#Melissa Kurtz

[disneytva]

Break’s Over! Monsters at Work Sets Disney Channel Move For It's Season 2 Debut

Monsters at Work, returns for season two with a special two-episode premiere on Friday, April 5 (8 p.m. EDT) on Disney Channel as the series moves to the Disney Channel Original branding.

Subsequent airings of the season will move to Saturdays, with two new episodes launching each week beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel and Disney XD, Season 2 will stream Sunday, May 5 on Disney+.

Season 2 guest stars reprising their roles from the Monsters, Inc. franchise include Aubrey Plaza as Claire Wheeler, Nathan Fillion as Johnny Worthington III and Bobby Moynihan as Chet Alexander. Additional guest cast includes Jennifer Coolidge, Rhys Darby, Janelle James, Jenifer Lewis, Ali Wong, Bowen Yang, Paula Pell, Danny Pudi, Cody Rigsby, Jimmy Tatro, Danny Trejo, Joe Lo Truglio and Alan Tudyk.

Brand extensions for the series include a upcoming multiple-single soundtrack with two original songs by Dominic Lewis (Walt Disney Animation Studios "Baymax!", "DuckTales" franchise) from Walt Disney Records slated for the summer.

[aarontveitisonfire]

Broadway Center Stage: Schmigadoon!

 Eisenhower Theater, The Kennedy Center

Based on the hit Apple TV series!

Introducing Schmigadoon!, the world-premiere musical of the Emmy Award®–winning hit show. New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch attempt to save their failing relationship, but instead get lost in the woods and end up trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age musical come to life!

Jan. 31 - Feb. 9, 2025

Price Range

$59.00 – $299.00

Runtime

TBA

Program

Based on the hit Apple TV series!

Introducing Schmigadoon!, the world-premiere musical of the Emmy Award®–winning hit show. New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch attempt to save their failing relationship, but instead get lost in the woods and end up trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age musical come to life! Featuring hits from the Grammy Award®–nominated score—including the Emmy®-winning “Corn Puddin’”—plus exciting new songs!

The Apple TV show Schmigadoon! was executive produced by Saturday Night Live creator, executive producer, and 2021 Kennedy Center Honoree Lorne Michaels. Tony Award® winner Christopher Gattelli (Death Becomes Her, Newsies) will direct and choreograph the new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Emmy® winner and Grammy® nominee Cinco Paul. Schmigadoon! is produced by special arrangement with Broadway Video.

The show will star two-time Tony® nominee Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice, Broadway Center Stage: Spamalot) as Josh Skinner, Sara Chase (The Great Gatsby, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) as Melissa Gimble, Emmy® winner and Tony® nominee Kevin Del Aguila (Yellow Face, Some Like It Hot) as the Reverend Layton, Ann Harada (Cinderella, Avenue Q) reprising her role from the Apple Original series as Florence Menlove, McKenzie Kurtz (The Heart of Rock and Roll, Wicked) as Betsy McDonough, Isabelle McCalla (Water for Elephants, Broadway Center Stage: Footloose) as Emma Tate, Javier Muñoz (Hamilton, In the Heights) as Doc Lopez, Tony® nominee Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!, Mrs. Doubtfire) as Mayor Menlove, Tony ® nominee Emily Skinner (Suffs, The Cher Show) as Mildred Layton, and Ryan Vasquez (The Notebook, Hamilton) as Danny Bailey.

Book, music, and lyrics by Cinco Paul

Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli

Scenic design by Scott Pask

Lighting design by Jen Schriever

Sound design by Haley Parcher

Music direction by Steven Malone

Orchestrations by Doug Besterman

Music supervision by David Chase

Casting by The Telsey Office

This production will feature the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra

Jeffrey Finn is the Artistic Director and Executive Producer of Broadway Center Stage

[raybeanschildrenslit]

Favorite Picture Book - Mother of Sharks

Mother of Sharks Melissa Cristina Márquez, Devin Elle Kurtz (Illustrator) Published 2023 by Penguin Workshop

One of my favorite picture books of late by far is the wonderful Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez with gorgeous illustrations by Devin Elle Kurtz.

This colorful adventure follows a young girl named Melissa, we can most likely agree she is a young version of our author, as she takes a magical journey through the ocean, time, and space with a little Hermit Crab named Jaiba. With text in both English and Spanish, our duo explores the impact humanity has had on the ocean and it's environments as well as inhabitants- with specific discussion on sharks. Meli and Jaiba save a Mako Shark, do research in a library about sharks, and follow a Shark Researcher that looks so much like Meli.

This book is sweet in its art and representation and also plays a role in introducing children to concepts of environmental impact and the role we play in it as well as the research we do to try and right these wrongs. I adore this book for these reasons, plus I am a big fan of Sharks. Children- readers in general- should be able to explore their interests and they deserve to see themselves represented so beautifully through text and image. I adore the color, lighting, and wide two page spreads the illustrator constructed, showing incredible skill and ability in her art. The adventure and messages that prompt these images are so wonderfully handled and it makes me with the story was so much bigger and wider. The author even takes the time to treat us- the reader- with a letter, glossary, resources, and translations at the end of the book.

Text like this would make just general great representation for readers who see themselves reflected in the character Meli as well as readers who need to know that they can find what they love throughout time and space to invest in. This book would also be a great part of an environmental collection as a whole or with particular focus on the ocean- very important discussions to be having given the impact we have has as humans on this earth and what we can do to learn from it and try to take care of its wounds.

I found this book at one of the independently owned shops near me and am thankful for what they have collected and presented to our community. I hope to see Mother of Sharks enter the collections of my jobs.

-Ray 01/11/2024

Márquez, M. C. (2023). Mother of sharks. Penguin Young Readers Group.

------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: Favorite Picture Book Evaluation

Released in 2019, Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide (3rd ed.) by Vardell discusses Evaluation Criteria for Children’s Picture books in Chapter 2. Criteria listed for Evaluation of Children’s picture books include the following according to Vardell: Characters, Plot, Setting, Theme, Style, Illustrations, and Cultural Markers (2019). Let’s use this to evaluate Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez, illustrations by Devin Elle Kurtz.

Characters: We have two major characters in this story: a human child named Meli who loves the ocean more than most anything and Jaiba the hermit crab who guides Meli through the ocean and helps her and readers understand the impact we can have on our environment. Meli stands in as the author as this is a piece of autobiographical content meets the fantastical- she could also represent the reader as an ocean lover wanting to learn and do more regarding the ocean. Jaiba acts as a guide or mentor for us, helping us understand what we can do to better take care of the environment and its inhabitants and that there IS something we can do and be to achieve this.

Plot: The plot follows Meli as she takes one last play in the ocean before returning home that turns into an adventure through the ocean and time with the hermit crab Jaiba as her guide. We discover and enjoy Meli’s love and care for Sharks and the ocean and that there is a place for her to express that and make a difference as she gets older. The plot isn’t heavy on the reader or listener yet we understand what the author is trying to tell us.

Setting: Most of this story takes place in different biomes or areas of the ocean with a few scenes leaving it for an amphitheater, the library, and the beach shore. 

Theme: Even without referencing the letter to the reader in the back of the book, readers can get a sense that this story is about discovering that we can make a difference in the world and even have it be our jobs. That there has been a great impact from humans on natural environments that we need to be aware of, address, and do something about.

Style: The style of this picture book blends fantastical elements of travel through the ocean and time with autobiographical roots in the author’s life and experiences- in a way making biographical/ autobiographical work more accessible for audiences that struggle with or don’t normally gravitate to it. This also is a great sort of middle ground for fiction and nonfiction given the way in which our story is executed and the discussions and information provided throughout and in the back of the book.

Illustrations: Devin Elle Kurtz does an amazing job bringing the imagery of this story to life through fantastical, colorful, atmospheric scenes and pages. Between the text and graphic elements, there is an easy flow to follow and their combination is a treat. Lighting is dynamic and colors intoxicating as we watch the world of the story shift and change from windows of illustrated scenes to enveloping two page spreads; making it one of those stories you really like to just sit and appreciate the artistic element and look for details in it. Of course not all illustrated books need to be this extravagant and all around, wide/ varied in its technical application and execution but it’s a fantastic treat.

