#also all of the french characters are played by french actors thank the casting director we don't have bad fake french accents

[bereft-of-frogs]

I genuinely love As Above, So Below, like yes there are a bunch of ridiculous elements but the lore building, the puzzles, the claustrophobia, the way they keep going deeper and deeper underground, the philosopher's stone reveal are all so fun...it's genuinely such a good time. and despite the absurdities and the fact I'm super desensitized there are some shots and elements that genuinely creep me out. Underappreciated film. People just hate found footage and love being wrong

[achillean-archives]

"Ironically, Kaye would sometimes lament that he himself was ‘no oil painting’, which explained, he said, why he didn’t have a partner: ‘I wouldn’t want somebody to be with me just because they wanted to be with Gorden Kaye the actor. I do believe in love, but it’s only happened to me three times . . . which is two times too many.’

He was born Gordon Kaye (the spelling ‘Gorden’ came much later) in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 1941, the only child of working-class parents who regarded him as their little miracle: his mother was 42 when he was born. His father, Harold, was an engineer, and an air raid warden.

A sensitive boy, he worried that his parents were so much older than other children’s. ‘I was sure that I would come home and find them dead,’ he admitted.

When he was three, he crept downstairs when his parents were having a Christmas party. He watched his mother, Gracie, talking and smoking a cigarette. When she put it down in an ashtray, young Gorden picked it up and took a drag.

Whether red-hot ash flew up from the tip, or he accidentally poked himself with the burning end, he was never sure. All he could remember was throwing himself on the floor, screaming and howling, and an agonising pain in his left eye. Next morning, the pupil was swollen, and he could barely see out of it. He later regained about 20 per cent of his vision in that eye, but for the rest of his life it stared off to the side.

At 16, he took a job as a salesman at a textiles firm, for £4 7s 6d a week. But he wanted to work in showbiz, and volunteered on Huddersfield’s hospital radio, playing rock ’n’ roll.  When The Beatles performed at the town’s cinema in 1963, Gorden interviewed them. His instinctive humour brought out the best in the Fab Four, who showered him with silly jokes.

At 22, Kaye was engaged to be married, but he had known since his teens that he was gay. That was why he had proposed to his girlfriend: ‘I thought that’s how you made the feelings go away.’

But they did not go away and, feeling increasingly lonely, he sought out a pen-friend through the small ads. A sailor called Peter in the New Zealand merchant navy got in touch, and they exchanged long, confessional messages, recorded on cassettes.

When Peter visited Britain, Gorden took him to meet his parents. Afterwards, his mother guessed there was ‘something going on’ and though Gorden denied it at first, he eventually told her the truth.

‘Don’t tell your dad,’ she warned. ‘It’ll kill him.’ He never said anything to his father and, for a long time, thought if his secret was exposed he would have to kill himself.

He threw himself into amateur dramatics. Playwright Alan Ayckbourn, then a BBC radio producer, urged him to turn professional. He applied for a job with a Bolton repertory company: the audition was so successful that the director fell off his chair laughing and had to be helped up. But the company wanted him for character work, and his first role was as an 80-year-old man. 

Bit parts on TV followed, and then he was cast as Elsie Tanner’s nephew, Bernard, in Coronation Street. By now his name was ‘Gorden’, thanks to a spelling error by the actors’ union, Equity. Before he could correct it, he was taken to hospital with kidney stones. 

The registrar misspelled his name, too, so the clipboard at the end of his bed also said ‘Gorden’. ‘I took that as an omen,’ he said. ‘Or possibly an emon.’ Those sorts of mangled vowels were the mainstay of his role as Rene.

At the outset in 1982, the show by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft was accused of mocking the heroes of the French Resistance. In fact, it was a send-up of BBC television wartime dramas such as Secret Army and Colditz. The show became hugely popular. 

But in 1989, warned that a Sunday tabloid was about to reveal his sexuality, Gorden decided to come out as gay: ‘I was born this way and I’ve never pretended to be anything other than what I am.’

He was terrified of the public response but, when the news broke, he was in panto at the London Palladium, and got a standing ovation.

Other reaction was less kind. One MP, Geoffrey Dickens, demanded the BBC sack him, for impersonating a ladies’ man on prime-time TV. 

‘That was a horrible time,’ Gorden remembered. 

‘It was a bit like the Nuremberg trials. I don’t care what my greengrocer does in bed and I don’t see why the public should have to know what I do. But of all the letters I got from the public, only two of them were nasty.’

Worse was to come. During a storm in January 1990, part of a wooden advertising hoarding was blown through his car windscreen and a piece of wood nearly 11in long was embedded in his skull. 

The injury left scars mental and physical from which he never fully recovered. He returned to record a final season of ’Allo ’Allo!, but rarely worked on TV again after that. The shock of the accident left him nervous and irritable, and clumsier than ever. ‘If I try to open a packet of biscuits,’ he admitted, ‘I spill them. And then I shout at them.’

He involved himself with charity work with the Grand Order of Water Rats, which supported entertainers and their families in hard times, and was proud to be elected Chief Rat in 1999. 

But he took little joy in life, and said he didn’t want to live into old age. Invitations were declined on the excuse that he was expecting to go to a funeral — his own.

But he never regretted a day of his time on ’Allo ’Allo! If his ability to make people laugh was a gift from God, as he believed, then Rene was his greatest stroke of luck — one other actors would kill to have, ‘and might probably put ground glass in my Diet Coke,’ he laughed.

‘I loved playing Rene. ’Allo ’Allo! enabled me to work with some of the finest comic performers in Britain. We did it for ten years . . . and even Hitler only managed six.’ " Source:

"Retired college lecturer Raymond, 86, said Gorden, who grew up in Moldgreen , had become isolated and very lonely - despite being loved by millions of fans.

“He had no brothers or sisters, just a few cousins. He never married and was a lone survivor till the end.

"It was just a case of surviving and he was very lonely. That is all very sad.”

Raymond praised his famous relative as “a brilliant actor, a comic genius, who brought a lot of joy to many people. He is still making people laugh today.”

Kaye was best known for his role as Rene Artois in the 1980s BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo! which made light of the Nazi occupation of France.

BAFTA nominated, he also appeared in Last of the Summer Wine, Are You Being Served?, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Raymond added: “He always appreciated his fans saying ‘They’re my bread and butter’ and he always stopped to sign autographs in the street.”

Gorden, an only child, had described himself as a “shy, gay and overweight boy.”

[...]

Raymond, a father of two, said many of Gorden’s friends from London rarely visited him once he was in a care home.

He said: “Just one or two but not recently, they just seemed to forget about him.

“Me and my wife went up when we could but we’re too old to drive and it’s difficult by train and taxi.”

Raymond told how the teetotal star, who cheated death in a horrific car crash in 1990, “smoked a bit but never touched alcohol.”

He added: “I like to remember sitting and talking to him and what a brilliant actor he was.

“Allo ‘Allo was his best role. He was in 84 episodes which have been shown across the world.

[...]

Raymond fondly recalls being invited to screenings with Sheila: “We were in the audience a lot at one time. He did he make us laugh.

“He may have been forgotten by his acting friends but he’ll never be forgotten by us, his family, and his legions of fans." " Source:

[ovrarches]

Okay, but I love Thomas Du Motier as an acting persona name, it sounds elegant... and the du motier twins has a nice ring to it! :D I also love that they were in ~everything~ not only the Disney stuff, but your good old horror as well...establishing that range early, huh... and ngl, I'd be kinda into the idea of Alex actually having liked their work, the stuff he's seen, before meeting Thomas (though even if that was the case, it obviously wouldn't stop him from trying to ridicule it). Would make me wonder how Thomas regards Alex's previous work, though!

*Anyway*, I'm actually dropping in with a different question for this, do you think Burr/James/Angelica/... will have a place in this AU? 🤔🤗 (I, too, am invested deeply already 😂)

Thank you for asking questions about this half-assed au,.,.., I’m.,.,,,, ahhhh🥺

Du Motier twins is very cute and iconic….. Thomas loves that they went with a French vibe. And yea I also like the idea that Alex likes their work!! Like he’d do “research” to find some iconic catchphrases he can parrot to piss off Thomas, and then find himself accidentally chuckling along with the laugh track.

Hmm I think Thomas (film snob and hater of sitcoms and “fluff” roles AKA most of Alex’s filmography) did not have a high opinion of Alex when it was announced they’d been casted as the leads, but he did go and watch some of Alex’s later work where he featured as a main/recurring character (and not as corpse #3 on CSI Miami, or corpse #28 on Grey’s Anatomy, or CSI Miami again as corpse #1…)

But he’d have to acknowledge that objectively Alex is good: very expressive, memorable, and to put that much heart and energy into every stupid little role is… impressive, for sure. However… he also noticed there were many instances where Alex stole the scene even though it didn’t make sense narratively (and Thomas can guess that wasn’t the director’s choice) and then there’s the hundreds of background roles Alex still took on once he became more prominent that should’ve been “beneath him”, which Thomas sees as a foolish waste of time.

As for Burr/James/Angelica, they don’t have a solid place in the au yet but I’ve toyed with some ideas for them

Burr: B-list actor same as Alexander, was actually the first choice for Alex’s current role when the movie was first greenlit but he turned it down for another movie by a big studio that was guaranteed to be a box office success. (It does decently, but the jamilton movie is a surprise hit and garners widespread critical acclaim + nominated for numerous awards. Burr is totally not jealous 😐)

James: nepo baby indie film maker who is very influential within his genre and won multiple awards which has made him highly sought out by studios, but so far he’s refused to compromise his vision™ to appeal to the mainstream audience. His work has a lot of horror, philosophical, and religious elements and they’re the type of movies you have to watch twice to catch all the details. He and Thomas met way back when the twins were in The Shining (dir. James Madison Sr.) and Thomas has appeared in a few of James’s films since coming back

Angelica: famous singer who dabbles in acting, although most of her film industry involvement is cameos or being a part of a move soundtrack. I’m not sure if she’d play a role in the jam movie, maybe as a side character?

[byneddiedingo]

Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier in The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929) Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Lupino Lane, Lillian Roth, Eugene Pallette, E.H. Calvert, Edgar Norton, Lionel Belmore. Screenplay: Ernest Vajda, Guy Bolton, based on a play by Leon Xanrof and Jules Chancel. Cinematography: Victor Milner. Art direction: Hans Dreier. Film editing: Merrill G. White. Costume design: Travis Banton. Music: Victor Schertzinger. It irritates me a little to think that MGM, thanks largely to those That's Entertainment clip shows in the 1970s, is celebrated for its movie musicals, when in fact the genre was pioneered and perfected at other studios: Warner Bros. with its Busby Berkeley dance spectacles, RKO with its Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers cycle, and Paramount, where Ernst Lubitsch virtually invented the story musical with The Love Parade and subsequent re-teamings of Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald. (Oddly, today MacDonald is better known for her inferior and unsexy MGM teaming with Nelson Eddy.) MGM didn't achieve musical greatness until the end of the 1930s, when after the success of The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939), the studio put its associate producer, Arthur Freed, in charge of the film musicals unit. True, MGM had won a best-picture Oscar with The Broadway Melody (Harry Beaumont, 1929), but that was a standard backstage musical, not one in which the songs and dances are fully integrated into the plot. Besides, it's almost unwatchable today, whereas thanks to the charm of Chevalier and the sexiness of MacDonald in her revealing pre-Code frippery, but most of all to what is known as "the Lubitsch touch," The Love Parade is still enjoyable. Lubitsch's "touch" as a director was based on a sly conviction that the audience would get the joke, usually a naughty one, and it was perfected during the silent era, when things had to be shown, not told. So the film opens with a mostly silent demonstration of why Count Alfred Renard (Chevalier) has caused such a scandal with his dalliances in Paris that he has to be recalled to Sylvania and rebuked by Queen Louise (MacDonald). But this is also a film that wittily integrates sound into its sight gags, as the entire Sylvanian court eavesdrops on the burgeoning love of Alfred and Louise. The plot, derived by screenwriters Guy Bolton and Ernest Vajda from a French play, is standard, slightly sexist stuff about the prince consort, Alfred, feeling miffed by the fact that his marriage to the queen leaves him with nothing to do, but it's carried off well by the leads, as well as the saucy servants, Jacques (Lupino Lane) and Lulu (Lillian Roth), and a court full of skilled character actors like Eugene Pallette, Edgar Norton, and Lionel Belmore. It's too bad that the song score by lyricist Clifford Grey and composer Victor Schertzinger isn't better -- there are too many reprises of "Dream Lover," for example -- but Lubitsch's staging compensates for its weakness.

[intothecocoverse]

I watched the first episode of Moon Knight, until the very last dubbing credit.

And I am upset, disappointed and mad.

