s show moved the needle one way or another. There was no chance at arriving at any sort of shared truth in response to Welker’s questions about abortion policy, Ukraine, China, the storage of classified documents or his involvement in a deadly Jan. 6 insurrection.

Trump steamrolled over his interviewer, attacking his opponents with a barrage of insults while pushing the narratives he wants to push. To her credit, Welker did better at challenging him than most of her peers, including Chris Wallace and Megyn Kelly. She pressed him on federal versus state bans on abortion, his slow response to the Jan. 6 attack, and whether — if he were elected — again he would send troops to Taiwan if China were to invade. There were no great revelations in his answers but plenty of bluster about Florida Gov. Ron “DeSanctimonious” DeSantis and the “deranged, lunatic prosecutor” whom he says targeted him.

Welker asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s praise of him after Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war, arguing that if he were in office, he would quickly put an end to the conflict. In an earlier report, NBC News covered Putin’s praise of Trump at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia last week, where he said, “We surely hear that Mr. Trump says he will resolve all burning issues within several days, including the Ukrainian crisis. We cannot help but feel happy about it.”

Trump’s response, “Well, I like that he said that, because that means what I’m saying is right.”

Although Trump’s admiration for Putin shined bright, he toned down his combative nature for the pretaped interview. Instead of charging at his questioner and silencing her with bully tactics, he complained that Welker was cutting him off and not allowing him to finish his thoughts. Quite a comment coming from the King of Interrupters.

He responded to harder questions with untruths that may have shocked us seven years ago but are par for the course now. “What did you do when the Capitol was attacked?” asked Welker.

“Nancy Pelosi was in charge of security,” he claimed. “She turned down 10,000 soldiers. If she hadn’t, the attack wouldn’t have happened.

“Nancy Pelosi didn’t have the authority, you did,” pressed Welker.

“Pelosi is responsible for Jan. 6,” insisted Trump.

It was futile in the moment to correct the outright lies, so Welker did so before commercial breaks. “A bit of context here on Mr. Trump’s allegations. He ordered troops in the days leading up to the Jan. 6 attack. The Defense Department says the former president never gave a formal order to have 10,000 troops ready to be deployed to the Capitol. Of course it’s unreasonable to blame former Speaker Pelosi or lawmakers on Capitol Hill for what happened that day. Pelosi’s office said at the time that the claim that she turned down troops was quote ‘completely made up.’”

The sit-down may prove to be a ratings boon for the network, and perhaps even further boost Welker’s career, but it failed to cut through the usual low-information bluster of past interviews with the former president. Trump was Trump. Legacy media was legacy media.

But somewhere in between is the high-stakes story of ratings versus journalistic responsibility and the dangers that dance presents to our democracy.

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“Meet the Press” premiered Sunday morning

DCU

Summary

  • Superman and Batman won’t be the only heroes getting a new version with James Gunn’s DCU. Max will welcome a new original tv show set in the world of Green Lantern, with John Stewart and Hal Jordan as the lead characters.
  • After the major flop that ended up being the live-action adaptation with Ryan Reynolds, a new story featuring a large group of members from the Green Lantern Corps was in development, but the project was ultimately canceled with a new tv show now in the works as a part of the DCU led by Gunn and Peter Safran.
  • The Green Lantern tv series, titled Lanterns, will offer a different take on the popular mythology within DC Comics. Inspired by True Detective, the show will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart trying to solve a mystery, potentially across the galaxy, and will connect with a larger plot that will serve as the franchise’s guideline.


Superman and Batman won’t be the only heroes getting a new version with James Gunn’s DCU. Max will welcome a new original tv show set in the world of Green Lantern, with John Stewart and Hal Jordan as the lead characters.

After the major flop that ended up being the live-action adaptation with Ryan Reynolds, a new story featuring a large group of members from the Green Lantern Corps was in development, but the project was ultimately canceled with a new tv show now in the works as a part of the DCU led by Gunn and Peter Safran, which will connect with the rest of the productions from the franchise.

As fans await for news regarding the series, specially some casting updates to know who will be playing Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Instagram artist jaxsonderr published a fan art of Oppenheimer and Solo star Alden Ehrenreich as Jordan:

Despite the fact the movie centered on Han Solo was not one of the biggest hits within the world of Star Wars or even in Ehrenreich’s career, the actor proved he can take being part of a huge franchise, so joinig the DCU wouldn’t be a problem for him and could actually help him left that bad experience behind, and get a new chance thanks to the superhero genre.

Related: Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich Go to War in Netflix’s Fair Play Trailer


What to Expect from Green Lantern TV Show

DC Comics

It’s been a long time since fans got to see an official version of Green Lantern on the big screen in live-action format, so most of them are eager to see what Gunn and his team will do with one of the most important mythologies within DC Comics. In fact, the co-CEO of DC Studios has already chosen an actor to play one of the most famous Lanterns, Guy Gardner, with Nathan Fillion joining the cast of Superman: Legacy to play him.

But the story center on Jordan and Stewart will offer something very different. When Gunn and Safran announced the first projects that will be part of the first pahse of the new DCU, titled Gods & Monsters, the Green Lantern tv series was presented as a show inspired by True Detective, which will have the two main characters trying to solve a mystery, probably across the galaxy.

The story is set to connect with a larger plot that will actually be the guideline for the whole franchise, which could be one of the reasons why Gunn included Gardner in Superman: Legacy. Since the show is replacing the previously announced project, which would include several other Lanterns, the new story could still do something like that, with Jordan and Stewart crossing paths with some other heroes from the corps, mostly considering the series’ name is Lanterns.

For now, none official release date has been announced for Lanterns, and since most upcoming projects are currently on pause because of the strikes, it could take a while for fans to get news about it.

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Summary Superman and Batman won't

Festivals

This post was written by Meagan Keane and originally appeared on Adobe blog on Jun. 16, 2023.

Tom (Alex Wolff), a devoted member of his fraternity, is enamored with the high social status and influential connections promised by the fraternity. However, when he counters Annabelle, a classmate from outside his social circle, his devotion begins to falter, and Tom is faced with a life-altering decision.

Editor Ted Feldman chose Premiere Pro to cut this coming-of-age thriller, capturing both the wild excitement of being young and the dangers of living without fear of consequences. “We used Premiere Pro on this project because it is quick and easy, I like the way it’s organized, and because the Adobe suite lets me keep my options open for effects,” Feldman shares.

The Line premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Read below to learn more about Feldman’s editing workflow in bringing this gripping narrative to life.

Can you tell us about your experience as a filmmaker and how you got started in the industry?

