It’s been 100 years since ink first flowed through Montblanc’s Meisterstück, the fountain pen wielded by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Yoko Ono, Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, and others.
To mark the luxe instrument‘s centennial, the German luxury house took over Los Angeles’ Paramour Estate (once the home of silent movie star Antonio Moreno) for a starry soirée to launch a new global campaign conceived by Wes Anderson — complete with a red carpet inspired by the short film’s alpine setting.
Though the Oscar-winning filmmaker was absent (he was busy filming in Berlin), campaign co-stars Jason Schwartzman and Rupert Friend were on hand for a seated dinner alongside guests Adrien Brody, Maude Apatow, Emma Roberts (who requested a custom sketch from on-site artist Kevin Zych), Simu Liu (who was seen sneaking a peek inside the hilltop manse’s speakeasy), Kiernan Shipka, Waris Ahluwalia, Dylan Sprouse,...
To mark the luxe instrument‘s centennial, the German luxury house took over Los Angeles’ Paramour Estate (once the home of silent movie star Antonio Moreno) for a starry soirée to launch a new global campaign conceived by Wes Anderson — complete with a red carpet inspired by the short film’s alpine setting.
Though the Oscar-winning filmmaker was absent (he was busy filming in Berlin), campaign co-stars Jason Schwartzman and Rupert Friend were on hand for a seated dinner alongside guests Adrien Brody, Maude Apatow, Emma Roberts (who requested a custom sketch from on-site artist Kevin Zych), Simu Liu (who was seen sneaking a peek inside the hilltop manse’s speakeasy), Kiernan Shipka, Waris Ahluwalia, Dylan Sprouse,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Over hisnearly 30-year career, Idris Elba has played Nelson Mandela, a Baltimore drug kingpin, cowboys past and present, and even the object of Beyoncé’s dangerous fantasy. How’s that for range?
A multihyphenate on-screen and off, the actor is impossible to pin down. He’s a magnetic screen presence who can toggle between mysterious and charming — so charming — with preternatural ease. Still, Elba seems to be most comfortable when he’s dwelling in the gray areas that make flawed characters more fully human. For proof, you need look no further than Dci John Luther, the rule-breaking copper that he portrayed over five seasons of television and now, a feature film. In Luther: The Fallen Sun, Elba returns to the role that earned him a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and four Emmy nominations for a new nail-biting chapter.
Ahead of the release on March 10, it’s an...
A multihyphenate on-screen and off, the actor is impossible to pin down. He’s a magnetic screen presence who can toggle between mysterious and charming — so charming — with preternatural ease. Still, Elba seems to be most comfortable when he’s dwelling in the gray areas that make flawed characters more fully human. For proof, you need look no further than Dci John Luther, the rule-breaking copper that he portrayed over five seasons of television and now, a feature film. In Luther: The Fallen Sun, Elba returns to the role that earned him a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and four Emmy nominations for a new nail-biting chapter.
Ahead of the release on March 10, it’s an...
- 5/2/2024
- by Anne Cohen
- Tudum - Netflix
Idris Elba is a multifaceted personality who has dabbled in acting, music, and kickboxing. Elba is primarily known for his onscreen charisma but his kickboxing skills often go under the radar. The 2018 People Magazine’s Sexist Man Alive hasn’t had a prominent professional boxing career but his skills were enough to catch the eye of podcaster Joe Rogan.
Idris Elba was named People Magazine’s Sexist Man Alive in 2018.
During an episode of his podcast, Rogan spoke very highly of Elba’s kickboxing prowess and also detailed the grueling training the actor underwent to learn martial arts. As a result, it is safe to say that Elba has some serious kickboxing skills. Here is what Joe Rogan had to say about Idris Elba’s kickboxing prowess, which is certainly no joke.
Former UFC Commentator Joe Rogan Discusses Idris Elba’s Kickboxing Skills
Idris Elba rose to prominence with roles...
Idris Elba was named People Magazine’s Sexist Man Alive in 2018.
During an episode of his podcast, Rogan spoke very highly of Elba’s kickboxing prowess and also detailed the grueling training the actor underwent to learn martial arts. As a result, it is safe to say that Elba has some serious kickboxing skills. Here is what Joe Rogan had to say about Idris Elba’s kickboxing prowess, which is certainly no joke.
Former UFC Commentator Joe Rogan Discusses Idris Elba’s Kickboxing Skills
Idris Elba rose to prominence with roles...
- 4/30/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
We are thrilled to have Danish here to share insights into the making of this unique love story that draws inspiration from historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Get ready to uncover behind-the-scenes anecdotes, insights into character development, and much more as we explore the journey of “Pyar ke do naam from script to screen.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Pyar Ke Do Naam! Can you share with us the inspiration behind this unique love story, which draws from the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela?
The inspiration for Pyar Ke Do Naam stemmed from a conversation I had with Vijay Goyal about a book on Mandela. As we discussed the remarkable contributions of Mandela and Gandhi, we were fascinated by their ideologies and how they could be reflected in a contemporary love story. From my fascination with the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela,...
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Pyar Ke Do Naam! Can you share with us the inspiration behind this unique love story, which draws from the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela?
The inspiration for Pyar Ke Do Naam stemmed from a conversation I had with Vijay Goyal about a book on Mandela. As we discussed the remarkable contributions of Mandela and Gandhi, we were fascinated by their ideologies and how they could be reflected in a contemporary love story. From my fascination with the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela,...
- 4/29/2024
- by agency
- GlamSham
Shueisha announced that they will be fully revamping its long-selling history manga series “Learning Through Manga: World History,” with all 18 volumes to be released on Oct 4.
The new version, which will be the first major revamp in 22 years since its release in 2002, will change the format from the previous large-format hardcover to a more portable softcover and will also completely renew the content.
The cover illustrations for all 18 volumes is drawn by 16 popular manga artists, including Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Tatsuya Endo (Spy x Family), and Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia).
Below are the titles of all 18 volumes, the manga artists responsible for the cover & the illustrations:
1. Civilizations of the Orient and Mediterranean – Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece
Cover Illustrator: Yasuhisa Hara Figure depicted: Rameses II
2. The Beginning of Chinese Civilization and Empire – From Yellow River to Tang Dynasty
Cover illustrator: Hiroyuki Asada Figure depicted: Qin Shi Huang
3. The Glory...
The new version, which will be the first major revamp in 22 years since its release in 2002, will change the format from the previous large-format hardcover to a more portable softcover and will also completely renew the content.
The cover illustrations for all 18 volumes is drawn by 16 popular manga artists, including Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Tatsuya Endo (Spy x Family), and Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia).
Below are the titles of all 18 volumes, the manga artists responsible for the cover & the illustrations:
1. Civilizations of the Orient and Mediterranean – Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece
Cover Illustrator: Yasuhisa Hara Figure depicted: Rameses II
2. The Beginning of Chinese Civilization and Empire – From Yellow River to Tang Dynasty
Cover illustrator: Hiroyuki Asada Figure depicted: Qin Shi Huang
3. The Glory...
- 4/24/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Donald Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said that her client would be like the late South African President Nelson Mandela if he gets jailed for violating the gag order in his New York hush money trial.
On April 1, Judge Juan Merchan expanded a gag order in the case, thereby keeping Trump from constantly attacking his daughter, Loren Merchan.
Initially, the gag order blocked the former president from making public statements about witnesses, other prosecutors, court staff and their family members if they were “made with the intent to interfere with” this case materially.