I know Marvel Studios LOVES the secrecy; not telling who they cast, who's gonna appear in their movies or series, I KNOW.

But the disrespect towards Gaspard Ulliel is enraging me.

Gaspard will be in Moon Knight. Gaspard passed away on January 19th, at 37. Not once, ONCE, Marvel Studios talked about it.

Just like the Oscars by the way. I was expecting to see his face in the "In Memoriam" video but no. Nothing. Again.

They're gonna probably, hopefully, write the sentence "in loving memory of" before his lovely name at the end of the first episode of Moon Knight he's gonna be in. And that would be it.

Right now, it's like he never existed. Like he didn't work with the cast, the technical team, Marvel, nothing. It is so disrespectful. I don't care about the secrecy, the contract, I don't care. He passed away and no one is talking about him, no tweets, no posts on Instagram or on other social media. I found only three (3) things coming from Marvel regarding his passing :

[screenshot of the YouTube video "Marvel's "Moon Knight" Actor Gaspard Ulliel dead at 3u | E! News uploaded over 2 months ago when he passed away. We can read on the screenshot of the video : "We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our friend and colleague Gaspard Ulliel" - Marvel Spokesperson]

This, that no one knows about apparently.

And two videos from French media/French event.

BFMTV interview where the journalist asked about Gaspard : https://youtu.be/f2r2c7fC8P4

And during the screening of the first episode in the Museum of Le Louvre by the director of Moon Knight, Mohamed Diab :

https://twitter.com/DisneyphilePlus/status/1508893520911810564?t=ZyjBkOQkNddG7ll-vqkbdg&s=19

Whom I want to thank because he is really the only one who talked about Gaspard and his words mean a lot.

I know I shouldn't take that too seriously but we live in a word where just a dove emoji 🕊️ means a lot. Marvel Studios community manager couldn't even do that ?

And please don't tell me "no one knew [about him being in Moon Knight]" (that's not true) or "it's to not spoil what's happening in Moon Knight" because a head shot pic with kind words as captions can't spoil a show and if fans are mad because a studio gave away a character by posting their respects because the actor playing it passed away, well they're just shitty fans.

Gaspard Ulliel wasn't a big star that you could see in every gossip magazine worldwide but he was known enough to be missed all around the globe. If you don't know him and his work, please do yourself a favour and watch his movies. Of course, most of them are in French but he did also some work in English. (Yes like Hannibal Rising, which I liked haha)

Wherever Gaspard is right now, I hope he is resting in peace. The world won't forget about him, even if Marvel did. He was a beautiful kind person and an amazing actor.

Reposez en paix Gaspard Ulliel et merci pour tout.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Hello ! How was wondering something : if you could assign a movie genre to each member, what will they be ?

For example, I really want Jin to be in a spy / comedy / action movie. 😎

Oh Anon, thank you! This is a really cool ask, I love it.

It took me more than one hour to do the research which of course ended up with me deviating from the task. And that means, I can't just stick to thinking of just a genre. Let's make it a bit more interesting and get out of the box. I thought of 2 films per member. Each film is more about a vibe, something they would like, something in which I see them acting in. Some are more on the nose, others not really, but this is highly subjective and other may not see what I see, but it's still fun. Perhaps others can use the comment section to come up with their own suggestions? I am very open to that, I really encourage it.

RM - For him, I had to choose a film made by Eric Rohmer and La Collectionneuse (1967) seems like the right choice. Intellectual debates and spending time on your own in a villa outside town. The second would be Otto e mezzo (Federico Fellini, 1963) for the existential crisis and debates over the role of an artist with a dash of creative block.

Jin - Jin has to shine in a film, to be the center of attention. It would be too easy to just act in a comedy. So I'm going with Shampoo (Hal Ashby, 1975) and Alfie (Charles Shyer, 2004).

Yoongi - I'm adding a bit of existential crisis to Yoongi as well with Le Feu Follet (Louis Malle, 1963), but I have a feeling he likes Infernal Affairs (Andrew Lau, Alan Mak, 2002) and I do see him play one of the characters.

Hobi - Ensemble cast, lots of energy. It can't be some classical drama or comedy. It has to be fun, but also a deep message as a subtext: All That Jazz (Bob Fosse, 1979) and Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993)

Jimin - Oh it was so difficult to just choose 2 or stick to a theme. I have too many ideas. I always think of youth, being stuck in a limbo...Somehow I see him portray characters who have a wall around them, with a bit of a fucked up life, still kids at heart, like Christiane F. (Uli Edel, 1981). Or films that have beauty as a theme, but this is not something that deals with surface level storylines. Beauty can be violent, beauty can be harmful, obsessive, like Death in Venice (Luchino Visconti, 1971).

Taehyung - Late French New Wave in Baisers voles (Francois Truffaut, 1968). I see Tae similar to the Antoine Doinel character and despite having a different director with a different character, La Mamain et la Putain (Jean Eustache, 1973), it's like an extension of that character (he was played by the same actor, Jean Pierre Leaud). Very carefree, no one knows what he'll do or say next, he decides on the spot. Plans? What are those?

Jungkook - A lot of innocence, of believing that despite the world being brutal, there is still love, no matter how cruel their fate is. Sadness that is beautiful, which only makes it more painful. Farewell, my concubine (Kaige Chen, 1993) and The Virgin Suicides (Sophia Coppola, 1999).

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

Rebecca Ferguson (DUNE): "My confidence is my power"

Who is Lady Jessica?

Rebecca Ferguson: Lady Jessica belongs to the Bene Gesserit women's organization. They are very powerful. They can manipulate minds, thoughts and connect to their ancestral history, without having access to phones or any other form of technology since they are from another world. My character's destiny is to reproduce in order to have a daughter and thus colonize other families. She rebels and creates chaos by having a boy with Duke Atreides, whom she is in love with. From that moment on, she must protect her son from the consequences that she has engineered ...

She is torn between her role as a mother and that of Bene Gesserit. How did you deal with this personal conflict?

Rebecca Ferguson: Thanks to my conversations with Denis Villeneuve. I did not immediately identify with Jessica. Without having the power of the Bene Gesserit, I was able to rely on the love I have for my children. To grasp the conflict in her, you have to understand faith. I'm not a Christian, I don't believe in any religion, but I like to hug the trees and be kind. I reached a state of mind that made me realize that belief can be as strong as love for your children. This is where Jessica's conflict arises.

It seems that you hesitated when Denis Villeneuve offered you the role because you were tired of playing strong women who know how to fight ...

Rebecca Ferguson: I'll tell you what really happened. When Denis introduced me to Jessica, he told me about her strength, her power, the fact that she is a mother, a concubine and a soldier. I was like "hey, that sounds like something I've done before ..." but I never would have turned down the part. If Denis had asked me to play a queen, I would have played a queen. It is not the extreme emotions that interests him. He wants to know how we go from one to the other, how we become imposing without having to stand on tiptoe, without barricading his emotions. How to be powerful and cry with fear? This is the real subject.

After Doctor Sleep and The Kid Who Would Be King, here you are again in the role of a witch. How do you explain that casting directors and directors see you like this?

Rebecca Ferguson: I like it. I wonder if people who say I play strong, independent, intense characters connect it to witchcraft. They were strong, weren't they? They clung to their beliefs. Strength can be compared to resistance to social norms. Besides, one should dissect the word "force" because it is a word which encompasses a lot of things. I find it in the same way as the fragility in all my characters.

Do you feel like you are being cataloged/typecast?

Rebecca Ferguson: It's also my job to bring other things. I hope that by seeing Dune, people will understand the complexity with which I played Jessica. I hope they realize how much it cost me to create vulnerability and fear in this woman and I'm not just talking about the close-ups where I cry. Finally, I hope they will understand the depth of the agony she is going through and how impacted she is by the events. There is a reversal with the character of Paul. Her child takes over. Yes, there are roles that I would like to play, but there are so many actors ... I sometimes feel like I'm being cataloged, but most of the time I mostly feel very lucky to be working . It's a balance.

What power have you developed over time?

Rebecca Ferguson: I don't know if it's a power, but I'm very raw, very honest with others. I'm not too worried about the consequences. I try to be respectful, I listen and I don't want to hurt anyone, but I'm proud to stand my ground. I'm afraid people sometimes think I'm a diva ... These are issues that I always feel like working on. On a larger scale, I would protect people if I thought they were mistreated and I would defend myself if I felt disrespected. I no longer worry if someone gets on my nerves because I stood up to them. It's okay, I'll find another movie. It is my power: to be able to trust myself, to convince myself that everything will be fine.

Denis Villeneuve is known for creating stunning visual universes. Don't we lose the magic when we play in it?

Rebecca Ferguson: Denis Villeneuve is an image artist. I see how being on the set can encroach on that magic, but the scenery and sets were so amazing ... What I see and feel as I stand on a rock in Abu Dhabi with Timothée Chalamet n ' is not what I experience when the camera moves to film me from all angles. I'm totally locked into my thinking process as Jessica at this time. I managed to separate the movie I read, the movie I shot and the movie you see. There is this shot seen from above of a hovering ship moving through shadows to the clouds. It's steampunk, cool, with something from Around the World in 80 Days. I remember thinking to myself "my God what an adventure to be a part of this!" and then "ah yes, it's true, I'm in it!" For the first time in my life, I had forgotten.

How does a young Swede who does television become a Hollywood star?

Rebecca Ferguson: I am not ambitious. In Sweden, we say elbows. I never had this urgency to become an actress. I just made up with what I was offered. My mom did a fabulous job showing me all the options available to me on a set, pushing me a little beyond my limits. I started playing and it worked. She never forced me, that was the path I had to take. Sometimes I feel like it's wrong to say that, because I know the number of people who are struggling to do this job. It is a difficult and unfair environment. I feel very lucky at the same time and I also know that I have worked very hard to make it happen.

What does it mean to you to be successful?

Rebecca Ferguson:Success is doing what you love. Our jobs become our identity, that's what we do for most of our lives. I don't like meeting people who haven't had the opportunity to have access to a job that brings them fulfillment. Too many people have no choice but to have a job that is just income. They can find success elsewhere, of course, but for me it's loving my job, being able to take my family with me on my travels ... I love my life and enjoy it.

Translated from french for @rebeccalouisaferguson​

[life-rewritten]

GIANTS OF BL 2021 AKA SHOWS LINED UP FOR GMMTV THAT WE WON’T STOP SCREAMING ABOUT!

Is there a way I can get over the addiction of BLS? Apparently not because GMMTV came and slapped me across the face for ever thinking I could. Like what even was that conference? I came in like yeah I've heard the rumours. 6 BLs! LOL, you're kidding, like nothing I'd want would even happen. But I still made a list of everything I wanted from them and held that checklist in my mind and boy was I shocked! I ended up just on the floor, brain exploded, mind shut down and can you believe I was crying? Like why on earth was I crying for GMMTV BLs? Crazy right? I am absolutely left floored, I'm going to be crying as I write this by the way just so you know, I've got my heart full ready to burst, talking about the change we've seen in BLs this year, the journey, the growth; there's still some work to do, but GMMTV said they were also part of that, they were going to change and make us stay, wanting more. They did that in a 3-hour conference. My brain is ready, my mind is prepared, my heart is available for all these shows, and I can't wait to see what 2021 unfolds. Let's begin screaming:

Ratings: From 1 to 5 (1 being least excited to watch, 5 being most,) how excited am I to delve into these shows?

THE NICE SURPRISES

BAKERY BOYS

Genre/Themes: Thriller, Bromance, Mystery, Psychological, Drama, Friendship, BL? (The manga is), Baking

Verdict: You know I love Antique when immediately I see that Foie's hands shaking as he has to be one of the waiters in the cafe, reminds me back to another favourite bodyguard of mine doing so. I was in shock; One because Antique was one of my first Korean 'BL' movies I saw, with all my favourite actors, an unusual and intriguing plotline and I ate it up; all of it. I didn't like how censored it was and the weird open ending for the relationship in the show. But I couldn't care less, something about it made me happy. I just loved the characters I think, and I enjoyed seeing our 4 bakers become friends and find a weird found family with each other. Add in a mystery to why Joon’s character wanted to kill himself and hated cakes? And I was sold. Now GMMTV is making a remake for it, and SINGTO is playing my favourite gay baker. Like I am so happy with this. Do I expect this to blow my mind? No. Do I expect more BL? A little? I'm not sure like GMMTV could make Antique a BL if they want to, Korea hinted to it, Japan ignored it in anime and others, but Thailand could change that. I'm not holding hopes for it, but I love this cast just as much as I love the Korean Cast like Lee Thanawat is perfect for this role, Singto is greater (I just love him so much) and we even have Pleum and Foei?? Are you kidding me? Greatness. It's going to be fun to see what they do with the mystery—something I greatly liked in the movie. Let's hope it's more fleshed out in the tv show. So excited!

