#business insider

[my-midlife-crisis]

[an-onyx-void]

Why can't internationally recognized aid organizations get internet access, Israel? Is there something you don't want them to say? Or something you don't want us to see?

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Ah yes, spreading antisemitism is DEFINITELY making this world a better place…

Link to Article

[iww-gnv]

The Insider Union, affiliated with NewsGuild of New York, said 22 of its members as well as “many of our non-union colleagues” were laid off. “From the timing of today’s announcement — not even a month after our layoff moratorium expired — it’s clear that management has been eager to lay more of us off,” Emma LeGault, unit chair for Insider Union and a senior copy editor for Business Insider, said in a statement.

[bodybybane]

Everything to know about Adam Pearson, Sebastian Stan's scene-stealing costar in the A24 thriller 'A Different Man'

[reaperlight]

Lol.

[originalleftist]

Aquaman II, Arthur and Orm, and Mera (Spoiler Warning).

So, we've probably all heard something about the controversy over reducing Amber Heard's role in Aquaman II. Faced with accusations that this was done to punish Amber Heard for the controversy around her ex-husband's lawsuit against her, or to appease his rabid fans, DC/WB/James Wan have offered the defence that they always intended to reduce Mera's role from the first film, with the second one focussing on Aquaman and Orm.

There's probably some truth to this- it is unfortunately common in Hollywood action/superhero films for the first film's female lead to be absent from or have a reduced role in sequels, or outright get fridged (see Vanessa in Deadpool II, for example). Its also clear that the film is focussed on Arthur and Orm's relationship and Orm's redemption arc, and a lot of the film's plot and themes play into that, to an extent that this is unlikely to be entirely a product of edits/reshoots- if a change to this effect was made, it was likely early in the scriptwriting process, before shooting started.

That said, this explanation does not entirely hold water (pun intended), for a few reasons.

Heard's own claims, corroborated at least partially by others, that her role was reduced and that she was subjected to hostility on-set over the controversy. Note to anyone who wants to dismiss this as her lying for advantage: she made these claims in a trial she did not want or initiate (Depp sued her), and in private therapy notes that were unsealed after the trial.

At least two Mera scenes were reportedly originally intended and subsequently cut, as reported by Variety last year: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/aquaman-2-jason-momoa-drunk-claims-amber-heard-cut-scenes-elon-musk-letter-1235747775/ This corroborates some of Heard's claims. The same article notes that the defence that they considered firing Heard because of a lack of chemistry with Momoa is challenged by the fact "that Heard did a chemistry test with Momoa before landing the role of Mera and beat out two other actresses who did a similar chemistry test". In fairness, though, it does not appear that only Heard was targeted by cuts- various outlets have reported a total of 20 scenes were cut.

From a storytelling perspective, giving Mera more screen time and having the film focus on Arthur's relationship with Orm are not contradictory goals. When discussing Heard's reduced role, an article by Business Insider suggested that Mera may originally have been intended to accompany Arthur to break out Orm: https://www.businessinsider.com/amber-heard-aquaman-2-how-much-screen-time-sequel-lines-2023-12 I can't say whether this was ever actually considered or planned (I doubt such scenes were actually shot, as the cut Mera scenes reportedly included a fight with Black Manta and a romantic scene with Arthur). But I do think that had they done this, it would likely have strengthened Orm's arc, and the film overall. Because, Orm probably has more history with Mera than any other character in the film, even if its mostly implied/off-screen. He didn't just lose his throne to Arthur- he also lost Mera to him. Manta even taunts Arthur about taking Mera from Orm (or, more accurately, Mera chose him over Orm). Then, at the climax, Orm saves Mera and her child with Arthur from death. But it really feels like there should have been a scene or two in-between, where Orm and Mera talk about their history.

You can't justify cutting Mera by saying that the film is focussed on Arthur's relationship with Orm, because their respective relationships with Mera are a part of their relationship with each other.

I mostly enjoyed the film, and there were some good scenes dealing with Orm's relationship with his family. But it could have been much more.

[gleesonarchive]

Domhnall photographed for Business Insider.

📷 Hollis Johnson (31.08.2018)

[techtalkbyjames]

😀🔥Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1,000 a month. A year later, nearly half of participants had housing and are training for new jobs...

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[deramin2]

Liam was called the "heartbreak prince" by Business Insider and his husband Sam immediately had to best him.

ID: Article Headline from Business Insider: "Critical Role's heartbreak prince helped make 'Dungeons & Dragons' cool. Now he's coming for the gothic horror gaming scene.

Cheryl Teh Apr 8, 2024, 4:42 PM PDT

Image of Liam O'Brien in a dark gold blazer looking to the side holding an open book in a dark Victorian building. From the Variety shoot.

Caption: Robyn von Swank, courtesy of Critical Role. End ID.

[smashing-yng-man]

Remember that time when Taylor argued with her dad about Donald Trump?

[ewanmitchellfanatic]

💚

[helloabrians]