In a court filing on April 16, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office asked Judge Merchan to hold Trump in contempt for frequently using social media to disparage two of the witnesses in his hush money trial – ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former porn star Stormy Daniels.
Aside from advising Judge Merchan to fine Trump $3,000 for his latest Truth...
On April 1, Judge Juan Merchan expanded a gag order in the case, thereby keeping Trump from constantly attacking his daughter, Loren Merchan.
Initially, the gag order blocked the former president from making public statements about witnesses, other prosecutors, court staff and their family members if they were “made with the intent to interfere with” this case materially.
In a court filing on April 16, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office asked Judge Merchan to hold Trump in contempt for frequently using social media to disparage two of the witnesses in his hush money trial – ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and former porn star Stormy Daniels.
Aside from advising Judge Merchan to fine Trump $3,000 for his latest Truth...
- 4/22/2024
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
“Another Stormy day in New York in a new episode of The Orange People’s Court today starring Donald J. Trump as the defendant,” Jimmy Kimmel announced in the opening monologue of his late-night show Tuesday, the second day of the former president’s New York criminal trial.
Seven jurors made the cut on Tuesday. However, more were dismissed after questions arose about content they had shared on social media that ridiculed the former president, while Trump himself was forced look at mean memes about him shared by prospective jurors.
Seven jurors made the cut on Tuesday. However, more were dismissed after questions arose about content they had shared on social media that ridiculed the former president, while Trump himself was forced look at mean memes about him shared by prospective jurors.
- 4/17/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Jon Stewart mocked Donald Trump on The Daily Show as the former Potus campaigns and makes a run for the White House amid the hush money criminal trial.
“Our former president and illustrious historian, Donald J. Trump, spoke near one of America’s most hallowed battlefields,” Stewart said on the Comedy Central show. “And if you thought Lincoln consecrated Gettysburg with his soaring rhetoric… Well, buckle up.”
Stewart cut to a Trump rally where the former president incoherently talked about the Battle of Gettysburg, saying, “What an unbelievable, I mean, it was so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible, and it’s so beautiful in so many different ways. It represented such a big portion of the success of this country. Gettysburg, wow.”
The show’s host joked that Trump’s statement was “plagiarized, almost directly, from my seventh-grade book report.”
Stewart joked, trying to make sense of Trump’s words,...
“Our former president and illustrious historian, Donald J. Trump, spoke near one of America’s most hallowed battlefields,” Stewart said on the Comedy Central show. “And if you thought Lincoln consecrated Gettysburg with his soaring rhetoric… Well, buckle up.”
Stewart cut to a Trump rally where the former president incoherently talked about the Battle of Gettysburg, saying, “What an unbelievable, I mean, it was so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible, and it’s so beautiful in so many different ways. It represented such a big portion of the success of this country. Gettysburg, wow.”
The show’s host joked that Trump’s statement was “plagiarized, almost directly, from my seventh-grade book report.”
Stewart joked, trying to make sense of Trump’s words,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Harry Belafonte is a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and one of the leading human rights activists in show business.
Harry Belafonte exposed America to world music and spent his life challenging and overturning racial barriers across the globe. Belafonte met a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on King’s historic visit to New York in the early 1950s and developed a deep and abiding friendship. Belafonte played a key role in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. In 1985, disturbed by war, drought, and famine in Africa, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy-winning song “We Are the World,” a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa. Belafonte was active in efforts to end apartheid in South Africa and to release Nelson Mandela.
Belafonte served as the cultural advisor for the Peace Corps, a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and was honored as an Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International. Recently, Belafonte...
Harry Belafonte exposed America to world music and spent his life challenging and overturning racial barriers across the globe. Belafonte met a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on King’s historic visit to New York in the early 1950s and developed a deep and abiding friendship. Belafonte played a key role in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. In 1985, disturbed by war, drought, and famine in Africa, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy-winning song “We Are the World,” a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa. Belafonte was active in efforts to end apartheid in South Africa and to release Nelson Mandela.
Belafonte served as the cultural advisor for the Peace Corps, a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and was honored as an Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International. Recently, Belafonte...
- 4/12/2024
- Look to the Stars
And the winners are… Pan-African non-profit Ubongo and footage and data visualizations library Open Planet. The two organizations picked up Mip Sdg [Sustainable Development Goals] awards at MipTV on Tuesday.
Adopted by all Un member states in 2015, the Sdg Awards’ 17 goals are a call to action to boost the economy while tackling climate change, improving healthcare, and ending inequality.
“Both winners are agents of change,” said Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Center in Brussels. Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, added via video statement:
“The Un has recognized, time and again, the importance of the media industry and the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Your work is absolutely crucial.”
Mwasi Wilmore, chief executive officer at Ubongo, opened up about its past and future goals. A leading pan-African non-profit, Ubongo is dedicated to advancing Sdg goal number 4 – quality education – through multimedia animated content.
“Ubongo was founded with the...
Adopted by all Un member states in 2015, the Sdg Awards’ 17 goals are a call to action to boost the economy while tackling climate change, improving healthcare, and ending inequality.
“Both winners are agents of change,” said Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Center in Brussels. Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, added via video statement:
“The Un has recognized, time and again, the importance of the media industry and the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Your work is absolutely crucial.”
Mwasi Wilmore, chief executive officer at Ubongo, opened up about its past and future goals. A leading pan-African non-profit, Ubongo is dedicated to advancing Sdg goal number 4 – quality education – through multimedia animated content.
“Ubongo was founded with the...
- 4/10/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
On Sunday, former President Donald Trump declared that it would be “my great honor” to go to jail for violating a gag order in his hush-money case, which is set to go to trial in a little over a week.
On April 15, Trump will head to the New York state court in Manhattan due to criminal charges against him about covering up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to buy her silence about an affair before the 2016 election.
Justice Juan Merchan presided over the court in this case and expanded the gag order that prevented Trump from commenting about witnesses before the trial.
Last week, the order was expanded to apply to his family, prosecutors and court members. Trump repeatedly attacked Merchan’s daughter, who has done work for Democrats.
On Trump’s Truth Social account, he stated, “If this Partisan Hack wants to put...
On April 15, Trump will head to the New York state court in Manhattan due to criminal charges against him about covering up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to buy her silence about an affair before the 2016 election.
Justice Juan Merchan presided over the court in this case and expanded the gag order that prevented Trump from commenting about witnesses before the trial.
Last week, the order was expanded to apply to his family, prosecutors and court members. Trump repeatedly attacked Merchan’s daughter, who has done work for Democrats.
On Trump’s Truth Social account, he stated, “If this Partisan Hack wants to put...
- 4/8/2024
- by Anushka Desai
- Uinterview
Donald Trump promised to keep billionaires’ taxes low at a fundraising dinner Saturday night in Palm Beach, Fla., held at the home of billionaire John Paulson.
A Trump campaign official told NBC News that the former president “spoke on the need to win back the White House so we can turn our country around, focusing on key issues including unleashing energy production, securing our southern border, reducing inflation, extending the Trump Tax Cuts, eliminating Joe Biden’s insane [electric vehicle] mandate, protecting Israel, and avoiding global war.” NBC News requested to have...
A Trump campaign official told NBC News that the former president “spoke on the need to win back the White House so we can turn our country around, focusing on key issues including unleashing energy production, securing our southern border, reducing inflation, extending the Trump Tax Cuts, eliminating Joe Biden’s insane [electric vehicle] mandate, protecting Israel, and avoiding global war.” NBC News requested to have...
- 4/7/2024
- by Peter Wade
- Rollingstone.com
“I bring you news from America, where commissions are plentiful and they all come within two weeks,” joked Dawn Porter, playing to the industry crowd at the international television market MIPTV on Sunday.