I studied film at Wesleyan University and met many future collaborators. For about seven years after graduation, I lived in Brooklyn, juggled dueling careers in music and film, taking whatever gigs I could to keep up my film chops when I wasn’t in a tour van — or sometimes when I was. I worked as a PA, a boom operator, a DIT, but mostly as an editor. In 2017 l moved to LA, where some of my college friends and collaborators were kind enough to vouch for me for editing work. I managed to land some good music videos, then documentary series, and now features.

How and where did you first learn to edit?

In-camera on my parents’ VHS camcorder, growing up with my two brothers. And then playing around with a few editing platforms in high school and college at Wesleyan.

How do you begin a project/set up your workspace?

On a technical level, I try to make sure there is a plan in place for the very end of the project and set up the project with that in mind. I try to get the director to talk as much as they can about their vision, and then I watch absolutely everything.

Tell us about a favorite scene or moment from this project and why it stands out to you.

The climactic scene of the film is this very uncomfortable hazing scene in a garage, where the character Gettys (played by Austin Abrams) is refusing to play the submissive pledge, challenging the fraternity brothers’ authority. It’s shot with really stark lighting and the camera is right in the middle of the action—the insults are flying—you know something bad is going to happen. And from an editorial standpoint, it was my job to build that tension and shape the arc of how it all devolves by using the angles deliberately, supporting Austin’s incredible performance, and connecting with our main character Tom (Alex Wolff), who knows this is a bad situation.

What were some specific post-production challenges you faced that were unique to your project? How did you go about solving them?

There was a lot of improvised dialogue, overlapping dialogue. And the scenes that were coming in from production were much longer than what had been written in the script. That was a challenge for time and for continuity. One solution I found was that overlapping the dialogue myself—manufacturing a “naturalism” that already existed elsewhere—was very helpful in keeping the tone consistent and in manipulating the rhythm of a scene.

What Adobe tools did you use on this project and why did you originally choose them? Why were they the best choice for this project?

We used Premiere Pro on this project because it is quick and easy, I like the way it’s organized, and because the Adobe suite lets me keep my options open for effects.

If you could share one tip about Premiere Pro, what would it be?

This seems small but I like timeline audio scrubbing. It’s very helpful for finding the exact frame to cut.

Who is your creative inspiration and why?

As an editor? Bob Fosse & Alan Heim for creating meaning through intercutting, Martin Scorsese & Thelma Schoonmaker for energy over cleanliness and Steven Soderbergh for efficiency.

What’s the toughest thing you’ve had to face in your career and how did you overcome it? What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers or content creators?

It can be very frustrating to not land a gig because your resume is thin, but everyone wants you to have already done the thing before they give you a chance to do the thing. My advice would be to do your best work on every project, no matter how small, and to value the relationships you make. Every opportunity I’ve ever gotten has been through people I’ve already worked with believing in me, who brought me along to the next step. And a lot of those times it’s been Ethan (the director of The Line), so get yourself a loyal friend like that.

This post was written by Meagan Keane and originally appeared on Adobe blog on Jun. 16, 2023.

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This post was written by Meagan Keane

Film

The world is finally getting a look at Bad Bunny‘s first on-screen kiss. And, though brief, it’s made an impact. 

The 29-year-old “Ojitos Lindos” reggaeton rapper portrays Felipe, a lucha libre fan who is getting close to Gael García Bernal‘s titular character, Cassandro. In the scene, the duo appears to be in a bar’s office alone when Bernal’s character goes in for the kiss.

Felipe, at first, seems into it, even placing his right hand on Bernal’s hip. But just seconds later, Felipe uses that same arm to push Cassandro away from him.

“I really can’t do this,” Felipe says in Spanish, to which Cassandro responds with, “It’s OK. Don’t freak out. It’s OK.”

After Felipe apologizes, Cassandro tells him, “See you around, stud.”

Bernal plays the titular pro wrestler, a real-life legend who became a well-known luchador as an openly gay “exotico.”

Cassandro, an Amazon original film, tells the story of Saúl Armendáriz, who was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and Juárez, Chihuahua, with a love of lucha libre. After making his lucha debut to limited success, Armendáriz meets a new trainer, Sabrina (A League of Their Own’s Roberta Colindrez), who suggests he try competing as an “exotico,” a type of luchador who dresses in drag and portrays gay caricatures.

Armendáriz makes a name for himself as Cassandro — named after Cassandra, a beloved brothel owner in Tijuana — though he faces plenty of pushback along the way, both for his flamboyant character in the ring and for being openly gay in real life.

The film — which jumps from English and Spanish to Spanglish — also stars Raúl Castillo, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, and El Hijo del Santo.

Back in March, Bad Bunny — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — told Time for its April double issue that kissing Bernal in the biopic was “badass.”

“It was cabrón (badass). My first kiss for a movie and it was with a man,” the Puerto Rican rapper said. “That’s the penalty I get for being with so many women during my life.”

Bad Bunny also explained why he said yes when producers asked him about kissing a man in the film.

“If you’re acting, you’re being someone you’re not,” he said. “That’s the fun part. So when they asked me for that I said, ‘Yes, I’m here for whatever you want.’ I think it was very cool. I didn’t feel uncomfortable. It’s part of acting. It’s part of what I’m doing.”

Cassandro is now in select theaters and available Sept. 22 on Prime Video. 

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The world is finally getting a look

TV

Bollywood’s Jawan and star Shah Ruhk Khan livened up a slow specialty market, grossing close to $2.5 million in 776 locations in week two for a cume close to $12.2 million. The Yash Raj actioner is no. 6 at the domestic box office.

Its weekend split was $694,724k Fri.; $1.024m Sat,; $775k Sunday as Jawan races to records in India, including the top box office opening last week for a Hindi film. Commentators are noting that the dubbed Telugu and Tamil versions – a key to box office in India, and Stateside — are also raking in more than they have for any other Hindi film. Indian films continue to be a gift to U.S. exhibitors as loyal audiences who follow release schedule closely turn out weekly and in force for the films that open day and date. A breathlessly awaited, well-reviewed movie there is the same here.

Sony notable Dumb Money by Craig Gillepsie (I, Tonya, Lars and the Real Girl), banked a projected $217k for the first leg of three-step platform release in eight theaters across six markets (LA, NYC, Chicago, DC, Boston, San Francisco). The film captures the meme-stock frenzy that saw scrappy retail traders flood onto social media, egging each other on to buoy GameStop and other shares in dramatic showdown with traditional Wall Street players. It made $92K Friday, $74K Saturday and an estimated $50K Sunday for a per-screen average of $27,080. A decent number since there was zero publicity due to the actors’ strike by very marketable stars from Pete Davidson to Seth Rogen, to Paul Dano, and that hurts. Gillepsie did some Q&As in NYC and LA.