Ratings: 3.5/5 I mean it's not really a BL so it'll feel queer baity for me and I may end up being annoyed it, but I really do have fond memories of the Korean movie, so I want to be excited, and the cast is everything so we'll see.

FISH UPON THE SKY

Genre: Unrequited Love, Comedy, Romance, Rivalry, Haters to Lovers, 

Verdict: 

DID SOMEONE SAY JITTIRAIN: THEORY OF LOVE? 2GETHER??? Sorry for screaming but like what else am I meant to do. Theory of love is my ultimate BL show, one of it anyway, one of the reasons will be discussed even more later with another show, but this is not about them. Also, 2gether is like one of the biggest BLs ever right now. Jittirain is genius, she has this ability to make you feel for her characters, root for their love stories whilst throwing plot twists everywhere. I also like that she always has a focus; theory of love, we had film theory, 2gether we had music, and now we have Fish Upon the Sky, and we have?

 Medicine? Love rivalry? Honestly, I don't know, the title even makes me feel even weird; what the hell does Fish upon a sky mean? But who cares it's a Jittirain classic, comedy, pain, longiiiing, and unrequited love, and scheming to get unrequited loves requited, more side couples and secretive characters. This time we have PHUWIN (had to emphasise that because he's impressive people stop sleeping on him!), one of my favourite youngins, showing up and becoming our main Pi and we have Pond a newbie, who has charisma for days, and he plays Mork, and they are love rivals. Wait what? A love story between two people who fall for each other after chasing after one guy? I'm ready for this, the haters to lovers, the pain of unrequited longing, but hold on it seems like a plot twist! Seems like we have another oblivious protagonist on our hand aside from Tine in 2gether, Pi can't even see that Mork isn't chasing after the same person as him, but for he's chasing after him! Sarawat scheming activated! I'm expecting giggles, chemistry and a great story. And it's going to be great because it's Jittirain. 

Ratings: 4.5/5 It's not anything new but do I need to repeat my self? Theory of love pining and longing and emotions mixed with 2gether's secrecy, scheming and obliviousness? It's going to be great. The cast is also excellent, I have total faith in this show, better be a good director though (oh no nightmares from the last half of 2gether has returned). 

FINDING ENCHANTE

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Angst, Drama, Friends to Lovers, Haters to Lovers, Harem, Mystery, 

Verdicts: 

Enchante that means nice to meet you aww. Wow, now I know French. Yay now where do I sign up to be like Theo and have 5 men chasing after me? Actually, that sounds like a nightmare, and I don't have time for that. He does apparently. Guess what guys! I knew I had a feeling in my gut when I watched this drama, I felt the memories, the intuition, the clues, hitting my brain, and I realised why. This show is also written by My gear and your gown's writer. YES! You mean more mystery and subtext filled storytelling, a show where I can analyse the character dynamics, and find clues to piecing the story together??? Perfection. As much as My gear and your gown wasn't everything to me, it was everything to me when I analysed it, I have fun with this writer's works when directed properly her works have great potential to be one of the best. I love GMMTV giving new actors the time to shine, and choosing stories that make my mind start working again. Thank you. 

With this show we're having a love Simon flashbacks with our Simon being sent secret messages through a book by Enchante, he's sweet, caring and totally all about making our lead comfortable. Who could he be?

 The best friend who's totally pining from afar and playing off his feelings like its nothing?  My gut is already saying that Tine definitely wants it to be him (so again requited but they don't know trope? you've got me!)

Is it the playboy guitar extraordinaire played by GAWIN you heard me right GAWIN my Mork in Dark Blue Kiss!! Like what? Where've you been boy? He looks so great in this, by the way, he's a tease, likes to play our lead's feelings, and has chemistry because they're haters to lovers.  

Or is it FLUKE PUSIT?? What even is this cast how is it both my favourite actors are here? Anyways Fluke is an artist, he wants our lead to let him in so he can draw him, our lead is his muse apparently, and again chemistry that makes your head hurt because like who is this damn Enchante?? Who will Theo choose? 

Anyways we then have two people who I don't know that well sorry, Boom is the football captain that likes our lead and is always protecting him, and the other is a genius/nerd? Who helps Theo with his studies? Like wow, it must be great to be Theo, guys from different lifestyles and aesthetics have found him, they want him, they need him and one of them he wants and needs. I wonder who it is. 

Ps people already thinking it's the best friend, not me, I think bestie is obviously endgame Tine is definitely also secretly wanting him to be with that pining and longing (I'm sure it's why he wants to find enchante desperately). I can't wait to see why these two refuse to let each other know how it feels. All I beg for is, please don't let New direct this. Guess what it's produced by X (Theory of Love! Hold on while I cry again) and Film! (Also theory of love!) Oh, this is going to be brilliant!

Ratings: 4.5/5 This drama is probably going to be the most underrated because people have other things to care about I don't blame you, but I think for me, this would be a same favourite way I loved MGYG and I'm ready for new faces, Gawin and Fluke and a requited but they don't know it angsty love story plus I know the directing is going to be amazing!. Ps, I actually hate harems, but the excitement is in figuring out who on earth is Enchante and why this is happening! 

THE BIG BOYS

GMMTV decided to not let me rest next year. How is it that I already felt happy by seeing Phuwin, Gawin, Fluke etc... I was content you know, I was like great we have a great line up I'm excited now I don't think there's anything else I secretly want that will happen. I'm being a clown, BUT NO. EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR: EVERYONE I WANTED TO SEE, EVERY TROPE I WANTED, THE DIRECTOR, THE PLOTS, EVERYTHING WAS MANIFESTED BY THESE THREE TRAILERS. That's why I ended up crying.  Because even till this day I can't believe this is real. I don't know when I'll finally think they will be real in 2021. Crying again!

NOT ME 

Genre: Gang, Mafia, Crime, Romance, Drama, Stolen Identity, Twins, Angst

Not me? Not you? Not us? See how my mind scrambles when it comes to this show. Because I was determined to not be a clown and believe in this even when I saw OFF GUN hold onto each other on the motorbike I was like HA, nope they're just guest stars, when I saw them as gang members I was like HA; interesting probably not BL. When I saw two Guns, I was like HA, nice Gifted character flashback but still not BL. I won't fall for it,  this is a BAIT! You get me? BAIT!! Don't fall for it and then GMMTV was like shut up here's a kiss. And then I broke down and cried. Because it was a journey. 

Remember when I said Theory of Love was my favourite? It's because of these two; OffGun is everything, my favourite BL couple on screen, my favourite fanservice couple, everything. I thought that the end of theory of love meant I won't be seeing them for a while, they'd be in other series separate, they'd not want to be typecasted. Gun would go for serious roles, Off will choose more het romantic comedies, don't blame them. Still, I didn't think I'd see them again, and I wasn't sure I wanted to see them in another university setting. I set my mind on only seeing them in fan meetings and side projects, I'd made up my mind to miss them. And then NOT ME happened, and now I'm crying just at the thought;

This isn't a cringy, comedic, cheesy BL. 

This isn't set in University.

This isn't'  unrequited pining from Gun to Off.

Gun is Dark! I repeat Gun went Dark he became a gang leader determined to break the law, called Black and Off; OFF went serious and he's Gun's right-hand man called Sean, and I'm just like wait is this real?? We're getting dark, gritty OFF GUN??? Are you serious?? See?? still can't believe it, and it's BL??? What is this? Christmas?? Like how did we get this, who came up with this idea THANK YOU SO MUCH. 

I thought nothing could beat theory of love for me and now OffGun came back and said HA you thought. I have a lot of feels about this, I will never stop screaming, I've rewatched that youtube trailer now for about more than 20 times, I'm not even kidding you, every day it's on repeat, I'm just ready, ready to write, to scream, to talk about this in so much detail. Let's get a plot that's deep, thrilling and mysterious, let's get a romance that is interesting, angsty but also sweet, let's get acting that is full of range, that will break my heart but fix it together again, let's get chemistry that would make me forget everything else. I'm ready for this. I've never been more ready!

Ratings: 5/5 What were you expecting? I can't even rate this anything else, nothing about this is worrying; even the director I trust she's also worked with Gun before in another movie of his, she respects LGBTQ, and she wants to make a great BL. I just can't believe this is real. 2021 come faster, I beg you. 

BAD BUDDY 

Genre: Forbidden romance, Haters to Lovers, Romance, Comedy, Opposites attract, Angst, Friends to Lovers, 

Verdict: 

You thought my screaming would be over. But no. GMMTV wasn't done with me yet. It's like it knew I was mourning from my lack of Ohm Pawat after rewatching He's coming to me (review here) and it knew I had just finished watching Gifted Graduation and felt slighted to see my opportunity at seeing Nanon as a BL character being taken from me with that finale. GMMTV knew I was empty without them and decided to mock me, and put me back together by making OHM NANON in a series together,. 

Again the same process as Not me; I started laughing when I saw the trailer like a mad person. I was like this is clearly a queer bait bromance, HA, not falling for it GMMTV almost got me this time, but then there were the stares, the Romeo and Juliet energy, the sneaking into each other's rooms, the becoming secret friends despite being haters to lovers, the skinship, the intimacy, and then the jealousy, the pining, the longing, the are we just friends scene??? WAIT, WHAT IS THIS?? Why is AOF directing this (same director of ALL my favourite BLS), what is this GMMTV? 

Nanon wouldn't be in a BL we know this, we've been clowns, but we accepted this with defeat, why is he now saying he's doing one because of the cast? THIS IS A BL? NOT BAIT? NOT A TRICK? BY AOF? WHATTTTTTT???? see my mind exploded. 

Since then it hasn't still comprehended this. This is insane, do you know how good, how genius, how amazing Nanon and Ohm Pawat is?? Do you see the power this holds? The fact it's directed by Aof who's like one of the best directors ever in GMMTV??? Do you even know what this means? For this GENRE??? Sorry, I have to scream. I still can't believe this! This is something someone would say, and we'd laugh it of as a joke like yeah right, in your dreams, but it's real, and it looks absolutely amazing, is it a university setting YES, so what? This is everything, with haters to lovers but not really, to Romeo and Juliet pining and longing, to the chemistry that takes your breath away. To just Ohm and Nanon in a screen together being in love. Yep, you guessed it my mind is never goanna be whole again after this breakdown. Guess what I'm okay with it. 

Ratings: 5/5 OhmNanon, Aof that's it. That's the post.

A TALE OF A THOUSAND STARS

 Genre/Themes: Military, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Heart Transplant, Unrequited Love, Fish out of water, 

Verdict:

 And we come to this big one here. You see it? It screams 2021 show of the year to me, it screams incredible plot and romance to me, it screams unique and exciting BL to me. Guess what? It's also by Aof. Ha. It took me a year to accept this is happening because when the trailer came out, I knew that with this cursed genre that this was too good that there'd probably be some kind of issue with it. But did it matter? No! Because this was real. Earth and Mix were in a BL together, and it looks so amazing, so great, and it's coming in less than 3 months. I'm going to cry. And it means everything; because there's a hint of character dynamics, angst and also haters to lovers. I see the chemistry, the production, the plot, the actors, and I just feel so ready for this show that I have no other words to say except I love it, I love it, I love it!. 

Ratings: 5/5 It's taken years, but I'm ready for this, I just want the trailer now, I want the show now, I want 2021 to start now. This is definitely a giant for sure, it's everything, and I can't wait for it. 

After screaming at everything; 2021 starting with ATOTS is already a sign, we're in for a great year with so many incredible changes in this genre. GMMTV isn't messing around, with subs in their event to show international fans are no longer forgotten and are heard and respected, with actors that have made their way into my heart and refuse to leave, and I'm just so happy. It may seem so extreme to be this excited for a BL series to be good, but I love this genre, I love seeing what it represents to so many people, I love the interesting storylines, the discussions you can have for days because of it, the tears, angst, and happiness you feel. But most of all I love how BL has brought out writing from me, I'm happy when I analyse this genre, I'm delighted discussing real-life links and conversations derived from it, I'm so glad learning and humbling my self and opening my mind to new things. BL has been a source of excitement, shock and happiness this year. I can't for next year to be even more splendid, and with this line-up, it's going to be even more than that. It's going to break the world. Can't wait. 

[etherealacademia]

Movie Recs!!

We The Animals (2018) - Absolutely stunning film about a boy and his two brothers trying to navigate through a world where they feel they don’t fit. It’s incredibly incredible (also queer) and based off of my favorite book of all time.

The Skeleton Twins (2014) - This stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig as twins in adulthood who have to face how much their lives have changed for the worse. Obviously since they’ve worked with each other so much, Bill and Kristen have enormous chemistry, comedy-wise. It’s as hilarious as it is heart-breaking. (Also gay.)