It got a big laugh. Everyone in the audience knows the reality: That the era of peak TV is past and that broadcasters and streamers are slashing their budgets for original programming. That decline is one of the reasons this will be the last MIPTV, with plans to move Mip to London next year and dramatically downsize the storied TV market. The mood on the Croisette this year is practically funereal.
But Porter came to Mip not to bury the TV business but to praise it.
“I’m sure that we’re all quite aware of the difficulties of commissioning and the challenges in our market,” she told the industry audience, “but I want to stress that...
It got a big laugh. Everyone in the audience knows the reality: That the era of peak TV is past and that broadcasters and streamers are slashing their budgets for original programming. That decline is one of the reasons this will be the last MIPTV, with plans to move Mip to London next year and dramatically downsize the storied TV market. The mood on the Croisette this year is practically funereal.
But Porter came to Mip not to bury the TV business but to praise it.
“I’m sure that we’re all quite aware of the difficulties of commissioning and the challenges in our market,” she told the industry audience, “but I want to stress that...
- 4/7/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald Trump said Saturday he is willing to go to jail, but not for the crimes he’s accused of committing.
The presumptive GOP candidate said he wanted to violate the expanded gag order against him in his upcoming hush money trial. In fact, he would be willing to make himself a martyr and serve jail time if the judge found him guilty of violating the order.
In a three-part post on his tanking social media company, Truth Social, Trump lashed out at the New York judge who granted the gag order,...
The presumptive GOP candidate said he wanted to violate the expanded gag order against him in his upcoming hush money trial. In fact, he would be willing to make himself a martyr and serve jail time if the judge found him guilty of violating the order.
In a three-part post on his tanking social media company, Truth Social, Trump lashed out at the New York judge who granted the gag order,...
- 4/6/2024
- by Jeremy Childs
- Rollingstone.com
It turns out that Morgan Freeman’s first big break in show business was just kid’s stuff. After working in a few unmemorable productions, Freeman caught on with PBS’s The Electric Company, a show from the Children’s Television Workshop designed to teach basic reading skills to kids from 7 to 10 years old. The gig ran for six seasons and 780 episodes.
He next grabbed attention in 1980 with performances in Brubaker with Robert Redford and TV movie Attica, he broke out in Street Smart, which earned him the first of five Academy Award nominations. Freeman received Best Actor nominations for Oscar-winning Driving Miss Daisy (1989) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) before winning for his Best Supporting Actor role in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby (2004). He also received a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictius (2009).
While Freeman’s career may have been slow to start, once he...
He next grabbed attention in 1980 with performances in Brubaker with Robert Redford and TV movie Attica, he broke out in Street Smart, which earned him the first of five Academy Award nominations. Freeman received Best Actor nominations for Oscar-winning Driving Miss Daisy (1989) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) before winning for his Best Supporting Actor role in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby (2004). He also received a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Invictius (2009).
While Freeman’s career may have been slow to start, once he...
- 4/4/2024
- by David Morgan
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Alana Hadid, the fashion designer and sister of models Bella and Gigi, is spearheading film production and distribution label Watermelon Pictures.
The firm’s website describes Watermelon as a “Palestinian-owned independent film distribution, production, and financing” outfit.
The company will focus on “cultural representation and social advocacy, and be dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented filmmakers across the globe”.
The first movie on the label is documentary Walled Off about the Walled Off Hotel, a Palestinian managed-hotel which was financed and designed by British street artist Banksy and is located in Bethlehem opposite the Israeli West Bank barrier wall. The film looks at the lives of Palestinians living in the area and discusses the importance of creative resistance as a form of protest.
Pic is written and directed by Vin Arfuso, an American filmmaker of Palestinian and Italian descent, and will get a limited theatrical run and digital release in the U.
The firm’s website describes Watermelon as a “Palestinian-owned independent film distribution, production, and financing” outfit.
The company will focus on “cultural representation and social advocacy, and be dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented filmmakers across the globe”.
The first movie on the label is documentary Walled Off about the Walled Off Hotel, a Palestinian managed-hotel which was financed and designed by British street artist Banksy and is located in Bethlehem opposite the Israeli West Bank barrier wall. The film looks at the lives of Palestinians living in the area and discusses the importance of creative resistance as a form of protest.
Pic is written and directed by Vin Arfuso, an American filmmaker of Palestinian and Italian descent, and will get a limited theatrical run and digital release in the U.
- 4/4/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
All About Jimmy Jean-Louis! (Photo Credit –Instagram)
Hollywood thespian Jimmy Jean-Louis voiced his astonishment at the communal ethos surrounding makeup and attire aid whilst filming Aadujeevitham. He observed that in Hollywood, duties are usually designated to singular individuals, yet on this set, a multitude lent their hands. Portraying Ibrahim Kadheri, he divulged that the encounter proved culturally jolting yet captivating.
Concerning the filming saga of Aadujeevitham, Jimmy Jean-Louis provided a glimpse into his engagement. Entering the fray during the concluding chapters of the shoot in Jordan, he detailed the trials of a scene demanding him to bear Prithviraj and flee amid the tempestuous desert gusts. Despite such adversities, Jimmy voiced contentment with the venture. Moreover, in his capacity as one of the producers of Aadujeevitham, he wielded a diverse influence in its creation.
He strove to depict Ibrahim with a celestial aura, recognizing Ibrahim’s part as an unexpected rescuer...
Hollywood thespian Jimmy Jean-Louis voiced his astonishment at the communal ethos surrounding makeup and attire aid whilst filming Aadujeevitham. He observed that in Hollywood, duties are usually designated to singular individuals, yet on this set, a multitude lent their hands. Portraying Ibrahim Kadheri, he divulged that the encounter proved culturally jolting yet captivating.
Concerning the filming saga of Aadujeevitham, Jimmy Jean-Louis provided a glimpse into his engagement. Entering the fray during the concluding chapters of the shoot in Jordan, he detailed the trials of a scene demanding him to bear Prithviraj and flee amid the tempestuous desert gusts. Despite such adversities, Jimmy voiced contentment with the venture. Moreover, in his capacity as one of the producers of Aadujeevitham, he wielded a diverse influence in its creation.
He strove to depict Ibrahim with a celestial aura, recognizing Ibrahim’s part as an unexpected rescuer...
- 4/2/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
Nelson Mandela, the iconic anti-apartheid leader who went from 27 years as a political prisoner to eventually becoming the first president of a free South Africa, will be the subject of the 30-hour scripted TV series “Mandela.” The project is currently the works at writer/producer Josh Wakely’s Grace: A Storytelling Company shingle.
Wakely has secured the TV series life rights to the late Mandela via House of Mandela Entertainment, the media arm of the Mandela estate. Wakely will executive produce and write “Mandela,” along with South African writer/director Kagiso Lediga (“Queen Sono”) and producer Kweku Mandela (who is also Nelson Mandela’s grandson).
The project, which Wakely compares to a multi-season saga in the vein of Netflix’s “The Crown,” will center on Mandela’s life as he was sent to prison while aiming to end apartheid, the system of institutional racism and segregation that was administered in South Africa for generations.
Wakely has secured the TV series life rights to the late Mandela via House of Mandela Entertainment, the media arm of the Mandela estate. Wakely will executive produce and write “Mandela,” along with South African writer/director Kagiso Lediga (“Queen Sono”) and producer Kweku Mandela (who is also Nelson Mandela’s grandson).
