All posts by Madison Santel

Straight outta Brooklyn, NY, Madison covers Ecology and Climate Issues along with Entertainment and Lifestyle.

Photo / Extinction Rebellion / Ruth Davey

Climate Crisis Will No Longer Go Unnoticed as Global Civil Disobedience Breaks New Ground

It has been 170 years since American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau published “Civil Disobedience.” In the essay, he questions that in the face of unjust laws, “shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress at once?”

Today, an international rebellion is taking place, and by no coincidence, it is over the environmental matter of sustainability and reformation in the face of governmental inaction. The revolution is about climate change, and it is currently spearheaded by the global movement known as the Extinction Rebellion. The movement’s message is simple: “To the governments of the world, we declared a climate and ecological emergency. You did not do enough. To everyone else, rebel.”

The Extinction Rebellion began in the United Kingdom during May 2018. Their tactic is to use nonviolent civil disobedience to compel governments around the world to take action against climate change. The group’s three primary aims are to get the government to 1) admit to climate change’s reality and urgency, 2) take action to halt bio-diversity loss and carbon emissions, and 3) create legislation and a citizen’s assembly to continue combatting climate change in the future.

Global Mobilization is Only the Beginning as Celebrities & Everyday People Continue to Join the Cause

In the movement’s infancy, the Extinction Rebellion was only about a hundred British academics who signed a commitment towards activism. In late 2018, the group started its rebellion with a number of protests in London. Since then, it has grown to hundreds of thousands of participants from all around the globe.

Among the Extinction Rebellion’s supporters are Greta Thunberg and a number of celebrities, many of whom recently signed a controversial letter admitting to living hypocritical high-carbon emission lifestyles, but refusing to back down from the rebellion.

In 2019, the group has put on protests in cities across all six of the developed continents. Most recently, massive protests have taken place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over ten of the Canadian protestors were arrested during these events. However, members of the Extinction Rebellion use arrests to their advantage. Basing themselves off of former historic protests, the group assimilates these tactics to the matter of climate change. Therefore, whenever a protestor is arrested, the rebellion can use it as publicity and evidence of oppression. Many of the arrestees so far have pleaded guilty to their charges, owning their actions as just given the cause.

From London to the Rest of the World, the Extinction Rebellion Will Not Be Stopped Until Demands are Met

Ironically, London, the city where the rebellion began, is now the first city to have banned Extinction Rebellion protests across the board. After a number of arrests and events that took a toll on the city, London declared the group’s protests illegal. Nevertheless, this is unlikely to silence Extinction Rebellion. Although their actions may create temporary inconveniences in local areas, their cause is combatting a potentially irreversible global destruction.

On the Extinction Rebellion’s website, they have over thirty future events lined up between now and the end of the year, and that is not even counting the smaller protests that may not be posted or pre-planned. Climate change is not going anywhere, and neither are the people committed to acting against it. The group’s symbol is an hourglass, representing the limited amount of time we have before climate change permanently affects our planet on a global scale. The clock is running out, and the Extinction Rebellion is determined to accomplish its mission. When will that be? Well, to quote Thoreau yet again, “when a subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished.” Therefore, when action against climate change is met, and those who deny its severity are overpowered by those who realize the truth, then the Extinction Rebellion will be accomplished.

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Breaking News, Climate Solutions, News

October 2019 is the Hottest Month on Record, continuing the Year’s Trend Towards a Climate Emergency

November 8, 2019 Madison Santel

Looking for tangible evidence of global warming? According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which studies temperature data from around the globe over time, this past month has been the hottest October on record, palpably indicating the world’s changing climate.

The EUCCCS’s records go back to 1979, and in their forty years of data, they have never had an October as hot as this year’s. 2019’s October was 0.69 degrees Celsius (1.24 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the average for the EUCCCS’s data. It was .01 degrees Celsius (0.018 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous warmest October, which took place in 2015.

Alongside October, 2019 also saw the hottest July on record, surpassing its 2016 predecessor. It was overall a record hot year. Each month in 2019 ranked among the top four hottest for the respective month. The past twelve years in total averaged 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.16 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial temperatures. This is particularly eerie considering that the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change recently released a warning about the catastrophic effects of temperatures rising 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

It is also worth noting that all of the EUCCCS’s data is based on global averages. Thus, some areas of the world may have experienced a colder 2019 than average, but these are the outliers to the worldwide trend.

Of course, a 1.2 degrees temperature increase may not sound that alarming on the surface. However, this yearlong heat spike will actually have immense effects on climate change. The arctic ice will melt faster; wildfires will spread quicker; and biodiversity will diminish at accelerated rates. That is just to name a few of the ways such a small temperature boost might severely impact the planet if gone unchecked.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Notorious Last Jedi Director Ventures into Murder-Mystery Passion Project in ‘Knives Out’

Video November 5, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lionsgate/knives-out/knives-out-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

New Official Trailer for “Knives Out”

Is Rian Johnson only a Master of the Sci-Fi Action Genre or is he a Jack-of-All-Genres?

Given his recent body of work, writer-director Rian Johnson has become known predominantly for sci-fi action projects. From “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” to “Looper” to some of the most impactful episodes of “Breaking Bad,” you could reasonably expect Johnson’s next idea to follow in the same vein of blockbuster intensity. In fact, Lucasfilm has already signed him up for his own Star Wars trilogy project.

Before Jonson gets to work on that next big-budget Disney assignment, though, he has been having some fun pursuing a passion project with Lionsgate that will come out on November 27^th. The film is called “Knives Out,” and while it may not be the cinematic epic that audiences have come to know Johnson for, it just might satisfy us all the same.

The Answer is Yes — He Masterfully Blends Comedy, Mystery, and All-Star Cast For this Fun-Filled Thrill-Ride

The premise of “Knives Out” has nothing to do with space battles or time travel. The movie is an action-comedy-drama about a family whose patriarch dies under suspicious circumstances and an eccentric detective who’s tasked with figuring out the truth. However, rather than having the film be a straightforward hard-boiled noir story, Johnson borderline parodies the genre, with hilariously hyperbolic characters moving the twisty plotline along with on-the-nose dialogue and wit.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lionsgate/knives-out/knives-out-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Original Official Trailer for “Knives Out”

These funky characters are portrayed by an all-star cast. Foremost, Daniel Craig plays the detective: a super-serious, inquisitive leading man dead-set on unraveling the mystery. Endearingly, Craig almost seems to poke fun at himself in this role, mocking his own performances as the latest, ultra-stoic version of James Bond.

Standing alongside Craig as members of the family are Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer, and many others. Additional recognizable faces in the film include that of young Jaeden Martell from “It,” veteran Don Johnson from “Miami Vice” and legendary puppeteer, director, and actor Frank Oz, who reprised his famous role as Yoda in Johnson’s last Star Wars film.

Although it Came after Great Success Elsewhere, ‘Knives Out’ is Certainly a Passion Project Worth the Wait

Johnson first pitched the idea for “Knives Out” way back in 2010. He wanted to create a classic murder-mystery style film, drawing inspiration from Agatha Christie stories and retro thriller-comedies such as “Murder On The Orient Express” and “The Private Eyes.” The film was not officially announced until September 2018 and began filming in October 2018, wrapping at the end of the year.

“Knives Out” finally premiered at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival and met excellent reviews, being praised for its originality, humor, and star-studded performances. While the film mostly satirizes the bygone murder-mystery genre, it manages to keep the audience engaged and interested all the same. To sum it up in a word—critics deem the film incredibly fun, a thrilling treat bound to make viewers smile and enjoy themselves throughout.

So before we settle in for Johnson’s new Star Wars project, let’s return to something in the spirit of his earlier, indie-style work. Let’s be reminded of the filmmaker’s affinity for screenwriting, comedy, and getting the best out of talented actors. Let’s put franchise fandom and studio divisiveness on hold for a minute and have some fun.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Trailer for Apple Original Film ‘The Banker’ just released: hits Theaters first, then AppleTV+

Video November 4, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/apple/the-banker/the-banker-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “The Banker”

Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson Star in Period Drama focused on the Real Estate Accessibility Issues African Americans Faced in the 1960s

Based on a true story about Bernard Garett and Joe Morris, Apple’s upcoming original film will take a look inside their plan for African Americans to gain access to real estate deals and bank loans during the 1960s.

This plan included hiring a white front man for their real estate and banking endeavor, while they posed as a janitor and chauffeur, to establish a loan business for African American homebuyers who otherwise had restricted access to finances, which were virtually owned by every other white man in America. However, their incredible success eventually brought their business to the federal government’s attention, which led to the case, Bernard S. Garett and Joseph B. Morris v. United States of America, that shut them down.