Departure (2015) - Starring Alex Lawther, Juliet Stevenson, and Phenix Brossard, this movie tells the story of a boy named Elliot who is questioning his sexuality and pursuing to become a playwright. Meanwhile, his mother is trying to cope with her divorce from his father. This movie is so beautifully directed and the acting is phenomenal.

I Lost My Body (2019) - A French film mainly told from the story of a severed hand. It’s incredibly complex and absolutely stunning.

Dear Ex (2018) - “A teen navigates a bitter feud between his willful mom and a free-spirited man, who’s the lover and insurance beneficiary of his recently deceased dad.” Amazing.

Elisa y Marcela (2019) - Based on a true story about two Spanish women who fall in love in 1885. As their relationship grows, so does their secrecy, forcing Elisa to present herself as a man in 1901 in order to legally marry the woman she loves. It’s incredible and I cried.

The Social Network (2010) - This film is pretty well-known but if you don’t know it’s basically: How Facebook Was Founded ft. Justin Timberlake and, arguably, The Worst Spiderman. It’s extremely funny, very well-scripted. Something I love about this film is its score 9/10 (the 10/10 is for Joker).

The Fundamentals of Caring (2016) - a.k.a. “Is that Paul Rudd???” Anyway, this film is also adapted from a book about a caregiver who becomes very close with this teen shut-in who has muscular distrophy. (This role is played by an abled actor, just letting you know.) It’s very very funny and also heartwarming and inspirational.

The Florida Project (2017) - Also very well-known movie, but it holds a very dear place in my heart so it reserves a spot on this movie rec. It’s so incredibly spot-on with what it’s like to be working class and struggling to make ends meet. The cast of young actors are so incredibly talented and... wtf?? Is that WILLEM DAFOE?? LIKE THE GREEN DUDE FROM SPIDER-MAN??

The Boys in the Band (2020) - Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins ✨being gay for two hours✨. Need I say more?

Swiss Army Man (2016) - The directors had pitched the movie to the lead actor with, “We want to make a movie where the first fart makes you laugh and the last fart makes you cry.” And they fucking did it. All jokes aside, this movie was so incredible in the silliest way??? And it’s also so very very complex and it really makes you think about how you’ve viewed life. Also it stars Daniel Radcliffe and who doesn’t love Daniel Radcliffe, y’know?

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2016) - I rewatched this movie last night and I can’t believe I never noticed how amazing the camera work is. The movie is so well-directed and so well-written (I think this is because it’s based off of a book and the author of the book wrote the screenplay *ahem* which all authors should consider doing *ahem*). The score is also incredible, major props for the soundtrack as well. Good bangers. As for the plot and characters themselves? Almost scarily self-aware but it’s all so genuine and there is real chemistry between the actors.

Apologies for this being so long-winded!!

of these, i’ve seen elisa y marcela, me and earl and the dying girl, and the florida project, all of which i enjoyed. thank you for going so into depth about these movies and why you like them!! you make them sound super compelling and i’m probably going to watch all of them

[aion-rsa]

The Suicide Squad: Who Lives and Who Dies

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This article contains major The Suicide Squad spoilers. We have a spoiler free review here.

Five years ago, Will Smith uttered the instantly meme-able line, “So that’s it, huh, we’re the patsies, we’re some kind of Suicide Squad.” Yet by the end of that 2016 film, barely anyone in that squad was put six feet under. How times have changed.

For the entire rollout of his pseudo-sequel/reboot, writer-director James Gunn has insisted he had carte blanche to kill off any character in his The Suicide Squad roster. While we may remain skeptical if Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and a few others were really that expendable to Warner Bros., Gunn’s finished film speaks to just how much freedom he was allotted in slaughtering potentially valuable DC IP. Major characters from the first film, and a slew of new ones Gunn personally introduced, were pushing up daisies before the movie’s opening title card. And the bodycount only grew from there.

So if you had trouble keeping up with who died, and in what gnarly and grotesque fashion, we’re here to offer a handy dandy list of which members of the Suicide Squad walked away from Corto Maltese, and which were carried away in bags.

Blackguard

Dies

You can’t help but wonder if Gunn intentionally cast Pete Davidson as the first Squad member to get put down. With the exception of a fakeout (more on that in a bit), the mildly divisive SNL alumni goes out in gruesome fashion when he reveals on a Corto Maltese beachhead that he somehow communicated with the local military that a U.S. operation would be landing there. He thinks this will get him in good with the new government. Instead it gets him obliterated by a hail of bullets. All that time in prison and Blackguard never learned what happens to snitches…

Javelin

Dies

Flula Borg’s Javelin cut an amusing figure, as if he wandered in from some low-rent 1970s superhero television series. Even his accent was absurdly disarming, as Harley quickly noticed. Alas, it was not meant to be since Javelin was blasted fast on the beach, barely having a moment to entrust Dr. Quinzel with his trusty weapon.

Mongal

Dies

Let it not go unsaid that Mayling Ng’s Mongal made an epic introduction and exit when she took down several choppers all by herself. Unfortunately, she didn’t really think about a personal strategy as she rode one helicopter all the way down into its fiery ‘splosion.

Captain Boomerang

Dies

The first really major death of the film came when Captain Boomerang, Jai Courtney’s holdover from the 2016 movie, also bit the big one from the same fiery blast that took Mongal. At least he and Harley got to share a few laughs beforehand. We guess this puts an end to any chance of him  showing up in The Flash movie!

T.D.K.

Dies

Okay, as soon as you realized the secret superpower of Nathan Fillion’s character was something as lame as “detachable” limbs, you also knew he was dead meat, right? This character is so lame that Gunn doesn’t even show the Corto Maltese military putting him out of his misery. They just snicker as he writhes in pain, feeling how his detached arms have been shot to ribbons. Bad day to be a Browncoat.

Savant

Dies

Michael Rooker is the actor James Gunn casts when he wants to give a character an epic death scene. It took two movies for that to prove true in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but Rooker’s Savant doesn’t even make it to the end of the opening credits here… well not all of him. The blood and brain splatter created by the bomb Amanda Waller detonated in this coward’s skull spells a lovely “The Suicide Squad” lettering across the waves. And hey, at least Rooker got to rock those epic blonde locks!

The Thinker

Dies

Once you heard that Peter Capaldi was playing an evil supervillain who was also in league with the Suicide Squad’s enemies, you knew there was no way Thinker was walking away from this movie, right? Nonetheless, Gunn goes hard with the doc’s death scene when a liberated Starro the Conqueror gets revenge for 30 years of captivity by ripping his captor’s arms off and then turning him into a red smear across glass. Ouch.

Col. Rick Flag

Dies

This one hurt. Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag was one of the better and even underrated elements from 2016’s Suicide Squad, and he got a chance to shine a lot brighter here. From small things like his total war buddies vibe with Harley to showing a backbone when he realizes Waller’s nefarious cover-up game, Flag came out as a real leader this time up to bat. Sadly, he then got Cena’d to death.

Polka-Dot Man

Dies

You did it, Polka-Dot Man, you proved your simultaneously dippy and creepy superpowers could make you a real superhero! Even your Norma Bates-like mama would be proud. Too bad Starro then stepped on you immediately afterward. Yay?

Starro

Dies

The big guy had his giant eye poked out by Harley and then an army of rats swarm into the hole that made and chew up his insides. Honestly, you feel bad for the kaiju in the end. Like King Kong, he didn’t ask to be brought here. Who knew we could get the sniffles for a rampaging monster with mind-control powers?

Harley Quinn

Lives

Come on, did you think they’d kill off Harley? Pfft, Robbie’s performance is way too good for that.

Bloodsport

Lives

Given his world-weary stoicism, I thought going in that Idris Elba’s Bloodsport was too noble for Gunn’s twisted vision. How nice it is to be proven wrong. Elba’s supervillain marksman reveals there’s a heart of gold beneath that gruff exterior, and it’s still beating when the credits come around.

Ratcatcher II

Lives

James Gunn once told us that Daniela Melchior’s Ratcatcher was the heart of the movie with a presence “like somebody from the French New Wave.” And he wasn’t blowing smoke about the actor or the character. Despite being introduced as an easygoing millennial, Ratcatcher turns out to be the most sympathetic Squad member and proves her generation gets the job done by unleashing an armada of rats on Starro.

King Shark

Lives

Thank God. Nobody better hurt our precious man-eating Nanaue. Go ahead, King, have another nom-nom. You earned it!

Sol Soria

Lives

Sol Soria gets to be el presidente in Corto Maltese now. I guess that’s a fair enough trade with the knowledge that the people who put her there also fed her buddies head first to a land shark.

Amanda Waller

Lives

Some characters are too evil to die. Amanda Waller is still stewing back in D.C. by the end of The Suicide Squad, and she’s likely scheming of a way to murder all of her current underlings too.

Weasel

Lives

The first fakeout of the movie is the fate of Weasel. Despite seemingly being the first character to seemingly die off—in a really hilarious fashion when Waller and company realize they didn’t check to see if Weasel could swim—it turns out he didn’t drown. There’s another reason right there for why Savant deserved to have his head go boom. Pity the children of Corto Maltese.

Peacemaker

Lives

Even though Peacemaker got an epic death scene where Bloodsport won a quickdraw showdown, some actors are just too big of a deal to kill. Thus the end credits scene reveals that Peacemaker survived his bullet wound to the neck and is still breathing on a hospital ventilator. Nonetheless, Bloodsport taught him a valuable lesson: It’s not the size of your bullets but how you use them.

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[timeless-hollywood-classics]

Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, voice actor, film producer, film director and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into a hardboiled leading man starring in projects of a more dramatic nature. He was the first actor to portray the private detective Philip Marlowe on screen.

Powell was born the middle son of three boys in Mountain View, the seat of Stone County in northern Arkansas. His brothers were Luther (the eldest), and Howard (the youngest). The family moved the boys to Little Rock in 1914, where Powell sang in church choirs and with local orchestras, and started his own band. Powell attended the former Little Rock College, before he started his entertainment career as a singer with the Royal Peacock Band which toured throughout the Midwest.

During this time, he married Mildred Maund, a model, but she found being married to an entertainer not to her liking. After a final trip to Cuba together, Mildred moved to Hemphill, Texas, and the couple divorced in 1932. Later, Powell joined the Charlie Davis Orchestra, based in Indianapolis. He recorded a number of records with Davis and on his own, for the Vocalion label in the late 1920s.

Powell moved to Pittsburgh, where he found great local success as the Master of Ceremonies at the Enright Theater and the Stanley Theater.

In April 1930, Warner Bros. bought Brunswick Records, which at that time owned Vocalion. Warner Bros. was sufficiently impressed by Powell's singing and stage presence to offer him a film contract in 1932. He made his film debut as a singing bandleader in Blessed Event.[4]

He was borrowed by Fox Film to support Will Rogers in Too Busy to Work (1932). He was a boyish crooner, the sort of role he specialised in for the next few years. Back at Warners he supported George Arliss in The King's Vacation, then was in 42nd Street (both 1933), playing the love interest for Ruby Keeler. The film was a massive hit.

Warners got him to basically repeat the role in Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), another big success. So too was Footlight Parade (1933), with Keeler and James Cagney.

Powell was upped to star for College Coach (1933), then went back to more ensemble pieces including 42nd Street, Convention City (both 1933), Wonder Bar, Twenty Million Sweethearts, and Dames (all 1934).[3]

Happiness Ahead was more of a star vehicle for Powell, as was Flirtation Walk (both 1934). He was top-billed in Gold Diggers of 1935 and Broadway Gondolier (both 1935), both with Joan Blondell. He supported Marion Davies in Page Miss Glory (1935), made for Cosmopolitan Pictures, a production company financed by Davies' lover William Randolph Hearst, who released through Warners.

Warners gave him a change of pace, casting him as Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935).

More typical was Shipmates Forever (1935) with Keeler. 20th Century Fox borrowed him for Thanks a Million (1935); back at Warners, he did Colleen (1936) with Keeler and Blondell. Powell was reunited with Marion Davies in another for Cosmopolitan, Hearts Divided (1936), playing Napoleon's brother.

He made two films with Blondell, Stage Struck (1936) and Gold Diggers of 1937 (1937). 20th Century Fox then borrowed him again for On the Avenue (1937).

Back at Warners, he appeared in The Singing Marine, Varsity Show (both 1937), Hollywood Hotel, Cowboy from Brooklyn, Hard to Get, Going Places (all 1938), and Naughty but Nice (1939). Fed up with the repetitive nature of these roles, Powell left Warner Bros and went to work for Paramount Pictures.

At Paramount, he and Blondell were cast together again, in the drama I Want a Divorce (1940). Then Powell got a chance to appear in another non-musical, Christmas in July (1940), a screwball comedy which was the second feature directed by Preston Sturges.