The R-rated film that premiered to strong reviews at TIFF is banking on word of mouth as it expands to 200+ screens next weekend and goes wide September 29. No social data but anecdotal reports from theaters of positive reactions from advance screenings, and high audience scores.

The original release strategy was a four-step platform that would likely have garnered significantly higher PSAs on fewer screens this weekend. But Sony condensed the plan and skipped a step to leave a few weeks for Dumb Money before the mid-October opening of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – an event that’s hit $65 million in presales, with a $100 million opening within reach.

Paul Dano in ‘Dumb Money’

Sony Pictures

Other specialty openings: From Roadside Attractions, Camp Hide Out is posting an estimated three-day gross of $510,160 on 848 screens for a PSA of $602.

The Inventor stop-motion animation from Blue Fox Entertainment grossed an estimated $201k+ from 700 runs. From flying contraptions, war machines, and studying cadavers, Leonardo da Vinci takes on the grand meaning of life itself with the help of French princess, Marguerite de Nevarre. Directed by Jim Capobianco, the film stars Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, Daisy Ridley, Matt Berry & Gauthier Battoue.

Limited release: Documentary Invisible Beauty from Magnolia Pictures grossed $10,500 at the Film Forum. Expanding on Friday to LA, Chicago, Washington, DC and Atlanta. Fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison looks back on her journey as a pioneering Black model, modelling agent and activist.

Kino Lorber’s release of Radical Wolfe grossed $8,270 at IFC Center. Based on bestselling author Michael Lewis’s 2015 Vanity Fair article, the documentary traces the author’s rise from a journalism pioneer to bestselling novelist and celebrity whose singular voice and iconic white suit made him one of the most recognizable literary figures of all time. Expands to LA, Toronto and additional markets Sept. 22.

Thriller Rebel from Yellow Veil Pictures grossed $6,500, also at IFC Center. By Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. it expands to LA’s Nuart next weekend. A young man leaves Belgium to help war victims in Syria, but once there is stranded and forced to join ISIS. His younger brother back home becomes easy prey for radical recruiters who promise a reunion.

Oscilloscope’s Canary grossed $8,350 on three screens. The distributor — in partnership with REI Co-Op Studios and Boardwalk Pictures — presents the true story of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, the world’s greatest living climatologist, in NYC, LA and Columbus, OH. Expanding Wed. nationwide to over 140 theaters.

Noting Oscilloscope’s CatVideoFest 2023 has crossed half a million theatrical in week seven, grossing $30k on 20 screens for a cume of $502k. It’s a new best for the event that celebrates all things feline and which Oscilloscope has handled since 2019. The compilation, which has also raised over $50k for cats in need, will continue to add new engagements throughout the fall.

Holdovers: Variance Films’ expanded Amerikatsi, Armenia’s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature, grossed an estimated $91,932 on 19 screens in week two for a per-screen average of $4,839 and a new cume of $167,697.

Also Noting Bottoms from MGM is heading towards $10 million in week four. Emma Seligman’s rauchy teen comedy starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri has successfully reached a younger movie-going audience and racked up another $1.2M on its way to a current estimated cume of $9.87M.

And A24’s low-budget horror Talk To Me, ditto with younger fans, is still on 570 screens, where it grossed $567,472 this weekend for a cume of nearly $47 million since it opened July 28.

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Bollywood’s Jawan and star Shah Ruhk Khan

What to Watch

Pictured: Spy Kids: Armageddon, New Amsterdam and The Machine

Welcome to your look ahead at the new additions coming to Netflix over the next seven days. Below, we’ll pick out three of our most anticipated new releases and then give you the most comprehensive walkthrough of what’s to come. 

This week, we should get a more expansive look at the new arrivals scheduled for October. Until then, we’ve got the list we updated today with a handful of new titles scheduled for the month.

Featured Videos & Trailers – Article Continues Below…

As always, you can find a comprehensive look at the new releases with daily recaps, trailers, previews, and more via our new on Netflix hub.

Now, let’s get into some highlights coming up this week:

Most Anticipated Releases Coming to Netflix This Week

New Amsterdam (Season 5)

Coming to Netflix: Wednesday

new amsterdam streaming

Picture: NBC

One of the many licensed TV pickups Netflix has made in 2023 has been New Amsterdam, which added four seasons in the earlier parts of this year. Now, just months later, they’ll be joined by the fifth and final season of the medical drama series.

Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023) Netflix Original

Coming to Netflix: Friday

If you can believe it, it’s been 22 years since the first Spy Kids movie was released. After three sequels and a spin-off, the new entry comes exclusively to Netflix with Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi leading the cast.

Here’s what you can expect:

“When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.”

While plenty have taken online to poo-poo on this new family movie publicly, we’d advise that the last time Robert Rodriguez dropped a family movie on Netflix, it entered the list of all-time most-watched list (we’re referring to We Can Be Heroes). We wouldn’t count this one out, either.

The Machine (2023)

Coming to Netflix: Saturday

Following up on a comedy skit from comedian Bert Kreischer is this feature-film from Sony Pictures that makes its streaming debut on Netflix this coming weekend.

He stars alongside Mark Hamill (who will soon appear in Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher), who plays the role of Bert’s father. You’ll follow the pair being potentially kidnapped in Russia and having to retrace their footsteps in the hope of atoning for his prior crimes.

Full List of New Releases Coming to Netflix US This Week

 Coming to Netflix on September 18th

  • My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (Chapter 5) Netflix Original

Coming to Netflix on September 19th

  • Kountry Wayne: A Woman’s Prayer (2023) Netflix Original
  • Netflix Stories: Love is Blind Game (Android and iOS) Netflix Original
  • The Saint of Second Chances (2023) Netflix Original

Coming to Netflix on September 20th

  • Hard Broken (Season 1) Netflix Original
  • Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (Season 2)
  • New Amsterdam (Season 5)

Coming to Netflix on September 21st

  • Baby Gorilla Cam (Episode 3) Netflix Original LIVE
  • Kengan Ashura (Season 2) Netflix Original
  • Scissor Seven (Season 4) Netflix Original
  • Sex Education (Season 4) Netflix Original

Coming to Netflix on September 22nd

  • How To Deal With a Heartbreak (2023) Netflix Original
  • Itxaso and the Sea (Season 1)
  • Love is Blind (Season 5) Netflix Original
  • Song of the Bandits (Season 1) Netflix Original
  • Spy Kids: Armageddon (2023) Netflix Original
  • The Black Book (2023) Netflix Original

Coming to Netflix on September 23rd

What’s Coming to Netflix on September 24th

  • A Nation of Kimchi (Season 1 – New Episodes)

What are you going to be checking out on Netflix this week? Let us know down below.