Cultural Markers: Things to note between the text and illustrations is that our main character Meli isn’t white. She is Hispanic and this representation is expressed through the way the character is illustrated, through the combination of Spanish and English Text, and having Meli see someone on stage- a female scientist of color- who looks just like her. 

Quote: Jaiba transported us to a theater with cozy red chairs that faced a big shiny stage. Onstage was a woman with wild, curly hair giving a speech. I looked around at the crowded theater and couldn’t believe it; a real-life scientist - and she looked just like me! “Female researchers, especially those of color, are like female sharks lurking in the darkness,” the woman said. “We’re here, but no one is paying attention.” (2023)

-Ray 01/18/2024

Márquez, M. C. (2023). Mother of sharks. Penguin Young Readers Group.

Vardell, S.M. (2019). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.

[lobo-cansado-de-ojos-rojos]

The first time I heard of the Marquis De Sade was watching Fullmetal Panic way back when I was a kid. It was the episode where Melissa Mao and Tessa get into a fight, Mao says something about digging her heels into Tessa and Kurtz calls her Marquis De Sade. Gave my mom a chuckle, I looked up who that was just to get the joke. Dude was also in Assassin’s Creed Unity, they gave him a total Hannibal Lector vibe.

Stop about being below Robespierre on the moral spectrum?

By all accounts, the Marquis de Sade was probably above him

Uh...I never even knew about him before this. Hold on-

*looks up Marquis de Sade*

Jesus Christ. Drugging servants, having orgies with 15 year olds, cutting up a prostitute and sealing her wounds with wax, blackmailing a noblewoman by claiming his sexual disease came from her-

Fucking hell, how did I never hear of this guy before? He's a real piece of work. Though I can see how he probably influenced your style. Still, fascinating in the 'jesus, that's out there.' kind of way and a reminder that those stories of kiddy fucking aren't all that unbelievable.

I do wish to make something clear. I have said somethings more recently that might imply that I think Maxilliem was a good but tragic man through me acknowledging his bouts of moral integrity. I am NOT saying that. If anything, his moral fiber caused him to commit such atrocities because he genuinely believed he was making the world better. He was the DEFINTION of 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions.' And hell, if that Cult of the Supreme Being shit was entirely true, he may not have been all that virtuous. Do not take my acknowledgement of an evil man's occasional virtue as endorsement- that is simply me acknowledging the complexity in humanity.

Now, maybe it's my autism acting up but I'm having a hard time figuring out if you mean to say Sade was worse or better than Robespierre. And honestly- good arguments can be made on both. Do you hate a degenerate individual more or less than a utopian who killed thousands? Do you judge someone's character by how their actions reflect on their person or how they affect others?

Me personally- Both. I don't like either one any more than the other. I would say Robespierre was worse for killing so many, but Sade does such personal acts of sadism I feel my stomach churn. If given a gun and a bullet to shoot one, I would try to position myself to shoot both.

[msbarrows]

Well that was kind of awesome...

My sister sent me an Amazon gift card for Christmas, and since there wasn’t anything physical I felt like spending it on, and I’ve sorted out how to transfer Kindle .AZW files over to my preferred reading software, I decided to blow it on ebooks.

I got a lot more books than I thought I would.

Part of that was from combing through the names of old favourite authors - finding some classic SF that I loved that was being re-released in ebook format at comparatively low prices, like H. Beam Piper’s “Little Fuzzy” and “Fuzzy Sapiens” (though no sign of the much later released “Fuzzies and Other People” in ebook yet). Katherine’s Kurtz’s Camber of Culdi trilogy on for cheap (though I’ll have to wait to get all her other books, because $$$), and Walter Jon Williams’ Drake Maijstral trilogy for only a little more.

Some of it was patience - like guessing that #18 in C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series was likely to drop in price soon as #19 was due for release today - and yup, the price dropped on New Year’s Eve, which gave me something nice to enjoy that evening. Especially as I’d just bought #16 and #17 shortly before Christmas to finish off the gift card balance still remaining from my birthday, and re-read the whole series over the holidays.

Part of it was sheer blind luck - tripping over the 5th Tiffany Aching book (and final Terry Pratchett book) that I didn’t even know existed - I was checking if any of the handful of Discworld-adjacent or children’s books of his that I didn’t have yet were on at a good price. And what an excellent read that was, even if I found myself using up a ton of tissues at an early major plot point.

I’ve also now compiled a lengthy wish list of ebooks to watch the prices of, so I can snag them when their prices are better and/or I get another gift card. Some of it was exciting to see - it looks like Jo Clayton’s works are gradually transitioning over to ebooks, and at least a couple of her series that I loved are entirely available, while her longest series is partially available and presumably will continue to release until complete.

Dave Duncan has a lot of his series available as complete collections so you don’t have to hunt them all down one-by-one. Sean Russell is doing the same (and I made a noise audible only to dogs when I spotted The Initiate Brother duology among them - which was probably my single most expensive ebook purchase so far, though when divided by two and considering the thickness of the original books I am still quite happy with it).

Of course some authors’ series are rather too lengthy to be easily bundled - like Charles de Lint’s Newford books (Goodreads lists almost 30 titles for it), though when I can, I hope to pick up ebook copies of at least some of his earlier standalone books that were my start in reading his works. Because a well-loved book tends to end up dog-eared and falling apart eventually (especially when so many I originally picked up already well-used at Bakka Books back in the day).

I wish more authors’ older works were showing up - for example many of my top favourite R.M. Meluch books are still only available as used dead-tree volumes (and I’m surprised at how much some of my paperbacks are now apparently worth). One of my favourite Melissa Scott books ditto (though I snapped up The Roads of Heaven trilogy edition pretty darn quick).

Though, happily, everything Patricia McKillip seems to finally be making the transition to ebooks as well - now if only I could afford everything Patricia McKillip a second time (already possessing it all in mostly oversized trade paperbacks in near-pristine condition - though I do have a couple of ebooks of hers already too). And if you like fantasy and/or fairytales, and have never read any Patricia McKillip? You need to read some Patricia McKillip!

[publishinggoblin]

The Alleyman’s Tarot is fully compiled (a few spots are subject to change as I have some really late art entries to consider in the next month), but for now the full 133 cards are compiled!

The Alleyman’s Tarot is a 133-card, mismatched tarot deck made up of cards from other tarot decks, old public domain decks, and original cards made by  myself and other artists as standalones.

This is Post 1, the First Major Arcana and the Death Cycle. (Yes, there are two Major Arcanas.)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/713books/the-alleymans-tarot

Follow the Kickstarter here for its launch in mid April!

Card credits in order:

Melissa Gaul - the Fool

Roberto Papavero Crusca - the Magician from the Nigredo Major Arcana

Charlotte Simonsen for Witchin - The High Priestess from the Gold Start Tarot

Neurotic Owl - The Empress

Kollapsar - The Emperor

The Heirophant from the Vieville Tarot

The Heirophant from the Minchiate Tarot

Nate Hillyer - The Lovers from the Phantasma Tarot

Adam J. Kurtz - The Chariot from the OK Tarot

Madam Clara - The Strength 

Aka Skyweb - The Hermit from the Ariadne’s Threat Tarot

The Wheel from the Seravalle Sesia Tarot

Leah Pantea - Justice from her Vindur Deck

Emma Daues - The Hanged Man

Brianna Taylor - Death 

Maanyaa - Death 

Death from the Visconti Sforza

Death from the Cary Yale Tarot

L0ST VEGAS - Death

Death from the Ladies’ Oracle

Death from the Tarot de Charles VI

Death from the Piedmontese Tarot

Death from the Catelin Geoffroy Tarot

Caitlin Peck - The Temperance from the Darlings Tarot

Finsterwalds - The Devil

ISNYR - The Devil

Freya Campbell - The Tower, House of God, and Horizon trilogy

‘‘

‘‘

J Star Designs - The Star

Patrick Spargur - The Moon from the Fox’s Wedding Tarot

Ellis P - The Sun (sigil)

Quynh Tran - The Sun (alpaca)

Whitney Lehn Meltz - The Judgement

The World from a fancy Mincheate French deck

[lobo-cansado-de-ojos-rojos]

My mom loves Bleach, Elfen Lied, Death Note, she really loved You’re Under Arrest, I had Azumanga Daiou on the other day and got some chuckles out of her. Oh yeah, she had Chi from Chobits as her wallpaper on the computer for a while. I remember I had Fullmetal Panic on and she laughed at Kurtz calling Melissa “Marquis De Sade.”