The project, which Wakely compares to a multi-season saga in the vein of Netflix’s “The Crown,” will center on Mandela’s life as he was sent to prison while aiming to end apartheid, the system of institutional racism and segregation that was administered in South Africa for generations.
- 3/19/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
This article was featured in Den of Geek magazine, which was published before artists pulled out of SXSW 2024 in protest of US military and defense company sponsorships at this year’s event.
Crys Matthews doesn’t equivocate about her music’s north star: “It’s to amplify the voices of the unheard, shed light on the unseen, and be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to justice and equity. That’s me in a nutshell.”
The 43-year-old singer-songwriter has spent much of her decade-plus career holding a mirror to America’s thorniest issues. Her protest, social justice, and freedom-infused songs have prompted comparisons to historical folk music activists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Blending the sounds of country, gospel, Americana, and folk music, Matthews boldly sings what many are reluctant to say out loud, in the open and face-to-face.
The Confederate flag, gerrymandering,...
Crys Matthews doesn’t equivocate about her music’s north star: “It’s to amplify the voices of the unheard, shed light on the unseen, and be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to justice and equity. That’s me in a nutshell.”
The 43-year-old singer-songwriter has spent much of her decade-plus career holding a mirror to America’s thorniest issues. Her protest, social justice, and freedom-infused songs have prompted comparisons to historical folk music activists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Blending the sounds of country, gospel, Americana, and folk music, Matthews boldly sings what many are reluctant to say out loud, in the open and face-to-face.
The Confederate flag, gerrymandering,...
- 3/13/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
All eyes were on Zendaya as she stepped out in a flapper-esque vintage Roberto Cavalli dress at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards on Wednesday night at 1 Hotel’s Harriet’s in West Hollywood.
As co-chair of the event, which also drew Chrissy Teigen, Helen Hunt, Jennifer Coolidge, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Annie Lennox, Zendaya has long embraced vintage for red carpet appearances.
Most impressively, her last look — a chrome suit of armor from Mugler’s Fall Winter 1995 couture collection — reportedly generated $13.3 million in media exposure after wearing the piece to the Dune: Part Two premiere in London.
To mark this occasion, she rocked a silver roaring twenties-inspired gown from Cavalli’s spring 2011 collection. But the night was about much more than just sustainable sartorial selections.
“Fashion has always been a lens that we use to look at the world,” the awards show’s founder Livia Firth explained. “When you want...
As co-chair of the event, which also drew Chrissy Teigen, Helen Hunt, Jennifer Coolidge, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Annie Lennox, Zendaya has long embraced vintage for red carpet appearances.
Most impressively, her last look — a chrome suit of armor from Mugler’s Fall Winter 1995 couture collection — reportedly generated $13.3 million in media exposure after wearing the piece to the Dune: Part Two premiere in London.
To mark this occasion, she rocked a silver roaring twenties-inspired gown from Cavalli’s spring 2011 collection. But the night was about much more than just sustainable sartorial selections.
“Fashion has always been a lens that we use to look at the world,” the awards show’s founder Livia Firth explained. “When you want...
- 3/7/2024
- by Lindzi Scharf
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As South Africa marks three decades since its first democratic elections, a historic moment that dismantled the apartheid system and ushered in Black-majority rule, the country is at a crossroads. Inequality is rife. Crippling blackouts have pushed the economy to a tipping point. The ruling African National Congress — the party of Nelson Mandela — is in crisis, at peril of losing nationwide elections this year for the first time since it swept to power. For many South Africans, the heady promises of that democratic transition have largely been left unfulfilled.
It is a moment of reflection and uncertainty, too, for the country’s film and TV industry, which amid the broader soul-searching is still striving to find its identity. “In many ways, you can say the industry is growing. It’s booming,” says Layla Swart of Yellowbone Entertainment, whose credits include the Canal Plus-Showmax epic fantasy drama series “Blood Psalms,...
It is a moment of reflection and uncertainty, too, for the country’s film and TV industry, which amid the broader soul-searching is still striving to find its identity. “In many ways, you can say the industry is growing. It’s booming,” says Layla Swart of Yellowbone Entertainment, whose credits include the Canal Plus-Showmax epic fantasy drama series “Blood Psalms,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Akin Omotoso, the filmmaker behind Disney Plus’ Giannis Antetokounmpo biopic “Rise,” has been attached to direct “The Plot to Save South Africa,” an adaptation of Justice Malala’s gripping book about a 1990s white supremacist plot that almost plunged the young democracy into civil war.
“The Plot to Save South Africa” will be produced by Johannesburg-based production outfit Ochre Moving Pictures, which signed a deal with Netflix last year to adapt multiple books for the streaming service alongside Omotoso. “Plot,” however, is not included in that deal, and is part of an existing partnership between Ochre and Omotoso that includes a crime drama adaptation of Nigerian playwright Femi Osofisan’s novel “Pirates.”
The story begins in 1993, as Nelson Mandela has just been released after 27 years in prison and is in power-sharing talks with President F.W. de Klerk. After decades of resistance, the apartheid regime seems poised to fall, until a...
“The Plot to Save South Africa” will be produced by Johannesburg-based production outfit Ochre Moving Pictures, which signed a deal with Netflix last year to adapt multiple books for the streaming service alongside Omotoso. “Plot,” however, is not included in that deal, and is part of an existing partnership between Ochre and Omotoso that includes a crime drama adaptation of Nigerian playwright Femi Osofisan’s novel “Pirates.”
The story begins in 1993, as Nelson Mandela has just been released after 27 years in prison and is in power-sharing talks with President F.W. de Klerk. After decades of resistance, the apartheid regime seems poised to fall, until a...
- 2/29/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
South African filmmaker John Barker is developing a six-episode, “Last Dance”-style documentary series about the South African national soccer team’s stirring triumph at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, a landmark moment for a young nation still celebrating its transition to democracy after the end of apartheid.
“Bafana the Boys,” which has already been acquired by South African streaming service eVOD and is currently being circled by global platforms, features interviews with legendary players from the championship squad, such as team captain Neil Tovey and star midfielder Doctor Khumalo. Barker is in talks with icons of the international game, including French players Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry — who scored his first international goal against South Africa — as well as coaching legends Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
Produced by Joel Phiri and Athos Kyriakides for Known Associates Entertainment, “Bafana the Boys” also includes interviews with former South African President Thabo Mbeki,...
“Bafana the Boys,” which has already been acquired by South African streaming service eVOD and is currently being circled by global platforms, features interviews with legendary players from the championship squad, such as team captain Neil Tovey and star midfielder Doctor Khumalo. Barker is in talks with icons of the international game, including French players Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry — who scored his first international goal against South Africa — as well as coaching legends Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
Produced by Joel Phiri and Athos Kyriakides for Known Associates Entertainment, “Bafana the Boys” also includes interviews with former South African President Thabo Mbeki,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Hillary Clinton and Sharon Stone shared the stage at the annual Cinema for Peace funder raiser in Berlin on Monday night with the latter presenting the former U.S. secretary of state with the Ngo’s Cinema for Peace Award.
Stone described Clinton as an inspirational figure in her life: “The things you’ve said have changed my life, changed the direction and changed the course of the things I’ve chosen to do.”
Clinton gently ribbed Stone about her gala gown, a tie at the front robe covered in mauve spots.
“To my friend Sharon Stone who can look amazingly beautiful in anything. When she walked in, I was like, ‘Wow, who besides Sharon Stone could wear a gigantic bath robe and look stunning… you are one of a kind my friend, one of kind,” she said.
