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oceandetail06 · 4 years ago

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Next Year Innovative developments by Apple

Apple is considered to be the most innovative company in the world at present. It’s the business to which nearly all others search for guidance. When ever Apple reveals a forward thinking new design language or launches a new product, it generates ripples throughout the marketplace. Suddenly, the whole industry is crafting items in Apple’s look and feel. Nevertheless to state Apple is merely a trend-setter understates the organization’s position as arguably the figurehead of invention in customer technology. Apple isn’t just setting technology trends; Apple’s vision units precedents and starts movements that allow the developments to exist to begin with. As wonderful since it must feel to be Apple in this scenario - and as humbling as it must experience to be the many businesses copying Apple at every change - it’s not absolutely all sunshine and rainbows. Most people can claw the right path to the top of a mountain, but there’s not a lot of stable surface up there. One incorrect step and your toppling back down the mountain, undoing years of the hard work needed to get right up there. I actually don’t want to lower price Apple’s successes in 2018: Apple Pencil program for ipad tablet was a beautiful addition; iOS 12 has provided new life to iPhones as old as the 5S; Apple Watch Series 4 generally is conserving lives; and that’s just a few highlights. Looking back, though, 2018 was a fairly tough year for Apple as certain missteps ended up impacting the company’s bottom line. Among Apple’s most questionable moves in 2018, there’s one I wanted to identify for an important reason: Without second-generation iPhone SE around the corner, it seems Apple has exited the budget flagship market. In fact, I will consider it one step further: I’m certain Apple won’t be delivering any more budget iPhones, and here’s why. Apple’s products portfolio is varied. The business generates revenue from services like iTunes and Apple Music to accessories like AirPods and the Magic Key pad, from home entertainment gadgets like Apple TV 4K to personal processing devices just like the MacBook Pro. Nevertheless product sales for most of these are not that impressive (though Apple’s income unquestionably are). It is definitely the iPhone that accounts for the majority of Apple’s income. Since its debut in 2007, iPhone has pushed Apple’s income to such incredible heights that the business has become the first trillion-dollar firm ever sold. With so a lot of Apple’s revenue riding on the game-changing device, you can wager there would be a significant drop in Apple’s income if people beginning buying less iPhones. And that’s precisely what we’re discovering. After a modest 4th quarter, income for Q12019 - which, to be very clear, is made up of October, November, and December, covering the vacation shopping season - was much lower than Apple actually expected. With the cost of fresh iPhones rising, income would’ve increased also if unit sales experienced only remained constant, but there have been fewer iPhone units sold during the period. The implication is normally that demand offers waned, or it’s feasible there wasn’t very much demand for Apple’s costly new iPhones to begin with. The earliest indicator of trouble was in 2017, the year iPhone X premiered. At a starting price 50 percent greater than the prior year’s baseline model, iPhone X unit sales were reportedly flat although Apple’s income increased. How? Because even though Apple sold approximately the same quantity of products as the year before, the common cost of an iPhone had elevated. When you sell the same number of products but tag up the price, you still visit a bump in revenue. Of course, it’s not just the iPhone that’s gotten more expensive. Apple has elevated selling prices across virtually all of the company’s portfolio. But with the iPhone driving revenue, the implication is this: Whenever iPhone sales and profits remain flat or start to fall, Apple will need to keep raising the price of the iPhone every year to maintain year-over-year income gains. As you can plainly see, it’s not really a coincidence Apple has decided to stop reporting iPhone unit sales publicly. Actually if 2017 was an outlier, the release of new iPhones in the fall is meant to give Apple a shot of income adrenaline in the final stretch, enabling for a solid finish as the business crosses the economic finish line. But also for the second yr in a row, that did not happen. Doesn’t it appear possible, if not likely, that increasing the costs for brand-new iPhones has led to lower demand? In regards to a week ago, Apple CEO sent a document to shareholders. You can browse the document for yourself on Apple’s webpage, but it warns traders that Apple’s 1Q2019 revenue will be $9 billion less than was originally projected. The letter mainly blames China’s overall economy for almost all the year-over-year iPhone income decline while also indicating that individuals remain adapting to the termination of carrier financial assistance. In a recent interview Cook explained many of the same reasons to describe lower-than-anticipated iPhone sales. Beyond slowed development in developing marketplaces and the lack of subsidized pricing through carriers, Cook pointed to iOS 12 and the $29 battery substitute plan seeing that having encouraged users to hold their old iPhones rather than ordering new ones. As you may recall, Apple launched the battery alternative program in late 2017 in wish of masking the stench of the battery controversy, which had garnered allegations of designed obsolescence. According to Cook, many with old iPhones didn't upgrade since they could get brand-new batteries for inexpensive. This would take away the efficiency caps that Apple got imposed to them, restoring their iPhones to their previous glory, especially when paired with iOS 12. In fact, Apple visited lengths to ensure that iOS 12 would make older iPhones faster, so Cook is likely right in hoping the electric battery substitute program and iOS 12 factored in to the weaker sales of 2018 iPhones. Nevertheless, Cook mentioned that complicated trade relations between the US and China was eventually the biggest factor. China represents a huge amount of untapped sales prospect of Apple, so there’s most likely some truth to that, too. You can view the full interview in the video below if you want to hear more of what Cook has to say about it. In the mean time, critics and analysts possess suggested poor iPhone sales are a indication of marketplace saturation; at this stage, most people who would like an iPhone already have one, and that’s a hard hurdle to overcome, specifically with buyers modernizing much less frequently. It’s even certainly possible that Apple valued the 2018 iPhones from the developing markets the company claims to be targeting. After all, if you reside in China and need it a new smartphone, are you going to buy an iPhone XS for $1,000 (¥6800) or more, or are you going to get the most recent Vivo or Xiaomi Android smartphone that’s produced locally and can do essentially nearly anything