“They were charged in a two-count indictment. The first count alleged a substantive violation of the statute; the second charged a conspiracy to violate the statute in the same manner. They were convicted on both counts and received concurrent sentences.”
Bernard S. Garrett and Joseph B. Morris, Appellants, v. United States of America, Appellee, 396 F.2d 489 (5th Cir. 1968), Justia US Law

After its limited theatrical release beginning on December 6th for the film to qualify for awards season, it will be available to stream on AppleTV+ a few weeks afterwards in January. It’ll be the third to follow Apple’s theatrical release schedule after “The Elephant Queen” in October and “Hala” in November.

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Breaking News, Climate Solutions, Earth and Ecology, Lifestyle, News

Climate Change fuels California Wildfires as Photochemical Smog evolves into Smoke in LA

November 2, 2019 Madison Santel

Pollution in DTLA from the 60s to Now: Smoke is the New Smog

Throughout the nineteen sixties, seventies, and eighties, a dark layer of photochemical smog clouded downtown Los Angeles. Produced by carbon emissions, this toxic smog came to define the city in many unflattering ways. Today, the smog is not as noticeable, however, a new kind of cloud has arrived to mask the face of La-La-Land yet again.

This time around, the cloud is composed of smoke from wildfires, and while this leftover smolder from burning forests may not be as immediately caustic as yester-decades’ smog, it could be more dangerous all the same, for it is a sign of California’s increasing vulnerability in the presence of the climate crisis.

Seasonal Wildfires in California Exacerbated and Turned Catastrophic by Climate Crisis

Wildfires in California, like hurricanes in the Deep South or blizzards up north, are somewhat seasonal. After a long, hot, and dry summer, the fires are only now starting to pick up, with an inordinate number of them taking place in the mountains around L.A. since the beginning of autumn. The region’s exceptionally arid landscape this time of year only helps the fires grow and travel at faster rates.

The reasons for these wildfires can vary, from natural causes to someone dropping a cigarette in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many of them are sparked by something immediate and unfortunate. However, their range, frequency, and ferocity can be linked to global warming—especially over the past few years, as the fires have become more intense and the effects of the climate crisis have been increasingly perceptible.

Indeed, a simple wayward cigarette could ignite a wildfire, but how much damage that fire does is determined in part by something far more elemental. As the climate crisis heats up the earth, things naturally become more flammable. The ecosystem is meant to respond to temperature spikes with additional moisture. Unfortunately, we have not experienced such compensation yet, and with the climate crisis being an unnatural phenomenon, it is unwise for us to expect the planet to respond in natural ways.

Wildfire Prevention is More than Putting Out a Spark, it’s Environmental, and California’s is Highly Flammable

Thus, a small spark can easily kindle a fire that quickly spreads over dry foliage with the wind. Although Los Angeles itself is celebrated as a land of perfect weather, its surrounding canyons produce gusts of wind up to 80 miles per hour. Because climate change has been significantly limiting nature’s innate defense mechanisms, the average area affected by wildfires has increased almost four-fold over the past few decades.

Likewise, longer droughts are also making California’s fire season lengthier. The season is an estimated two months longer than it was in the 1970s, and the longer the season, the more destructive it can be. California’s six most intense seasons on record have all occurred in the past decade, and fifteen of the twenty most extreme individual fires have all taken place since the year 2000.

Official Red Flag Warnings, Evacuations, and Power Outages? Only a Precursor to Future Extremes

Just last week, the fires caused the National Weather Service to issue its first extreme red flag warning ever. A testament to how bad California’s fires are, this unprecedented warning shows that the recent wildfires are on par with some of the worst storms and tornadoes in our country’s history. In fact, they may be even more treacherous.

Californians and Angelinos in particular have already faced evacuations and power outages as results of the fires—and that is just over the past few weeks. President Trump, rarely a champion of progressive environmental policies, has hardly addressed the issue as California’s state government scrambles to combat the blazing infernos on its own. Despite the situation’s intensity, though, it is but a bleak microcosm of what the future may look like if the climate crisis continues to go unchecked by politicians.

From Smog to Smoke, the Only Difference is the Extent of our Unnecessarily-Long Relationship with Pollution

The fires are at their worst in the canyons and hills surrounding Los Angeles, but from downtown, residents can notice the smoke blocking the mountains on the horizon. The air is filled with the pungent smell of burning wood and the skyline becomes hazier each day, returning the city to its smog-infested image of former decades.

Given that the smog was the result of fossil fuel burning and the fires are fueled by the climate crisis today, we can see that their resemblance is familial, and that the smoke from the California’s wildfires are the deformed son, the resurrected corpse, the Frankenstein’s monster of the undead smog and carbon emissions that we continue to carelessly release into our planet’s atmosphere.

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Climate Solutions, Observation

Climate Change: is Celebrity Climate Activism a Paradox or Wakeup Call?

November 2, 2019 Madison Santel

Does Admitting To Hypocrisy Absolve Celebs Who Support The Extinction Rebellion?

Earlier this week, many celebrities signed a letter admitting to being hypocrites for living high-carbon emission lifestyles while still advocating for environmental reformation. Put together by the Extinction Rebellion climate activist group, the letter speaks from the point of view of a celebrity activist. It acknowledges the fact that celebrities live environmentally inefficient and luxurious lives, often involving private flights, heavy transportation, and immense resources.

Nevertheless, the letter is not an apology. In fact, it is not even a promise for personal improvement. It is simply a statement, an acknowledgement from those who signed it that despite their environmental imperfections, they will not be silenced and will continue to fight for climate action. It explains that celebrities may indeed be hypocrites, as the entertainment industry oftentimes leaves a huge carbon footprint. However, it states that this should not change the fact that politicians must listen to science and prioritize policies that combat the large, systemic environmental issues at hand.

All of this rings true and fair, but a lingering question still remains—does this admission of hypocrisy really absolve these celebrities from not doing their individual parts and leading such environmentally destructive lives?

Enacting Change takes more than Rhetoric – Action by Governments and Industry must be Demanded

Of course, climate crisis is such an enormous issue that in order to effectively combat it, action must take place on a global, intergovernmental level. At the same time, though, doesn’t every individual also have a responsibility for leading an environmentally conscious life?

The idea that the letter would preemptively remove the accusation, so often used by the media, that celebs are nothing more than hypocrites and should stay out of politics is a good one. Ultimately, even the richest and most privileged among us will suffer when the earth is destroyed. Through their special influence and status they must push even harder for systemic change at the level of government and industry.

Celebrities Can and Need to do So Much More than Bring Awareness

None of this is to say that celebrities should give up their efforts to speak out about the climate crisis. Celebrities can be immensely influential people, and therefore their words could very much instigate positive change. Nevertheless, the letter gesture cannot help but feel a little conceited. After all, given these celebrities’ influences, their personal actions could speak just as loud as their words.

Established actors and filmmakers who signed the letter could create change within their unions to make the entertainment industry less wasteful. The same could go for musicians, athletes, models, broadcasters, designers, and public figures in all walks of life. Given their position, these figures’ actions could do much more than the average citizen’s efforts to turn off the lights, recycle, or invest in a hybrid car. Celebrities can use connections in their fields and beyond to instigate tangible, large-scale changes. This tactic could effectively combat the issue on the systemic level that they advocate for.

Over a hundred celebrities have signed the letter so far. Among the famous names are actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Thom Yorke, and Jude Law, Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron, Adam Clayton of U2, David Byrne of The Talking Heads, and many, many more. Obviously, we applaud these celebrities for being vocal about the climate crisis and using their influence to combat it. At the same time, though, hopefully that this letter does not act as a modern moral indulgence, and that they realize this admission to hypocrisy is at least a first step in taking on more and bigger ecological responsibilities.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

The Much-Anticipated ‘Frozen II’ is a Predicted Hit Sure to Bring Disney Animation Out of its Cold Shadows

Video October 30, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-3_h1080p.mov

New Official Trailer for “Frozen II”

The Current Successes of Disney’s Imperially Strategic IP Expansion Overshadows its Origins as ‘Walt Disney Animation Studios’

With Disney+, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar movies dominating Disney’s current agenda, it can sometimes be hard to remember that Walt Disney Animation Studios still exists and produces its own titles. Not only that, but for several decades Walt Disney Animation was essentially what fueled the company. Since the days of Walt himself, Disney’s animation department is what made the company stand out, producing revolutionary cartoons from the groundbreaking Alice Comedies, to Mickey Mouse’s initial appearance in “Steamboat Willie,” to the first animated feature, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.”

Over the years Disney Animation has had its peaks and valleys. From the 1930s through the 1960s, the department created countless classics, with titles such as “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more. Following Walt’s death in 1966, the company faced some difficulties with corporate competition and creative transformations. 1989, however, kicked off what is known as the Disney Renaissance with “The Little Mermaid,” and across the 1990s, Disney Animation rose back to the top with stunning new cartoon movies from “Aladdin,” to “The Lion King,” to “Mulan,” to “Beauty and the Beast,” and so on.