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Pictured: Spy Kids: Armageddon, New Amsterdam and

Awards

Billy Miller, the three-time Emmy winner for The Young and the Restless who also had long-running roles in All My Children and General Hospital, has died. He was 43.

The actor died Friday in Austin, Texas, and was struggling with manic depression at the time, his manager told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, which would’ve marked Miller’s 44th birthday. His cause of death is not available at this time.

Miller broke out when he landed the role of Richie Novak on ABC’s All My Children. Shortly after he left the soap opera, he was cast as Billy Abbott on CBS’ The Young and the Restless. He portrayed the character to much critical acclaim over the course of more than 700 episodes. The same year Miller left the CBS soap, he took on another long-running part as Jason Morgan/Drew Cain on ABC’s General Hospital.

Following three, long back-to-back stints on some of the biggest soap operas on cable, Miller moved on to recurring roles in drama series like Suits and Truth Be Told. He also appeared in Ray Donovan, Fatal Honeymoon, American Sniper, Ringer, Castle and Justified over the course of his career.

William John Miller II was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 17, 1979, and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and studied production sequence. Upon graduating, he moved to Los Angeles and began working in the mailroom at an entertainment management/production company.

After some friends dared him to pursue a career as an actor, he did, and his first successes came from the commercial world, where he booked multiple national ads. In addition to acting, Miller also owned several Los Angeles restaurants and bars for many years.

He is survived by his mother, Patricia, sister Megan, brother-in-law Ronnie, nephew, Grayson and niece, Charley.

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Billy Miller, the three-time Emmy winner for

Music

Anitta is opening up about her private health struggles. 

The 30-year-old Brazilian singer reveals in a new interview with InStyle that she suffered from a cancer scare in late 2022 that left her hospitalized for “months.” In the end, she says, it was an unconventional treatment that put her on the road to recovery. 

“I had problems in my lungs, I had a cancer [scare]. I spent months in the hospital. Nobody could figure out what I had,” she tells the outlet, explaining that extensive testing never revealed the source of her issues. Instead, she was directed to seek spiritual remedies as she enlisted the support of a shaman. 

“I came back completely changed,” she says, adding that her next round of medical tests came back clear. 

InStyle reports that Anitta, whose real name is Larissa de Macedo Machado, understood that she had gone through a mental shift that allowed her a renewed sense of energy to combat her physical and psychological suffering. 

With that newfound toughness, Anitta says she’s doubling down on her persona as a “b**ch” who “destroys hearts” through her music. 

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

The revelation comes on the heels of a pair of splashy performances at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this week, where Anitta took home the Best Latin award for “Funk Rave.” She hit the stage to deliver a medley of her own hits, and debuted her new “Back for More” collaboration with K-pop phenom Tomorrow X Together. 

ET was also with Anitta on the VMAs red carpet on Tuesday.

“I feel fantastic, I feel sexy, I feel hot — the hottest b**ch — I feel amazing,” she raved. 

See the interview below. 

RELATED CONTENT: 

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Anitta is opening up about her private

Docs

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” keeps climbing at the box office with more than $900 million in global ticket sales to date.

Over the weekend, the R-rated historical drama added $12.8 million globally, including $10.7 million overseas and $2.1 million domestically. After nine weeks of release, “Oppenehimer” has grossed a staggering $910 million worldwide, with $318 million from North American theaters and $594 million internationally.

“For ‘Oppenheimer’ to cross the $900 million global mark after just nine weeks in theaters is a remarkable achievement,” says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst. “It shows how an amazing film with a superstar director and a star-studded cast can turn a three-hour historical epic into a blockbuster mainstream hit.”

“Oppenheimer,” starring Cillian Murphy as the so-called “father of the atomic bomb,” continues to crush expectations and stands as the third-highest grossing release of the year behind “Barbie” ($1.41 billion) and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($1.36 billion). At this rate, the $1 billion benchmark isn’t out of the question — but it would require “Oppenheimer” to continue playing in theaters for several more weeks. (Awards attention and theatrical re-releases would help as well.)

“Those last few miles of any theatrical run are the toughest,” Dergarabedian adds. “But at this point, […] it’s a total winner no matter the ultimate outcome.”

Whether it hits that rare milestone, the $100 million-budgeted film is already hugely profitable for Universal and Nolan. It’s the director’s third-biggest movie ever, behind “The Dark Knight” ($1 billion) and “The Dark Knight Rises” ($1.08 billion). As for Universal, it’s the studio’s biggest non-franchise film of all time and 12th-highest grossing film in history ahead of “The Secret Life of Pets” ($894 million).

Nolan used Imax cameras to film “Oppenheimer,” and the final product has been hugely popular on the company’s premium format screens — especially the 70mm prints. It became one of the top-five highest grossing Imax titles ever with $180 million globally, trailing only “Avatar,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

Nolan adapted “Oppenheimer” from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus.” The somber biographical epic follows the American theoretical physicist who led the development of the atomic bomb, which helped to end World War II. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Alden Ehrenreich.

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Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” keeps climbing at the

Trending

Image Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

Hailey Bieber, 26, looks incredible in a new sexy Instagram photo. The model posed in a white slip dress and black boots as she gave a serious look to the camera, in a new post she shared on Sept. 15. She had her hair down and also rocked a B necklace, which was most likely to represent her last name.

In addition to the epic new photo, Hailey shared several other recent photos and video clips in the same post. One showed her wearing a white crop top under a blue hoodie while another showed her wearing a black crop top under a tie-dye style jacket, a black mini skirt, and black boots. She also topped off the look with a short pink wig.

In other photos, she sizzled in a leopard print bikini and white silky mini dress with a long black coat. Her husband Justin Bieber was also featured in two of the photos. He wore a white collared shirt as he held a glass of what appeared to be white wine while posing with his wife, in one photo. He also happily smiled and posed beside Hailey as he donned a black leather jacket over a white collared shirt and loose black pants.

Hailey’s memorable post comes after she and Justin celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. They both shared public tributes to each other that included PDA-filled photos and sweet messages.

“To the most precious, my beloved. 5 years,” Justin wrote in his tribute. “You have captivated my heart. I know from the depths of my soul down to my bones that this journey with you will only exceed our wildest expectations. So let’s keep dreaming big baby. Cheers to forever and ever. I love you with every fiber of my being. HAPPY 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!”

Hailey’s message was simple but powerful. “5 ✨? I love you,” she wrote.

Hailey and Justin were married at a courthouse in New York City, NY on Sept. 13, 2018. They then celebrated a star-studded wedding at the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort in South Carolina a year later.