iPhone XS can do at a portion of the price? And in addition, Cook largely sidestepped this issue of ballooning iPhone prices - an obstacle that we have found across the majority of Apple’s products for that matter - which has been among the primary criticisms of latest iPhones. Latest Asking Price Increases Price boosts for the iPhone used to end up being pretty rare. In fact, after carriers stopped offering subsidized prices on smartphones, forcing us to start paying complete MSRP if we wished to buy brand-new iPhones, we're able to at least count on a constant starting price from calendar year to year. That starting cost used to be $649. With the launch of iPhone 8 in 2017, it leapt to $699, a unsatisfying increase, but it was not too surprising. It had been only a $50 increase after generations of a constant price, a lot of people gave Apple a pass. And, actually at the higher price, iPhone 8 seemed really cheap compared to the $999 price tag on the brand new iPhone X. However apparently, the purchase price increase for iPhone 7 set a precedent because in 2018, the price jumped again. Matching the enhance from iPhone 7 to iPhone 8, the 2018 iPhone lineup began at $749 for iPhone XR. You may argue that iPhone XR is a much better device than iPhone 7 and justifies the excess $100, but value is subjective. While some might say iPhone XR will probably be worth its $749 starting price, especially compared to Apple’s more premium models, many customers will fixate on how each new era of iPhone is more costly than the one before. And at this time, can you blame them? To make matters worse yet, as iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR were being unveiled in stage during Apple’s fall 2018 event, iPhone SE was being discontinued. So not only are iPhones getting a lot more expensive, but Apple has now eliminated the only budget option we had. So if you’re looking to get a fresh iPhone in 2019, there’s very little choice anymore. Buyers are mainly having to simply accept Apple’s higher beginning price in the absence of a true budget iPhone. Naturally, consumers and critics as well are getting more vocal within their demands an iPhone SE successor. Overwhelming Unforeseen Value Apple revealed the iPhone SE , which means Particular Edition, in March 2016 at a particular spring event. Both for consumers and the industry at large, iPhone SE was a very un-Apple device for Apple to release. The iPhone 6 had simply jumped in proportions and received a completely new style from the previous generation. Then iPhone SE was released, featuring a smaller, compact type with its design virtually indistinguishable from the previous-generation iPhone 5. Even more surprising was the fact that iPhone SE remarkably featured the majority of Apple’s up-to-date, front runner-level technologies in spite of the reduced starting price; for $399, you got the same custom A9 processor as iPhone 6S in addition to a 12 MP camera with 4K video recording and a bigger battery. In fact, the just significant compromises were the lack of 3D Touch and the usage of first-generation TouchID instead of the faster second generation. But, again, considering its low starting price (which eventually settled to $349), the iPhone SE provided uncharacteristically great value for a product made by Apple. The challenge was that iPhone SE didn’t turn into a top-selling iPhone. In the course of its lifetime, its defining characteristic was that it provided an affordable point of access to the iOS ecosystem although it eventually gained relatively of a cult pursuing among particular Apple fans. Obviously, after iPhone SE had been the baseline of the iPhone lineup for two years, potential customers were prepared for the customary refresh. Though iPhone SE offered an excellent cost-to-performance relation in 2016, a refresh would connect the overall performance gap that developed as iPhone SE’s A9 processor chip was succeeded and replaced, first by the A10 Fusion chip in iPhone 7, on the other hand by the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X . Patiently Waiting for Apple's Latest Launches Affirmed, we heard that Apple was working on a fresh version of the spending budget iPhone. Details varied, but the iPhone SE successor - alleged to be called possibly iPhone SE 2 or iPhone X SE (with suffix and modifiers very carefully arranged)- appeared to have the same purpose as the initial, which was to become a compact, low-cost iPhone offering great performance and most of the latest features. Much of the disagreement encircling the naming theme for the iPhone SE 2 was due to unclear stories concerning whether the gadget might retain its iPhone 5-era style or whether it could embrace the new iPhone X visual. Some insisted (or possibly hoped?) iPhone SE 2 would appear to be an iPhone X from the front with a almost bezel-less, edge-to-edge display. These stories were mainly informed by supposed styles for display protectors and cases; if legitimate, the implication was that iPhone SE 2 would have a bezel-much less, notched display equivalent to iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Of training course, the notch would become among the defining characteristics for 2018 cell phones overall as its was imitated by almost every smartphone manufacturer following the iPhone X debuted in late 2017; nevertheless, for Apple’s purposes, the notch just exists to house biometric sensors for Apple’s proprietary FaceID. Therefore the implication was that iPhone SE 2 would feature FaceID although the high price of FaceID components made it an unlikely inclusion in virtually any budget iPhone. Following these reports, renders were made to show how the device might appear if it turned out to be real. Assuming the case styles and resulting renders were accurate, iPhone SE 2 would’ve been a truly fascinating gadget, the lovechild of the bygone iPhone 5 and the more futuristic iPhone X. Provided Apple could keep creation costs and, by extension, the MSRP down, iPhone SE 2 could’ve easily outsold the original iPhone SE, possibly learning to be a top seller like the original iPhone SE never could. These weren’t simply the pipe dreams of iPhone SE enthusiasts and anyone who wanted cheaper iPhones; reviews from Apple’s own suppliers all but confirmed programs for iPhone SE 2, supplying estimates for possible production schedules and ship dates. In early August 2017, Wistron Corp. - a low-volume manufacturer located in Taiwan that Apple recruits when iPhone demand can be high - was working on expanding its creation base to accommodate a fresh compact Apple smartphone, which many presumed to end up being an updated iPhone SE. After that came a tentative ship day: In late November 2017, Economic Daily News in Taiwan reported Apple had been eyeing a release date in the first half of 2018 for the iPhone SE 2, which would’ve been consistent with the spring release of the initial iPhone SE. January 2018 brought another report of iPhone SE 2 launching in 2018. Shortly thereafter, there was a rumor iPhone SE 2 would include a glass back panel, suggesting the addition of the wireless charging features that the iPhone has had since 2017. Just as rumors pointed to Apple gearing up for the release of a next-generation