OH! And if you’re looking to get someone into anime who’s not really interested, I’ve watched episode 11 of season 2 of Ghost in the Shell SAC with my other mom and my grandma, and they both asked if they’re was another episode.

So my mom wants to give anime a try what should we watch together?

Everything I watch would be too "anime" for someone starting out.

Eromanga sensei

[inclineto]

Books, November - December 2019

Gilded Cage - KJ Charles [In this case I think the decision to tell rather than show the past is the correct one, but SPOILER has had their edges filed down and I don’t know that I like it. I do like the references to Vanes of generations past, but you knew I would.]

Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder [yes, on the whole her opinions are appalling, but this is only the most exuberantly gluttonous celebration of plenty in 20th century American literature]

Overthrow - Caleb Crain

The World That We Knew - Alice Hoffman

Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World - Emma Marris

I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

Field Notes from a Hidden City: An Urban Nature Diary - Esther Woolfson [“Inviting his friend the geologist Charles Lyell to visit him, [Darwin] wrote, ‘I will show you my pigeons! Which is the greatest treat, in my opinion, which can be offered to human beings.’ (An inducement I’ve been known to use myself.)”]

Gemini - Dorothy Dunnett

Comet in Moominland - Tove Jansson

The Marvels - Brian Selznick [what followed was a great deal of unanticipated post-midnight sobbing] *

Weird and Tragic Shores: The Story of Charles Francis Hall, Explorer - Chauncey Loomis [this book was written 50 years ago, and it really, really shows]

Trouble and Her Friends - Melissa Scott

Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon

The Testaments - Margaret Atwood

Circe - Madeline Miller

Lyra’s Oxford - Philip Pullman

The Secret Commonwealth - Philip Pullman

Thornfruit - Felicia Davin

Are You Listening? - Tillie Walden

The Strawberry Thief - Joanne Harris

Sculptor’s Daughter: A Childhood Memoir - Tove Jansson [”One Sunday I taught Poyu how to escape from the snakes in their big carpet....There are such swarms of snakes there you just can’t describe them, you have to imagine them. Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else’s snakes can ever be as awful.”]

The Role of the Scroll: An Illustrated Introduction to Scrolls in the Middle Ages - Thomas Forrest Kelly

Talk Sweetly to Me - Courtney Milan

Today Will Be Different - Maria Semple

Never Courted, Suddenly Wed - Christi Caldwell [wont may look like won’t, but mean doesn’t it don’t]

Camber of Culdi - Katherine Kurtz

Believe in Me - Ella Quinn

A Fallen Lady - Elizabeth Kingston

Seafire - Natalie C. Parker [dnf]

Saint Camber - Katherine Kurtz [teenaged inclineto was correct; it really is disappointing that all the telepathy and homoerotic wrestling turn out to be expressions of monastically-appropriate brotherly love]

The Traitor Queen - Nancy Faulkner

Pride - Ibi Zoboi

Camber the Heretic - Katherine Kurtz

Moby-Dick, or, The Whale - Herman Melville ***

Emergency Contact - Mary H. K. Choi [endearing AF]

[chrancecriber]

Radio NET Bulgaria (October 08, 2022)