After the Notorious Pixar Acquisition, Disney’s Original Animation Studio has Struggled to Compete with its Own Company

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

2ND OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “FROZEN II”

In the 2000s, Disney’s acquisition of Pixar pushed Walt Disney Animation Studios down to being a secondary cartoon juggernaut in its own company. 2D animated features fizzled out with the 1990s Renaissance, as Pixar’s 3D animation became mainstream with one successful project after another.

Disney Animation struggled to make its own transition to 3D animation throughout the decade. Early titles such as “Chicken Little,” “Meet The Robinsons,” and “Bolt” were fun, but far from the Disney standard, and they paled in comparison to Pixar’s releases. It wasn’t until 2010 that Disney Animation had its first glimmer of 3D style reformation with “Tangled.”

Disney’s live-action remakes of its 1990s classics may overshadow its Animation Studio’s place across the 2010s. Nevertheless, Walt Disney Animation Studios has quietly been making a comeback in our current decade, with creative, original stories that have done well on both critical and commercial fronts—and if “Frozen II” meets the success it anticipates, then it could solidify the fact that we are living in a second Disney Animated Renaissance.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/frozen-2/frozen-2-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

ORIGINAL OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “FROZEN II”

Second Installment will Strive to Match the much loved Original

Although “Tangled” was a fair initial entry for Disney Animation in the 2010s, and they followed it up well with “Wreck-It-Ralph” in 2012, it was not until 2013 that the department struck gold with the empowering, fantastical, and sensational “Frozen.”

Revitalizing the Disney Princess genre with a few modern twists, “Frozen” was a bona fide hit. It was one of the most successful movies of the year and did wonderfully in ancillary markets, with characters that made for popular toys and musical numbers that made their way into everyone’s hearts. It’s song “Let It Go” won Best Original Song at the 86^th Academy Awards, not to mention that the movie as a whole won Best Animated Feature.

Both children and adults appreciated “Frozen” and its bubbly aesthetic was reminiscent of Disney’s traditional animation style, only updated for the modern 3D appeal. The company carried this look into 2014’s “Big Hero 6.” Based on Marvel comics, but not being a part of Disney’s live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Big Hero 6” may not have had the cultural impact that “Frozen” did, but fans and critics loved it. It earned Walt Disney Animation another Best Animated Feature Oscar, making the company back-to-back champions in the category and proving that “Frozen” was not a fluke.

The studio won again in 2016 with “Zootopia,” and received a nomination for “Moana” that same year. Like “Frozen,” “Moana” was a princess movie with an infectious soundtrack and received lots of attention for its celebration of Polynesian culture.

Last year, the company released its first sequel in this contemporary animation cycle: “Ralph Breaks The Internet.” This movie earned Disney Animation another Oscar nomination, showing that they could pull off sequels and giving us reason to believe that “Frozen II” can live up to its predecessor.

Will ‘Frozen II’ Launch Another Disney Animation Renaissance?

And thus, we come full circle. Under our very noses, Disney Animation has pieced together a library of contemporary classics and placed themselves back in the game of major animation studios. “Frozen II” comes out November 22. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee return from the original as directors along with voice actors Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad. Like the first film, “Frozen II” will focus on sisterhood and wintery magic, but will add more universe building and fantastical elements to the storyline.

So, are we in a second Disney Animation Renaissance? It seems too early to tell, really. Unlike the first Disney Renaissance, Disney Animation is not yet the number one studio in town; it is still behind Pixar and Illumination at the moment. Likewise, despite its recent successes, Disney Animation does not currently define Disney like it did in the past. At the moment, Disney is largely defined by its vast intellectual properties and acquisitions; its animation department is but a tertiary element. Still, Walt Disney Animation Studios is currently pointed in the right direction and has subtly been making progress over the decade. They also just recently signed directors for four additional upcoming film projects. 2019 has already been one of the most financially successful years for Disney, and “Frozen II” is likely to skyrocket them to astronomical heights. If the sequel is as commercially successful and culturally impactful as the first “Frozen,” then it could very well put Disney Animation back in the running for a self-revitalization.

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Lifestyle, Music, Tech

How will 5G Technology and Ultra High Resolution Audio Quality affect Music Production?

October 30, 2019 Madison Santel

Back to the Future: Digital Resolution to Rival best Analog of the Past?

With the oncoming advent of 5G technology and the increasing availability of 24-bit audio quality, consumers will soon be able to listen to music that sounds better and do so with greater ease. 5G will make streaming more efficient and the advantage 24-bit resolution over the MP3-standard 16-bit will make all kinds of music more sharp and whole sounding. For the first time in the digital age, there will be a significant evolution in how we hear music.

How these new technological innovations will change the music industry on the consumer end is more-or-less predictable. About a month ago, Amazon was the first major company to baseline high-resolution quality across its music streaming services. Amazon’s success, as well as that of other companies who employed this superior quality, proved that listeners notice the difference are willing to pay for better audio. Therefore, once 5G makes high-res music more accessible, it will raise expectations.

What people are currently overlooking regarding this innovation, however, is the question of how high-res and 5G will change music on the production end. When CDs were first introduced in the 1980s and everything had to be converted, many albums and tracks were remastered for the new medium. The same thing happened with the arrival of the iPod in 2001. Music became digitized. No longer were songs ingrained in the vinyl of a record, but rather stored in pixels on computers.

24-bit audio may not warrant equally radical changes, but it very well could affect how musicians and producers chose to make and mix new content. Consumers’ ears will soon grow accustom to this new quality, so when future tracks are released, they will have to be fit for this new standard.

As we inch ever closer to Biological Parity with our Senses, Pleasure can’t be Far Behind

On the simplest level, this introduction of higher-quality audio might just make our music sound a little bit more full. On the other end of the spectrum, however, these changes in tech could herald in entire new genres. Over the past two decades, as computers, phones, and MP3 players became the most popular platforms to listen to music on, there has been a noticeable correlated change in mainstream music. Hip-hop and rap have had renaissances in the twenty-first century, and EDM and dubstep are all but products of the digital age.

These latest 5G and 24-bit improvements in how we hear and appreciate music could bring about similar stylistic transformations. As quality increases, musical tastes can change, and innovation can come about as a result. Who will create this new kind of music and what it will sound like is impossible to foresee. Such is where artistic ingenuity comes into play. At its core, music remains one of the original essential art forms. No amount of technology can change that, but the artist can understandably embrace the technology to advance the craft and discover new horizons.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Fighter Tubman’s Harrowing Journey to Escape Slavery is chronicled in ‘Harriet’

Video October 29, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/focus_features/harriet/harriet-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

official trailer for “harriet”

Kasi Lemmons Aims High With Ambitious Historical Drama Based Off Harriet Tubman’s Extraordinary Life

Actress and director Kasi Lemmons has been a champion of black American cinema for a while now. Ever since she won the Best First Feature Independent Spirit Award in 1997 for “Eve’s Bayou,” she has been making stellar films starring predominantly black casts focusing largely on black experiences.

Diverse, Seasoned Crew Behind the Camera Adds to the Film’s High Expectations

On November 1^st, her latest and most ambitious project in that same vein will hit theaters. “Harriet” is Lemmons’ fifth movie and it tells the story of Harriet Tubman. Part bio-pic, part heritage film, and all parts historical drama, “Harriet” focuses on the slave-turned-abolitionist’s radical acts of unparalleled bravery in the pre-antebellum era that solidified her as a hero in one of America’s darkest hours.

Making a movie about Harriet Tubman is a bold undertaking. When the project was first proposed in 2015, Viola Davis was supposed to direct and star in it. Once that fell through, though, it was handed off to Lemmons. Given her filmography and her academic background—she briefly studied history at UCLA—Lemmons seemed like the perfect fit for the job. Gregory Allen Howard also wrote the story for “Harriet.” A black screenwriter from Virginia, Howard has written other race-themed films such as “Remember The Titans” and “Ali.”

Controversy over Heritage and yet Critics point out lack of Innovation and Pace

Nevertheless, when a movie centers on such a complicated period and such an iconic figure, even the biggest feet can struggle to fill the shoes. “Harriet” had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and although Focus Films picked it up for distribution, the movie received nothing more than adequate reviews, getting criticism for being slow and offering nothing new to the biopic genre.

Likewise, even before the movie even came out, Black American activists groups backlashed and protested the film for Cynthia Erivo playing the title character. Erivo is Nigerian-American, and while she is certainly black, she does not have any lineage of enslavement in the United States. Many black activists expressed distaste for this casting decision, deeming it inappropriate for a woman with no slavery in her ancestry to play one of the most important black abolitionists of all time.