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Image Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock Hailey Bieber, 26, looks incredible

Tech

“Denuvo is no longer in Payday 3“. Those are the words of developer Starbreeze’s SBZ_Almir, who stopped by Steam just long enough to welcome heisters to New York City and confirm that – despite prior plans – the third instalment of the fan-favorite shooter would no longer use the troublesome Denuvo DRM system.

As noted by PC Gamer, the change of heart likely comes in the wake of a heated thread on the franchise’s subreddit, which saw hundreds of fans share their dismay that the anti-piracy software – so often associated with poor PC performance – would be included.

Although neither Starbreeze nor publisher Deep Silver responded to the thread at the time, it certainly seems that someone noted it, as all mentions of Denuvo have since been scrubbed from the game’s Steam storefront.

Payday 3 is set to release on PC (Steam/EGS), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on September 21. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play from day one, too.

Developer Starbreeze also recently confirmed a jam-packed calendar of seasonal DLC content, outlining its plans for the next 12 months that will keep players of the co-op action game well-fed for much of 2024. 

A total of four DLCs have been planned, kicking off with Syntax Error DLC, which will drop later this year. Boy in Blue, The Land of the Free, and Fear and Greed DLCs will all come out throughout 2024. There’s also additional content planned, such as new playable characters, skill trees, enemies, weapons, features, and quality-of-life updates. What we don’t know yet is how much this additional content will cost, as players who don’t opt for the Payday 3 Gold Edition will have to buy these DLC packs separately.

Starbreeze Studios also announced that Unreal Engine 5 updates will also be planned in conjunction with the seasonal DLC content. 

If you can’t wait for the release of Payday 3, then be sure to check out all of these fantastic co-op games, as well as the best MMO games available to play with friends right now. 

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"Denuvo is no longer in Payday 3".

Entertaintment

In the Blind Spot, Ayşe Polat’s documentary-style conspiracy thriller set in modern-day Turkey has won the German Independence Award for best film at the 30th Oldenburg International Film Festival.

The drama, which premiered in the Encounters section of the Berlin Film Festival this year, follows a German film team shooting a documentary in a remote Kurdish village who begin to witness mysterious happenings and become entwined in a sinister conspiracy.

Oldenburg’s best actor honors went to Jon Jacobs for playing Cassian Elwes in the biographical drama Passenger C, Elwes’ directorial debut. Alexandrea Meyer won best actress for Truman Kewley’s horror thriller Beautiful Friend, in which she plays the object of obsession for a violent incel, played by Adam Jones.

Jon Jacobs in ‘Passenger C’

Alexandrea Meyer in 'Beautiful Friend'

Alexandrea Meyer in ‘Beautiful Friend’

Oldenburg’s audacity award, given to a film that pushes the boundaries of modern cinema, went to Jérôme Vandewattyne’s The Belgian Wave, a psychedelic drama set in the early 1990s when there was a wave of UFO sightings in Belgium and the country was diagnosed with a collective psychosis.

Still of The Belgian Wave, directed by Jérôme Vandewattyne

‘The Belgian Wave’

The prize for best first film went to Takayuki Hayashi for From Dawn Till Noon on the Sea, a drama looking at the kidnapping of a young schoolgirl and its aftermath.

The winners were announced at the closing ceremony for the 30th Oldenburg Film Festival on Sunday night. The gala was followed by the world premiere of Torsten Ruether’s boxing drama Uppercut starring Ving Rhames and Luise Großmann.

See the full list of 2023 Oldenburg Film Festival winners below.

German Independence Award For Best Film

In the Blind Spot, dir. Ayşe Polat

German Independence Award – Audacity Award

The Belgian Wave, dir. Jérôme Vandewattyne

German Independence Award – Best Short Film

When Grass Grows, dir. María Monreal

Special Mention

Our Males and Females, dir. Ahmad Alyaseer

Seymour Cassel Acting Awards

Best Actress

Alexandrea Meyer for Beautiful Friend

Best Actor

Jon Jacobs for Passenger C

Hans Ohlms Prize for Best First Film

From Dawn Till Noon on the Sea, dir. Takayuki Hayashi

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In the Blind Spot, Ayşe Polat’s documentary-style

MCU



In this week’s MarvelBlog News, the MCU may call for a Doctor to join his Companion, Werewolf by Night adds some color, and Bad Bunny says no.

Now I’m a Sad Bunny

Source: wearemitu.com

We speculated on this one several months ago, and it’s officially a reality now.

Bad Bunny himself has commented on the record about his joining Sony’s Spider-Man universe. The answer is apparently no.

Source: Marvel/ Sony

During a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, struggles to say anything directly.

However, his representative joins him in the conversation and ultimately dashes all hope.

Here’s what happened. The interviewer asks Bad Bunny what happened with the reported El Muerto project.

Source: Cinemablend.com

As a reminder, Sony basically went to the musician and stated that the studio would happily make a movie based on any Marvel character he chose.

Obviously, the constraint involved Sony’s need to own the license, which narrowed the choices to characters in Spider-Man comics.

Still, the fledgling actor sounded happy to portray El Muerto, a character who holds personal meaning to him.

Source: nbcnews.com

The interviewer describes “an awkward silence” as the question hangs in the air.

Unsure of what to say, Bad Bunny remains silent. Eventually, his representative states, “Next question!”

That behavior seems telling in and of itself. However, Martinez circles back to the question. He responds, “I don’t know what to say.”

Source: Marvel/ Sony Pictures

Later, Martinez describes the entire matter as “delicate.” Immediately afterward, his representative kills all hope by stating: “Obviously, it’s out.”

So, that’s that. While we may never know the explanation as to what happened, Bad Bunny won’t play El Muerto in a Sony-produced Marvel movie.

Not coincidentally, Sony has declared the El Muerto project officially dead.

Source: Sony Pictures

That’s no surprise since the main reason Sony had greenlit the project was at Bad Bunny’s behest.

I know that we reported on this story a short while ago, but now we have details and a finite answer about El Muerto. It’s just not happening.

Yes, Another Fantastic Four Rumor

Source: Marvel

With the Hollywood strikes lingering indefinitely, studio executives have little on their plates right now.

The last time a gap like this happened was 15 years ago, and a bunch of them discovered Pokemon, Sudoku, and Facebook.

Seriously, I had friends at studios asking me how to use Facebook because they’d never heard of it before the strike.

Source: Marvel Studios

Something similar is happening right now, but Peridot just isn’t the same as Pokemon, and nobody new in 2023 is gonna win a round of Fortnite.

So, people who work at studios are re-thinking everything at the moment as they have a rare opportunity to reflect.

Not coincidentally, more Fantastic Four rumors are cropping up. And the latest one circles back to something I’d previously mentioned.

Source: Marvel Studios/ Marvel

Six weeks ago, I mentioned Matt Smith as a potential candidate for the film.