23:56 UNDER THE LAKE - Around The Block 23:52 JAZMIN GHENT - Funk Junk 23:46 EVERETT B WALTERS - It's Yo Time 23:41 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - We'll Meet Again (2022 Version) 23:37 HIROSHIMA - Always Tomorrow 23:34 JESSY J - Una Mas 23:30 ART RUPRECHT - Saving Grace 23:25 JACKIEM JOYNER - Double Bass 23:21 EUGE GROOVE - Tenderly 23:17 JOYCE COOLING - Grass Roots 23:11 LOWELL HOPPER - Whatever It Takes 23:07 HAVILLA KING - Morning Soul 23:04 DAVE BAKER - California Dreaming (feat. Rich Kurtz & Walter Runge) 23:00 GREGG KARUKAS - Hey Witness 22:56 REUNITED - Sing It Back Shazz (Man Chill Mix) 22:52 INNA - On & On (Chillout Remix) 22:47 INUSA DAWUDA - Dreamily 22:41 AK47, TRACY DIAMONDS - It's No Good 22:37 GAELLE - Give It Back 22:33 COASTLINE - Alone With You (feat. Madelin Zero) (Chillout Remix) 22:29 JAY KING - I Want Your Love 22:25 ANDY MOOR, ASHLEY WALLBRIDGE, GABRIELA - World To Turn 22:20 JIM ADKINS - Passing Through 22:14 ANGE - Some Day (Perception Of Sound Mix) 22:10 ARTENOVUM - When You Fall Asleep (Slow Coach Mix) 22:06 GARY B - Time To Slow It Down 22:01 POLISHED CHROME - Secret Of Sound (Album Version) 21:58 ATB, FLANDERS - Behind (ATB's Ambient Version) 21:53 HARD GREY, HOUSE REPUBLIC - Music Sounds Better With You (Eat More Cake Remix) 21:49 PRIME CIRCLE - As Long As I am Here (Cafe D'Afrique Mix) 21:44 BENNY BENASSI - Illusion (Taras Bazeev Chillout Remix) 21:40 NTANA - Wonderful Life (Cafe Buddha Del Mar Bar Mix As Made Famous By Hurts) 21:36 FABERLIQUE, SYNTHETICSAX, K.S.PROJECT - Fantasy 21:32 FILIPE NARCISO - Forbidden Love (Original Mix) 21:28 MORGAN PAGE - In The Dark 21:24 BLANK & JONES, ELLES - Mind Of The Wonderful (Acoustic Version) 21:20 JAY KING - I Once Had Your Love 21:16 KENNY G - My Heart Will Go On 21:12 JIM ADKINS - A Reason to Smile 21:07 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - Seven Devils 21:01 BLANK & JONES, STEVE KILBEY - Revealed (Bliss Mix) 20:55 MICHAEL E - That Night Last Summer 20:48 JOHN DAHLBACK - Everywhere (D.O.N.S. vs. Tranquillo chill mix) 20:44 JOHANNES HUPPERTZ - Freeee 20:39 LITE ELECTRONIC, THREE FACES, AMY K - Firefly (Seven24 & S.A.T Chillout Remix) 20:35 BOB SINCLAR - World Hold On (Acoustic Version) 20:31 LIQUID MOTION - Silent Running 20:28 ENIGMA, SARAH BRIGHTMAN - La Mer 20:24 ANDAIN - Much Too Much (Zetandel Chill Remix) 20:20 DMITRY FILATOV - Sunlight (Incognet Chill Out Mix, English Version) 20:17 JAY KING - Feels So Nice 20:14 PABLO NOUVELLE - You Don't Understand (feat. ALX) 20:10 JIM ADKINS - Soul Expression 20:04 JOSEPHINE SINCLAR - My Privat Island 20:01 20EDDIE THONEICK, SHAWNEE TAYLOR - Live Your Life (Eddie Thoneick Chill Out Mix) 19:55 ANDY SOL & ECOLYTE - Ponse Passing (Original Mix) 19:50 VELVET DREAMER - Sky is Falling (Mo'jardo Remix) 19:45 MICHAEL ANGELO, MELISSA LORETTA - Hearts Unspoken (Christopher Breeze Chillout Mix) 19:41 INERTIA - Get Higher (Antares Chill Mix) 19:37 ABOVE & BEYOND - Blue Sky Action 19:34 JOHN DAHLBACK - Walking With Shadows (Acoustic Version) 19:29 GLOBAL TRAFFIC, CQ PLAM - World Hold On (Acoustic cover) 19:24 ANURAG NANDVANSHI - Soul of India (Chill Out) 19:20 30 SECONDS TO MARS - Bad Romance (Lady Gaga's Cover) 19:16 JAY KING - Breathe (Cami's Song) 19:12 PAT APPLETON - Crimson (Original Mix) 19:09 MASHTI, JEAN VON BADEN - Waiting 19:05 NUERA - Breathing (Chillout Mix) 19:01 JIM ADKINS - Answered Prayers 18:57 PABLO NOUVELLE - Is It Ok 18:52 DASH BERLIN - Listen To Your Heart (Acoustic Mix) 18:48 HEAVN - Bright Lights 18:45 ASKERY - With You 18:41 CUEBRICK - Safe (C-Systems Alternative Mix) 18:37 IT'S DIFFERENT - Tell Me 18:33 LEONA LEWIS - Dip Down (ReUnited Chill Out Mix) 18:30 MOKITA - Monopoly (Acoustic Version) 18:26 KRAAK & SMAAK - Stumble (feat. Parcels) 18:22 ABOVE & BEYOND - No One On Earth 18:18 JOHN DAHLBACK - Shivers (Acoustic Version) 18:14 SHIBUMI - Gemini Love (Kinobe Remix) 18:09 JAY KING - Your Way 18:06 SIRENS OF LESBOS - I Got New Feelings (Pablo Nouvelle Remix) 18:02 MISS B.T. - Right Now (Sweet Lovin' Edit) 17:58 JIM ADKINS - Night Groove 17:54 GUSHI, RAFFUNK - Travel (Lemongrass Couch Remix) 17:50 JOSE SANTONIOS - Spanish Cello (Instrumental Remix) 17:46 GABRIELA MENDEZ FUENTE - Romance in Ibiza (Orchester Lite Edit) 17:42 DREAMLOUNGER - Sunset Dream 17:38 DJ CHART, DOBA, PRINCESS LARISSA - Danger Games 17:34 SARAH MENESCAL - Don't Speak (Reggae Version) 17:30 SNOOP - Breath (Chillout Mix) 17:25 TIGERFOREST - Take Me Home (Lemongrass Blue Ocean Remix) 17:21 VELVET DREAMER - Your Game My Love (Five Seasons Remix) 17:17 GOODVIC - Dreaming Of You (Original Mix) 17:12 GOLD LOUNGE - She's Arriving 17:08 ARNOLD T - Just The Way You Are 17:04 JAY KING - Baby Lets Dance Tonight 17:00 ATB, AMURAI - Love & Light (Downtempo Mix) 17:00 MAX HIGHSTEIN - Open To Receive 16:56 JIM ADKINS - Reflections 16:52 DREAMING IN COLOUR - No More Goodbyes 16:47 MARC ANTOINE - Marco Polo 16:43 EVERETT B WALTERS - It's for the Love of Music 16:39 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - Passing Time 16:35 HIROSHIMA - Groove Latino 16:32 ROB TARDIK - Smile 16:28 ART RUPRECHT - Living in the Son 16:21 GEREY JOHNSON - Slave To The Rhythm 16:17 UNDER THE LAKE - When Autumn Comes 16:12 BLUEY - You Are the One 16:08 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Lullaby 16:04 DEON YATES - No Other Love (feat. Chis Davis) 16:00 CHRIS STANDRING - Have Your Cake And Eat It 15:58 KEN NAVARRO - You Are Everything 15:54 MEKIEL REUBEN - Another Sunday 15:50 DAVE KOZ - Yesterday 15:46 NICK COLIONNE - Nico's Ride 15:42 GREGORY FIELDS - In The Moment 15:38 EVERETT B WALTERS - Chuck's Chunky Fried Chicken Shack 15:34 CHRISTOPHE GOZE - Bossa Roma 15:30 HIROSHIMA - Side Street 15:26 JOHNNY BRITT - Can't Stop (Vocal Version) 15:21 ART RUPRECHT - A Good Thing 15:17 BIRDS OF A FEATHER - See You Soon 15:12 EUGE GROOVE - Religify 15:08 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - Love Crazy 15:04 JACKIEM JOYNER - Sweetness 15:00 ADAM HAWLEY - Can You Feel It (Feat. Marcus Anderson) 14:58 RICHARD BROWN - Stars In My Eyes 14:54 LOWELL HOPPER - Night Drive 14:51 BRAD ALEXANDER - Sunrise on I15 14:47 KEN POWE - College Hills 14:43 CHRIS STANDRING - Qwertyuiop 14:39 BONEY JAMES - Maker Of Love 14:35 GREGG KARUKAS - Fly Away (Thinking of You) 14:31 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Drive Me Home 14:26 KEN NAVARRO - It's Up To You 14:22 CHRIS GODBER - Upward and Onward 14:17 KIM SCOTT - Free To Be (Feat. Jazmin Ghent) 14:14 NICK COLIONNE - Just Being Me 14:09 BAKERS DOZEN - Brooklyn Bound M 14:05 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - Clickin 14:00 EUGE GROOVE - S7ven Large 13:57 JACKIEM JOYNER - Lost Without You 13:52 3RD FORCE - You Gotta Be Real 13:47 THE ALLEN CARMAN PROJECT - Groove Salad 13:43 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - Marrakesh 13:39 KEN POWE - Above The Clouds 13:35 RJC (Rhythm & Jazz Coalition) - Best Part 13:29 CHRIS STANDRING - Liquid Soul 13:25 GREGG KARUKAS - London Underground 13:20 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Stylish Walk 13:15 KEN NAVARRO - A World Of Our Own 13:11 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD - Lover 13:08 CHRIS BIG DOG DAVIS - It's All Love 13:04 NICK COLIONNE - Got to Keep It Moving 13:00 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - Arrival 12:57 AL DEGREGORIS - Cookie Jar 12:51 EUGE GROOVE - Love, Passion And Joy 12:47 CHAZZY GREEN - Because of You 12:43 JACKIEM JOYNER - Share My Tears 12:38 THE ALLEN