The Film’s Release Date could allow for ‘Harriet’ to find a Niche

On the other hand, to the film’s benefit, it will be coming out on a somewhat sleepy weekend at the box office. On November 1^st, its competition will be “Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Arctic Dogs” and “Motherless Brooklyn.” None of these films are really similar, and therefore “Harriet” will be able to stand on its own.

Shortly afterwards, though, “Doctor Sleep” will come out on the 8th and then Disney+ will launch on the 12^th, both of which may dwarf “Harriet” in terms of audience size.

Being an indie-film from a longtime indie director, it is unlikely that “Harriet” was made with the intention of breaking the box office. Still, it would be shame for a movie that chronicles such an important story to go unnoticed.

It goes without saying that Harriet Tubman deserves a movie made about her, one that is truthful to her remarkable life and celebrates all of the courageous acts she committed for America’s enslaved people. Evidently, however, even with the right director and writer, creating such a movie is incredibly difficult.

For a mix of reasons, some of them within and some of them outside of her control, Kasi Lemmons may have bitten off more she could chew with this project, and the final product may unfortunately reflect something below her talents and beneath our ungraspable expectations.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Matt Damon and Christian Bale recreate Le Mans circa 1966 in ‘Ford v Ferrari’

Video October 29, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox/ford-v-ferrari/ford-v-ferrari-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Ford v Ferrari”

Money, Cars, Engineering, Sexy Racing scenes, what could go wrong?

From “Logan” and “Walk The Line” director James Mangold, “Ford v Ferrari” follows the true story of American engineer Carroll Shelby who is solicited by Henry Ford II to build a car that can beat Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship in France. Shelby, determined to complete Ford’s ambitious task, insists on putting the wild and loose British driver Ken Miles behind the wheel. What ensues is the fast-playing tale of a couple eccentric and erratic people infiltrating a world filled with professional industrialists to take on the impossible.

Matt Damon will play Shelby in the film and Christian Bale will play Miles. Rather than one being the lead and the other being a supporting role, both actors are co-leading the film, making them both eligible for Best Actor in a Leading Role nominations at the Oscars come February.

With Two Top Tier Hollywood Veterans Co-Leading, Will this mean “Damon v Bale” at the Oscars?

Neither Damon nor Bale is a stranger to the Academy Awards. They each have a trophy and several nominations under their belts. Bale won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in 2010’s “The Fighter.” He was nominated in that same category for his 2015 performance in “The Big Short,” and has two Best Leading Actor nominations for 2013’s “American Hustle” and 2018’s “Vice.”

Damon on the other hand has never won an Oscar for acting. His only win was for 1997’s “Good Will Hunting” in the Best Original Screenplay category. That same year, however, he was nominated for Best Actor in “Good Will Hunting” and received the same nomination eight years later for his role in “The Martian.” He also earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in 2009’s “Invictus” and a best picture nomination for producing “Manchester By The Sea” in 2016.

Both actors are evidently prestigious and immensely talented. At the same time, though, it is safe to assume that they are also both hungry for that Best Leading Actor award. If they both deliver in “Ford v Ferrari,” then it could become Damon v Bale at the Oscars.

June Release pushed back and now will fight Streaming Wars for Audience Attention

“Ford v Ferrari” debuted at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this year and played again at the Toronto Film Festival. The film received favorable reviews following both festivals. In particular, critics praised the movie for its race-like rhythm and the performances from its two stars. Additionally, while Mangold’s previous work has been generally dark in tone, “Ford v Ferrari” has an upbeat energy and a good sense of humor.

Under the banner of 20^th Century Fox, the movie was originally scheduled to come out on June 28^th. However, after the merger between Fox and Disney, the release date was pushed back to put it closer to Hollywood’s awards season. It’s new November 15^th release date does not give it much rivalry for opening weekend at the box office. However, it is sandwiched between the release of “Doctor Sleep” the week before and “Frozen 2” the week after. Likewise, Disney+ comes out on the 12^th, which could very well keep people away from the theaters for a few days. Thus, when it comes to “Ford v Ferrari,” the key word may be competition. It is a movie about the clash between two automobile tycoons, focusing on the strained relationship between a radical engineer and a hostile driver. Furthermore, upon release, “Ford v Ferrari” will have to prove itself against other forms of entertainment coming out in November, and come award season, we may see Damon and Bale taking the stage against each other for their two performances in the same film.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

Seven New Trailers Just Released: Star Wars, Bloodshot, Arctic Dogs, Autonomy and more

Video October 24, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lucasfilm/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-trailer-3_h1080p.mov

New Official Trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

A bunch of new trailers just came out – here’s a preview of what’s coming in for the rest of 2019 and beyond:

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/lucasfilm/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Number 1: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. No one’s ever really gone… Rey’s journey continues and the Skywalker saga concludes in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” coming December 2019.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/cold-brook/cold-brook-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “COld Brook”

Second: Cold Brook. This is the story of two ordinary guys in a small town who embark on an extraordinary adventure. It’s a story about coming home, which is something that everyone, everywhere has an innate desire to do.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-rise-of-jordan-peterson/the-rise-of-jordan-peterson-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Rise of Jordan Peterson”

Third: Rise of Jordan Peterson. A rare, intimate glimpse into the life and mind of Jordan Peterson, the academic and best-selling author who captured the world’s attention with his criticisms of political correctness and his life-changing philosophy on discovering personal meaning. “The Rise of Jordan Peterson” intimately traces the transformative period of Peterson’s life while visiting rare moments with his family, friends and foes who share their own versions of the Jordan Peterson story.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/girl-on-the-third-floor/girl-on-the-third-floor-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Girl on the Third Floor”

Fourth: Girl on the Third Floor. In this slow-burn haunted house movie, Don Koch is an inadequate husband who tries to renovate a rundown mansion with a sordid history for his growing family, only to learn that the house has other plans of its own, especially when a mysterious and seductive woman appears and refuses to leave.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/autonomy/autonomy-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official trailer for “Autonomy”

Fifth: Autonomy. In this brief history of the development of self-driving cars, we see an even-handed look at the pros and cons of giving up human control for something that has been a significant part of people’s lives for more than 100 years. “Autonomy” suggests that we are at a significant cultural and economic turning point.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/arctic-dogs/arctic-dogs-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Arctic Dogs”

Sixth: Arctic Dogs. Hawkeye’s Jeremy Renner gets animated as Swifty, an Arctic Fox who works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service. But, he has much bigger dreams: he yearns to become a Top Dog, the Arctic’s star husky.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/sony_pictures/bloodshot/bloodshot-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “Bloodshot”

Seventh: Bloodshot. Vin Diesel plays Ray Garrison, a slain mobster, who is re-animated with superpowers.

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Cutting Edge, Tech

Elon Musk Celebrates: Starlink Satellite Landmark Tweet, Boring Company LV Tunnel Progress and Tesla Snags Model 3 Award

October 23, 2019 Madison Santel

Tweeting from Space – Starlink Makes Significant Strides

Elon Musk just posted from his twitter using a SpaceX launched Starlink satellite. The message, which could be seen by his 28.8 million followers highlights the steps towards making space-based internet service a real possibility on Earth. Perhaps this will be like Edison’s “Watson come here I want to see you”. Seems like “Whoa, it worked”, would be more appropriate in both cases!

Whoa, it worked!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 22, 2019

The Starlink project has been set in motion and is making good progress in launching a network of broadband satellites to provide connectivity globally, most notably to include areas that lack reliable access to high speed internet connection. The first part of the internet network launched May 2019, deploying 60 Starlink satellites.

SpaceX has recently made a request of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to launch an additional 30,000 satellites into orbit (bringing the total to 42,000), which is a significant hike from the previously planned number of 12,000 already approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Boring Company’s Las Vegas Convention Center Loop Project in Full Construction Phase

The contract between the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Board of Directors and The Boring Company to design and construct a twin-tunnel loop system for the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) has entered its full construction phase.

Currently, it’s on schedule to be refined and ready for the Consumer Electronics Show at LVCC in 2021. Upon completion, the LVCC Loop will provide fast and convenient transportation for convention attendees across the campus through autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs), like Tesla Model X and Model 3 vehicles, at up to 155 miles per hour. Essentially, this shortens a typical 15 minute walk time to as little as 1 minute via the loop transportation system.

Another interesting feature of the site is its ground-level passenger stations, which are designed without elevators. This means that although there won’t be any elevators transporting the AEVs up and down as they transport people, therefore the LVCC loop itself should be much more efficient to build.

Additionally, although The Boring Company has been quite transparent about their project details, what they’ve left up to speculation is the kind of tunnel boring machine (TBM) they’ll actually be using to dig the tunnels. So far, the TBM in question has been transported to the site in segments, so its full assembled identity lies in wait. Will it be a Godot, a conventional TBM tested at Hawthorne, a Line-Storm, a super-fast, hybrid TBM that Musk previously teased us about, or a Prufrock, a noiseless, electrically powered TBM with zero carbon emissions?