Universal borrowed him to support Abbott and Costello in In the Navy (1941), one of the most popular films of 1941. At Paramount he had a cameo in Star Spangled Rhythm and co-starred with Mary Martin in Happy Go Lucky (both 1943). He supported Dorothy Lamour in Riding High (1943).

He was in a fantasy comedy directed by René Clair, It Happened Tomorrow then went over to MGM to appear opposite Lucille Ball in Meet the People (both 1944), which was a box office flop.

During this period, Powell starred in the musical programme Campana Serenade, which was broadcast on NBC radio (1942–1943) and CBS radio (1943–1944).

By 1944, Powell felt he was too old to play romantic leading men anymore,[citation needed] so he lobbied to play the lead in Double Indemnity. He lost out to Fred MacMurray, another Hollywood nice guy. MacMurray's success, however, fueled Powell's resolve to pursue projects with greater range.

Powell's career changed dramatically when he was cast in the first of a series of films noir, as private detective Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet, directed by Edward Dmytryk at RKO. The film was a big hit, and Powell had successfully reinvented himself as a dramatic actor. He was the first actor to play Marlowe – by name – in motion pictures. (Hollywood had previously adapted some Marlowe novels, but with the lead character changed.) Later, Powell was the first actor to play Marlowe on radio, in 1944 and 1945, and on television, in a 1954 episode of Climax! Powell also played the slightly less hard-boiled detective Richard Rogue in the radio series Rogue's Gallery beginning in 1945.

In 1945, Dmytryk and Powell reteamed to make the film Cornered, a gripping, post-World War II thriller that helped define the film noir style.

For Columbia, he played a casino owner in Johnny O'Clock (1947) and made To the Ends of the Earth (1948). In 1948, he stepped out of the brutish type when he starred in Pitfall, a film noir in which a bored insurance company worker falls for an innocent but dangerous woman, played by Lizabeth Scott.

He broadened his range appearing in a Western, Station West (1948), and a French Foreign Legion tale, Rogues' Regiment (1949). He was a Mountie in Mrs. Mike (1950).

From 1949 to 1953, Powell played the lead role in the NBC radio theater production Richard Diamond, Private Detective. His character in the 30-minute weekly was a likable private detective with a quick wit. Many episodes ended with Detective Diamond having an excuse to sing a little song to his date, showcasing Powell's vocal abilities. Many of the episodes were written by Blake Edwards. When Richard Diamond came to television in 1957, the lead role was portrayed by David Janssen, who did no singing in the series. Prior to the Richard Diamond series, he starred in Rogue's Gallery. He played Richard Rogue, private detective. The Richard Diamond tongue-in-cheek persona developed in the Rogue series.

Powell took a break from tough-guy roles in The Reformer and the Redhead (1950), opposite wife June Allyson. Then it was back to tougher movies: Right Cross (1950), a boxing film, with Allyson; Cry Danger (1951), as an ex con; The Tall Target (1951), at MGM directed by Anthony Mann, playing a detective who tries to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

He returned to comedy with You Never Can Tell (1951). He had a good role in MGM's popular melodrama, The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). His final film performance was in a romantic comedy Susan Slept Here (1954) for director Frank Tashlin.

Even when he appeared in lighter fare such as The Reformer and the Redhead and Susan Slept Here (1954), he never sang in his later roles. The latter, his final onscreen appearance in a feature film, did include a dance number with co-star Debbie Reynolds.

By this stage Powell had turned director. His feature debut was Split Second (1953) at RKO Pictures. He followed it with The Conqueror (1956), coproduced by Howard Hughes starring John Wayne as Genghis Khan. The exterior scenes were filmed in St. George, Utah, downwind of U.S. above-ground atomic tests. The cast and crew totaled 220, and of that number, 91 had developed some form of cancer by 1981, and 46 had died of cancer by then, including Powell and Wayne.

He directed Allyson opposite Jack Lemmon in You Can't Run Away from It (1956). Powell then made two war films at Fox with Robert Mitchum, The Enemy Below (1957) and The Hunters (1958).

In the 1950s, Powell was one of the founders of Four Star Television, along with Charles Boyer, David Niven, and Ida Lupino. He appeared in and supervised several shows for that company. Powell played the role of Willie Dante in Four Star Playhouse, in episodes entitled "Dante's Inferno" (1952), "The Squeeze" (1953), "The Hard Way" (1953), and "The House Always Wins" (1955). In 1961, Howard Duff, husband of Ida Lupino, assumed the Dante role in a short-lived NBC adventure series Dante, set at a San Francisco nightclub called "Dante's Inferno".

Powell guest-starred in numerous Four Star programs, including a 1958 appearance on the Duff-Lupino sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve. He appeared in 1961 on James Whitmore's legal drama The Law and Mr. Jones on ABC. In the episode "Everybody Versus Timmy Drayton", Powell played a colonel having problems with his son. Shortly before his death, Powell sang on camera for the final time in a guest-star appearance on Four Star's Ensign O'Toole, singing "The Song of the Marines", which he first sang in his 1937 film The Singing Marine. He hosted and occasionally starred in his Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater on CBS from 1956–1961, and his final anthology series, The Dick Powell Show on NBC from 1961 through 1963; after his death, the series continued through the end of its second season (as The Dick Powell Theater), with guest hosts.

Powell was the son of Ewing Powell and Sallie Rowena Thompson.

He married three times:

Mildred Evelyn Maund (b. 1906, d. 1967). The couple married in 1925, and appear on the 1930 census in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Powell was working in a theater, and on a 1931-passenger list for the SS Oriente, returning from Havana, Cuba. They divorced in 1932, although Mildred retained her married name.

Joan Blondell (married September 19, 1936, divorced 1944). He adopted her son from a previous marriage, Norman Powell, who later became a television producer; the couple also had one child together, Ellen Powell.

June Allyson (August 19, 1945, until his death, January 2, 1963), with whom he had two children, Pamela (adopted) and Richard Powell, Jr.

Powell's ranch-style house was used for exterior filming on the ABC TV series, Hart to Hart. Powell was a friend of Hart to Hart actor Robert Wagner and producer Aaron Spelling. The estate, known as Amber Hills, is on 48 acres in the Mandeville Canyon section of Brentwood, Los Angeles.

Powell enjoyed general aviation as a private pilot.

On September 27, 1962, Powell acknowledged rumors that he was undergoing treatment for cancer. The disease was originally diagnosed as an allergy, with Powell first experiencing symptoms while traveling East to promote his program. Upon his return to California, Powell's personal physician conducted tests and found malignant tumors on his neck and chest.

The marker on Dick Powell's niche in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California incorrectly identifies his year of death as 1962. Powell died at the age of 58 on January 2, 1963. His body was cremated and his remains were interred in the Columbarium of Honor at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. In a 2001 interview with Larry King, Powell's widow June Allyson stated that the cause of death was lung cancer due to his chain smoking.

It has been speculated that Powell developed cancer as a result of his participation in the film The Conqueror, which was filmed at St. George, Utah, near a site used by the U.S. military for nuclear testing. As well as Powell, who directed the film, about a third of the actors who participated in the film developed cancer, including John Wayne and Susan Hayward.

During the 15th Primetime Emmy Awards on May 26, 1963, the Television Academy presented a posthumous Television Academy Trustee Award to Dick Powell for his contributions to the industry. The award was accepted by two of his former partners in Four Star Television, Charles Boyer and David Niven.

Dick Powell has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6915 Hollywood Blvd.

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

For the movie asks, how about D, R, T, Z, AA, and AB?

Let’s do this!

D. Favorite movie soundtrack

Favorite Movie Score: Wall-E (2008)

Favorite Movie Soundtrack from an Orignal Musical: The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Favorite Movie Soundtrack that Used Pop Songs: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

R. An underrated actor.

Sam Rockwell can use some more love. He always gives an interesting performance no matter what he’s in. I’m always happy to see him.

Also, Lee Pace! Where is he? I miss him. And stop having him play assholes!

For a dead actor, I have to go with Thomas Mitchell. If I were to make a movie and could pick any actor from any era, I would make sure to have him.

T. An underrated director.

Michael Crutiz. He’s never a director brought up in film school, but I guarantee you’ve watched at least one of his movies. He’s did Casablanca (1942), The Adventurs of Robin Hood (1938), Captain Blood (1935) and so many others. He directed most of the big budget Hollywood blockbusters of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is the definition a working director and he deserves way more credit than he gets.

Z. Favorite movie characters.

Oh God...okay, here are the ones that have really stuck with me for some reason or another over the years. The lists changes a lot, so it might be best to narrow it down to era or director or something. Also, I’m pulling away from fandom stuff, since you all know who I love.

In no particular order:

Willy Wonka from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

It was the first time I can remember being fully mesmerized by a character and wondered what they were going to do next. The credit goes entirely to Gene Wilder and I can’t thank him enough for it. I re-watch the movie, just for him.

Hector Rivera from Coco (2017)

I love Hector so much it hurts. The ending when he’s walking across the bridge, and there is the split second of fear but as he realizes he can walk across he looks up with this smile and, excuse me for a minute while I cry. I can’t remember the last time I was so invested in a character.

Rapunzel from Tangled (2010)

Rapunzel is always going to have a soft place in my heart. Her journey of figuring out what she really wanted out of life, her fear of disappointing her Mother and her general out look really hit me at exactly the right moment in my life.  I was Rapunzel and Rapunzel was me.  I never saw that in a character before.

George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

I watch this movie every year, and every year I get something new out of George Bailey, who he is and what his life means to him and those around him.  He’s a good man despite his best efforts and it gets me every time.

Captain Louis Renault from Casablanca (1942)

Every word that comes out of his man’s mouth is iconic. Another character who you’re not a hundred percent sure what he’s going to do or why, he’s a fantastic character in a movie full of them.  I just want a movie of Louis and Rick fighting in the French Foreign Legion, is that too much to ask?

AA. A film that was better than the book.

Controversial, possibly.  Neil Gaiman still is my literary idol, but I’m going to go with Stardust (2007) on this one.

I’m not sure what is was about the book, but I just did not enjoy it as much as I did the film. The movie takes a very different tone, closer to The Princess Bride, while the book is the classic almost dreamlike state Gaiman has perfected.  Maybe I need to go back and re-read the book, but as it stands, I really love the movie and am lukewarm on the book.

AB. Best remake.

Top 5 in no particular order:

Fright Night (2011)

The writing is better, the tension is better, and you’ve got David Tennant going full slut in leather pants.  What’s not to love?

True Grit (2010)

Dads across the nation may lament this choice, but it’s true.  The Coen Brothers trump John Wayne on this one.

The Thing (1982)

I do have a soft spot for the original, but there is no denying the superiority of its remake. It’s a horror classic for a reason.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

A movie based on a musical based on a B-horror movie from the 1960s, and it’s one of my favorite films of all time.  How could it not be on the list?

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

A cheesy Rat Pack movie re-envisioned as a slick heist movie with an all star cast.  I love it.

Let’s Talk Movies

[glenngaylord]

Glenn Gaylord’s Capsules From The Bunker – Summer 2021 Lockdown Style

Like many of you, I’ve lost all concept of space and time during this lockdown era. I’d watch movie after movie, but somehow forget to write about them. I’d consume films for sustenance, but then I’d move on to the next task of cleaning a room, doing a crossword puzzle, or staring at my dog for hours on end. Thank goodness I have a few friends to have breakfast with every now and then, or else I’d have assumed I had been transported to a cabin in Montana. “Am I a film critic or a hermit?” I’d ask myself daily…that is, if I even understand what days are anymore. All of this is to say that I have a lot of catching up to do now that we’ve taken a baby step or two towards returning to some sense of normalcy. Wait a minute. What’s that? Highly transmissible variants? Back into the cave I go. While I still can, I’ve managed to blurt out a few capsule reviews of some films worth mentioning.

In Between Gays – Film Review: Summer Of 85 ★★★★

Prolific French filmmaker, François Ozon, has made a career out of finding dark crevices in the most unexpected of places. Here, with Summer Of 85, he tweaks this New Wave era gay romance just enough to upend our expectations. In pure Talented Mr. Ripley meets Call Me By Your Name meets Luca fashion, Ozon spins what could have been that sun-dappled, seaside summer that changed everything into a love that perhaps never was, zeroing in instead on a young man’s obsession for something unobtainable. Beautifully shot and acted, Ozon takes the story to more provocative places than you’d initially expect while still maintaining the boppy fizz of a great Cure song. Despite the mish mash of tones, the film has a pulse all of its own. It’ll make you swoon, pull the rug out from under you, and then make you wonder how he managed to quietly get a little twisted.

Summer Of 85 currently in select theaters, see official website for details. Released on DVD and BluRay August 17th.