CARMAN PROJECT - Hearsay 12:33 AVENUE BLUE - Just Goodbye (feat. Jeff Golub) 12:28 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Chill@Will 12:24 ALEXANDER ZONJIC - Rolling in the Deep 12:20 KEN POWE - Wish You Were Here 12:17 ELENA IOUROVA - Autumn Leaf Fall Again 12:12 GREGG KARUKAS - Too Cool (To Be Hot) 12:08 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Made a Way 12:04 CHRIS STANDRING - Love and Paragraphs 12:00 KEN NAVARRO - Wake Up Call 11:58 STEVE COLE - Bright Side 11:54 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - That's It For Tonight 11:49 NICK COLIONNE - Only 2CU Smile 11:45 KENNEY POLSON - Innocence 11:40 PATRICK BRADLEY - Meant to Be (feat. Darren Rahn) 11:37 CHAZZY GREEN - At My Place 11:31 EUGE GROOVE - Faithful Central 11:26 BE'NE MUSIC - Gold Finger 11:22 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Litmus Test 11:18 JACKIEM JOYNER - Step With Me 11:13 KIM WATERS - Dreaming of You 11:09 AL DEGREGORIS - East 86th 11:04 THE ALLEN CARMAN PROJECT - Carmanology 11:00 KEN POWE - First Love 10:56 AMANDUS - Enjoy 10:52 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - Liquorice Pizza 10:47 GREGG KARUKAS - Chasing The Wind 10:43 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Too Much Heaven 10:39 CHRIS STANDRING - CS In The Sunshine 10:34 KEN NAVARRO - In My Wildest Dreams 10:30 STEVE COLE - Woman's Gotta Have It 10:27 NICK COLIONNE - Some Funky 10:23 CHAZZY GREEN - Let's Go Home 10:18 BRIAN SIMPSON - Because of Love 10:15 BE'NE MUSIC - Just You Just Me 10:11 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Presence of Mind 10:04 EUGE GROOVE - Old.Edu (Old School) 10:00 PATRICK BRADLEY - Exhale 09:59 JACKIEM JOYNER - Treasure 09:55 KIM WATERS - Bring It 09:51 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - 1985 09:45 AL DEGREGORIS - Times and Travels 09:42 LE JAZZ COLLAB - On the Tap 09:38 DEE LUCAS - The Time Is Now 09:34 DOMINIC CAMARDELLA - I Long 4U 09:29 GREGG KARUKAS - Riverside Drive 09:25 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Irresistible 09:20 THE V.I.P CLUB - Night Move 09:17 KEN NAVARRO - The Meeting Place 09:13 CHRIS STANDRING - As Luck Would Have It 09:09 CHAZZY GREEN - Work 2 Do 09:05 STEVE COLE - Soho 09:00 BE'NE MUSIC - 120 East 09:00 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Chill@Will (Raincoast Mix) 08:55 EUGE GROOVE - Hey Hey Lil' Lilah Belle 08:51 ERIC DARIUS, NORMAN BROWN - Just For The Moment 08:46 AVENUE BLUE - The Conversation 08:41 ROBERTO RESTUCCIA - With Every Turn 08:38 THREESTYLE, MAGDALENA CHOVANCOVA, ROBERT FERTL - Better Days 08:33 BRIAN CULBERTSON - That's Life (feat. Earl Klugh) 08:29 JACKIEM JOYNER - Unforgiven 08:25 MARION MEADOWS - Dreamin 08:21 3RD FORCE - We Should Be Together 08:17 GROOVE 55 - Brothers 08:13 DEAN JAMES - GroovySax 08:09 R.L. WALKER - Memories Kept 08:05 REBECCA ANGEL - Just the Two of Us 08:00 SAN GABRIEL SEVEN - Moment by Moment 07:58 ROBERT HARRIS - Sign of the Times 07:54 AL DEGREGORIS - All in Good Time 07:49 TIM BOWMAN - Soul Dream 07:45 KEN NAVARRO - In The Sky Today 07:40 NICK COLIONNE - Still Connected 07:36 LES SABLER - Tranquility 07:32 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - If I Told You 07:27 CHAZZY GREEN - It's Time to Play 07:23 MARION MEADOWS - Samba De Playa 07:18 BE'NE MUSIC - Rock Steady 07:13 DANNY LERMAN - No Ordinary Love 07:08 DARREN RAHN - Give 'n' Take 07:04 KIM WATERS - No Sleeep 07:00 PATRICK BRADLEY - Lighthouse (feat. Allen Hinds) 06:55 GREGG KARUKAS - You'll Know it's Me 06:51 BRIAN CULBERTSON - Go 06:46 EUGE GROOVE - Sunday Morning 06:42 BLAIR BRYANT - Catamaran 06:38 JACKIEM JOYNER - Too Good At Goodbyes 06:35 KEN NAVARRO - Summer Smiles 06:30 FREDDIE FOX - Expression Of Love 06:25 ROBERT HARRIS - Easy Like Sunday Morning 06:22 DAVE SERENY - Talk To Me 06:18 MARION MEADOWS - Consequences 06:12 CHAZZY GREEN - Love to Be With You 06:08 2UNES - Rain Forest 06:04 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Vanishing Summer 06:00 DESMOND MEYER - Lickamore 05:56 GIL - You & Me 05:52 AL DEGREGORIS - Hey You 05:48 LES SABLER - Esselle's Dance 05:43 TIM BOWMAN - Boss 05:38 KIM WATERS - 95 North 05:33 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Silky Way 05:29 STEVE COLE - Let's Go! 05:25 JAREZ - If You Don't Mind 05:21 PATRICK BRADLEY - Reinvention 05:16 KEN NAVARRO - My Beautiful Girls 05:12 MARION MEADOWS - No Wind, No Rain 05:09 NICK COLIONNE - The Closer I Get To You 05:04 BRIAN CULBERTSON - Waiting For You 05:00 2UNES - Find Your Way 04:55 ANDY SHITZER - A Few Wild Nights 04:52 BE'NE MUSIC - Im Yours 04:47 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Show Me Another Way 04:42 EUGE GROOVE - The Funky Bunch 04:37 BLAIR BRYANT - Fukushima Tears 04:33 JACKIEM JOYNER - Addicted 04:29 ROBERT HARRIS - Making Road to Las Cruces 04:25 LES SABLER - Easy Moves 04:21 FREDDIE FOX - Strawberry 04:17 AL DEGREGORIS - Mythland 04:13 TIM BOWMAN - Smile 04:08 MARION MEADOWS - Be With You 04:03 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Gonna Be All Right 04:00 BRIAN SIMPSON - Lay It on Me (feat. Euge Groove) 03:57 PATRICK BRADLEY - In the Heart of the Seas 03:53 JAREZ - Finally 03:49 2UNES - Just Add Water 03:45 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - Catalina Kiss 03:40 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Heading North 03:37 BE'NE MUSIC - Journey 03:32 KEN NAVARRO - Island Life 03:28 KIM WATERS - Rhythm and Romance 03:23 BRIAN CULBERTSON - The House Of Music (feat. Larry Graham & Ronnie Laws) 03:19 JEANETTE HARRIS - Saxy 03:14 EUGE GROOVE - Push It Forward 03:10 LES SABLER - Crescent City Strut 03:05 MARION MEADOWS - You 03:00 BLAIR BRYANT - Radiance 02:56 GREGG KARUKAS - First Love 02:52 ROBERT HARRIS - Life's Journey 02:46 BILLYRAY SHEPPARD - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way 02:42 NILS - Mind Games 02:38 2UNES - All I Need Is You 02:34 BRIAN SIMPSON - Just One Wish 02:30 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - You Go To My Head 02:26 PATRICK BRADLEY - Sip' n the Breeze 02:21 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - Hang On To Your Love 02:18 BE'NE MUSIC - Missing You 02:13 BRIAN CULBERTSON - I Wanna Love You (feat. Ray Parker Jr.) 02:09 ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD - Know Your Heart 02:04 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - Jamaica Heartbeat 02:00 MARION MEADOWS - Soul City 01:58 STEVE COLE - Reverence 01:54 KEN NAVARRO - That Time Of Evening 01:50 NICK COLIONNE - Wessin' 01:46 LES SABLER - Three Dee 01:40 EUGE GROOVE - God Bless You (feat. Kate Miner Moebel) 01:34 BLAIR BRYANT - My Gift 01:30 2UNES - Rock Steady 01:26 BOB BALDWIN - Unthinkable 01:20 ROBERT HARRIS - Midnight Rendezvous Live 01:17 ANDY SHITZER - As I Was Before 01:12 GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH - You Will Always Be The One 01:09 LEBRON - New Era 01:05 PATRICK BRADLEY - Completely Yours 01:00 BRIAN CULBERTSON - Later Tonight 00:59 BE'NE MUSIC - ZiZi 00:55 DREW DAVIDSEN - I'm Into You (feat. Ron Tyson) 00:50 KONSTANTIN KLASHTORNI - Lovely Day 00:46 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY - Ariane 00:41 BRIAN SIMPSON - Twilight 00:37 KEN NAVARRO - Whenever You're Around 00:33 LES SABLER - Where Has She Gone 00:29 JACKIEM JOYNER - When We Come Together 00:23 BLAIR BRYANT - Indigo Hour 00:19 LOWELL HOPPER - Listen To Your Heart 00:15 2UNES - Sweet Baby 00:10 EUGE GROOVE - Miss Bane 00:05 NAJEE - Is It The Way Back 00:00 ROBERT HARRIS - Cool Breeze