Tesla is UK the Car of the Year

Tesla Model 3, the electric, four-door sedan is the most affordable of the Tesla electric vehicles, and it’s recently won four awards from the Parkers Car Price Guide, a well known automative magazine in the UK for “Car of the Year”, “Best Electric Car”, “Best Company Car” and “Best Safety” Award for any vehicle on the market.” Musk recently retweeted about the award.

Tesla Model 3 wins ‘Car of the Year’ award from prestigious UK auto magazinehttps://t.co/jVHvDpLRtu
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) October 21, 2019

Despite lots of (questionable) negative stories in the media, Elon Musk and his various companies and projects continue to amaze, amuse and innovate as the 3 mini-stories above clearly show. Stay tuned for more on these and other Musk projects soon.

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Entertainment, Movies

‘The Current War: Director’s Cut’

Video October 21, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-current-war-directors-cut/the-current-war-directors-cut-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for “The Current War: Director’s Cut”

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Reshoot Aims To Overcome The Weinstein Company’s Creative Stains

At the end of this week, David Glasser’s young 101 Studios will release director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s latest film, “The Current War: Director’s Cut”—and the second half of that title is just as crucial as the first.

“The Current War” first came out way back in 2017, debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival. Despite having an impressive cast featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, and Tom Holland, the film received strikingly negative reviews following the festival. Honestly though, Gomez-Rejon expected nothing else at the time.

‘The Current War’ before the ‘Director’s Cut’ Messed Up by Harvey Weinstein

Although Gomez-Rejon did direct this initial cut, the film was edited under the domineering influence of executive producer Harvey Weinstein. Initially a product of The Weinstein Company, “The Current War” may have been Gomez-Rejon’s vision to begin with, but Weinstein reportedly gutted the project into something that the director ended up feeling ashamed of.

Following the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2017, “The Current War” was scheduled for a worldwide release in December of that same year. However, the #MeToo movement unveiling multiple instances of sexual harassment perpetrated by Weinstein led to the swift fall of the entertainment tycoon, and his renowned company went down with him.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/weinstein/the-current-war/the-current-war-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Original Official Trailer for “The Current War”

“The Current War” was thus stuck in a rare state of pre-release limbo, with its primary distribution company all but vanishing before it could hit screens across the globe. While Gomez-Rejon could have taken this opportunity to bury the past and try to forget about the film’s initial failure, he instead decided to make the most of his unique situation. With Weinstein out of the picture, he resolved to reshoot and re-edit “The Current War” to fit his original vision.

With #MeToo chucking Weinstein out, Gomez-Rejon’s Original Vision is In: A Compelling Story that Does Justice to its Historical Roots

Two years after production first wrapped on “The Current War,” Gomez-Rejon was able to get all of the primary actors back on set in London to help him recreate his cut of the film. The new version includes additional scenes that did not make it past development under Weinstein’s control. Likewise, it refocuses the film as a character-based story rather than a jargony historical drama.

Narratively, “The Current War” is about the notorious rivalry between radical inventors Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Shannon) at the end of the nineteenth century. In the movie’s dramatization of true events, the two visionary minds compete for the honor of lighting the 1893 Chicago’s Worlds Fair, Edison relying on the Direct Current system for electric light and Westinghouse committed to the Alternating Current system. Also featured in the movie will be historical figures such as inventor Nicola Tesla (Hoult), businessmen Samuel Insull (Holland) and J.P Morgan (Matthew Macfadyen), and spouses Mary Edison (Tuppence Middleton) and Marguerite Westinghouse (Katherine Waterston).

The new director’s cut will retain the bones of the same story, but it will tell that story in a way that Gomez-Rejon sees fitting and just. This is why distinctly adding “Directors Cut” to the title, rather than just putting it as an afterthought, is so important. By specifically calling the project “The Current War: Director’s Cut,” Gomez-Rejon is rebranding the film as something separate from the infamous picture that aired at Toronto in 2017.

Of course, this cut would not be possible without a few powerful allies in Gomez-Rejon’s corner. 101 Studio bought the film’s rights in April, promising to spearhead its wide release. Likewise, long time electricity buff, Timur Bekmambetov, director of “Ben-Hur,” “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter,” and “Wanted,” stepped in to help Gomez-Rejon finance the reshoots.

‘The Director’s’ Allies helped make the ‘Cut’, especially Martin Scorsese who Saved the Day

The most prestigious help came from none other than Martin Scorsese, who took over as an executive producer in the wake of Weinstein’s downfall. Unlike Weinstein, though, Scorsese took a hands-off approach to the project, helping out when needed, but letting Gomez-Rejon follow his own path. A director himself, Scorsese had respect for the creative process and did not overstep with his authority as producer.

A few lucky viewers have already attended pre-screenings for “The Current War: Director’s Cut” and the verdict has been positive. Most say that the new version vastly exceeds the quality of its predecessor. So rest easy filmgoers, historians, and electricity connoisseurs, for the story of Edison and Westinghouse may finally be told with justice, and regardless of critical reception altogether, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon will be able to continue his career knowing that “The Current War” exists the way he wants it to.

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Breaking News, News, Tech, Travel

Historic All Female Spacewalk and New Artemis Space Suits Unveiled by NASA

October 19, 2019 Madison Santel

NASA Just Made ‘Her-story’ …

On October 18th, this particular spacewalk became a monumental one because it’s “breaking the galactic glass ceiling” by being the first one conducted entirely by women.

On the 221st spacewalk in support of the space station assembly, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will be replacing a battery/discharge unit that failed to activate on the space station’s exterior. This particular unit is one of many that regulates the solar energy collection charge put into the new batteries that were just installed on October 11th. Thankfully, the unit’s activation failure didn’t hinder station operations or endanger the crew, but once this unit is replaced, the new batteries will be able to provide increased station power.

This milestone, along the road to bringing the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024 through NASA’s Artemis Lunar Exploration Program, is sure to inspire students everywhere, especially young girls who’ve always dreamed of becoming astronauts. Now, they could see themselves on the way to the moon, and perhaps, beyond.

More updates about the spacewalk and as well as additional information about the International Space Station can be found on NASA’s blog.

LIVE NOW: During today’s #AllWomanSpacewalk, we have helmet camera views so that you can see what @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica experience as they work outside of the @Space_Station. Tune in & ask questions using #AskNASA: https://t.co/2SIb9YXlRh
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019

Newly Revealed Spacesuits for Artemis Moon Mission Set for 2024

Two suits were unveiled; one for transit “Orion Crew Survival Suit (OCSS),” also known as a flight or launch and entry suit, and a suit for moon-based activities (Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit), called the ‘xEMU’ variant. The Orion suit is lighter and made to be worn during take-off and landing; the suit will be depressurized when in use but can provide protection in the event of accidental depressurization, as well as thermal and radiation protection. The xEMU suit is made to withstand and survive temperatures that range from -250- and +250-degrees Fahrenheit.

The design’s greatest feature is that of increased flexibility and mobility, allowing astronauts to actually “moon walk” more easily compared to older model suits that was more of a “bunny hop” on Apollo mission with Buzz Aldrin.

Another feature is its inclusive nature, the suit is made to accommodate any sizing and body type.

Artemis and The Next Era of Space Exploration

Artemis comes from the name of the Greek sun god Apollo’s lunar twin sister, and this next mission is justly named after the Greek goddess of the moon.

The upcoming mission to the Moon represents new galactic grounds to be forged, including the first woman on the Moon and American astronauts’ first step onto the Moon’s South Pole, which is a location that no human has ever been before. The accumulated knowledge from the Artemis mission will be used to establish more sustainable missions and to be one step closer to sending humans to Mars.

NASA plans to launch two missions prior to the Moon landing to test their deep space systems. The Artemis 1 is set to launch in 2020 with no crew. The Artemis 2 with an on-board crew is targeted for 2022. And finally, the Artemis 3 is planned for 2024 with the first woman and next man on the Moon.

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News

This Week: Stories from the Climate Crisis, Tech, Tesla, Apple and more

Video October 18, 2019 Madison Santel

Just in case you missed our recent coverage on the intersections of the Climate Crisis, Tech and Entertainment, we’ve compiled a list of articles for you to check out:

Greta Thunberg: Climate Activist focused on Change now, not hopes for an Uncertain Future

Greta Thunberg is a sixteen-year-old Swedish girl who is rapidly becoming a flash point for those in the movement to raise awareness of the global emergency of global warming and climate change.

The Potential of Self-Driving Cars in Entertainment Media: First Foray

While it might be easy to imagine people in self-driving cars perpetually staring at their smart phones or laptops, there is the possibility that entertainment companies could collaborate with vehicle manufacturers to change the very design of vehicles and make car-riding a transmedia experience.

iOS 13 Tips: How to Use and Manage the new Share Menu for iPhone and iPadOS

The share menu can vary from app to app, many use it most often from within Safari or the Mail app, however, for this video, we chose the Apple News app as the operations are essentially the same.