Further honorees included Pope Francis, who was seen receiving the award on taped recording,...
Stone described Clinton as an inspirational figure in her life: “The things you’ve said have changed my life, changed the direction and changed the course of the things I’ve chosen to do.”
Clinton gently ribbed Stone about her gala gown, a tie at the front robe covered in mauve spots.
“To my friend Sharon Stone who can look amazingly beautiful in anything. When she walked in, I was like, ‘Wow, who besides Sharon Stone could wear a gigantic bath robe and look stunning… you are one of a kind my friend, one of kind,” she said.
Further honorees included Pope Francis, who was seen receiving the award on taped recording,...
- 2/20/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Jaka Bizilj, the founder of the Berlin-based Cinema for Peace Foundation which organized the airlift from Russia of opposition activist Alexei Navalny after his poisoning in 2020, has responded to his sudden death in an Arctic Circle jail on Friday.
“Seeing the kind of treatment that they were giving him, I’ve been afraid for months that they were going to kill him,” Bizilj told Deadline.
He suggested the writing had been on wall for Navalny ever since the death of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash in August in the wake of his aborted coup over the summer.
“The Prigozhin case, the uprising, showed that Russia is not as stable as we all believed. After the killing of Prigozhin, Navalny was next on the list… I don’t think Putin saw him as an immediate threat but he was afraid of him in the long run,...
“Seeing the kind of treatment that they were giving him, I’ve been afraid for months that they were going to kill him,” Bizilj told Deadline.
He suggested the writing had been on wall for Navalny ever since the death of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash in August in the wake of his aborted coup over the summer.
“The Prigozhin case, the uprising, showed that Russia is not as stable as we all believed. After the killing of Prigozhin, Navalny was next on the list… I don’t think Putin saw him as an immediate threat but he was afraid of him in the long run,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
MPI Media Group has come on board worldwide sales for EFM on the Banksy hotel documentary Walled Off.
Vin Arfuso, an American filmmaker of Palestinian and Italian descent, wrote and directed the film, which explores The Walled Off Hotel in the West Bank financed and designed by the elusive British street artist.
The film tours the hotel with manager Wissam Salsa and examines lives of Palestinians living in the area and highlights the use of art as a means of engaging in social and political dialogue.
American-Palestinian model and musician Anwar Hadid (the brother of Bella and Gigi Hadid) co-produced...
Vin Arfuso, an American filmmaker of Palestinian and Italian descent, wrote and directed the film, which explores The Walled Off Hotel in the West Bank financed and designed by the elusive British street artist.
The film tours the hotel with manager Wissam Salsa and examines lives of Palestinians living in the area and highlights the use of art as a means of engaging in social and political dialogue.
American-Palestinian model and musician Anwar Hadid (the brother of Bella and Gigi Hadid) co-produced...
- 2/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Gotham Award winner Dawn Porter (Luther: Never Too Much) will direct and produce a documentary about one of the most iconic, politically-charged partnerships in history: the remarkable, largely untold story of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. She’ll also produce through her Trilogy Films, alongside the Schultz Family Foundation.
Based on Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, a book by noted South African writer and scholar Jonny Steinberg, the film will explore the Mandelas’ profound bond and how their marriage was inextricably entangled with the struggle against apartheid. The film promises an intimate portrayal of Nelson and Winnie’s marriage, delving into their vehement and volatile connection from their early years to their mutual goal of dismantling apartheid. Their journey culminates in Nelson Mandela’s historic election as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie
The project marks the Schultz Family Foundation’s first...
Based on Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, a book by noted South African writer and scholar Jonny Steinberg, the film will explore the Mandelas’ profound bond and how their marriage was inextricably entangled with the struggle against apartheid. The film promises an intimate portrayal of Nelson and Winnie’s marriage, delving into their vehement and volatile connection from their early years to their mutual goal of dismantling apartheid. Their journey culminates in Nelson Mandela’s historic election as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie
The project marks the Schultz Family Foundation’s first...
- 2/13/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Killer Mike is still on a victory lap following a clean sweep at the recent Grammy Awards, and on Monday that tour placed him on a panel at The View.
The rapper, 48, said he was “overwhelmed” after winning three awards during the pre-Grammys telecast, including trophies for best rap song, performance and album. Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Santiago Render, then encouraged viewers to keep their dreams alive.
“You have to keep whatever 9-year-old, 12-year-old, 15-year-old that is in your head, keep that child alive,” he said. “No matter what you see in the mirror, you’re still that child and your imagination has to be bigger than the room, bigger than the building, bigger than the sky because if you keep your imagination alive, everything is possible. When you limit your imagination, nothing becomes as possible as it could be.”
At that point, The View co-host Sunny Hostin...
The rapper, 48, said he was “overwhelmed” after winning three awards during the pre-Grammys telecast, including trophies for best rap song, performance and album. Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Santiago Render, then encouraged viewers to keep their dreams alive.
“You have to keep whatever 9-year-old, 12-year-old, 15-year-old that is in your head, keep that child alive,” he said. “No matter what you see in the mirror, you’re still that child and your imagination has to be bigger than the room, bigger than the building, bigger than the sky because if you keep your imagination alive, everything is possible. When you limit your imagination, nothing becomes as possible as it could be.”
At that point, The View co-host Sunny Hostin...
- 2/12/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Antoine Fuqua is set to direct a feature documentary about Nelson Mandela, Variety has learned.
Provisionally titled “Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes,” the doc will use newly discovered audio interviews with Mandela himself to deliver an “honest, accurate and definitive depiction” of the man who remains a global symbol of justice, hope and universal human dignity, according to a press release.
The “Training Day” director has teamed with Mandela’s close friend and former cellmate Mac Maharaj on the project, who will serve as an executive producer. While spending 12 years alongside Mandela in a tiny cell on Robben Island, Maharaj transcribed Mandela’s autobiography before eventually smuggling it out of jail. He later went on to become a minister in Mandela’s government.
“Using recently discovered audio interviews of Mandela intimately recounting his life experiences, as well as the personal reflections and insights of Maharaj, the film will...
Provisionally titled “Troublemaker: The Story Behind the Mandela Tapes,” the doc will use newly discovered audio interviews with Mandela himself to deliver an “honest, accurate and definitive depiction” of the man who remains a global symbol of justice, hope and universal human dignity, according to a press release.
The “Training Day” director has teamed with Mandela’s close friend and former cellmate Mac Maharaj on the project, who will serve as an executive producer. While spending 12 years alongside Mandela in a tiny cell on Robben Island, Maharaj transcribed Mandela’s autobiography before eventually smuggling it out of jail. He later went on to become a minister in Mandela’s government.
“Using recently discovered audio interviews of Mandela intimately recounting his life experiences, as well as the personal reflections and insights of Maharaj, the film will...
- 2/11/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
The United Nations Development Programme (Undp) is the United Nations’ global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 177 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges in these areas:
Fighting poverty Building democratic societies Preventing crisis, enabling recovery Protecting the environment Halting & reversing HIV/AIDS Empowering women
•Growing national capacity How you can help
Learn about how to volunteer here.
Celebrity supporters
United Nations Development Programme has 28 known supporters, including Nelson Mandela, Ban Ki-moon, and Ian Somerhalder
Areas of work ChildrenPovertyAnimalsEducationWomenHealthDisaster ReliefEnvironmentHuman RightsEconomic/Business SupportAIDS & HIV Read more about United Nations Development Programme's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Rockets Honor Dikembe MutomboSoccer Stars Take A Kick Against PovertyRonaldo And Zidane To Play Charity SoccerZinedine Zidane To Play In Haiti Charity Soccer GameAntonio...