iPhone SE, Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities who is known for predicting Apple’s products with uncanny accuracy, planted among the 1st seeds of doubt. In late January 2018, Kuo reported iPhone SE 2 had hardly any chance of being released because Apple had exhausted its assets on the three flagship versions to be released in 2018. Of course, those three models finished up being iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Nevertheless, rumors persisted - though at a slower pace - in spite of Kuo’s doubt. For instance, there have been specifications and other information on the iPhone SE 2 reported in April 2018. Relating to these leaks, Apple intended to keep creation costs (and, by expansion, the eventual retail price) down by omitting the 3.5mm headphone jack and using iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion chip rather than the A11 Bionic chip found in iPhone 8 and iPhone X. For all intents and reasons, the axe was decisively dropped in July 2018 as BlueFin Research told MacRumors that Apple had nixed all programs to proceed with iPhone SE 2. We’ll probably never know for sure whether iPhone SE 2 was ever actually in the pipeline; however, also if it was planned originally, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever get an iPhone SE 2 at all. It’s been four a few months since the release of the 2018 iPhones, an event that coincided with iPhone SE being removed from Apple’s lineup, which, in and of itself, allegedly happened because Apple retired its A9 processor chip. So aside from Apple quickly unloading the last iPhone SE units at a discounted $249 price, which took only 24 hours, iPhone SE is gone from Apple’s catalog, and anyone waiting for a next-generation iPhone SE has little cause for hope. In the event that you ask me, the composing is on the wall structure: Apple won’t be making another budget iPhone. No More Budget iPhone? Spending budget smartphones, or smartphones that price roughly $300 or less, are pretty common today. In some cases, these budget devices offer great value for your money. Some of the more recent notable examples include the Moto G6 for $240, LG Stylo 4 for $250, Huawei Mate 20 Lite for $290, and, of course, the amazing Pocophone F1 for $299. If you have a tad more to spend, you can find a used or refurbished Samsung Galaxy S8 for barely over $300. Or you may get the new Nokia 7.1, an Android One gadget with the design and nearly all of the features that top-shelf Android flagships possess for the discount price of $350. I’m not sure where in fact the phrase originated, but I completely agree: “Good cell phones are receiving cheap, and cheap mobile phones are getting good.” Of program, you might’ve noticed that the smartphones mentioned above are Android smartphones. How about iPhones? When carriers did aside with subsidizing smartphones, we had to start paying full retail cost for new smartphones. So Apple’s decision to create the iPhone SE was extremely timely: Instead of paying $649 or more, you could buy an iPhone for under $400 without producing a huge amount of compromises. Suddenly, individuals who favored iOS to Android had their personal Pocophone. From September 2016 to its discontinuation in September 2018, iPhone SE was never a top-selling iPhones. Even at its peak, iPhone SE hardly ever accounted for more than 11 percent of iPhone sales as the third-best-selling iPhone, and only by a thin margin. Meanwhile, both iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus almost tripled the product sales of iPhone SE during that period, accounting for 28.5 percent and 29.5 percent of iPhone sales, respectively. After September 2017, iPhone SE sales dropped substantially, remaining somewhere within 5.5 percent and 8 percent until the device was taken in fall 2018. Suppose you’re Tim Cook seeking at these numbers. Everybody has been asking for a second-generation budget iPhone, but sales numbers display that whenever a lower-cost option is available, the majority of customers keep buying the more expensive iPhones. If customers are willing to pay even more for high-end iPhones, does it make sense to make a cheaper device that, at best, no more than one in ten customers will be interested in buying? With some context, positioning the iPhone more as a luxury item starts to create sense. Like voting on a ballot, Apple’s consumers have already been casting their votes on higher-end iPhones, therefore we can’t actually blame Apple for leaving budget smartphones that do not sell well. If you’re miffed about the loss of life of iPhone SE 2, there are, actually, cheaper iPhones available for individuals on a budget. But you’re not going to discover them in retail stores. Current Market Conditions Apple gave customers the lower-cost iPhone they’d long been asking for, but most of them decided not to buy it. So if you’re Apple, do you produce a second era knowing the first era didn’t sell well, or perform you ditch the budget-iPhone idea altogether? It seems Apple chose the latter. However, it doesn’t eliminate from the actual fact that spending budget iPhones are already available, not to mention plentiful. Specifically, I’m talking about used iPhones on the market. The gray market refers to the investing of used iPhones on the secondhand marketplace. It’s comprised of the countless people selling their utilized gadgets after upgrading, which essentially creates an unofficial marketplace of budget iPhones. Therefore all those listings for iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8 on eBay, the Amazon Marketplace, providers like Swappa, and yard-sale applications like LetGo are the gray market for iPhones. Apple doesn’t have to spend money on R&D, sourcing parts, production, and distribution for a budget iPhone because we curently have access to all the discounted iPhones we're able to ever want in the secondhand market. And every year when new iPhones are released, millions more iPhones will revitalize the secondhand marketplace as users who upgrade to brand-new iPhones sell their old ones. Plus, any post-2016 iPhone models in the gray market could have better specifications than iPhone SE, and some of these used iPhones would be cheaper than investing in a new iPhone SE from Apple for $349. Basically, Apple doesn’t have to sell a budget iPhone since the current-generation iPhones purchased at complete retail cost today become budget iPhones as consumers utilize them and eventually sell them to on the gray market if they upgrade. And even more devices are shown on the gray marketplace every day, so as long as Apple is offering smartphones, the gray market is a renewable resource for budget iPhones. Of training course, the gray market isn’t the only method to get an iPhone on the inexpensive. Depending about how you consider it, Apple actually offers new spending budget iPhone options every year. With the state unveiling of new iPhones each year, the MSRP of each preceding generation still in creation is decreased. For example, when iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X were announced in the fall of 2017, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus became previous-generation products, which warranted price cuts.