Specifically, some insiders suggested that Smith, the former star of Doctor Who, was in contention to play Reed Richards.

That idea makes perfect sense to me. I mean, what is the T.A.R.D.I.S. if not a giant spaceship? What’s Reed Richards? An astronaut!

Step into the Negative Zone

Step into the Negative Zone. Photo: Marvel Comics

Matt Smith has already played a sometimes serious, sometimes silly role and absolutely nailed it thanks in large part to his on-screen Companion, Amy Pond.

Well, Karen Gillan, the actress who played Amy Pond, must have put in a good word for him, as Smith is reportedly back in the pole position.

Yes, an MCU reunion of Smith and Gillan is possible if Disney chooses to cast Smith as Reed Richards.

Agatha saves Reed Richards

A future Avengers film would pretty much have to stick the character in a scene with Nebula for Doctor Who fans like me, too.

Do I think this is happening? Probably not. However, Matt Smith makes as much sense as anyone in the role of Reed Richards.

Must Be a Full Moon

Source: Marvel Studios

Have you watched Werewolf by Night yet?

I’ve previously raved about the outstanding quality of this standalone story on Disney+.

Elsa from Werewolf by Night

Source: Marvel Studios

Academy Award-winning musician Michael Giacchino knocked it out of the park with his directorial debut.

Realistically, Werewolf by Night is more of a Halloween project than something that people will watch throughout the year.

Source: Marvel Studios

The programmers at Disney+ know this, just as they understand how spectacular the story is. So, Disney+ will do something special this year.

On October 20th, Disney+ will unveil a color version of the 50-minute mini-movie that was previously available in black & white.

That’s not the only remarkable marketing ploy, either. Disney has additionally supported the project by making it available to a new group.

As of right now, Hulu subscribers can watch Werewolf by Night as well!

Source: Marvel Studios

Disney’s other streaming service will air the title through Halloween Night.

Werewolf by Night is legitimately one of the best things I watched in 2022. I highly recommend it! Also, I can’t wait to watch the colorized version.

Marvel Miscellany

Avengers Assembling

Source: Marvel Studios

The other significant story this week is still evolving.

As expected, Marvel Studios’ visual effects (VFX) workers voted to join IATSE.

The shock isn’t that they unionized. Instead, it’s the voting total. The vote was unanimous, which should make Marvel very nervous.

That’s a strong sign of unhappy workers. IATSE states that it “anticipate(s) this is the first of many organizing victories within VFX.”

Source: Marvel Studios

Speaking of Marvel special effects, the studio released a trailer for the IMAX version of The Marvels coming on November 10th:

Those Flerkens are gonna look huuuuge on an IMAX screen!

Carol Danvers Nick Fury Flerken Goose

Okay, that’s all I’ll discuss this week. However, if you’re interested in learning more about season two of Loki, I’ll pass along some intel.

Disney treated its fans at the Destination D23 event to the first ten minutes of the season premiere.

I'm a bit worried about Sylvie's self-esteem in Loki season two.

Image: Marvel

There are plenty of recaps and spoilers out there if that sort of thing interests you.

Personally, I’m gonna wait three more weeks for the show’s debut.

 

Thanks for visiting MarvelBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!

Featured image: Marvel




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DCU

Recently aired episodes in DC’s popular Teen Titans Go! cartoon will soon be imported onto Warner Bros.’ streaming service, Max.

Teen Titans Go! has run for over a decade by this point. Based on the fan-favorite and often somewhat dark Teen Titans animated series that was around in the mid-2000s, Go! is far more kid-friendly than its predecessor. 

With eight seasons and almost 400 episodes of the zany, irreverent take on Robin, Beast Boy, and the gang (plus a theatrically released film and a few television specials), the Cartoon Network show is definitely not in short supply.

Teen Titans Go! Season 8C Hitting Max Soon

DC

Season 8C, the third grouping of episodes of Teen Titans Go!’s eighth season, will officially drop for streaming on Max on Friday, September 15. Season 8C was initially broadcast on Cartoon Network in late July.

In addition to the last portion of Season 8, Max is home to a wide selection of other content from the Teen Titans Go! franchise:

  • Teen Titans Go!, Season 1 – Season 8B
  • Teen Titans Go! to the Movies (2018)
  • Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans (2019)
  • Teen Titans Go! See Space Jam (2021)
  • Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse

How the Teen Titans Continue To Grow at DC

Despite fans holding the belief that Teen Titans Go! is far inferior to the 2003 Teen Titans animation, Go!’s enduring success is nothing to sneeze at. After all, a series doesn’t run eight seasons because no one’s watching it.

Teen Titans Go! even spoofed Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2022 when the director guest starred on the show for its 365th episode. The results were promptly met with acclaim.

But if the series, which is ostensibly made for children, isn’t one’s cup of tea, there are plenty of other options for Teen Titans media out there.

For starters, there’s the much-loved, aforementioned Teen Titans that ran from 2003 to 2006. There’s also the grim and gritty live-action Titans that streamed on HBO Max and recently wrapped up its four-season storyline (Season 5 was ultimately scrapped).

And not to forget Young Justice, another Cartoon Network show that ended up jumping to HBO Max for two revival seasons after it was unceremoniously canceled by the cable channel in 2013. While Young Justice isn’t specifically a Teen Titans property, it does deal with the same basic concept: rookie superheroes forming a league of their own.

A ninth season for Teen Titans Go! has yet to be confirmed by Cartoon Network or Warner Bros.

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Comics

Wizardry took the gaming world by storm when it was released for the Apple II back in, gulp, 1981, and now it’s coming back to enthrall new generations of RPG fans. Developer Digital Eclipse is remaking the turn-based title, which is now called Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.

The remake is a modernized version of the 1981 RPG and its built right on top of the original Apple II code, so you can easily swap from the old-school interface to the brand-new graphics, similar to how the ‘Halo 2: Anniversary’ edition handled things, or the just-announced Tomb Raider remasters for the Nintendo Switch.

Modern visuals are nice, but Wizardry is over 40 years old, so the gameplay’s likely a bit dated. To that end, the developers promise a number of quality-of-life improvements, including a revamped party management system, new spellcasting options and navigation tools, among other minor upgrades.

Wizardry is generally considered to be the first party-based RPG ever released for computers or consoles and inspired countless modern franchises, including Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. It’s not the first Dungeons & Dragons style RPG to grace computers, but it did invent many mechanics that are still active in JRPGs to this day. It was an instant hit when it launched for the Apple II and was ported over to numerous other systems including the Mac, C64 and even the NES and Game Boy Color.