Leonardo DiCaprio headlines Global Citizens Festival, continues fight to raise awareness of Climate Crisis

Leonardo DiCaprio had made several stances against climate change over the years. The actor spearheaded the issue in his 2016 documentary “Before The Flood” and even used the stage during his long-awaited Oscar acceptance speech to talk about the importance of preserving our natural world. Evidently, the man is a passionate environmentalist.

Tesla and Elon Musk are Smiling: Gas Pumps Out, Charging Stations In

The news here, however is that these are stations that have decided to abandon gas, oil and, presumably, gasoline-based auto maintenance for EV charging and convenience. This is a trend that, hopefully, will accelerate.

‘Scandalous’: National Inquirer sets the Standard for Questionable News Coverage

If one even notices the title of the film printed in smaller letters in enormous tagline’s shadows, one might expect that “Scandalous” isa movie about conspiracy theories or some great national collusion that ties all of these pop-culture headlines in some absurd way. However, beneath the title on the poster, seemingly hidden, is the film’s subtitle. It reads “The Untold Story Of The National Enquirer.“

5 New Trailers just Released: Check out the future fare from Sony, Disney and more

This week had a gaggle of new trailers hitting the street so we decided to choose five to showcase and feature in this post.

Eight Movies Out Now you might have missed

Just in case you missed our coverage of recent films, out now in theaters, we’ve compiled a graphic tour of a few noteworthy (or at least to be considered) titles among them.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies, Music

9 Scary Songs that Stand the Test of Time and Epitomize the Essence of Halloween

Video October 17, 2019 Madison Santel

Listen and watch our curated songs below that we have compiled for you. It’s a great way to groove into the Halloween season this October!

1. Time for the “Monster Mash”

The monster mash – bobby “boris” pickett

This novelty song first came out in the early 60’s, and yet it has been remade by the likes of The Beach Boys and punk band The MisFits. The song is narrated by a scientist whose monster rises from the dead to preform a new dance…. “the monster mash”.

2. Who you Gonna Call? “Ghostbusters!”

walk the moon

The Ghostbuster theme song and opening song to the 1984 movie about a team of scientists who, upon accidentally opening a gateway to another dimension and releasing evil spirits to the city, become “ghostbusters”.

3. Stumble into the Rocky Horror “Time Warp”

time warp

Time Warp stems from the horror, rock, comedy, musical, cult favorite movie about a couple that come across an eerie mansion after their car has a flat tire. The night is filled with wild and bizarre characters, including the likes of the one and only Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

4. ‘Cause this is “Thriller!” Thriller Night!

thriller – michael jackson.

In a nearly 14 minute long song, translated into a horror musical, Michael Jackson, while walking home after a movie, is confronted by zombies, gets turned into one, and dances with the horde of the undead.

5. And Let’s Not Forget . . . “The Addams Family”

the addams family – vic mizzy

The theme song for “The Addams Family” was composed for the 1960’s TV sitcom and has been reused throughout its various iterations across time. The family is comprised of Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Lurch, Grandma, Uncle Fester and Cousin Itt.

6. Ever Feel Like “Somebody’s Watching Me”?

somebody’s watching me – rockwell

The song shows a paranoid man, perfect for the Halloween season, with a haunted house theme filled with a floating head, gravestones, ravens and a freaky shower scene reminiscent of the movie Psycho.

7. The Strange One-Eyed “Purple People Eater” Just Wants to Rock ‘N’ Roll in the Band Just like the Rest of Us

purple people eater – sheb wooley

How more bizarre and quintessential for this coming holiday than a one-eye, one-horned, flying, purple people-eater, a strange creature that comes down to earth to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band.

8. “This Is Halloween!” “This Is Halloween!”

this is halloween – danny elfman

The anthem sang by Halloween Town residents in the 1993 animated movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

9. Does a Special Someone Haunt Your Mind? “I Put A Spell on You”

i put a spell on you – screamin’ jay hawkins

This music video is very freaky, channeling a voodoo like mood, casting a spell on a “special” someone and sporting his skull in tow.

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Entertainment, Movies

‘Motherless Brooklyn’: Edward Norton in triple-threat tour-de-force

Video October 15, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/wb/motherless-brooklyn/motherless-brooklyn-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

Official Trailer for ‘Motherless Brooklyn’

Edward Norton Returns to Director’s Chair for 1950s Detective Drama

The last time Edward Norton directed, it was nineteen years ago for a forgotten Ben Stiller romantic comedy called “Keeping the Faith.” Since then, the three time Oscar nominated actor has remained primarily in front of the camera, starring in several iconic movies across the twentieth century and only occasionally dabbling in producing, cinematography, or editing.

On November 1^st, however, Norton returns to the director’s chair once again, this time for a gritty, 1950s detective drama based off of a screenplay he wrote. The film is called “Motherless Brooklyn.” It is an adaptation of a 1999 National Book Critics Circle Award-winning novel by Jonathan Lethem. Norton’s screenplay of the story will go down as his first writing credit.

Starring a Detective with a Disability, Never-Before-Seen on the Silver Screen

“Motherless Brooklyn” is about a private investigator working in mid-twentieth century New York City—Brooklyn, obviously. Played by Norton himself, the private eye is named Lionel Essrog, and despite his daring profession, he is an estranged and lonely man who suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome.

Stuttering, twitchy, and seemingly nervous all the time, Essrog is not your everyday Hollywood protagonist. He is vulnerable and smitten with anxiety, as the movie will show by telling the story from his point of view. Essrog is a new kind of character for Norton as well, for the actor usually plays the serious, smart, but oftentimes devilish lead. Not since “Primal Fear”, where he played a schizophrenic murder suspect, with a severe stutter, has he dabbled in this type of over-the-top character portrayal. That performance was his career debut, and breakthrough, earning a Golden Globe supporting actor win and an Oscar nomination for same.

In the film, Essrog’s only friend is Frank Minna, his mentor played by Bruce Willis. After Minna is murdered, the crux of the story centers on Essrog trying to figure out who done it. Using his condition not as a disability, but as a resource for understanding and analyzing situations, Essrog employs his Tourette’s to his advantage, and they aid him in cracking the case.

Classic Oscar Bait Elements, perhaps, but Will it Play in 2020?

It is a classic detective story with an original twist. Everything about “Motherless Brooklyn” fits in with the bygone noir genre, but instead of having the leading character be overly hard-boiled, he is highly susceptible and must navigate a corrupt urban world while also dealing with his own inner-turmoil.

Alongside Norton and Willis, Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe also star in the film, making the cast pretty star studded. On top of disability, the movie’s themes will also include power, its limits, its ethics, and the layers of depravity that surround it. While the conventional noir genre may be dead in the twenty-first century, those themes have proven themselves timeless. Like any good noir film, “Motherless Brooklyn” is labyrinth-like in its structure and bound to throw a couple of unexpected narrative turns our way.

Although film noir may not be on the brink of a revival, “Motherless Brooklyn” could still be a stimulating project. The movie has clear talent and thematic relevance on its side, and the script is based off of popular source material that feels both familiar and fresh.

Given its 1950s setting and retro noir aspects, “Motherless Brooklyn” is not exactly doing anything to combat a whitewashed Hollywood. However, assuming that the movie handles it with appropriate sensitivity, we applaud Norton for bringing matters of disability to the big screen. Let’s hope that he plays the part with the grace it deserves, does right by the misunderstood trope, and perhaps even demystifies a few assumptions about the condition in the process.

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘The Lighthouse’: Period Drama in pristine black & white Reeks of Sinister Authenticity

Video October 14, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-lighthouse/the-lighthouse-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

official trailer for “the lighthouse”

Robert Eggers Returns to Design another Horror-Period Piece in “The Lighthouse”

In 2015, production designer Robert Eggers pulled off something quite difficult—he successfully blended the horror and period piece genres to write and direct “The Witch,” a critically acclaimed film that deals with supernatural and terrifying phenomena during the early seventeenth century. Mixing these estranged genres together is a challenging feat, but Eggers managed to do it well, earning a name for himself in the movie business.

Egger’s next film, “The Lighthouse”—which he wrote with his brother Max Eggers—will also take place in a bygone era. Set in the 1890s, this upcoming black-and-white horror movie follows the story of two lighthouse keepers as they battle cabin fever, intoxication, madness, mystery, and mayhem on a secluded New England island.

Shines an Eerie Light on stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson

The two lighthouse keepers are played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. These two stars are the only principle members of the cast. There is only one other credited role, and it goes to an unknown actress named Valeriia Karaman who plays a mermaid. Clearly, the movie will deliver on its eerie feeling of isolation.