The iPhone SE was still in production when iPhone 7 got its lessen price, so if you wanted a fresh iPhone but didn’t want to invest $699 or more for iPhone 8 or iPhone X, you could choose iPhone SE from $349, iPhone 6S from $449, or iPhone 7 from $549. Though $349 isn’t exactly chump change, it’s certainly more palatable than iPhone X’s thousand-dollar starting price. With iPhone SE discontinued, the least expensive iPhone available is iPhone 7 for $449, meaning the cheapest iPhone available today is $100 a lot more than last year. To be fair, iPhone 7 was a great device at release, and it’s still a compelling option today, specifically for the price. Though it was divisive as Apple’s 1st iPhone without the apparently requisite 3.5mm headphone jack, iPhone 7 is otherwise a full-presented flagship. But if you’re searching for a new iPhone on a spending budget, which would you rather buy: a 2016 iPhone for $449 or an iPhone SE 2 with the latest A12 Bionic processor chip for $100 less? Regarding iPhone SE 2 not materializing, maybe knowing what could’ve been is what makes this thus disappointing for some. Even though the info suggests a restricted audience for spending budget iPhones, there will always be situations in which a low-cost iPhone with current-generation efficiency hits the sweet spot. Where Should Apple Go From Here? It’s a great time to become a lover of tech, particularly cell tech as spending budget and mid-range flagships are slaying in the Android smartphone market. Though priced higher than a $349 iPhone, the OnePlus 6T is usually a primary example of how exactly to offer flagship-level specs, design, and performance at a reduced cost. For better or worse, Apple appears to have evacuated the budget smartphone sector after just one single attempt. Granted, Apple hasn't actually catered to budget-minded customers with almost all the company’s equipment starting at $1,000 or more and a shrinking amount of products, like iPods and iPads, priced lower than that. That is why it was so unusual for Apple to make a budget iPhone to begin with. The problem is that it seems Apple is now trying to close a door that probably the business never should’ve opened to begin with. After all, when you’re offering this inexpensive iPhone on the lineup, all of the flagship iPhones seem that a lot more expensive by comparison. Whether or not there’s a fresh iPhone SE in the future, the prices attached to Apple’s products are climbing. In many markets, Apple is coming dangerously close to pricing the iPhone as well as most of Apple’s other items out of reach. For customers who can’t (or don’t need to) pay such exorbitant prices, the actual fact that Apple offered inexpensive options previously but no longer offers those options now will undoubtedly leave a bad taste in people’s mouths, nearly like biting into a rotten apple. Honestly, I hope I’m wrong concerning this, but if Apple really wants to curb the decline in iPhone demand and for product sales to resume an upward trajectory, 1 of 2 things will need to happen, and sooner instead of later. Apple needs to either lower the margins on iPhones to make them less expensive (or even just less costly), or there needs to be a fresh budget option so consumers in least have the illusion of choice. Because as the figures show, most buyers go for the premium iPhones in any case, but if Apple puts a budget model up for grabs, at least they won’t feel like they’re being forced to pay the ever-growing Apple tax. Apple’s current pricing structure gives consumers only high- and higher-priced models to pick from. But it appears buyers are starting to understand there’s still one other option, which is to save themselves the trouble, and possibly some buyer’s remorse, by not buying new iPhones at all.