[disneytva]

Obsessed with them all, Knock, knock. Who’s there?

It’s Monsters At Work Season 2 Premiering Friday, April 5 at 8:00PM EST on Disney Channel, Available May 5 on Disney+.

[aarontveitisonfire]

From PLAYBILL November 18, 2024 via Schmigadoon! producer Cinco Paul IG

Schmigadoon! Stage Musical Finds Its Cast for Upcoming World Premiere

Javier Muñoz, Ann Harada, Alex Brightman, and Isabelle McCalla are among the stage favorites bringing the musical TV series to the Kennedy Center stage.

By Logan Culwell-Block

November 18, 2024

Casting has been revealed for Kennedy Center's upcoming world premiere stage version of Apple TV's Schmigadoon!, set to take the Washington, D.C. theatre's Eisenhower Theater January 31-February 9, 2025. Ann Harada will reprise her performance as Florence Menlove, joined by newcomers Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice) as Josh Skinner, Sara Chase (The Great Gatsby) as Melissa Gimble, Kevin Del Aguila (Some Like It Hot) as Reverend Layton, McKenzie Kurtz (Wicked) as Betsy McDonough, Isabelle McCalla (Water for Elephants) as Emma Tate, Javier Muñoz (Hamilton) as Doc Lopez, Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!) as Mayor Menlove, Emily Skinner (Suffs) as Mildred Layton, and Ryan Vasquez (The Notebook) as Danny Bailey. Casting is by The Telsey Office. Christopher Gattelli, who choreographed both seasons of the series, will direct and choreograph the stage version, which will feature a book, music, and lyrics by series creator Cinco Paul. Press notes indicate audiences can expect songs from the series' Grammy-nominated score plus new tunes. David Chase is serving as music supervisor, with orchestrations by Doug Besterman and music direction by Steven Malone. The musical will follow the plot of the show's first season, which saw a couple, struggling to save their relationship, who suddenly find themselves in Schmigadoon, a magical world populated with characters, plots, songs, and dance numbers inspired by Golden Age musicals like Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and Carousel. The production is being presented by special arrangement with Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video, which produced the series. The series premiered on Apple TV+ in 2021, with a second season in 2023 that sent its characters to Schmicago, complete with parodies of '70s musicals like Pippin, Godspell, and Sweeney Todd. Read Playbill's exhaustive recaps of all first and second season episodes for a deep dive into the series' many musical theatre Easter eggs, references, and parodies. The upcoming production will also include scenic design by Scott Pask, lighting design by Jen Schriever, and sound design by Haley Parcher. Tickets are available at Kennedy-Center.org.

[raybeanschildrenslit]

Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps - Picture Book

Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps by Charlotte Watson Sherman, Geneva Bowers (Illustrator) Published 2021 by Penguin Random House

Written by author Charlotte Watson Sherman and Illustrated by Geneva Bowers, Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps follows a young black girl and her love for the ocean and its inhabitants as she raises awareness to the impact humans have on them. As Kenzie cleans her room, she reflects on wonderful memories of the ocean that she has with her mother before taking a visit to it after cleanup. When she gets to go, she studies the water with her microscope and goes for a swim with her mother when she starts to notice the presence of trash in the ocean. Despite the sorrow the littering brings her, Kenzie vows that as a mermaid she will clean up the ocean for her underwater pals, even recruiting new friends to the cause. We end this lovely story with an author's note about the plastic in our oceans and a question for the reader: “What will you do?” (2021).

In Vardell’s 2019 text- Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide (3rd ed.)- we are given evaluation criteria regarding children’s picture books such as characters, plot, setting, theme, style, illustrations, and cultural markers- let’s take a look at a couple (2019). The Theme of Kenzie’s story is that of caring about the environment and taking action to make a difference. The reader gets a great sense of the range of things one in Kenzie’s shoes enjoys about the ocean, the activities, the memories it holds, and the potential it has. When she discovers that there is human waste like plastic affecting the homes of her ocean friends, she resolves to be the mermaid for the job and works to clean up and do her part- as I mentioned before, even recruiting new friends to help the cause. We even have the author’s note at the end of this story discussing the issue of plastic in the Earth’s oceans. Kenzie’s Character is a fantastic one concerning the story she is a part of and the reflection she can be to young readers. She is a young girl with a fantastic love for the ocean and she expresses this and her great imagination through playing mermaid and learning about the ocean- she even doesn’t like to clean her room which I am sure many of us can relate to regardless of age. She is also not just a young girl, but a young black girl- giving readers like her a chance to see themselves reflected in the stories they are reading in a fun and positive way.

I think this book would make an excellent addition to any display or discussion regarding environmentalism, especially that of the impact humans have had on the ocean and what we can do to combat what has been done and what can be done to do better in the future. I can see it taking a place next to Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez and Devin Elle Kurtz- this wasn’t my intention with reading either of these but I am glad there is a connection that can be made between them in this way. Selfishly, I thought the Ocean and Sharks were cool and the art of both these fictions were beautiful so I picked them up but it is important for readers to have this but also be challenged by prompts like “what will you do?” Maybe in a public library- or a range of library entities- not only can displays be made and discussions had but I wonder if there could be a way to organize an environmental cleanup locally. Encourage individuals to be conscious of the impact we have both positive and negative on the spaces we occupy.

-Ray 01/20/2024

Sherman, C. W., & Bowers, G. (2022). Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps. Boyds Mills Press. 

Vardell, S.M. (2019). Children’s literature in action: A librarians’s guide (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.

[thestarwarspost]

'Star Wars' Producer Gary Kurtz Has Died.

New Post has been published on https://www.starwarspost.com/star-wars-producer-gary-kurtz-has-died/

'Star Wars' Producer Gary Kurtz Has Died.

Variety has just released confirmation that Gary Kurtz has passed away at the age of 78. The famed producer of “Star Wars” and “American Graffiti” was instrumental in getting our saga onto the big screen. Star Wars has always been a culmination of talents, but none so important as Gary Kurtz and George Lucas. The look, feel and the story of the Star Wars saga would not exist without Gary Kurtz and his prolific push to 20th Century Fox to make this film a reality. He will be remembered for his amazing contribution to film, his service as a Marine and his love of story.

Rest in peace Gary Kurtz, you will be missed.

Jason Joiner has posted a beautiful eulogy on the official Gary Kurtz Facebook page. His summation of Gary’s life and work is posted below.

Gary Kurtz 1940 – 2018 Star Wars Producer

Gary Kurtz, Star Wars producer passed away on Sunday the 23rd of September at 4.47pm after living with Cancer for the last year.

In the 70s and 80s Gary Kurtz was a young film maker that revolutionized the Hollywood film industry at its core with his films like Star Wars, American Graffiti and The Empire Strikes Back. The agreements he closed altered the balance of power from the film studio to the directors and producers so they could, for the first time, make the films how they wanted to make them and control the process of the art of filmmaking.

In the mid 1960s Gary Kurtz was assistant director on a Monte Hellman western, Ride in the Whirlwind, starring Jack Nicholson, and went on to work on Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet with Basil Rathbone and Queen of Blood, with John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, and Dennis Hopper, and then on to another Monte Hellman western, The Shooting, starring Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson, and finally wore multiple hats as production manager, assistant director, and editor on the Harry Dean Stanton film The Hostage. Then in 1966 Gary Kurtz joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served his country in Vietnam. This led him toexperiences in his life that would later directly influence his film making skills and story telling ethos.

After leaving military service, Gary Kurtz moved into studio pictures, and became associate producer on Chandler and Two-Lane Blacktop with Monte Hellman for Universal Pictures, both in 1971. Kurtz’s well-rounded skills in directing, editing, producing and storytelling made him the perfect partner for the young upcoming George Lucas when they first met through Francis Ford Coppola in 1971. This meeting led to a collaboration of these two film makers that lasted over a decade.

Gary Kurtz studied religion extensively in his early years. In the early stages of development on “Star Wars” he suggested to Lucas that he might give the film a sufficiently universal religion to help to give it more depth. That led to Kurtz working on the “Star Wars” screenplay and developing “The Force” which would go on to influence generations of fans. Lucasfilm was born under their banner, and went on to make some of Hollywood’s most successful films of all time.

Gary Kurtz developed a good relationship with Universal Pictures off the back of Two-Lane Blacktop in 1971. Following that, George Lucas and Gary Kurtz brought a two-film deal to Universal for American Graffiti and a sci-fi film that was to be Star Wars. American Graffiti was a low budget movie and cost only $777K which was less than Kurtz’s last movie Two-Lane Blacktop at $850K, but American Graffiti went on to take $140 Million world wide which made it the lowest cost to highest profit ratio film of all time and that record held until The Blair Witch Project in 1999. Kurtz now 33 years old went into re-negotiations with Universal Pictures to make the the second of the two film deal which was to be the Star Wars film. In the end Universal passed on the project because the script was not fully developed.