Fighting poverty Building democratic societies Preventing crisis, enabling recovery Protecting the environment Halting & reversing HIV/AIDS Empowering women
•Growing national capacity How you can help
Learn about how to volunteer here.
Celebrity supporters
United Nations Development Programme has 28 known supporters, including Nelson Mandela, Ban Ki-moon, and Ian Somerhalder
Areas of work ChildrenPovertyAnimalsEducationWomenHealthDisaster ReliefEnvironmentHuman RightsEconomic/Business SupportAIDS & HIV Read more about United Nations Development Programme's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Rockets Honor Dikembe MutomboSoccer Stars Take A Kick Against PovertyRonaldo And Zidane To Play Charity SoccerZinedine Zidane To Play In Haiti Charity Soccer GameAntonio...
- 1/30/2024
- Look to the Stars
Mbongeni Ngema, a distinguished South African musician and creator of the musical “Sarafina!,” died on Wednesday in a car accident. He was 68.
“Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement to the Associated Press. It is understood that he was a passenger in the car.
A playwright, producer and composer, he is best known for creating the 1987 stage musical “Sarafina!,” which tells the tale of a student woman who sees her teacher sent to jail and inspires other to fight against the racial segregation system known as apartheid. In 1981, he also created “Woza Albert,” a satirical stage drama in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth as a black South African.
“Sarafina!,” with lyrics co-written by Hugh Masekela, first opened at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg with Leleti Khumalo in the title role.
“Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement to the Associated Press. It is understood that he was a passenger in the car.
A playwright, producer and composer, he is best known for creating the 1987 stage musical “Sarafina!,” which tells the tale of a student woman who sees her teacher sent to jail and inspires other to fight against the racial segregation system known as apartheid. In 1981, he also created “Woza Albert,” a satirical stage drama in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth as a black South African.
“Sarafina!,” with lyrics co-written by Hugh Masekela, first opened at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg with Leleti Khumalo in the title role.
- 12/28/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Robert De Niro has had a hell of a year. In April, the screen icon welcomed a daughter, Gia, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen. Three months later, he lost his grandson, Leandro, to a drug overdose at just 19 years of age. Then came the actors’ strike, causing an industry-wide shutdown that put him out of work for the next four months and prevented him from promoting Killers of the Flower Moon, a masterful crime saga boasting his best performance in years. Finally, he was embroiled in a legal nightmare with an ex-assistant that,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
Donald Trump announced that he has released a new set of Nft trading cards that will feature his face on them, despite his previous ones losing 50% of their original value.
His newest NFTs are the “MugShot” edition, as he recently got his mugshot taken when he was arrested in Georgia on 13 charges due to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. OpenSea recorded that the cards were valued at around $453.97 on the morning of December 12. That same day, the cards dropped by $152.05, totaling around $301.92.
Each card is available for purchase for $99, with supporters of the former president receiving a special offer. If they buy a minimum of 47 cards in one transaction, they can win one piece of the suit he wore during the mugshot.
Trump released an announcement video where he shared the release of the NFTs.
“Purchase 47 digital cards, and we’ll mail you a beautiful trading card,” he said.
His newest NFTs are the “MugShot” edition, as he recently got his mugshot taken when he was arrested in Georgia on 13 charges due to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. OpenSea recorded that the cards were valued at around $453.97 on the morning of December 12. That same day, the cards dropped by $152.05, totaling around $301.92.
Each card is available for purchase for $99, with supporters of the former president receiving a special offer. If they buy a minimum of 47 cards in one transaction, they can win one piece of the suit he wore during the mugshot.
Trump released an announcement video where he shared the release of the NFTs.
“Purchase 47 digital cards, and we’ll mail you a beautiful trading card,” he said.
- 12/15/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
In Kenneth Branagh's 2011 fantasy clunker "Thor," Chris Hemsworth plays an extraterrestrial once worshiped on Earth as the Norse God of Thunder. Thor and his retinue traverse the galaxy using a carefully protected device called the Bifröst, a.k.a. the Rainbow Bridge, which can zap travelers anywhere in the galaxy instantaneously within a massive laser beam. The Bifröst is protected and controlled by a powerful armored guard/engineer named Heimdall, a hulking hunk decked out in gold and leather and sporting eerie golden eyes. Those golden eyes allow Heimdall to see great distances and into other realms.
Heimdall was played by actor Idris Elba, who would go on to play the character in five additional Marvel Cinematic Universe pictures.
Elba, as many know, first broke into the public eye for his role on the hit HBO series "The Wire" in 2002. Since then, Elba has become a proper movie and TV star,...
Heimdall was played by actor Idris Elba, who would go on to play the character in five additional Marvel Cinematic Universe pictures.
Elba, as many know, first broke into the public eye for his role on the hit HBO series "The Wire" in 2002. Since then, Elba has become a proper movie and TV star,...
- 12/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
British writer, poet, musician, actor, and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has sadly passed away at the age of 65, his family confirmed early this morning on Instagram. The widely celebrated figure had been diagnosed with brain cancer only two months ago and, according to Deadline, died surrounded by his family and loved ones. Perhaps best known internationally for his role on the hit BBC/Netflix series "Peaky Blinders," Zephaniah portrayed the fiery street pastor and one of Tommy Shelby's most loyal allies, Jeremiah "Jimmy" Jesus, throughout all six seasons for a total of 14 episodes. The full social media post reads:
"It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved Husband, Son and Brother in the early hours of this morning, the 7th December 2023. Benjamin was diagnosed with brain cancer 8 weeks ago. Benjamin's wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed.
"It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved Husband, Son and Brother in the early hours of this morning, the 7th December 2023. Benjamin was diagnosed with brain cancer 8 weeks ago. Benjamin's wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed.
- 12/7/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The summer of 1997 was meant to be the beginning of Princess Diana’s new life. As a still fairly recent divorcee (her marriage with then-Prince Charles ended the year before), she spoke to Vanity Fair in June for what would become her last official interview.
At the same time, the famous auction house Christie’s was cataloging some of her most famous gowns to go under the gavel (with all proceeds benefiting charities), and it was clear to everyone in the room that the auction was more than a symbolic move: Diana was free—”free of the restrictions that she had before,” as her friend Rosa Monckton put it.
No one seemed more aware than Diana herself. The late Meredith Etherington-Smith, then the group creative marketing director for the auction house, shared that the Princess of Wales asked to work with a photographer who was new to her because she wanted new everything.
At the same time, the famous auction house Christie’s was cataloging some of her most famous gowns to go under the gavel (with all proceeds benefiting charities), and it was clear to everyone in the room that the auction was more than a symbolic move: Diana was free—”free of the restrictions that she had before,” as her friend Rosa Monckton put it.
No one seemed more aware than Diana herself. The late Meredith Etherington-Smith, then the group creative marketing director for the auction house, shared that the Princess of Wales asked to work with a photographer who was new to her because she wanted new everything.
- 11/18/2023
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr called former President Donald Trump‘s verbal communication skills “limited,” at The University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics on Friday.
When CBS correspondent Jan Crawford asked Barr whether Trump was “losing it,” Barr replied that Trump is “not very disciplined with what he says.”
This prompted laughs from the audience.
Barr continued, “If you get him away from ‘very, very, very,’ you know, the adjectives … they’re unfamiliar to him and they spill out, and he goes too far.”
Barr served as Trump’s A.G. for two years. He resigned in December 2020 when Trump claimed without evidence that the presidential election was stolen. Barr, who oversaw the Department of Justice, asserted that there was no basis for the claim of widespread voter fraud.