#cellphones

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tacticsroom · 5 years ago

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Peony: Sweet Dream (Unit Review)

Available at 5★ (Mythic Hero, Book IV Hero)

Lv. 40 Stats (Flaw/Neutral/Asset)

HP: 34/38/41 Atk: 28/31/34 Spd: 33/36/39 Def: 12/16/19 Res: 21/24/28

Neutral BST: 145

Max Dragonflowers: 5

Mythic Effect: Light Boost: HP+5, Spd+4

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Skills

Weapon: Flower of Joy (400 SP)

Mt: 14. Rng: 2. Grants Res+3. Grants Atk/Spd+3 to any ally in a cardinal direction from unit during that ally's combat.

Blue Tome. Cannot be inherited. Cannot be refined.

Assist: Gentle Dream (400 SP)

Grants another action to target ally. Grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+3 and the following status to target ally and allies in cardinal directions of unit and target (excluding unit): "Unit can move to a space adjacent to any ally within 2 spaces." (That turn only. Cannot target an ally with Sing or Dance. This skill treated as Sing or Dance.)

Cannot be inherited.

Special: None

A: B Duel Flying 3 (300 SP)

Grants HP+5. If unit is 5★ and level 40 and unit's stats total less than 170, treats unit's stats as 170 in modes like Arena. (Higher-scoring opponents will appear. Stat total calculation excludes any values added by merges and skills.)

Can be inherited. Blue, Flying only.

B: Wrath 3 (240 SP)

At start of turn, if unit's HP ≤ 75% and unit's attack triggers Special, grants Special cooldown count-1, and deals +10 damage when Special triggers.

Can be inherited. Cannot use: Cavalry, Flying, Ranged.

C: Even Atk Wave 3 (240 SP)

At start of even-numbered turns, grants Atk+6 to unit and adjacent allies for 1 turn. (Bonus granted to unit even if no allies are adjacent.)

Can be inherited.

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Analysis

A new free unit with the arrival of Book IV, Peony’s addition provides players with a powerful refresher support unit with unique skills that although are not potent enough to outperform Legendary Azura are enough to make her nearly as powerful at virtually no cost.

Being a flying refresher is incredibly valuable in itself due to the additional mobility and flexibility that comes with the typing. However, Peony’s unique skills, Flower of Joy and Gentle Dream, are truly what provide her unmatched utility. Gentle Dream in particular holds immense value by providing full +3 buffs on refresh, something that other refreshers would either need a unique weapon or Dance skills to achieve, as well as granting her allies a warping effect in an AoE which significantly increases her allies’ amount of options in battle and at present no other unit can provide the same level of mobility. Flower of Joy also holds a powerful niche, capable of providing full +3 stat boosts in cardinal directions regardless of distance. Combined with Gentle Dream, Peony is thus capable of boosting all of a units stats by +6 with ease and only with two skills.

While Peony lacks any meaningful stats with workable Spd but poor Atk and mediocre magical bulk, Peony lacks any real potential for direct combat, though with her immense utility on the field this hardly poses a problem as she more than pulls her weight without fighting. Additionally, with a unique weapon and assist, a Duel skill, and maximum SP skills in her B and C Skill slots, Peony’s low BST as a refresher doesn’t hold back Arena scoring even without investment, bar her empty Special slot.

Peony prefers boons/assets in Res (superboon) and Spd. Her preferred banes/flaws are Def (superbane), HP (superbane), and Atk.