This is not Digital Eclipse’s first remake rodeo. The team has helmed a number of retro compilations, including Atari 50 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, among others.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is available today as an early access build via Steam and GOG. The game costs $30, but the developers say that price will likely increase as we get closer to an official release.

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Wizardry took the gaming world by storm

Festivals

Oscar winner Erik Messerschmidt, ASC to be honored in Mallorca  

The festival’s Cinematography Focus, a new sidebar programme introduced last year, welcomes directors of photography from across the world to participate in panels, networking events, and screenings. As guest of honour this year, Messerschmidt will participate in events within the sidebar and the festival will screen the Oscar-winning drama Mank, showcasing his impressive and extensive body of work.

Having lensed two of the most talked about films at this year’s Venice film festival — Ferrari, directed by Michael Mann, and The Killer, by David Fincher, Messerschmidt also recently wrapped Sinking Spring for director Ridley Scott and Apple TV+.

Previously, he shot Fincher’s acclaimed Mank, chronicling the screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz’s turbulent journey to write Citizen Kane alongside Orson Welles. Messerschmidt’s meticulous and striking black-and-white recreation of the period’s aesthetic earned him the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, an ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film, a BSC Award for Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Release, a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Cinematography, as well as Best Cinematography award nominations from multiple film critics bodies.

Other credits include Devotion for director J.D. Dillard; several episodes of the HBO Max original series Raised By Wolves from producer Ridley Scott; and the first and second seasons of Fincher’s Emmy-nominated hit thriller series, Mindhunter for Netflix.

 

The 12th Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival edition is only 1 month away! See you in Mallorca!

Sandra and the EMIFF Team

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Oscar winner Erik Messerschmidt, ASC to be

TV

Britain’s official post-WWI administration of Palestine lasted from 1920-48 and is probably the UK colonial enterprise least addressed by its fiction filmmakers. But now prolific writer-director Michael Winterbottom (“The Trip,” “A Mighty Heart”) uses that complicated era as a backdrop to the compelling historical romance “Shoshana.” A passion project 15 years in the making and based on real people and events, the film employs the ill-fated, cross-cultural relationship between a ranking member of the British Palestine Police Force and a young Jewish woman to explore the way extremism and violence push people apart, forcing them to choose sides.

It’s worth noting upfront that while the British rulers had to deal with both Palestine’s Arab and Jewish citizens, each of whom want an independent country, the narrative here hews firmly to a British and Jewish p.o.v., with Arabs barely characterized except as victims and troublemakers. By the 1930s, Palestine is a cauldron of unrest with the Arab and Jewish populations at each other’s throats. In response, the British increase their police presence in the country, with new officer Geoffrey Morton (Harry Melling) assigned to the Arab villages around Jenin, and fellow recruit Tom Wilkin (Douglas Booth) allocated undercover anti-terrorist work in the growing, modern Jewish city of Tel Aviv. 

Wilkin, who is mastering Hebrew, loves the city and its people, particularly Shoshana Borochov (the terrific Russian actor Irina Starshenbaum, of “Leto,” in her first English-language role), a strong, independent-minded Russian émigré who works for a newspaper. She is a member of the underground territorial defense force Haganah, and mixes with those who, like her, advocate the creation of an independent Jewish state by peaceful means.

For Tom, the Haganah reps the least of the British worries. Even if they have illegal guns, they are nominally on the UK’s side. Besides, the British police have their hands full trying to track down the Jewish militant groups who launch terror attacks against both their Arab neighbors and the occupying power. One such group is the paramilitary organization Irgun, led by the Polish-born poet Avraham Stern (Aury Alby). 

For the British, who appear to have no consistent policy apart from clumsily trying to uphold the terms of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the constant provocations from the Jewish groups are a bewildering annoyance and embarrassment. Even if audiences occasionally get confused as to who is doing what to who amid the onslaught of bombings, bank robberies and scenes of police interrogation and torture, the ambience of Winterbottom’s film is more important. He captures the casual anti-Semitism of the over-dressed British officials who remark, “That’s one less of them,” about a bomb-maker who has accidentally blown himself up, and the High Commissioner who limits Jewish immigrants from Nazi-occupied Europe. 

Meanwhile, the atmosphere among the many Jewish characters is heated, with much discussion of what will get them to the future state that is almost within their grasp. The cautionary voices of those like Shoshana are overwhelmed by the revolutionary fervor of the Irgun, who believe the land of Israel can only be built by violence. As the costs to the British Mandate rise, so too do the challenges to Wilkin and Shoshana’s passionate relationship.

Given a complicated era to compress and make understandable, Winterbottom and co-writers Laurence Coriat and Paul Viragh were lucky to discover the relationship between Wilkin and Shoshana and be able to use it as a key to understanding some of the divisions of the time. Although both characters actually existed and were lovers, the film’s narrative is fictionalized.

While it may seem as if there are glimpses of Tel Aviv’s beautiful white Bauhaus buildings and a glimmer of its sparkling Mediterranean beaches, the attractive picture was actually shot on location in Apulia, Italy. Kudos to production designer Sergio Tribastone for an authentic look that carries over from the striking archival footage that contextualizes the film’s timeframe at the beginning. Likewise, praise is due to costume designer Anthony Unwin, whose good-looking period work provides a visual shorthand to who is British, Jewish or Arab.

Cinematographer Gilles Nuttgens, who previously shot Winterbottom’s mockumentary “Greed,” gives the visuals a thriller-like aspect, which complements the pacey editing of Marc Richardson and David Holmes’s suggestive score. In addition to sterling work by the three young principals, Ian Hart gives a standout performance as the British High Commissioner’s ubiquitous righthand man, offering a supercilious, world-weary gravitas that seemingly epitomizes the official British attitude to the Mandate.

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Britain’s official post-WWI administration of Palestine lasted

What to Watch

by Regina Avalos,

The first season of Yellowstone will be rerun on CBS starting tonight, and that will likely spark additional interest in the modern Western drama series. The first half of the fifth season has aired on Paramount Network, and the second half has been stalled due to the actors and writers strikes, as well as a dispute with its star, Kevin Costner. The latter was likely a contributing factor to the very popular show’s cancellation by Paramount.

Starring Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham, Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon, Kathryn Kelly, the Paramount Network drama follows the Dutton family of Montana, the owners of the Yellowstone ranch.

More has come to light about the behind-the-scenes drama. Costner has spoken about the series during his divorce proceedings, and previous reports revealed that the actor did try to work things out with Paramount and series creator Taylor Sheridan.

A new report from Puck reveals that the actor really wanted to come back to the series, and he and his representatives tried to work things out for the second half of season five and the potential sixth and seventh seasons.