Truffle In Mind – Film Review: Pig ★★★★

Writer-director Michael Sarnoski makes an auspicious feature debut with the story of a man searching for his stolen truffle-hunting pig. Caked in dirt, blood and looking not so much like a homeless man but as a person who died inside a thousand times over, Nicholas Cage gives one of his best performances ever as a man who seeks the truth at all costs. He asks his only connection to the outside world, Amir, played wonderfully by Alex Wolff, to drive him through Portland’s dark underbelly to retrieve his pet companion.

Although the film takes us to a rather unbelievable “Fight Club” moment, it generally holds its mood with credibility. It’s a great calling card, not only for Sarnoski, but also for his talented cinematographer Patrick Scola, who brings a painterly quality to every single image. The film finds beauty in a bite of food, a breath of air, or simply the compassion between two main characters who have seemingly little in common. It’s a shame the trailer elicits laughs when Cage utters lines like, “Who has my pig?” Clearly they want to sell the actor’s neo-gonzo persona, but Cage brings so much depth and seriousness to this project, only raising his voice once. He deserves the highest praise for committing to such an oddly touching, gorgeously quiet story. At risk of sounding Dad-jokey, the only thing that hogs the scenery is his porcine friend.

Pig is in theaters now.

All Is Lost – Film Review: Old ★★

In 1999, M. Night Shyamalan made a great film, The Sixth Sense, and has been chasing that dragon ever since, often to diminishing returns. His films, however, often do well because he has great concepts, a keen eye for visuals and timing, yet things always seem to turn clunky and inane real fast. With Old, he continues down that path by giving us something compelling—a group of people on a beach who age quickly—and ruining it with dialogue seemingly written by an algorithm and rendered unintelligible much of the time, while the terrific cast seem to have no idea how to make Shyamalan’s words sound any better than a high school play. A couple of sequences did make me sit up and take notice, and he uses compositions and offscreen space well, but overall, Old plays like a stretched-out episode of Lost, and like that cool but overstuffed series, you’re not gonna get very good explanations as to what transpires. Sure, the big twist works well enough on some level, but it doesn’t save you from the discomfort of watching good actors flatline in more ways than one.

Old is currently in theaters nationally.

Hi Fidel-ity – Film Review: Revolution Rent ★★★1/2

Shot in 2014, Andy Señor Jr., who played Angel on Broadway along with a host of other credits, staged the classic musical Rent in Havana during a thaw in our relations with the Communist regime. He did so against the wishes of his Cuban family, who suffered under Castro and insisted his production would merely serve as a propaganda tool for the government. He plows ahead instead, capturing the months long process in a rather artless home movie style. The aesthetics don’t carry any weight here when you have such a compelling subject matter. Witnessing his actors struggling with their performances while also living in harsh conditions adds new layers to the late Jonathan Larson’s story of squatters in the age of AIDS.

With a limited talent pool, one of whom doesn’t feel comfortable with the gay subject matter and another who lives with HIV himself, Señor finds new connections to Larson’s material as well as an affection for his heritage. What we may have taken for granted here in the US in terms of sexuality and gender expression feels like a whole new experience when seen through a Cuban lens. Señor speaks out against the Castros with quick sequences showing moments of oppression, thus preventing this film from perpetuating the lies of its government. Instead, he gifts the people of this poor, struggling country with a real sense of community and its first burst of musical theater in ages. Sure he’s a privileged westerner who dangles hope in front of people only to return to his cushy life, but he does so with heart and good intentions. You end up loving and rooting for his cast in this moving, sweet documentary.

Revolution Rent is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Do The Hustlers – Film Review: Zola ★★★★

Call me wary when I went to see a movie based on a viral twitter thread and directed by Janicza Brava, whose Sundance Award-winning short, Gregory Go Boom, proved to be not only tone deaf but downright offensive towards people with disabilities. Her new film, Zola, excels however, in ways her prior work has not. Taylour Paige, a standout in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, plays the title character, a stripper who meets Stefani (Riley Keough) one night and is convinced to travel with her down to Florida where they can make a lot of money dancing all weekend. Things, however, do not go as planned, with Zola’s story escalating from one insane twist after another. Paige and Keough are outstanding, as are Nicholas Braun and Colman Domingo as their traveling companions. Jason Mitchell, so great in Straight Outta Compton and Mudbound, brings a wild, dangerous energy, something he shares with the film itself. It comes across as The Florida Project meets Hustlers, but with its own surreal, unexpected tone. I laughed out loud often, especially with Paige’s loopy reactions to her surroundings and the giddy, zippy energy on display. Zola chews you up, twerks on your face, and spits you out, exhausted yet anxious to see whatever this talented group of people will do next.

Zola is currently playing in select theaters and available on demand.

Banned On The Run – Film Review: There Is No Evil ★★★★

It’s impossible to review There Is No Evil without giving away its central premise, so I will avoid as much description as possible. Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has crafted a four-part anthology of sorts around an agonizing moral issue important to people worldwide. At the end of the first part, a stunning cut to an unforgettable visual reveals everything and allows you to watch the rest with informed eyes. Rasoulof seamlessly excels at different genres, from family drama, to action escape, to romance, weaving a tale of such depth and sorrow for its talented cast of characters.

The making of it proves as interesting at the film itself. Banned by the regime from producing feature films for two years and prohibited from traveling outside of Iran, Rasoulof, like any crafty filmmaker, came up with an ingenious plan. He slipped under the radar by calling these four short films, mostly shot in small towns far outside the reach of Tehran, and then had the final product smuggled out of the country. A filmmaker with such talent not only at telling stories, but the with ability to will his vision into existence against all odds, deserves the world’s attention.

There Is No Evil is available on DVD, BluRay and VOD now.

In Space No One Can Hear You Think – Film Review: F9: The Fast Saga ★★★

Considered review-proof, the Fast and the Furious franchise has ruled the box office for the past 20 years, so my calling its latest entry, F9: The Fast Saga, monumentally dumb will have zero influence on anyone’s decision to see it. We all know it’s big and stupid, as do the filmmakers. These films, deliver said stupid with such gusto, that you simply surrender and have a great time nonetheless. Nothing, however, prepared me, for this series to go all Moonraker, sending a car to a place no car has ever gone before. You’ll know it when you see it and probably say, “That’s ludicrous!” and also say, “That’s Ludacris!”

F9: The Fast Saga is currently playing on every screen on Earth and in select theaters throughout the universe.

[idonthaveanydamnidea]

assa, philippine, axel and david in the french show "quotidien" (13/06) even tho it's so long I don't even know if anyone's gonna read it

Journalist : Good evening to the four of you, welcome. Axel Auriant, we know each other, you already came.

Axel : Exactly.

J : Welcome back. Assa Sylla, welcome, and Philippine Stindel (he butchered her name a bit skdkdkdk), welcome. And, you're three of Skam's actors, David Hourregue you're the director of Skam, of the show airing on the platform France TV Slash, it's France TV's platform.

D : Exactly.

J : Is that it? Explain Skam to people who know nothing about it.

D : Skam tells the daily life of high schoolers. Of high schoolers in seconde (first year of high school) and première (second year of high school) during seasons 3 and 4, and has the particularity of airing in real time.

J : How is it airing?

D : So, there's clearly the episode, if you want to binge watch it there's the episode at the end of the week

J : If you want to... ? (poor old dude is so lost)

D : Binge watch it. Hi sir.

J : No but for people who don't know, I know.

D : You know.

J : Some people don't

D : There's the full episode airing at the end of the week like a classical TV show, on fridays at 6pm on Slash, but you can also decide to live another experience, that is to say to live each clip, each part, airing at the hour where it's supposed to happen in the week. An example-

J : Yes, for example, if.... A lunch on thursday is going to be at 1pm on thursday.

D : At 1pm, if they plan to meet on friday for a, for a party or a date, we can be sure that at 7 or 8 pm, all of the audience is online, hoping the meeting will happen and when is it going to drop, what is gonna go down, and how we're gonna- (they know we're clowns they really do)

Other journalist : Are they short clips? How long are the clips?

D : It's variable. Actually a clip can last 50 seconds or 8 minutes for example.

OJ : So you have to follow

D : You have to follow, knowing that it's never announced. You don't have any notification to tell you "it is now", you never know when it's gonna drop beforehand, and...

Third Journalist : And how is it going, how do you know?

J : On social media

D : Exactly

J : Makes us look young, to ask for this [laughs] . They all have their instagram accounts. They all have an account, the characters' account, and so there are two issues. One, addiction (i won't be attacked like that sir), we say that some young people are completely drugged on skam, and two, teachers can't anymore, especially when an episode is supposed to happen at uh... two to eight.

D : We got messages from teachers. Asking us, "please, next week there's an exam at x hour, try not to drop a clip at 7h56". So that's quite...

J : So you have your characters account, in fact. (he really is lost someone who has actually seen the show help him)

Assa : Exactly

J : But, are you the ones behing them? Or are there...

Axel : Not at all. No, no, there are community managers who are doing that way better than us, in my opinion. And especially, you have to be connected at the same time as the plot happens, at the same time as the episodes are airing, so sometimes you have to post at 11pm, etc, so we're not always on social media.

[they all laugh and i think they're teasing him cause 11pm is early for him?]

J : Are you gonna disspoint people or do the fans know? (dude we're not stupid) [Axel looking confused]

P : Ah no they know I think.

A : Yeah

P : Well yeah

J : Who has the most followers?

Assa : Axel I think

P : Yeah Axel yeah

Axel : I think it is- No it's Lucas, I think.

J : Yeah you have to différenciate. What does Skam mean?

D : Shame, in norwegian.

J : Why norwegian?

D : Uh... Cause it's the remake of a norwegian TV show, who was a true triumph there. It started slowly, nicely, before completely exploding at the end of season 2. And, basically, there, I think 2/3 of norwegian people have seen the show, that's absolutely huge.

J : So what are the themes? I can remember sexuality, want to be cool, desire to be integrated, what else?

Assa : Religion, for season 4.

Axel : Bullying- actually what's very strong and allows a lot of young people to relate is that Skam uses the codes of today's youth in that society, and for every problem we can... Well, being a teenager is a very carnal/pivotal (the two words are similar in french and he mixed up both) moment, where...

J : Carnal

Axel : Yeah, carnal too, exactly, as we can see in the paint, but uh... That's the strenght of Skam, it's that in one plot you can find, for example in Lucas' storyline - I'm talking about my character - we can find the discovery of his sexuality, at least at that very moment of his life, bullying, every societal norm he suddenly faces, and that's the strength of Skam, it's to see a bunch of teens revealing themselves and supporting each others during that carnal and pivotal period.

J : We have been talking about it for two minutes, but now we're gonna see an extract, with you [he points at Axel]

[it's the clip where Lucas leaves the church looking for Eliott with all the flashbacks]

J : So that's you Axel. Assa, your character, if you had to describe it in a few words?

Assa : So, Imane's character is a young woman - well young girl, black, Muslim, hijabi. She tries to live her youth while keeping her faith, her principles, her values. And she also embodies all possible forms of discrimination. Be it religious, physical discriminations...

P : About women

A : About women... And yeah.

J : We're watching an extract with you.

[last clip of s4 when she explains to Sofiane their relationship would be very difficult because religion is so important in her life, and her family, her muslim friends...]

J : Philippine that's your turn, your character?

P : We're gonna say... Uh, a bit wild. She enjoys a good time (literally "une bonne vivante" = "a good liver")

J : Wild, enjoying a good time.

P : That's it.

J : That's it? Can we watch an extract?

P : Yeah

[it's the "you look like a slut" part at the party with Ingrid]

J : Am I wrong or, when you talk about it or even when you look at the images we feel that you feel a certain pride about embodying these characters?

Assa : So much. Really, I'm so... I'm very very proud, really, extremely proud to be a part of this project, to...

J : And are you part of the writing of the script? For example?

[David nods]

A : For season 4?

J : He [David] is saying yes. He's nodding

[laughs]

Assa : Well for season 4-

J : Who got involved in the script writing?

D : From the start, we don't build the script opposed to our actors' energy.

J : Okay

D : Skam is of an appalling rhythm during the shooting, and I have to play a little with what they are. And the faster I'm getting closer to what they are and feel, the faster we're impactful and close to the truth. I think that's what the audience feels.

J : And did you take part in the script, Axel and Philippine?

P : Well, more or less yeah, while talking with David and all that, yeah we might have sometimes given him ideas.

J : Axel?

Axel : Me too, there's a piano scene, it's true that... I had just bought a piano and i told David-

J : I wanna play piano

Axel : Exactly, and he integrated...

J : And no drums?

Axel : No. So... Why no drums David?

D : Too simple

J : David, apparently sometimes you felt a bit overwhelmed by the width of the phenomenon.

D : Of course, cause you never prepare a TV show imagining the phenomenon it's going to produce. All that we tried to do, and I'm really including my cast in that, it's to answer it, not playing deaf about all of the messages that we received. It was, that was really impressive. We really felt from one day to another a sort of-

J : What are the fans telling you?