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Similar Units

Azura: Vallite Songstress (33/30/35/17/24)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+5/+1/+1/-1/+0)

Ninian: Bright-Eyed Bride (34/28/33/18/27)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+4/+3/+3/-2/-3)

Ishtar: Thunder’s Waltz (36/34/36/16/22)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+2/-3/+0/+0/+2)

Rinea: Reminiscent Belle (38/30/33/23/28)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+0/+1/+3/-7/-4)

Shigure: Dark Sky Singer (34/31/29/21/24)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+4/+0/+7/-5/+0)

Azura: Young Songstress (36/33/29/17/25)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+2/-2/+7/-1/-1)

Rinea: Reminiscent Belle (38/30/33/23/28)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+0/+1/+3/-7/-4)

Corrin: Novice Vacationer (34/31/34/22/26)

Peony: Sweet Dream (+4/+0/+2/-6/-2)

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Build Suggestions

Note: At the time of writing, fehstuff.com’s unit builder does not have Flower of Joy registered as a skill for Peony: Sweet Dream. Please treat the appropriate builds as though they have Flower of Joy equipped rather than Shine+ and as though the stats are not buffed.

Budget/Low Investment:

While B Duel Flying doesn’t directly contribute much to fights, there should hardly ever be much reason for Peony herself to engage in combat, thus Peony’s base kite does not require any changes to be effective. There are a wide variety of support/utility Sacred Seals available, though Chill Atk in particular works well in improving her team’s survivability combined with her Fortify Res 4 and unique skills. Aerobatics provides her with extra mobility on mixed teams to then refresh and provide the same mobility to the rest of her team.

Fury 3 notable improves Peony’s bulk and Spd to help her make it through a fight in the event that she must, with Moonbow to slightly improve her offenses. Wings of Mercy can be used instead of Aerobatics especially with allies that take recoil damage.

Utility:

Though Peony’s base Res is middling, her access to a superboon and Flower of Joy’s +3 Res allows her to push it quite high anyway, thus allowing her to further support her team with debuffs from Sabotage and Ploy skills while also being fairly capable of taking enemy mages. Fury 4 and Resistance +3 increase Peony’s visible Res while also giving her offenses a boost, though she can also completely forgo her offenses and use Fort. Def/Res 3 in the A Skill slot and Fortress Res as her Sacred Seal with an Atk bane, putting her at 42 visible Res.

Peony can also use Triangle Adept and breaker to help her team cover more ground, being a simple counter to whatever weapon type is chosen. Using a Raven tome allows her to also somewhat counter colorless enemies, though she can also simply keep Flower of Joy and counter just red enemies.

Arena Core:

With such incredible utility and well-scoring default skills, Peony is an excellent candidate for an Arena Core/Support unit. The Special, B Skill, C Skill, and Sacred Seal are flexible. Blue Flame notably can work well with Peony’s playstyle as she and her allies will often and easily be adjacent due to Gentle Dream’s effect.

#mod lucius #fire emblem heroes #feh #unit review #Peony: Sweet Dream #blue tome/flying #dancer #flying dancer #refresher #flying refresher #M!Peony #Mythic Peony #Mythic!Peony #mythic hero #light mythic hero

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xebecindia · 4 years ago

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What Does The Future Hold For The Ad Agency Of Old?

Unless you're socially isolating under a rock and didn’t get the memo, it is no secret that the world of marketing, PR and advertising is changing at lightning speed, with a major paradigm shift in the way agencies function being visibly noticeable over the past 3 years.

In a Mad Men-esque ad world, the one that introduced most us to the esoteric art of advertising, it used to be that things fit neatly into categories as pretty as January Jones:

An ad agency created ads and if they did media placement/buying, they placed the ads too.

A marketing agency or a digital marketing agency could do a variety of things depending on their specialty ranging from brand identity to perhaps creating your website, some paid advertising and maybe events and activations to get the word out about your brand.

A public relations agency focused solely on media attention. This used to be limited to pitching traditional media for articles, placement etc. With the advent of social media, many of these rebranded as social media agencies, managing their clients' online as well as offline personas.

As the social and creative web has become mainstream the game has completely changed. Things are smarter, faster, cheaper as opposed to dumber, slower and more expensive.

The happy divide between an ad agency, a digital marketing agency and a social media agency has crumbled.

The digital marketing agency of 2021 is the Swiss Army Knife of communications. Post 2020, with budgets thinning and retainers dwindling, even these one stop shops are fighting to surving. So what then is the future of marketing, PR and advertising agencies going to look like?

Here are some thoughts:

1. Jack Of All Trades vs. Master Of Just One

The days of Mad Men are over. Big fat agencies are slowly streamlining to cope with the new normal. Massive overheads, foosball tables and conference rooms with glass walls full of hastily scribbled strategy drive up expenses and create an environment that is but slow-moving. Slow to think, slower to act and the slowest to react to changes in the market.