Gary Kurtz later closed a deal with 20th Century Fox to make Star Wars for $11 million, and off the back of this Kurtz and Lucas set up the Star Wars Corporation. Gary Kurtz became Vice President of the corporation looking after the development of the film and also the film’s other assets such as merchandising rights and products. Star Wars was to become a troublesome production which was complicated to finish. It pushed special effects technology and the art of filmmaking to the limit.

In order to finish the film on time, Kurtz set up a second unit and directed many pick up shots, most of the cockpit dog fighting scenes, and most of the Star Wars opening scene interior fight sequences on Princess Leia’s ship. He then went back to the US to work on the special effects miniature unit at ILM as they were struggling to complete many of the shots that were promised in England. At this point, George Lucas was not confident that they had a film to release, but in the end Star Wars was finally finished and unleashed to the world on May 25, 1977, and became one of the biggest films of all time bringing in over 1.1 Billion Dollars.

Kurtz and Lucas carried on their partnership but they both started to have desires to make different sequels to the successful films they had already released. So, it was decided that Gary Kurtz would make the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back and that Lucas would make the sequel to American Graffiti, More American Graffiti. Gary Kurtz would join up with longtime friend Irvin Kershner to direct Empire, the film again pushed all limitations in filmmaking technology. The film had twice the number of sets that the first Star Wars film did and a budget match of $18,000,000.

Gary chose to film in icy Norway where he had served out his basic training in the U.S. Marine Corps. They filmed there during Norway’s coldest weather in over 25 years. The production then came back to its UK home in Elstree Studios, but disaster struck when the the large soundstage there caught fire during Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining. Gary Kurtz again just got on with what was needed to make the film happen and negotiated with the studio to have a new soundstage built using Lucasfilm funding. The agreement allowed them to use the stage rent free and once the filming of Empire was completed the new soundstage was to be sold back to the studio. This saved on the production budget and only pushed the filming back by a few days. In the end, the film, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released on June 20th 1980.

At this time Gary Kurtz started to feel that Lucasfilm had become too corporate as he often said there were too many suits in the production office that was supposed to be full of artistic people. That started to damage the strength of the Lucas / Kurtz partnership. Gary Kurtz was asked to produce Revenge of the Jedi (Return of The Jedi) and turned it down as he felt the script was too limited and that most of what was in the script had already been seen in the first two films (i.e. Another Death Star and the sand planet). He had worked on the Star Wars films for many years now and wanted to continue with changing the direction of filmmaking.

Kurtz was living in the UK at this point and had made several interesting filmmaking friends there. He had been talking to Jim Henson about a big film featuring only puppets. This felt like a real challenge to him, which is exactly what he was searching for, so he joined up with Jim Henson to produce and second unit direct The Dark Crystal, a technical filmmaking masterpiece.

Gary Kurtz’s next big film was again not going to be easy. A longtime friend, Walter Murch, had written the screenplay and was to Direct Return to Oz. Gary Kurtz Executive Produced it and it was critically acclaimed for its technical achievements with the room of mirrors. It was a very dark twist on the world of Oz and was released June 21st of 1985.

Gary Kurtz went on to produce more films such as Slipstream (1989) with Mark Hamill, The Steal (1995), 5-25-77 (2007) and stayed working in the industry developing projects around the world including the far east and China up until his death, at the age of 78.

Gary Kurtz was considered by many as a pioneer in the film industry and a master of the art of filmmaking. He found any opportunity to share his expansive knowledge of the film industry with budding filmmakers and those seeking knowledge. He was a real humanitarian and a gentleman; some have said that he is one of the gentlest souls in the film profession, modest and humble, and a very unique man.

Gary Kurtz’s art left lasting impressions on generations of adults and children across the world. We have him to thank for these wonderful memories that he made for us all. Gary Kurtz helped to create the force and it is with us always.

Gary Kurtz left behind Clare Gabriel, Tiffany Kurtz, Melissa Kurtz, and Dylan Kurtz. Our thoughts are with his family.

The Kurtz/Joiner Archive Jason Joiner

[satoshi-mochida]

Full Metal Panic! Fight: Who Dares Wins will launch for PlayStation 4 on May 31 in Japan, Bandai Namco announced. It will cost 8,200 yen for the standard edition and 11,800 yen for the “Specialist Box” limited edition.

Here is an overview of the limited edition and early purchase bonus:

■ “Specialist Box” Limited Edition (11,800 yen)

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory Special Contents Blu-ray Disc – Composed of content such as a making-of video that hones in on the production site of the Full Metal Panic! IV anime.

Full Metal Panic! Special Novel – A short story written by Shoji Gatoh.

Special Audio Drama CD and Game Edition “Megami no Rainichi: Date Hen” – An audio drama of the treasured episode where Teletha Testarossa does a short term study abroad for Jindai High School.

“Megami no Rainichi: Date Hen” Replica Autographed Mini Script – A replica mini script autographed by Sousuke Sagara (voiced by Tomokazu Seki), Teletha Testarossa (voiced by Yukana), Kaname Chidori (voiced by Satsuki Yukino), Kurtz Weber (voiced by Shin’ichiro Miki), and Melissa Mao (voiced by Michiko Neya).

Full Metal Panic! Fight: Who Dares Wins Special-Illustrated Box – A box that holds each item, with artwork illustrated by Douji Shiki.

A copy of Full Metal Panic! Fight: Who Dares Wins for PlayStation 4

Tall case to store Blu-ray and CD

■ Early Purchases

Early purchases of either version of the game, including the digital version, will include a download code for the “Armed Slave-Use Special Weapons Three Set,” which contains the following:

“Boxer 2nd Revision 76mm Shot Cannon (Armor-Piercing Ammunition) Cartridge Extension Model”

“ASG96-B Revision 57mm Glide Cannon”

“GRAW-X Single Molecule Cutter (Repulsion Field Prototype Model)”

A Southeast Asian version of Full Metal Panic! Fight: Who Dares Wins with English subtitles is also planned for release in 2018, but has yet to receive a release date.

Watch a new trailer below. View screenshots of the early purchase bonus weapons, limited edition, and box art at the gallery.

[dominik528]

Books I've Read in 2019

1. The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

2. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto & Ed Martinez - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

3. Flossie & the Fox by Patricia C. McKissack - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

4. Leyla: The Black Tulip by Alex Lyter Croutier - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

5. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

6. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

7. The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(review)

8. The Rose & the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

9. Frog and Toad: Storybook Treasury by Arnold Lobel - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

10. Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy & Octavia E. Butler - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

11. Maurice by E.M. Forster - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

12. All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

13. Boondocks: A Right to be Hostile by Aaron McGruder - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

14. Girls Made of Snow & Glass by Melissa Bashardoust - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

15. Winterspell by Claire Legrand - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

16. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

17. The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 7 & 8 by Charles Schulz - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

18. Kathleen: The Celtic Knot by Siobhán Parkinson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

19. Saba: Under the Hyena's Foot by Jane Kurtz - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

20. Archie, Vol. 3 & 4 by Mark Waid - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

21. The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

22. Color Purple by Alice Walker - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

23. Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Walker - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

24. Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

25. Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

26. The Marvels by Brian Selznick - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

27. I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

28. Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

29. Speak & Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

30. Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Blood by Brian Azzarello - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

31. To Die For by Joyce Maynard- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

32. Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

33. That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

34. Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

35. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

36. True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

37. Swan Song by Robert McCammon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

38. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

39. How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

40. Shatter Me & Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

41. Looking Glass Wars & Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

42. xxxHolic, Omnibus 1 - 3 by CLAMP - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

43. 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

44. A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (review)

45. A Court of Mist & Fury & A Court of Wings & Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

46. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi - ⭐⭐⭐ - (review)

47. Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory- ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

48. Tiger Lily by Jodie Lynn Anderson - ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

49. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas- ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

50. Dear Martin by Nic Stone - ⭐⭐⭐

51. Lincoln by Gore Vidal - ⭐⭐⭐

52. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys - ⭐⭐⭐

53. The Girls by Emma Cline - ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

54. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - ⭐⭐⭐

55. Tampa by Alissa Nutting - ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

56. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez- ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

57. Sway by Zachary Lazar- ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

58. Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor by Tim Seeley- ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

59. xxxHolic Omnibus vol. 4 by CLAMP- ⭐⭐⭐

60. Firestarter by Stephen King - ⭐⭐⭐

61. Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White - ⭐⭐⭐

62. Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman - ⭐⭐⭐

63. Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster by Liza Palmer - ⭐⭐⭐ (review)

64. Dracula by Bram Stoker - ⭐⭐⭐

65. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - ⭐⭐⭐

66. Agent Undercover & Agent's Redemption by Lisa Childs - ⭐⭐ (review)

67. Burr by Gore Vidal - ⭐⭐ (review)

68. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen - ⭐⭐ (review)

69. Beatlebone by Kevin Barry - ⭐⭐

[vermiculated]

books 2017 so far

wow, tuv want to talk about why you haven’t kept a monthly book list? (because I am scared of my phone and also writing.) no. 