Sheridan had already written season 5B without Costner’s John Dutton but was willing to rewrite scripts to add him back in after the WGA strike ended. Sheridan and Costner had a call to try to work things out, and the actor reportedly wanted more money (he supposedly already makes $1.3 million an episode), a reduced shooting schedule, and the right to review and veto every Yellowstone script. The series creator, who writes the scripts himself, reportedly balked at that last demand, and negotiations ended sometime later.

It’s unknown how Costner’s John Dutton will be written out of the show, but the actor will have his say about it. He supposedly has a “moral death” clause in his current contract that lists, in general terms, the ways that the character can and cannot be killed off, including deaths that would cause shame and embarrassment to John Dutton and, implicitly, to Costner and his family.

Sheridan is looking ahead to an untitled Yellowstone spin-off series that will likely include some cast members from the original show and star Matthew McConaughey, though he hasn’t signed on yet.

What do you think? Are you surprised by these new Yellowstone developments? Were you hoping for more of the drama?

Check out our status sheets to track new TV series pickups, renewals, and cancellations. You can find lists of cancelled shows here.

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by Regina Avalos, September 17, 2023 The first

Awards

CBS has reversed its plan to premiere The Talk on Monday.

“The Talk is pausing its season premiere scheduled for September 18, CBS said in a statement. We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date.”

The announcement follows Drew Barrymore’s decision today to pause the return of her self-titled talk show Monday as well, amid WGA backlash. The Drew Barrymore Show is produced and distributed by CBS Media Ventures.

WGA picketers had targeted The Talk outside CBS Radford since it was announced that the show planned to return.

The Talk, hosted by Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, went dark in May as a result of the writers strike.

At the time it was revealed that the show would return, sources said that The Talk is primarily unscripted and only has one writing position on its staff of around 150 employees. No one will be handling this writing role during the writers strike and hosts will be ad-libbing.

The Talk, which is produced by CBS Studios, is heading into Season 14.

Rob Crabbe, who was previously exec producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, is now showrunner and exec producer of The Talk after Kristin Matthews left the show after 13 years.

The View, with hosts including Whoopi Goldberg, has also been regularly picketed by the WGA. Live with Kelly and Mark, hosted by actors Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, also returned recently with its 36th season. The former’s WGA writers are currently on strike.

Barrymore announced earlier today that she was pausing the return of her talk show amid the criticism she has received from the WGA and her fellow actors.

“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore announced Sunday on Instagram. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”

Barrymore’s decision followed a tumultuous few days for the show’s host and executive producer. After issuing an emotional apology video Friday, which was met by even more criticism, Barrymore decided to pull the plug on the show’s return.

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CBS has reversed its plan to premiere

Music

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

2019 was such a great year and we had no idea what was coming. In some positive news, the Jonas Brothers reunited and released their 5th album: Happiness Begins.

In a way, 2019 felt like a turning for the Jonas Brothers. The brothers also released their documentary: Chasing Happiness which chronicled their rise to fame including their Disney days along with their breaking up and eventually, reuniting. It was incredibly emotional and such a treat for the fans.

In addition to everything, they released Happiness Begins, their 5th studio album. It ended up producing 3 singles which were “Sucker,” “Cool” and “Only Human.” The band also embarked on their Happiness Begins tour, which was a huge affair for them and their fans.

2019 was a great year to be a Jonas Brothers fan and honestly, it brings back fond memories for me as that’s the year I met them. With that being said, I’m excited to rank the three singles from Happiness Begins!

Let’s start with the coolest song from Happiness Begins at #3.

3. “Cool”

Okay, that joke was slightly bad but #3 on my list is “Cool.” When I first heard previews of this song, I didn’t love it but it did grow on me. However, it does feel a little bit more gimmicky of a song. “Cool” is a fun summer song and one that is great for dancing and hearing live, so don’t get me wrong.

The music video was amazing, but it just isn’t as good as the other two on the list. Aside from that though, “Cool” feels like it was for fun more than anything. Either way with fall creeping up, it ended up at the bottom spot of my list.

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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)2019 was such

Docs

Irish Grinstead, a singer in the R&B girl group 702 best known for the 1999 hit “Where My Girls At,” died on Saturday. She was 43.

Grinstead’s sister and fellow 702 group member, LeMisha Grinstead, announced the news of her death on Instagram.

“It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that my beautiful sister and friend has passed away this evening,” she wrote. “She has had a long battle and she is finally at peace. That girl was as bright as the stars! She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also within. Sharing the stage with her was a joy I will cherish for the rest of my life! We, the family ask for prayers and respect for our privacy as we grieve an outstanding loss to our family.”

While a cause of death was not provided, the R&B group announced in December that Irish was taking “a medical leave of absence due to serious medical issues.”

Grinstead was born on June 2, 1980. Her identical twin sister Orish died from kidney failure in 2008 at age 27.

702, consisting of the Grinstead sisters and Kameelah Williams, was named after the area code of their hometown, Las Vegas.

The group released their debut album “No Doubt” in 1996, featuring a guest appearance by Missy Elliott on the single “Steelo.” They released their second album “702” in 1999, which featured the hit song “Where My Girls At.”

After releasing their final album “Star” in 2003, the group disbanded in 2006 and took an 11-year hiatus. In 2021, the Grinstead sisters appeared on “BET Presents: The Encore,” a 10-episode reality series that follows nine former R&B girl-group members and their attempts to create an album in 30 days by forming a supergroup.

702 was nominated for an American Music Award, a BET Award and several Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, winning best R&B/soul album of the year by a group, band or duo for “No Doubt” in 1997.

Williams paid tribute to Grinstead in an Instagram post, writing, “Devastated & heartbroken. I struggled with this post because to me this isn’t real. There’s a lot I want to say, but there’s no way to say what your heart hasn’t fully accepted. It’s hard to acknowledge this is even happening. I know you’re feeling better now and hugging your twin Orish which makes me smile cus I know how much you missed her. You & I have known each other since we were kids and we’ve laughed, cried, celebrated, and everything in between which is why I just don’t want to believe this.”

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Irish Grinstead, a singer in the R&B

Global

Two men are recovering in hospital after being stabbed during an attempted robbery early Saturday morning in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood.

Police were called to the the area of Provencher Boulevard and Tache Avenue around 2:00 a.m. They found three men, two with serious stab wounds, police said in a media release Sunday.

The victims were taken to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable.

An investigation revealed the victims were walking to their car when four men attempted to rob them before stabbing two. The victims managed to flee and called police.

Police say no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 204-986-6219, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477), or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.


Click to play video: 'Man sentenced to six years in prison for random stabbing at Winnipeg Olive Garden'


Man sentenced to six years in prison for random stabbing at Winnipeg Olive Garden


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Siesta Key has featured hookups, breakups, makeups