Sure, it is nice to have “everyone under one roof” for control purposes, but now with more ways to do work virtually, a team of freelancers can be assembled in a jiffy. Or a consultant who's worth ten interns.

Does it take more work on the digital ad agency end to do this? Absolutely. The future is more about partnerships between highly specialized experts as opposed to just more bodies.

2. Content Is King. It's Creators, Kingmakers

It used to be that if you had a budget, you could just hand over all of your marketing, advertising or social media requirements and sit back and approve the magic.

The problem with this, and where we are going in the future, is that smarter, faster, cheaper promotion and advertising requires participation from the client.

The future is all about the client becoming a trusted resource as opposed to a product pusher. This is where content creation comes into the mix. By creating content ranging from blogs, to videos and even podcasts for clients, agencies can help max out their value proposition to clients. Also thanks to the democratisaiton of content, creating it is much easier than before. It is time for digital marketing agencies to create as well as promote their clients content.

3. Agents Of Education

Teaching will be another model that will continue to take shape. More specifically, teaching people and companies. Not keeping the secret sauce secret. This means educating and enabling as opposed to controlling.

This means agencies/consultants, etc. will continue to create their own content online and off. And in many ways, this content can be monetized directly. Perhaps instead of clients, you have subscribers and create a community. A membership site or a mentoring program.

The end result is part publisher and part digital advertising agency.

4. Not Outsourcing Relationships

Let’s talk about the social media agency for a second. Almost every agency offers social media services to their clients

But, what exactly is being offered and what should be offered?

Can a social media agency assist with content creation? Can an agency find relevant articles/other content in your niche to share on Twitter, Facebook, etc.? Can an agency suggest people to follow? Can an agency set up a Facebook page and Twitter account for you? Can an agency suggest tweeting topics? Can an agency post content to your Twitter and Facebook accounts? Suggest blogs and forums you should be participating in/on?

It's either yes to all the above or you should really consider another line of work.

5. Respect New Media Sources

We're not saying traditional media is dead, neither are we sating the same about traditional advertising is dead.

But, there are some incredible opportunities online to generate buzz, sales, trust and more that many agencies aren’t educated on.

There are blogs and new media sources with incredible sponsorship and advertising opportunities that go beyond print ads. Tiktok, what was once seen as a platform for buffonery, is now as important to advertisers as Facebook or other media. Same with podcasts, we grossly underestimated peoples penchant to listen intently to others talk.

Traditional media in many cases is like a one night stand. It is hot, sexy and then it is over. Online media like content sponsorships and their like are more like a long-term relationship. Online content is spreadable and can increase in value over time since is stays up. Whether you're a digital ad agency, a digital marketing agency or a social media agency, ignore new media platforms and formats at your own perils. Early adopters who were once laughed at, are now laughing their way to the bank.

Xebec has been around for the past three decades, and we're always looking at the future with our commitment to creativity and great service rooted firmly in the past. This is why we've adopted a holistic model of operations that makes us part digital ad agency, part digital marketing agency and also a bit of a

social media agency

, in doing so we've always stayed at the cutting edge of brand communications and strive to walk a holistic path without clients where one function perfectly complements the other. From brand design to content creation and much more, bring your business over to Xebec and get a taste of the future.

#digital advertising agency #social media agency #digital ad agency #digital marketing agency #ad agency

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maxvirtualassistant · 3 years ago

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Max loves to give lots of encouragement to keep you motivated throughout the day!

Just be sure to give him some attention too... He doesn’t like being left alone.

#original character #visual novel project #yandere #yandere oc #magic max: virtual assistant #max charge

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weekendwarriorblog · 4 years ago

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The Weekend Warrior 12/11/20 - MINARI, THE MIDNIGHT SKY, LET THEM ALL TALK, WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, PARALLEL, WANDER DARKLY and More!

Honestly, I almost didn’t write a column this week for reasons I’ll probably be ranting about for a few more months, but the long and short of it is that I’ve now been writing movie reviews for 19 years, as well as writing a weekly column through most of that time, and I’m kind of sick of working my ass off, usually for very little money, and just not getting anything out of it.

This mainly came as I crossed 200 reviews for the year a few weeks back. As I was preparing to write this week’s column, Rotten Tomatoes, where most of my reviews have been available as FREE content for the past 17 years, decided to upgrade a number of critics to be “Top Critics”… but not yours truly. I have a lot more to say about this but don’t want to waste any more of my time or anger right now. I will be wrapping this column up and taking some time off for a month in January and deciding whether I want to keep wasting my time every week for no money and little feedback. It really just isn’t worth it anymore.

Fortunately, I saw a few good movies this week, and more than a few bad, so let’s start with one of the good ones, shall we?

This week’s “Featured Flick” is Lee Isaac Chung’s MINARI (A24), which like Nomadland last week will get some sort of virtual cinema release in New York and L.A., presumably that can be seen across the country. It will then get its official release on February 12, 2021.