Since then, he has become one of the most prominent and vocal members of Trump’s former administration...
When CBS correspondent Jan Crawford asked Barr whether Trump was “losing it,” Barr replied that Trump is “not very disciplined with what he says.”
This prompted laughs from the audience.
Barr continued, “If you get him away from ‘very, very, very,’ you know, the adjectives … they’re unfamiliar to him and they spill out, and he goes too far.”
Barr served as Trump’s A.G. for two years. He resigned in December 2020 when Trump claimed without evidence that the presidential election was stolen. Barr, who oversaw the Department of Justice, asserted that there was no basis for the claim of widespread voter fraud.
Since then, he has become one of the most prominent and vocal members of Trump’s former administration...
- 10/31/2023
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Exclusive: Yemi Bamiro (Fight the Power) has been set to direct Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story, a documentary spotlighting the life and work of activist, cultural icon, and renowned photojournalist Kwame Brathwaite, which Wayfarer Studios is developing in partnership with Misfits Entertainment, The Creative Coalition, and The Kwame Brathwaite Archive.
A celebration of Black history, art, and culture, the film will chart Brathwaite’s rise to a position of huge influence against the backdrop of the second Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the evolution of modern art. A trailblazer and founding father of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, Brathwaite is perhaps best known for co-creating Grandassa Models, a group of Black female models that promoted African-inspired fashion and beauty ideals, aiming to foster a shift away from from the more traditional Eurocentric standard by highlighting a more cosmopolitan look and feel.
A celebration of Black history, art, and culture, the film will chart Brathwaite’s rise to a position of huge influence against the backdrop of the second Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, and the evolution of modern art. A trailblazer and founding father of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, Brathwaite is perhaps best known for co-creating Grandassa Models, a group of Black female models that promoted African-inspired fashion and beauty ideals, aiming to foster a shift away from from the more traditional Eurocentric standard by highlighting a more cosmopolitan look and feel.
- 10/30/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump compared himself to the late president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, during a speech on the campaign trail.
Trump held a rally in Derry, New Hampshire, this week where he attacked President Joe Biden’s response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
In his speech, Trump mentioned his four indictments and defended his actions.
“We have a capital that if you go there, you get shot,” he stated. “With this in mind, there’s no way I can get a fair trial. You know, I’m supposed to be getting because Donald Trump challenged the election, so let’s put him in jail for the rest of his life.”
“They don’t go after the people that cheated,” he continued. “Those people are free. If you want to challenge the result of an election, they hound you. Look what happened this weekend with two good people. They hound them,...
Trump held a rally in Derry, New Hampshire, this week where he attacked President Joe Biden’s response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
In his speech, Trump mentioned his four indictments and defended his actions.
“We have a capital that if you go there, you get shot,” he stated. “With this in mind, there’s no way I can get a fair trial. You know, I’m supposed to be getting because Donald Trump challenged the election, so let’s put him in jail for the rest of his life.”
“They don’t go after the people that cheated,” he continued. “Those people are free. If you want to challenge the result of an election, they hound you. Look what happened this weekend with two good people. They hound them,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
The finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup are set, and they’ll feature two blue-chip opponents! The All Blacks of New Zealand are set to face South Africa’s Springboks at the Stade de France from Paris on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. Et on CNBC and Peacock. It’s a 102-year-old rivalry that no true rugby fan will want to miss out on. You can watch CNBC with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
How to Watch 2023 World Rugby Finals, South Africa vs. New Zealand When: Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 3:00 Pm Edt TV: CNBC Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$74.99+ / month directv.com/stream
Save $30 Over Your First Three Months of Directv Stream.
About 2023 World Rugby Finals, South Africa vs. New Zealand
New Zealand and South Africa,...
How to Watch 2023 World Rugby Finals, South Africa vs. New Zealand When: Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 3:00 Pm Edt TV: CNBC Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$74.99+ / month directv.com/stream
Save $30 Over Your First Three Months of Directv Stream.
About 2023 World Rugby Finals, South Africa vs. New Zealand
New Zealand and South Africa,...
- 10/28/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
The following is a statement from The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working for peace, justice and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Mary Robinson:
“The Elders condemn the horrendous terror attacks launched by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the killing of innocent civilians, the holding of hostages and the continued indiscriminate missile attacks on Israel. These are mass atrocities for which the perpetrators must be brought to justice, preferably in a court of law.
“We also condemn the Israeli government’s unacceptable collective punishment of the population of Gaza through siege, the scale of the military assault and its death toll, and the forcible transfer of civilians within the territory, as well as the continuing land and home incursions and demolitions in the West Bank and settler violence against Palestinian communities. These are not legitimate acts of self-defence: they are clear violations of international humanitarian law,...
“The Elders condemn the horrendous terror attacks launched by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the killing of innocent civilians, the holding of hostages and the continued indiscriminate missile attacks on Israel. These are mass atrocities for which the perpetrators must be brought to justice, preferably in a court of law.
“We also condemn the Israeli government’s unacceptable collective punishment of the population of Gaza through siege, the scale of the military assault and its death toll, and the forcible transfer of civilians within the territory, as well as the continuing land and home incursions and demolitions in the West Bank and settler violence against Palestinian communities. These are not legitimate acts of self-defence: they are clear violations of international humanitarian law,...
- 10/26/2023
- Look to the Stars
Below Deck Mediterranean chief stew Tumi Mhlongo is seriously over some of the racist and aggressive comments she’s received on social media.
As the first Black chief stew, Mhlongo is a trailblazer for the series. But she shared being in the public eye on a predominately white show has had its drawbacks. She dragged trolls who attacked her online and recently said she has no regrets about putting them on blast.
“I think I’m also just tired of the narrative. I’ve just had it. You know, when you work so hard to be where you are and then that get discredited because of your race …it’s just offensive,” she said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
Cohen referred to the comments as being made by “a**holes.” Mhlongo said the remarks were truly “disgusting.”
“I just draw the line,” she added.
“Especially, by the way,...
As the first Black chief stew, Mhlongo is a trailblazer for the series. But she shared being in the public eye on a predominately white show has had its drawbacks. She dragged trolls who attacked her online and recently said she has no regrets about putting them on blast.
“I think I’m also just tired of the narrative. I’ve just had it. You know, when you work so hard to be where you are and then that get discredited because of your race …it’s just offensive,” she said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
Cohen referred to the comments as being made by “a**holes.” Mhlongo said the remarks were truly “disgusting.”
“I just draw the line,” she added.
“Especially, by the way,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Gina Ragusa
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Iranian human rights advocate and freedom fighter Narges Mohammadi has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2023, organizers of the award said Friday.
The Norwegian Nobel committee that awards the prize lauded Mohammadi for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
It highlighted: “Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.” Mohammadi is still in prison.
The prize also “recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women,” the committee noted.
Iran has also been in focus for various Hollywood stars. For example, early this year, Cate Blanchett, Jason Momoa, Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett Smith and Bryan Cranston were among members of the entertainment industry publicly supporting calls to end Iran‘s execution of protestors,...
The Norwegian Nobel committee that awards the prize lauded Mohammadi for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
It highlighted: “Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.” Mohammadi is still in prison.
The prize also “recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women,” the committee noted.
Iran has also been in focus for various Hollywood stars. For example, early this year, Cate Blanchett, Jason Momoa, Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett Smith and Bryan Cranston were among members of the entertainment industry publicly supporting calls to end Iran‘s execution of protestors,...