Reiffen's Choice - SC Butler

Flex- Ferrett Steinmetz

The Good Funeral - Thomas Long and Thomas Lynch

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley

The Portable Veblen - Elizabeth McKenzie

The Invaders - Karolina Waclawiak

Funny Boy - Shyam Selvadurai

Adaptation - Malinda Lo

The Dream of Enlightenment - Anthony Gottlieb

Central Station - Lavie Tidhar

Why Did I Ever - Mary Robison (vg)

Binti - Nnedi Okorafor (vg) 

The Book of Tea - Kazuko Okakura

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters

Unmentionable - Therese O'Neill

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage - Sydney Padua

IQ - Joe Ide

The Little Virtues - Natalia Ginzburg trans Dick Davis

The Hanging Tree - Ben Aaronovitch

Death's Door - Sandra Gilbert

Holy Anorexia - Rudolph Bell 

Hild - Nicola Griffith (vg)

Sum - David Eagleman

Secondhand Time - Svetlana Alexievich trans Bela Shayevich

Everything is Teeth - Evie Wyld and Joe Sumner

Water Dogs - Lewis Robinson (vg)

Selection Day - Aravind Adiga 

The Wicked Boy - Kate Summerscale

Nicotine - Gregor Hens trans Jen Calleja

Margaret the First - Danielle Dutton

Audition -  Ryu Murakami trans Ralph McCarthy

A Horse Walks into a Bar - David Grossman trans Jessica Cohen

Zakhor - Yosef Yerushalmi

Citizen - Claudia Rankine

Blitzed - Norman Ohler trans Shaun Whiteside

Exorcising Hitler - Frederick Taylor

Being A Beast - Charles Foster

The Open Fields - CS and CS Orwin 

Universal Harvester - John Darnielle

The Mistletoe Murder - PD James

The Radius of Us - Marie Marquardt

Something in Between - Melissa de la Cruz

The Apex Book of World SF 2- Lavie Tidhar ed

Ninefox Gambit - Yoon Ha Lee

Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthurst

Traitor to the Throne - Alwyn Hamilton

Cinnamon and Gunpowder - Eli Brown

Pain - Javier Moscoso trans Sarah Thomas and Paul House 

Suicide in Victorian and Edwardian England - Olive Anderson

The Regional Office is Under Attack - Manuel Gonzalez

The Vanquished - Robert Gerwarth

There is No Good Card For This - Kelsey Crowe

Death, Religion and the Family in England - Ralph Houlbrooke

His Bloody Project - Graham McRae

Violence in Early Modern Europe - Julius R Ruff

Snowblind - Ragnar Jonasson trans Quentin Bates

Today Will Be Different - Maria Semple

Martin Luther - Lyndal Roper

The Young Richelieu - Elizabeth Marvick

History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera

Inheritance - Malinda Lo

Reality Is Not What It Seems - Carlo Rovelli trans Simon Cornell and Erica Segre

Long Hidden - Rose Fox and Daniel Jose Older

Sarah Canary - Karen Joy Fowler

Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein

Monstress - Marjorie Liu 

This Close to Happy - Daphne Merkin 

The Gin Closet - Leslie Jamison

Bilgewater - Jane Gardam (vg)

Colonial Spirits - Steven Grasse

Fragrant Harbor - John Lanchester

A Cup of Rage - Raduan Nassar trans Stefan Tobler

A Very Long Engagement - Sebastien Japrisot trans Linda Coverdale

A Long Finish - Michael Dibdin

Uncle Silas - Sheridan Le Fanu

Powers of Darkness - Bram Stoker trans Valdimar Asmundsson trans Hans Cornell de Roos

Lincoln in the Bardo - George Saunders

Huntress - Malinda Lo

The Night Battles - Carlo Ginzburg trans Anne and John Tedeschi

Season of Migration to the North - Tayeb Salih trans Denys Johnson-Davies

Life's Work - Willie Parker

The Mothers - Brit Bennett

We Are Okay - Nina LaCour

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland - Diana Wynne Jones

Time Travel - James Gleick

Questions of Travel - William Morris, ed Lavinia Greenlaw

Words on the Move - John McWhorter

Stories of Your Life - Ted Chiang

Teeth - Mary Otto

Teeth - Hannah Moskowitz

We The Animals - Justin Torres

Chronotherapeutics for Affective Disorders - Anna Wirz-Justice et al

Great Granny Webster - Caroline Blackwood

English, August - Upmanyu Chatterjee

The Abyss Surrounds Us - Emily Skrutskie 

Days Without End - Sebastian Barry

The Girl Before - JP Delaney

The Loving Husband - Christobel Kent

Half-Bad - Sally Green

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton

Mr. Bridge - Evan Carroll

Mrs. Bridge - Evan Carroll

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Douglas Adams

The Three-Body Problem - Cixin Liu trans Ken Liu

The Undoing Project - Michael Lewis 

Rest - Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Plucked - Rebecca Herzing

The Outsiders - SE Hinton

Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo

Mind Your Manors - Lucy Lethbridge

Blood in the Water - Heather Ann Thompson

Blood Rain - Michael Dibdin

The Dry - Jane Harper

History of Wolves - Emily Fridlund

See Under: Love - David Grossman trans Betsy Rosenberg

Spaceman of Bohemia - Jaroslav Kalfar

Sarong Party Girls - Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

The Rituals of Dinner - Margaret Visser

The Water Babies - Charles Kingsley

God's Perfect Child - Caroline Fraser

The Secret History of Wonder Woman - Jill Lepore

Otherbound - Connie Duyvis

Chronotherapy - Michael Terman and Ian McMahan

Emotionally Weird - Kate Atkinson (vg)

Bright Air Black - David Vann 

Out - Natuso Kirino trans Stephen Snyder

The Hero With A Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell

Dirty Snow - George Simenon trans Marc Romano and Louise Varese

Night Sky With Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong

And Then You Die - Michael Dibdin 

Medusa - Michael Dibdin 

Saga - Brian Vaughn, Fiona Staples et al 

The Dark Forest - Cixin Liu trans Joel Martinsen

A Line Made By Walking - Sara Baume

My Life With Bob - Pamela Paul

Two Women of London - Emma Tennant

Stoner - John Williams

The Crest on the Silver - Geoffrey Grigson

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan

Oranges - John McPhee

Shrinking Violets - Joe Moran 

The Invisibility Cloak - Ge Fei trans Caanan Morse

The Water Kingdom - Philip Ball

The Moviegoer - Walker Percy

The Paper Menagerie - Ken Liu

Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, vol 1 - Arigon Starr, ed

The Happy Traveller - Jamie Kurtz

Century's End - Enki Bilal and Pierre Christin

Saga vol 2 - Brian Vaughn, Fiona Staples et al

The Little Drummer Girl - John Le Carre

The Day of the Jackal - Frederick Forsyth

Back to Bologna - Michal Dibdin

End Games - Michael Dibdin 

What If? - Randall Munroe 

Taft 2012 - Jason Heller 

Saga vol 3 - Brian Vaughn, Fiona Staples et al

Gentlemen and Amazons - Cynthia Eller 

The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson

God's Philosophers - James Hannam

Ravished - Amanda Quick

Behind the Scenes at the Museum - Kate Atkinson

The Weapon Wizards - Yaakov Katz and Amir Bohbot

Death's End - Cixin Liu trans Ken Liu

Chemistry - Weike Wang (vg)