Still, these two actors could be enough star power to carry the film along. Willem Defoe is a veteran actor at this point. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, most recently getting back-to-back nominations for “The Florida Project” and “At Eternity’s Gate” in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Meanwhile, many may still think of Robert Patinson as a pretty face from the “Twilight” series, and some are suspicious of his upcoming leading role in “The Batman.” However, those who are up-to-date on Hollywood’s indie scene will know that Patinson is a more than gifted actor, as he delivered wonderful performances in both 2017’s “Good Time” and 2014’s “The Rover.”

Both actors have already received praise for their roles in “The Lighthouse,” as the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and critics raved about its beauty, brilliance, and above all, its masterful use of a sinister tone.

Prestigious Blend of Psychological Thrills and Supernaturalism that will Mess with Your Head

The movie is foremost a psychological thriller, as the loneliness of living together on a forsaken island leads the two lighthouse keepers into states of hypnosis and madness, so much so, that they become enemies. This makes the bulk of the movie fit into a certain subgenre of horror. One that bends the audience’s mind with surrealism in the same vein as Darren Arronofsky’s “Black Swan” or Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.”

At the same time, given the character’s hallucinatory states, “The Lighthouse” also becomes a supernatural horror movie. We know from the casting that there will be a mermaid in the film, and the trailer shows us brief, partial images of a tentacled creature—quite possibly a sea monster.

Will these supernatural things really be there in the movie’s diegesis? That is likely up to the viewer to decide. Like many psychological thrillers, it is not always clear weather paranormal events are really going on, or if the characters are just losing their minds.

Black & White Aesthetic brings Artistic Brilliance Reminiscent of Classic Horror Films

Regardless, the black-and-white cinematography gives “The Lighthouse” a very cool look, especially when combined with these mysterious creatures. Of course, the lack of color primarily adds to the movie’s gloomy mood and ominous feeling, but on top of that, it also makes the film look reminiscent of classic Universal horror films, most potently “The Creature From The Black Lagoon.”

Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke also employs contrasting lighting and what seem to be primitive lenses in order to invoke a retro, almost German Expressionist feel. It gives the movie a very raw feeling that gives the audience a sense for the way things were at the turn of the twentieth century.

Robert Eggers impressed us with “The Witch,” and quite frankly, “The Lighthouse” looks like far less of a risk. The movie may send us back in time, but not so far back as the Salem With Trials. Likewise, it is backed by A24, which is essentially the go-to studio for indie projects nowadays. This creates an element of prestige in “The Lighthouse” that we did not quite have in Egger’s earlier films.

This is not a bad attribute. In fact, it is a very good one for both Eggers and the audience. Essentially, we are saying that “The Lighthouse” has a larger appeal, a more promising cast, and a story that will be easier to latch on to. Also, now that Eggers has a bit of a reputation under his belt, he may be more willing to bend some rules within his craft. Of course, there will be twists and turns along the way, but we are confident that “The Lighthouse” will rattle our bones throughout and keep us questioning the truth up until its very end.

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Entertainment, Movies

‘Dolittle’: Robert Downey Jr. in Titular Character with a bunch of animals – Watch Trailer

Video October 14, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/universal/dolittle/dolittle-trailer-1-usca_h1080p.mov

official trailer for “dolittle”

The trailer for the action-packed reimagining of the classic tale of an eccentric doctor who can talk to animals is out now and the film is coming from Universal next year. The colorful cast has many high profile names, including: Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, and many more– but here’s the catch: they’re all animals! In charge of this fantastical comedy is director Stephen Gaghan with music composed by Danny Elfman. Coming to the big screen on January 17, 2020.

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Climate Solutions, Earth and Ecology, News

Leonardo DiCaprio headlines Global Citizens Festival, in Climate Crisis awareness fight

October 11, 2019 Madison Santel

Celebrities Took the Stage at Global Citizens Festival in Central Park…

Leonardo DiCaprio has consistently made strong statements in efforts to raise awareness of the Climate Crisis over the years. The actor spearheaded the issue in his 2016 documentary “Before The Flood” and even used the stage during his long-awaited Oscar acceptance speech to talk about importance of preserving our natural world. Clearly, the man is a passionate environmentalist.

On September 28th, 2019, DiCaprio spoke out about this issue yet again at the Global Citizens Festival in New York’s Central Park. In his address to the festival’s ~60,000 patrons, he reflected on the recent climate strike, paid tribute to its leaders such as Greta Thunberg, and condemned climate deniers.

The actor stated: “Last Friday, young people led the world in strike. Millions of individuals did more than simply walk out of their schools and places of employment. They took a stand. They set an example of true leadership that our planet so desperately needs. These young people have said clearly, definitively and without fear, that the time for inaction is over. Yet, surprisingly, some have reacted to this movement with insulting tweets and negative talking points: individuals that seem to care more about profit and their own self-interests than about your own future. But we know that the climate youth movement is more important and crucial than at any time in human history.”

Contemptuously, he denounced politicians and people in power who refuse to act on the climate crisis, and ended his speech reminding the audience that there is scientific consensus surrounding the issue and that its reality is no longer debatable.

Check out number 16!
Then add your name: https://t.co/aPAK7TCX2A https://t.co/fHCSd266ZI
— The Global Fund (@GlobalFund) October 4, 2019

Worldwide Concern is Expanding as Big Names Help to Draw Attention

In addition to DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Forest Whitaker, Laverne Cox, Kal Penn, Alicia Keys, and Dakota Johnson all spoke at the Festival, each addressing a different cause and delivering a humanitarian message. Meanwhile, musical acts included Queen + Adam Lambert, French Montana, OneRepublic, Ben Platt, Carole King, H.E.R. and more.

The Global Citizens Festival plans on organizing additional events—one on each of the six developed continents. The next one will take place in Lagos, Nigeria and celebrities Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Metallica and Billie Eilish have all expressed interest in appearing at it.

ICYMI: @RepEliotEngel joined thousands of us in Central Park at the end of September to celebrate the #GlobalCitizenFestival and to let Global Citizens far and wide know that he remains committed to ending extreme poverty through strong US foreign aid. #AidWorks https://t.co/8EfWieDdvQ
— Global Citizen Impact (@GlblCtznImpact) October 8, 2019

The New York Festival concluded with Coldplay front man and Festival curator, Chris Martin telling the crowd about the 2020 Global Citizen campaign. The campaign aims to raise money to help the UN reach the $350 billion it needs for its Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

All of this is very ambitious, but change will not come without initiative. The Festival garnered an overall feeling of hope—hope that change can come from the bottom up, and hope for a brighter future lead by passionate people who believe in the possibilities of the human spirit.

https://twitter.com/leo94dicaprio/status/1178199732121985025

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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Movies

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’: Angelina Jolie is Back in Anti-Hero Sequel

Video October 11, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

new Official trailer for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”

Will Sleeping Beauty Spin-off Franchise continue Disney Magic?

Joker is not the only iconic villain getting a feature film this fall. On October 18^th, Academy Award winning actress Angelina Jolie will be returning to the role of “Sleeping Beauty” antagonist Maleficent in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”

While the story of “Sleeping Beauty” dates back to the twelfth century, it was Walt Disney who gave Maleficent her name and famous look in the popular 1959 animated film adaptation. In that movie, Maleficent is the main villain, an evil fairy who curses Princess Aurora to die before her sixteenth birthday—that is unless she is saved by true love’s kiss, which being a Disney princess, she of course is.

Since Disney’s rendition of the classic fairy tale, Maleficent has been a pop-culture icon. For the past sixty years, her greenish face, dark cloak, horned crown, and crow-like aura have made her the embodiment of wickedness. She stands alongside Ursula, Scar, Jafar, and Captain Hook as the greatest Disney villains of all time.

In the 1959 movie, Eleanor Audley provided the voice of Maleficent—the same actress who voiced Cinderella’s evil stepmother nine years earlier. Over the years a few different actresses have taken on the role. Lois Nettleton voiced Maleificent in the 2001 “Mickey’s House of Villains”; Kristin Chenoweth played her in the 2015 Disney Channel TV movie “Descendants”; and several women have portrayed her in different theatrical productions.

“Sleeping Beauty” is certainly a timeless tale, and thus Maleficent is an everlasting villain. However, there is one recent performance of the antagonist that stands above the rest. And that is Angelina Jolie’s.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

ORIGINAL OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Evil Rendition is Part of the Appeal

Jolie first played Maleficent in the 2014 “Maleficent.” This live-action Disney film was an alternate telling of the Sleeping Beauty story with an obvious focus on the villain. Nevertheless, Jolie did not reimagine Maleficent as empathetic. Despite being the main character, Jolie’s Maleficent is as despicable as ever. Fortunately, her haughty, bad-tempered sternness is exactly what makes her so entertaining. While it is incredibly difficult to pull of a live-action performance that does justice to an iconic cartoon character, Jolie has the right amount of attitude and moxie to pull it off.