- 10/6/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Helen Mirren thinks it is “ridiculous” that writers are being told to stay in their lanes.
The Oscar-winning actress has railed against the idea that writers can only tell stories about their own race or religion after the so-called “Jewface” row over her new movie Golda.
“It’s more frightening for a writer to be told they are not allowed to write about subjects with which they don’t have an immediate DNA connection,” Mirren told the Radio Times. “I imagine it must be very alarming. And ridiculous.”
Mirren was responding to a statement from Golda writer Nicholas Martin, who said there is a “creeping authoritarianism” in the entertainment industry, leading to writers being told they “cannot do this or that.” He told the Radio Times: “Am I just supposed to write about middle-aged men living in south London?”
Neither Mirren nor Martin are Jewish, meaning they have been criticized for their involvement in Golda,...
The Oscar-winning actress has railed against the idea that writers can only tell stories about their own race or religion after the so-called “Jewface” row over her new movie Golda.
“It’s more frightening for a writer to be told they are not allowed to write about subjects with which they don’t have an immediate DNA connection,” Mirren told the Radio Times. “I imagine it must be very alarming. And ridiculous.”
Mirren was responding to a statement from Golda writer Nicholas Martin, who said there is a “creeping authoritarianism” in the entertainment industry, leading to writers being told they “cannot do this or that.” He told the Radio Times: “Am I just supposed to write about middle-aged men living in south London?”
Neither Mirren nor Martin are Jewish, meaning they have been criticized for their involvement in Golda,...
- 10/2/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s an eight-minute window, just after 9 a.m. Et every weekday morning, when Vladimir Duthiers goes Awol on live TV. Viewers might think he’s just off camera at the CBS News Streaming Network anchor desk that he shares with Anne-Marie Green, but the 53-year-old newsman is frantically covering over a mile of midtown Manhattan that separates his company’s two studios.
“I start the day on CBS Mornings in Times Square, do the top of the streaming show remote from there, toss to Anne-Marie and make my way up here during her first interview,” he explains in his 57th Street office during a mid-September meeting after one such sprint. “I run out of the car, throw all my shit in the closet, race onto set, and by 9:15 I’m at the desk.”
Since becoming a featured host at CBS Mornings in March, on top of his anchoring duties for the streamer,...
“I start the day on CBS Mornings in Times Square, do the top of the streaming show remote from there, toss to Anne-Marie and make my way up here during her first interview,” he explains in his 57th Street office during a mid-September meeting after one such sprint. “I run out of the car, throw all my shit in the closet, race onto set, and by 9:15 I’m at the desk.”
Since becoming a featured host at CBS Mornings in March, on top of his anchoring duties for the streamer,...
- 9/28/2023
- by Mikey O'Connell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Capetonian Stelio Savante is one of the more prolific South African actors in the film & TV industry. He became South Africa’s first male SAG Award nominee (Ensemble lead cast Ugly Betty) in 2007. A US citizen, with over 135 international credits, he is a steady product of leading, large supporting, & recurring roles in television, independent, & international theatrically released studio features that have accumulated almost $400million in worldwide box office proceeds, & leading roles in billion dollar grossing video game franchises. So, if you love Savante’s performances here are the 10 best movies and TV shows starring Stelio Savante that should be on your watchlist.
10. My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Hulu & Plex) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes it can be downright dangerous! In the Ivan Reitman comedy My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) thinks he’s finally found the perfect girlfriend, the beautiful Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman...
10. My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Hulu & Plex) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes it can be downright dangerous! In the Ivan Reitman comedy My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) thinks he’s finally found the perfect girlfriend, the beautiful Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman...
- 9/21/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Miseducation, Netflix’s latest rom-com drama, is a story of transformation and self-discovery. Created by Katleho Ramaphakela and Rethabile Ramaphakela, the six-part romantic dramedy takes us deep into the heart of South Africa and introduces us to Mbali Hadebe, the daughter of a corrupt politician who decides to leave her family behind to start a new life in Makhanda. Leaving her old self behind, she embraces the unknown and steps into a different environment as she enrolls at Grahamstown University and finds herself among the strangers. However, Sivu Levin, the senior Olympian at the university, catches her attention at first sight. Not only does she make an effort to win Sivu’s heart, but the unfamiliar environment at the new university helps her evolve and understand herself better. Let’s take a deep dive into the story of miseducation to learn about Mbali Hadebe’s journey.
Spoilers Ahead
Recap Summary:...
Spoilers Ahead
Recap Summary:...
- 9/15/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
Exclusive: Zola Mashariki, the former Fox Searchlight and BET exec who has headed up Audible Studios for the last two years, is leaving the Amazon-owned company.
Mashariki has been in the position since early 2021. She is expected to remain in a transition role through the middle of October.
As head of Audible Studios, she was tasked with spearheading original content for the company, reporting to Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza.
She oversaw series such as singing competition podcast Breakthrough, which starred Sara Bareilles and Kelly Rowland, and was behind signing a slew of talent deals with A-list stars.
Mashariki spent 15 years at Searchlight, where she rose to SVP of production, overseeing projects like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Secret Life of Bees and The Last King of Scotland. As part of the acquisitions team, she also worked on Best Picture Oscar winners Slumdog Millionaire and 12 Years A Slave.
Mashariki has been in the position since early 2021. She is expected to remain in a transition role through the middle of October.
As head of Audible Studios, she was tasked with spearheading original content for the company, reporting to Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza.
She oversaw series such as singing competition podcast Breakthrough, which starred Sara Bareilles and Kelly Rowland, and was behind signing a slew of talent deals with A-list stars.
Mashariki spent 15 years at Searchlight, where she rose to SVP of production, overseeing projects like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Secret Life of Bees and The Last King of Scotland. As part of the acquisitions team, she also worked on Best Picture Oscar winners Slumdog Millionaire and 12 Years A Slave.
- 9/14/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Based on an initiative by Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela announced the formation of The Elders in July 2007 in Johannesburg on the occasion of his 89th birthday. Members of The Elders are: Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu (Chair).
The Elders are a group of global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who use their collective experience and influence to promote peace, justice and human rights worldwide.
They include the former holders of some of the world’s most important and demanding posts, and individuals with an extraordinary track record on peace-making, reconciliation and social change.
Independent of government and no longer holding public office, the Elders are helping tackle some of the world’s most intractable problems, through both private advocacy and public work.
The Elders work strategically, focusing on areas...
The Elders are a group of global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who use their collective experience and influence to promote peace, justice and human rights worldwide.
They include the former holders of some of the world’s most important and demanding posts, and individuals with an extraordinary track record on peace-making, reconciliation and social change.
Independent of government and no longer holding public office, the Elders are helping tackle some of the world’s most intractable problems, through both private advocacy and public work.
The Elders work strategically, focusing on areas...
- 8/29/2023
- Look to the Stars
After Netflix released the first trailer for Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a biographical romance about Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, many viewers took issue with Cooper’s large prosthetic nose, deeming it the latest example of Hollywood’s stereotypical or inauthentic portrayal of Jewish people, known as “Jewface.”
But in a statement posted to Bernstein’s Twitter account, the late conductor’s children defended Cooper’s decision to “use makeup to amplify his resemblance” to their father. Cooper directed “Maestro” and stars as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Montealegre.
“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein. “We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration.
But in a statement posted to Bernstein’s Twitter account, the late conductor’s children defended Cooper’s decision to “use makeup to amplify his resemblance” to their father. Cooper directed “Maestro” and stars as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Montealegre.
“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein. “We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration.
- 8/16/2023
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
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