D : "We don't feel alone anymore".

J : Do they tell you that too? [to the actors i guess]

Axel : That's what's shattering/deeply moving, it's too see- Because when we're shooting, we're trying to live the closest we can to these characters, but it's to a fictional scale, and to see all of a sudden the impact that the story can have on people, it's true that we're very lucky. I counted 2800 letters at home, I'm trying to read and answer everything (and that's the boy that's recently been bashed so bad he had to leave twitter........ go off i guess). But it's deeply moving to see how much this story can help people to accept themselves, to accept who they are at that point of their lives, and not necessarily - Lucas' character for example discovers all of a sudden that he likes men, but it's beautiful to see friends that say "yes actually, I'm realizing that I may have judged my friend a bit fast, maybe I even throw insults at them", things you say to joke but hay can actually hurt and really do harm when you're trying to build yourself. So it's deeply moving for us and we- Well for me at least I'm becoming way less stupid with Skam, because I understood a lot of things and I met young people, I was able to understand what they're living today, it's deeply moving. I'm saying that as if I was 25, while I'm-

J : Assa, what kind of letters, of words, did you receive?

Assa : I'm getting a lot of messages from young girls thanking me. "Thank you to finally represent us on tv", "thank you cause I finally understand young muslim girls wearing the hijab", and that's very beautiful, that's really beautiful to get messages like this, to see that well, it touches a huge amount of girls and even boys! Which surprised me a lot. Yeah. And, not only black or muslim girls, just simply young girls relating to Imane's character.

J : Were there already hijabi fictional characters? Main characters in a TV show?

D : Well we searched a lot. And sadly we didn't find any. In France, she's the first one.

J : You're the first one Assa.

D : We had to work a lot too so she would understand, that despite all of the inevitable symbolic aspect, we were telling Imane's story. Because very clearly, there's such a huge expectation, we're talking about a phenomenon. There are no more TV shows dedicated to young people, currently. We went through 10 or 15 years with a terrible shortage of shows dedicated to young people that really speak to them. And that's true that very very fast, we had to make Assa understand - she didn't really need it - the importance of that moment, which was going to be season 4, while telling her "okay, you're telling the story of only one young woman. We can never make everyone happy, but let's tell it the closest of what you lived, and we should touch quite many hearts."

OJ : And, are there themes you refuse to deal with? Because we see religion, sexuality... There's everything but is there a theme where you told yourself "no, we're not going there"?

D : We're expected on this, and I'm including my authors of course, lead by Niels Rahou, the head writer. Actually, there's real expectations from our audience that precisely, we don't keep ourselves away from a lot of things. Of course, everyone warned us when we were about to start season 4, saying "are you really sure". I remember a talk in the bus in between Imane and Sofiane, where she talks about her love for Allah, about her religion and how it makes her feel like a better person, and she faces Lais, Sofiane played by Lais Salameh who's a believer in life, who explains her dogmes and everything, he thinks it breaks people apart, he doesn't believe in it, and i remember when we were filming that part, my perchman who was looking at this and telling me "are we really... shooting this right now?". There was a fear, but there's such a need that we feel through the messages we receive. If you knew the amount of messages, of topics that they hope we'll touch on through the show.

TJ : And what themes, precisely? What themes are coming back, are asked for?

D : Everything... Season 3 triggered a sort of earthquake, at least that's a bit how we lived it, of people who absolutely wanted us to talk about them and about their right not to know, at 17. We're at the time of Parcoursup (a french internet platform where you apply for uni after your last high school year), you're asked to know exactly what you want to do really fast. To say : "I have the right not to know if I'm straight, gay, bi, pan", well it's going everywhere, and it's true that now I face so many young people at screenings telling me "here, I'm trans, and I would love it if there was a trans character". And Skam only repeats a damned evidence that we had forgotten, it's the importance of representation. We're all very happy to see, me included, that 10 millions of people are watching girls play football, because we tell ourselves "that's it", now little girls are gonna tell themselves "I have the right to mark a goal. I have the right to. I'm gonna go for it.". We're maybe gonna see mixed plays in schools. The importance of representation in Skam, is exploding to out faces to each screening and each time a clip drops. They need it.

J : Did it change you? You personally. Philippine?

P : Oh la, uh... No?

J : No?

P : No not much no, I don't think so, but yeah it feels good to be part of a TV show like that, which yeah represents everyone first, and which allows- because it's true that teenage years are a period where you need to express yourself about a lot of things, you need to try a lot of things, and to see that well, even on tv there are people who try a lot of things that way, I think it feels good. For me at least, everyone I've met told me "with that I made myself a lot of friends" actually, cause that creates a lot of networks, and the fact it's on social media probably helps yeah.

J : So if you want to understand teens, or at least a small part of teenagers, watch Skam, and it's on the platform France TV Slash.

Game about their playlist :

J : So, what do I have... The most beautiful song of all history. Starting with you Assa. It's that.

[Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma]

J : The most beautiful song of all history for you Axel that's that.

[Barbara - L'Aigle Noir]

J : It's another genre, Barbara. The most beautiful song of all history for you Philippine, that's that

[Charles Aznavour - La Bohème]

J : not bad, not bad!

D : Brown noser (?? Is that a true word).

J : And finally the most beautiful song of all history for you David that's that.

[Dinah Washington & Max Richter - This Bitter Earth / On The Nature Of Daylight]

J : The song to dance, for you Assa

[Beyonce ft. Jay Z - Crazy In Love]

J : But what is that choice Axel? That's that

[Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora - When The Rain Begins To Fall]

J : The song to dance for you Philippine it's that

[The Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama]

J : Black Eyed Peas. And for you David the dancing song is that

[Colouring - Time]

J : The song for a love night for you Assa, it's that

[Ciara - Body Party]

[Axel and Philippine being shook]

A : You didn't imagine uh? Well yeah

J : Axel it's that

[Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World] (boy is sophisticated)

A : I have a little turntable at home

J : And Philippine that's that

[Vegedream - Mama He] (......... deux salles deux ambiances)

[they all laugh, Assa is finished]

P : That's it

J : Why not, Vegedream. And finally David that's it

[Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy] (and now i feel like if I was at a family dinner with an oversharing uncle)

J : And finally, your guilty pleasure song - knowing that Axel you chose Pia Zadora earlier so I don't know what you chose worse. Guilty pleasure song is that one for you Assa

[Arne Vinzon - Les Otaries]

[they all laugh]

J : So Axel, what's your guilty pleasure song

[Cheb Rayan - Dana Dana]

OJ : It's great! It's good it's good

A : See? It passes guys

J : And Philippine that's this one

[Matrang - Medy3a] (sweetie I love you but this is less shameful than your previous song isn't it)

J : And the song... Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah! I think no one had ever picked that one.

D : My pleasure

[Gold - Plus Près Des Étoiles]

J : Ah it's a Toulouse reference ?

D : Of course

J : Oh yeah okay. It was the playlist of your guests. Thanks to the four of you for coming on Quotidien, Skam France on France TV Slash, thanks a lot to the four of you, and uh, enjoy the next season!

[palomvs]

     insert a GOOD tik tok reference here ! hey , i’m izzy ( my middle name , my actual first name is lola , but i thought having my character’s nickname and my name be the same might be confusing , but you can call me either ! ) , i use she / her pronouns , i live in the est timezone and i haven’t left my home in a solid FIFTY-THREE days ! i’m so , so , so excited for this group and to finally give netflix even more real estate in my brain — they really do own this ass ! 

     ( ester expósito , cisfemale , she / her , muse b ) — oh my god, i totally just saw PALOMA VIDAL walking through greenwich village ! you know, she plays VALENTINA ROMERO on that new netflix show, the village ? i can’t believe they’re already famous at TWENTY. i’ve watched all of their interviews, and they totally come off as BRAZEN and STOIC, but they can also be DEBONAIR and CONSCIENTIOUS. based on their social media, i’d describe LOLA like ( script pages covered in notes , silver rings , iced matcha on a warm day , coconut-scented sunblock ) — totally makes sense that people call them THE PRODIGY.

𝐢. 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬

full name : paloma isabella vidal. nicknames : lola , loma & palo. age : twenty. birthday : september 15 , 1999. sun sign : virgo. gender : cisfemale. pronouns : she / her / hers. romantic orientation : heteroromantic. sexual orientation : heterosexual. relationship status : tbd ! passports : spanish & american. languages spoken : spanish , english & a few words of french. label : the prodigy. pinterest board : click here !

faceclaim : ester expósito. height : 5'5". eye color : hazel. hair color : blonde. dominant hand : left. tattoos : a moon on her left shoulder blade , which she got in memory of the long nights she spent on the beach in california ( malibu nights by lany , anyone ? )

positive traits : debonair , conscientious. negative traits : brazen , stoic. enneagram type : type seven , the enthusiast. hogwarts house : gryffindor.

𝐢𝐢. 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

     paloma was born to cristian and alina vidal ( respectively a producer for film and television , and a retired actress turned director ) in los angeles in september 1999 , and grew up in the GLITZ of hollywood from a young age. though many would think a life of premieres , backstage passes and paparazzi would go straight to a little girl’s head , paloma’s parents both made sure her life was kept as normal as possible. she was raised in l.a. , and spent most of her time either in school , or by the water. 

     despite her parents’ backgrounds and careers , it was never really written in the stars for paloma to follow in their footsteps. growing up , she was a particularly active and outdoorsy child , with a penchant for sailing , surfing ( see her HEADCANONS below for more on her surfing ! ) and photography. guidance counselors thought she might choose to become a pro athlete of some kind , or perhaps some kind of sports journalist or photo-reporter.

     throughout high school , she felt a certain lack of direction , feeling torn between her childhood interests and the pull of hollywood , and what she’d seen her parents do their whole lives. in her junior year of high school , the opportunity to audition for the role of audrey in her school’s rendition of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS came up. landing the role , and the subsequent weeks of rehearsals and performances , cemented the idea of a career in the arts for paloma.

     she eventually made a move towards the industry by attending the savannah college of art and design ( scad ) , as a performing arts major. the opportunity to audition for the role of VALENTINA , in netflix’s upcoming show the village was brought up by one of her professors ( along with her parents’ connections ) , who urged her to travel to new york. within a few weeks , filled with travel and a flurry of online assignments , paloma landed the role and decided to move to new york full-time to be present for the filming of the show.

     though she’s always been known as quite a workaholic , taking on the role of valentina has amplified it greatly. she’s usually the first in and last out on set ( actor-wise , at least ) and is known to prioritize making sure she knows her lines and blocking over beauty sleep. at present , this hasn’t devolved into anything too SERIOUS , but definitely could in the future ( will it be a slippery slope to a caffeine addiction and perhaps something more , or will she correct course in time ? stay tuned to find out ! )

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚

     VALENTINA ROMERO , known as val to friends , is the village’s resident pretty girl ( with a brain ). she’s what would result if serena van der woodsen , cher horowitz , cordelia chase , elle woods and summer roberts were put into a blender. from a prominent political family , she was raised between party fundraisers , easter egg hunts on the white house lawn , campaign trails and society gatherings.

    much like SERENA , her life has happened under the warm glow of the spotlight , and things always seem to have come easy to her. she’s a little more tame than serena though , and rarely ends up on page six ( when she does end up in the pages of magazines , it’s usually for something a little more decent ).

    much like CHER , she’s known for her fashion , and is the darling of amateur photographers in greenwich village. she’s not really the type to bring anyone down for their taste , but rather one to remark when someone wears something she’s into.

    much like CORDELIA , she’s not one to bite her tongue when something’s on her mind. she’s got a sharp wit , and adores honesty over everything else. again , she’s not known to bring people down for sport , but will rebut anything that comes her way if it’s meant to be damaging to her , her family or her friends.

   much like ELLE and SUMMER , she’s a lot smarter than she looks. she doesn’t always try as hard as muse a , but often ends up with good grades anyway. she’s often underestimated by group project members or fellow students , who see her as the stereotypical DUMB BLONDE. proving them wrong is her favorite sport.