“Maleficent” was somewhat ahead of its time too, as it came out one year before Disney’s 2015 “Cinderella,” which kicked off the studio’s current cycle of live-action remakes. Today, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” feels a little more expected, as this year has already given live-action reimaginings of “Dumbo,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King” and will get one of “Lady and the Tramp” with the release of Disney+ in November.

While some fans criticize Disney for these constant rehashes, shaming the company for lacking creativity and constantly chasing the easy dollar, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” promises to offer a bit more novelty. Although the story is based off of characters and concepts from “Sleeping Beauty,” its screenplay is original. The narrative appropriately picks up a few years after the 2014 film left off. Princess Aurora is grown up and wants to marry her beloved Prince Phillip. Unenthused about this prospect, Maleficent is determined to put a stop to the wedding, and will employ all the dark magic she has to do so.

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-creating-anicon_h1080p.mov

Featurette – “Creating an Icon”: FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Although not Prime Marketing Focus, Maleficent will be in great company

The story will dig deeper into the Aurora’s royal family, their political ties, and the secret supernaturalism that lurks within the film’s fantastical world. As it is foremost a story about the villain, it will obviously be dark and moody in tone. However, it is still a PG rated Disney movie, so there is bound to be a high degree of playfulness, adventure, and family fun as well.

Returning for the sequel along with Jolie, the young Elle Fanning is reprising her role as Princess Aurora. Juno Temple, Imelda Staunton, and Sam Riley will also be returning from the 2014 film. Joining the cast will be the talented Michelle Pfeiffer, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Harris Dickinson, and Ed Skerein amongst others. Behind the camera, we will also see Joachim Rønning replace Robert Stromberg as director and Ellen Mirojnick replace Anna B. Sheppard as costume designer—the only category that the 2014 movie received an Oscar nomination for.

With all of the live action remakes, record breaking Marvel movies, “Toy Story 4,” and Disney+ preorders, 2019 has been one of Disney’s most profitable years to date… and we are still yet to see what kind of damage “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Frozen 2” do at the box-office. Because of the inner-studio competition, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” will likely not be the company’s most lucrative film of the year. It will also have to go up against “Zombieland: Double Tap” on opening weekend. Nevertheless, with strong marketing, star power, and a considerable fan base, it will likely fare well enough financially, and might just get some positive critical reception as well, all in all being a satisfying project for audiences and Disney alike.

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Entertainment, Movies

‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’: Angelina Jolie is Back in new Anti-Hero Sequel

October 10, 2019 Madison Santel

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Will Sleeping Beauty Spin-off Franchise continue Disney Magic?

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-trailer-1_h1080p.mov

ORIGINAL OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Evil Rendition is Part of the Appeal

https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/disney/maleficent-mistress-of-evil/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-creating-anicon_h1080p.mov

FEATURETTE – “CREATING AN ICON”: FOR “MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL”

Although not Prime Marketing Focus, Maleficent will be in great company

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Climate Crisis Will No Longer Go Unnoticed as Global Civil Disobedience Breaks New Ground

Global Mobilization is Only the Beginning as Celebrities & Everyday People Continue to Join the Cause

From London to the Rest of the World, the Extinction Rebellion Will Not Be Stopped Until Demands are Met

Is Rian Johnson only a Master of the Sci-Fi Action Genre or is he a Jack-of-All-Genres?

The Answer is Yes — He Masterfully Blends Comedy, Mystery, and All-Star Cast For this Fun-Filled Thrill-Ride

Although it Came after Great Success Elsewhere, ‘Knives Out’ is Certainly a Passion Project Worth the Wait

Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson Star in Period Drama focused on the Real Estate Accessibility Issues African Americans Faced in the 1960s

Pollution in DTLA from the 60s to Now: Smoke is the New Smog

Seasonal Wildfires in California Exacerbated and Turned Catastrophic by Climate Crisis

Wildfire Prevention is More than Putting Out a Spark, it’s Environmental, and California’s is Highly Flammable

Official Red Flag Warnings, Evacuations, and Power Outages? Only a Precursor to Future Extremes

From Smog to Smoke, the Only Difference is the Extent of our Unnecessarily-Long Relationship with Pollution

Does Admitting To Hypocrisy Absolve Celebs Who Support The Extinction Rebellion?

Enacting Change takes more than Rhetoric – Action by Governments and Industry must be Demanded

Celebrities Can and Need to do So Much More than Bring Awareness

The Current Successes of Disney’s Imperially Strategic IP Expansion Overshadows its Origins as ‘Walt Disney Animation Studios’

After the Notorious Pixar Acquisition, Disney’s Original Animation Studio has Struggled to Compete with its Own Company

Second Installment will Strive to Match the much loved Original

Will ‘Frozen II’ Launch Another Disney Animation Renaissance?

Back to the Future: Digital Resolution to Rival best Analog of the Past?

As we inch ever closer to Biological Parity with our Senses, Pleasure can’t be Far Behind

Kasi Lemmons Aims High With Ambitious Historical Drama Based Off Harriet Tubman’s Extraordinary Life

Diverse, Seasoned Crew Behind the Camera Adds to the Film’s High Expectations

Controversy over Heritage and yet Critics point out lack of Innovation and Pace

The Film’s Release Date could allow for ‘Harriet’ to find a Niche

Money, Cars, Engineering, Sexy Racing scenes, what could go wrong?

With Two Top Tier Hollywood Veterans Co-Leading, Will this mean “Damon v Bale” at the Oscars?

June Release pushed back and now will fight Streaming Wars for Audience Attention

A bunch of new trailers just came out – here’s a preview of what’s coming in for the rest of 2019 and beyond:

Tweeting from Space – Starlink Makes Significant Strides

The Boring Company’s Las Vegas Convention Center Loop Project in Full Construction Phase

Tesla is UK the Car of the Year

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Reshoot Aims To Overcome The Weinstein Company’s Creative Stains

‘The Current War’ before the ‘Director’s Cut’ Messed Up by Harvey Weinstein

With #MeToo chucking Weinstein out, Gomez-Rejon’s Original Vision is In: A Compelling Story that Does Justice to its Historical Roots

‘The Director’s’ Allies helped make the ‘Cut’, especially Martin Scorsese who Saved the Day

NASA Just Made ‘Her-story’ …

Newly Revealed Spacesuits for Artemis Moon Mission Set for 2024

Artemis and The Next Era of Space Exploration

Just in case you missed our recent coverage on the intersections of the Climate Crisis, Tech and Entertainment, we’ve compiled a list of articles for you to check out:

Greta Thunberg: Climate Activist focused on Change now, not hopes for an Uncertain Future

The Potential of Self-Driving Cars in Entertainment Media: First Foray

iOS 13 Tips: How to Use and Manage the new Share Menu for iPhone and iPadOS

Leonardo DiCaprio headlines Global Citizens Festival, continues fight to raise awareness of Climate Crisis

Tesla and Elon Musk are Smiling: Gas Pumps Out, Charging Stations In

‘Scandalous’: National Inquirer sets the Standard for Questionable News Coverage

5 New Trailers just Released: Check out the future fare from Sony, Disney and more

Eight Movies Out Now you might have missed

1. Time for the “Monster Mash”

2. Who you Gonna Call? “Ghostbusters!”

3. Stumble into the Rocky Horror “Time Warp”

4. ‘Cause this is “Thriller!” Thriller Night!

5. And Let’s Not Forget . . . “The Addams Family”

6. Ever Feel Like “Somebody’s Watching Me”?

7. The Strange One-Eyed “Purple People Eater” Just Wants to Rock ‘N’ Roll in the Band Just like the Rest of Us

8. “This Is Halloween!” “This Is Halloween!”

9. Does a Special Someone Haunt Your Mind? “I Put A Spell on You”

Edward Norton Returns to Director’s Chair for 1950s Detective Drama

Starring a Detective with a Disability, Never-Before-Seen on the Silver Screen

Classic Oscar Bait Elements, perhaps, but Will it Play in 2020?

Robert Eggers Returns to Design another Horror-Period Piece in “The Lighthouse”

Shines an Eerie Light on stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson

Prestigious Blend of Psychological Thrills and Supernaturalism that will Mess with Your Head

Black & White Aesthetic brings Artistic Brilliance Reminiscent of Classic Horror Films

Celebrities Took the Stage at Global Citizens Festival in Central Park…

Worldwide Concern is Expanding as Big Names Help to Draw Attention

Will Sleeping Beauty Spin-off Franchise continue Disney Magic?

Evil Rendition is Part of the Appeal

Although not Prime Marketing Focus, Maleficent will be in great company

Will Sleeping Beauty Spin-off Franchise continue Disney Magic?

Evil Rendition is Part of the Appeal

Although not Prime Marketing Focus, Maleficent will be in great company

News: Climate Solutions, AI, Books, Entertainment and more