𝐢𝐯. 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

     she took up surfing at a young age , and made it her primarily source of exercise growing up. for a while , many thought she’d either go pro , or end up photographing surfers professionally. since moving to new york , she’s had to CHANGE workout regimes , but that hasn’t stopped her from decorating her apartment with surf memorabilia.

   she loves experimenting with fashion , and is known for her BOLD red carpet looks. from bright colors to unusual materials , nothing is off limits ( as long as it’s ethical ! ) she chose her stylist specifically because both saw eye to eye when it came to taking a risk , rather than playing it safe.

    her favorite scents are coconut sunblock and surf wax , which she found is CANDLE form and is always burning in her apartment when she’s running through lines , practicing her blocking , or hanging out with castmates / friends. it’s also one of her favorite ‘ first day of shooting ’ gifts for the cast and crew around her.

    dried mango is her ABSOLUTE favorite snack , and she’s always carrying some around on-set. her mother used to give her that and frozen grapes growing up instead of candy ( since she has such a sweet tooth ) , and she’s been hooked ever since.

    she’s not one to name-drop her parents’ connections and friends in the industry , but the one connection she’ll proudly let people know about ( when they ask ) is that , yes , hugh jackman is her godfather. he and her father met when the latter produced x-men in 2000 and have been INSEPARABLE ever since. if paloma’s ever able to fake a believable aussie accent , it’s thanks to hugh.

    her script pages are usually covered in notes , made in pencil , highlighter , markers , or whatever else she can get her hands on. over the past few months , and during her time at scad , she found that jotting down her IMMEDIATE thoughts on a scene , her lines and / or her blocking always help her remember things better. she keeps all of her notes and script pages in binders back at her apartment , so she can always look back on her character arc and make sure she stays true to who valentina is.

𝐯. 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

     give me the WILL THEY , WON’T THEY ? , where the paparazzi and magazine editors are all convinced there’s a relationship bubbling below the surface. and who wouldn’t ? paloma and your muse have incredible on-set chemistry , are always seen hanging out outside of work hours , and are expertly paired by their publicists during press rounds. that said , when removed from the flashes of the paparazzi , nothing seems to have transpired ( yet ).

     give me a RYAN REYNOLDS TO MY JAKE GYLLENHAAL ( see this video ) , where our muses cannot be paired together for interviews anymore , after cracking jokes every five seconds instead of promoting the village. they’re fused at the hip on-set , and are usually the ones to go live on instagram during filming breaks , to the delight of fans.

     give me an EX , because working with someone you used to date ( or just sleep with ! ) creates so many great possibilities. was it awkward for them to see each other’s names in the press when casting for the village was revealed ? or did one ( or both ) of them see it as an opportunity to build a friendship ? are they jealous on-set , or can they keep it together ?

     give me CHILDHOOD FRIENDS , with bonus points if the friendship exists because of their families’ ties to the film & tv industry. if people dig deep enough through google images , there’s bound to be a picture of them together as children on some red carpet. perhaps the years of knowing each other have turned them into best friends , or maybe they now can’t stand the sight of each other. after all , hollywood can get competitive and ugly.

     give me the BROTHER SHE’S NEVER HAD , who teases her mercilessly , but will always protect her from the paparazzi. they’re protective of one another and are each other’s rock in the new world that is sudden overnight fame. 

     give me the PLATONIC LIFE PARTNER , whom paloma loves more than her own self. they have the login information to all her devices , they text people back in her stead , they sleep in the same bed , they readjust each other’s clothing on red carpets. one is rarely seen without the other , and the village’s fans revel in the two’s friendship.

     i also have a full WANTED CONNECTIONS tag right here , if you want to peruse and find something that suits you , your muse and your own wc !

[fan-think]

SKAM FRANCE PROJECTION -  Q&A RECAP

I wasn’t sure I wanted to write a description of the Skam France projection in Paris because I knew it would be so long ; but we were so privileged with all those informations that I though I needed to share with you some of it. And also for myself, so that I don’t forget this day.  I’m just gonna keep a few details to respect the kindness and sincerity they had for our little audience, and I don’t feel confortable repeating to hundreds (or thousands) without their consent. Important note : I didn’t take notes, I’m not a machine so I don’t remember everything, I don’t remember what they said word by word, so, I’m sorry if some quotes or meanings are a bit inaccurate. I tried my best, please don’t hold it against me.... :) Now, lets begin this VERY LONG recap. I’M SORRY !! 

We arrived a bit before 5pm, and people were waiting in line outside. The movie theater didn’t open before 5. Somehow, while waiting peacefully, we saw the cast and crew arriving just in front of the theater, greeting each other and talking together, like a reunion. That was nice. Marilyn came to us and greeted some people waiting as well.  Then we went in the theater, were handed a flyer/postal card (see at the end) of the Skam cast, and headed to the cinema. The crew and actors were already seated. We all sat, then David (the director) came on stage with some people from the production, France TV and Niels Rahou (main screenwriter). Him and David had a cute moment sharing the mic and saying I love you to each other/declaring their flames haha. What a pair ! David thanked all of them, the cast as well, we applauded (of course). Then David said : Are you ready to see Lucas and Eliott fall in love ??  We applauded loudly again, then he sat down and we started watching the first episode. We laughed a lot reacting to the funny scene or lines, and when FINALLY we saw Eliott for the first time on screen, everyone screamed and clapped. So I took a look at Maxence reaction, he has his face in his hand, kind of hiding but was smiling like crazy, that was adorable. From there, almost every time Eliott was on screen, we could here reaction in the cinema. When the episode ended, we applauded loudly. We waited 2 minutes, and the second one started. It was nice to hear people react to the jokes, we really felt connected. When Eliott appeared at the bus stop, same thing everyone screamed a bit and the next 15 minutes were intense ! I tried to take a look at Maxence pretty often during those big moments, he was smiling like crazy and hiding himself at the same time. He deserves everything. When the screen went black, we clapped, whistled and screamed a lot more, because... HEY what an experience to live ! And because we’re so grateful for everything they did obviously.  Then, the whole cast and David came on stage, David expressed his big though for Axel who couldn’t be here because he was filming a movie. Big clap for him too! Then he opened the Q&A part. Since it lasted quite a while, I’m gonna proceed with bullet points from what I remember.  • The first question was for the whole cast but more for Maxence and it was how does it feel to see yourself on screen. He answered it was kind of weird (chelou) since it’s his first role mostly...  • When ask what was their common points with their characters. Marilyn said she was a bit “motherly” like Manon. She has the tendency to tell people to be careful about what their eat, they do etc. They all agreed it was weird to speak about themselves like that, then she took the mic when Edouard (Mika) started talking and started praising him for his acting because he is the opposite of Mika, she saw him acting a couple years back and said she was so impressed that when she understood he was in Skam as well, she was really impressed and afraid to play with him. It was so nice, we applauded a lot. (The joke was that she actually added him on facebook 6 or 7 years back and he never accepted her request before Skam hahaa) For this same question, Maxence said he his a solitary/lonely person like Eliott. Lula is a workaholic, very invested in what she does and make people laugh without intending to. Assa is very similar to Imane, even if she might not have a temper as strong as Imane (but pretty much). And Léo (Yann) said he is pretty open (minded), and chill about things, people (I think.. not sure on this one) • Maxence and David explained how he was cast. David said that when they started the casting, they wanted to feel and know from the moment the actor would enter the room that it was him. But unfortunately, this feeling never came, for months... Then, the cast director called David and said she may have seen someone that could fit (at a “representation”). But she warned him that this actor had broken his ankle in the morning, so... for the “walk in the room and we know  it’s him” it was a bit compromised because of the crutches. So David and Maxence just sat down and talked, the feeling was there though, and this is how it started. Maxence then added : when he was called for the first casting interview, he didn’t want to go because he just finished his acting studies and wanted to go in vacation basically haha But then he convinced himself it would be just an exercice, so why not. Obviously it went well. Was called back for a second try, and a third try with Axel. He was in vacation when David told him he had the role. The moment he picked up the phone, a thunderbolt fell right next to him(Maxence) and David added at the theater “it was a prediction from what was about to happen” because “thunderbolt” is “foudre” in french, and when people fall in love at first sight we call it “coup de foudre” (coup = a stoke/a blow of thunderbolt)..... ❤ • During the casting call, Axel and Maxence did a scene but they incorporated the crutches situation in the scene, and it went very well. Also There was no weirdness between the two from the beginning even if Maxence said something to Axel that could have offended him. But he wasn’t and from that point, Maxence knew it was all good with Axel. He said they were lucky (I think?) that they had a such a good chemistry.   • A question was about the boys gang. Niels took the mic and made a big point on that. Saying that their reaction is normal. Here, they are teenage boys who know Lucas as there straight friend, they can not imagine or understand why he is acting now, what he has in his mind. They’ve been raised in a environment were masculinity is toxic, like any-elsewhere and we must not hold it against them because it’s reality. We (Skam viewers and lgbtq+ community) are well educated on the subject, but this is reality.  • Anne-Sophie (Chloé), David AND Niels especially made a big point on how Chloé is essential and must not be hated. She is a girl in love that is being fooled by Lucas. The only thing she does wrong in the og is outing Lucas like that, but apart from that, there is no reason to hate her. They were pretty passionate about that point.  • A recurring theme/question was about a fifth season... with (most likely from the person asking the question) Daphné. David, the head of production and a France TV representative, they all took the mic to speak about it, and the main thought was : they would love to do it because they love Skam so much BUT  because of legal reasons, of the views on Season 3 and 4, and so much more things, there is NOTHING planned on that yet... Somehow, they emphasized on how much we -the audience- matter for this kind of future. If we talk about Skam to people, if we raise the views, express how much we love it on social media etc, it might help.... So... talk about Skam France to everyone you know, and maybe, only MAYBE, we might have a change for more seasons... • Same thing with how homosexuality is usually shown in french TV. He said something like “If you’re expecting the usual kiss and then, a fade to black... No, that’s not gonna happen. We talked with France TV (the diffuser), they told us “no, you can give us all you want, we want to show a lot more”, so... since we had the images, a lot of images, we went thoroughly on that. Don’t worry for that, really ! There might be some bloopers/BTS too...” • Maxence hadn’t seen the Skam og or anything before shooting (apart from the toilet scene) because he wanted to be just like his character : he didn’t know anyone or anything of what was happening. Also, from what he saw in the toilet scene, he said he didn’t want to be like Even, it felt too “”“pushy””” and this wasn’t him or who he wanted Eliott to be. After shooting the season, he “binge-watched” everything in two days. • Now... If you are still afraid of the chemistry and the “intimate” scene. Just know that David made sure it would be realistic... that all I’m gonna say on that.  • They only had 35 days to film the two seasons!! It is extremely short. The other remakes shoot one season at a time. David emphasized on the few hours of sleep him and some of the crew had. Also, they shot around 15 minutes per day of images. It is HUGE. The work they put into the last 2 seasons is enormous. • Before staring, David thanked his wife for taking care of the kids 6 months during the year while he is filming (we clapped a LOT) • The first kiss scene was taken in one shot (correct me if I’m wrong) • Lula never wears jeans or pants, only skirts and dresses. In real life, but also on the show. • Basile falling was an improvisation from Paul, they shot it twice (I think...) • Axel doesn't play the piano, he just learned this piece for the scene (Maxence told us) and they shot the scene multiple times. • Marilyn complimented Michel on the common points questions. • Alex’ bisexuality was a random suggestion from Coline just before shooting the scene when we know about it. Easy peasy. • David and the whole team were frustrated for season 1 and 2 that they had to follow exactly the original script and lines. Even more frustrated when they saw the other remakes... • Niels was wearing a unicorn shirt, perfect  ❤  • Philippine (Emma) and Coline (Alex) told us 2 jokes.  • Lula (Daphné) is the most likely to laugh on set • They all see all your reactions, all you comments, the bad ones as well, they knew all the bad comments from season 1 and 2, knew all the pressure for season 3 and 4, so they just hope you’ll like it because they fucking love it ! :) • The journalists only saw episode 1 to 4 and the reviews are good, even if, according to Niels, they havent seen anything yet.................... so, we kind of know what to expect. Or not. Seriously, I think we’re not prepared at all.  • Neither are we for season 4 apparently... Warnings from David. Then everyone started to leave but... not really haha. The room stayed pretty full for a good 30 minutes. Personally I stayed close to David who was answering questions in a corner. I can tell you : he is SO PASSIONATE about this season, about Eliott and Lucas, his actors, it is SO heartwarming ; but above all, it confirms to me that this season has an intense depth that - in my opinion - we are NOT ready for. Outside, everyone was talking with the actors, especially Maxence, obviously... I talked with Edouard (Mika) and with Niels (the screenwriter) mostly. I just stopped Maxence who just finished talking and taking pictures with everyone to thank him, and let me just say he is an adorable sunshine. I barely started to say something, he was hugging me and he made the pictures I took with him adorable. He was jumping all around, a real ray of sunshine and kindness. Then he ran to hug David and it was the cutest thing I’ve witness that night. He must have seen me grinning like crazy at him and David, but I don’t care. It was WAY too heartwarming. They are all absolutely ADORABLE. ADORABLE !!  THANK YOU SKAM FRANCE !!!   

PS : If he agrees, I’m letting David tell the story about his child name and their request :) You’ll melt and be happy about our future. PS 2 : Thank you to Manon et Laura who helped me remember a few things. Twitter : @lau_helder