The movie stars Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead as Jacob, a Korean father who brings his family to an Arkansas house in the middle of nowhere in the ‘80s, hoping to start a farm. His wife Monica (Yeri Han) is not happy with this decision but their kids Anne (Noel Cho) and David (Alan S. Kim) try to adjust to the new life. Things aren’t going well but then Monica’s mother Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn) shows up, that just adds more pressure on Jacob, and the kids, especially David, who hates the quirky older woman who acts nothing like a grandmother.

I’d been hearing about Minari going all the way back to its debut at Sundance, and though I remained skeptical, I finally saw it a few months ago an again over the weekend, and it’s one of my favorite films of the year, probably Top 5. To me, it’s somewhat in the vein of The Farewell, my number 1 movie of 2019, vs. the Oscar Best Picture winner, Parasite. It’s a very personal story for Chung who based some of the experiences on his own childhood, which once again proves the adage that if you’re going to write a movie, make it personal since that’s the most likely to connect with others. (Not always true, but it was great advice when I was given it.)

It takes a little time to understand why Minari is so beloved, since Chung takes an interesting approach where we see various scenes that don’t necessarily seem to tie into some sort of plot. Characters like Will Patton’s ultra-religious zealot who seems to be a bit lost when Jacob takes him on to help with his farm. Otherwise, we see various character interactions as things get tenser and tenser between Jacob and Monica, who are fighting all the time. Although the drama does get intense at times, there’s a lot of joyful and fun moments, particularly those involving the wacky grandmother and her dysfunctional relationship with her grandson. I also enjoyed the relationship between the two kids where Anne is always protective of her younger brother, who has some sort of heart illness.

It's a beautiful movie with an equally gorgeous score, but it’s really in the last 20 minutes or so when we start to see where Chung has been going with all these seemingly disparate elements, which builds up to a wonderful ending. Yeun is terrific, and the fact he reminded me of my own father -- we’re neither Korean nor have I ever been to Arkansas -- shows why his subdued performance is so effective. Overall, the film proves that however many awful things life might throw at you, your family can always fix things. I love that message, and I hope others will find and love this as well.

After its one week in virtual cinema, Minari will get an expanded theatrical release starting February 12… hopefully, New York City theaters will be open by then and I can see it in a theater.

Film at Lincoln Center in New York also is starting its 49th annual “New Directors/New Films” series, which was delayed from March, although being virtual, the movies in it can also be viewed nationwide for the first time. I feel like a lot of movies that were scheduled to play ND/NF ended up being released already but there should be some interesting things in there.

George Clooney’s latest film THE MIDNIGHT SKY is based on Lily Brooks-Dalton’s novel Good Morning, Midnight, in which he plays Augustine, a scientist dying on his own at the Barbeau Observatory in the Arctic, who has to warn a group of astronauts returning to earth that it’s no longer safe for them to return.

Clooney has made a lot of good and great movies over the years, so that I’m one of those people anxiously ≠waiting for him to make something great again after the disappointment of Suburbicon. Midnight Sky is definitely one step forward and a few steps back, as it’s impossible not to think of previous Clooney movies like Solaris and Gravity, as well as The Martian and Passengers and Ad Astra. Yes, we somehow have gotten to the point where every year there’s some sort of space movie, and while Midnight Sky at its best is better than Solaris or Ad Astra (sorry, but I was not a fan), there’s enough that’s so quizzical and confounding I’m not sure people will be able to follow what’s going on.

Much of the first half of the movie involves Clooney’s Augustine alone at the Artic base interacting with a little girl (Caoillin Springall) who is completely silent. If it’s ever explained what the girl represents, I must have missed it. There are also flashbacks to Augustine’s earlier career as a scientist and explorer played by a somewhat only semi-impressive Clooney kinda look-alike in Ethan Peck.

The best moments of the movie involve the crew of astronauts on the spaceship Ether, including Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo, who are in a relationship, Demián Bichir, Kyle Chandler and Tiffany Boone, as they deal with various issues. This is really where comparisons to Gravity and The Martian are earned, but that’s such a mighty quintet of actors that these sections are far more interesting than sullen bearded Clooney with his young ward. The production design and visual FX in these portions of the film are also quite impressive.

The Midnight Sky throws a lot at the viewer but then tries too hard to be quizzical and enigmatic about how all of it ties together until the very end. I feel that some of Clooney’s more mainstream fans will be quite confounded and possibly even disappointed. The Midnight Sky is Clooney taking a swing and only partially connecting, and it might require multiple viewings to feel like it’s a worthy addition to his filmography.

Either way, The Midnight Sky will open theatrically in select cities this week and then be on Netflix on December 23, just in time for depressing everyone on Christmas!

Also hitting Netflix streaming this week is Ryan Murphy’s musical THE PROM, which I reviewed last week. It’s great, I loved it, and can’t wait to watch it again!

Next up is Clooney’s pal Steven Soderbergh, whose new movie LET THEM ALL TALK, will premiere on HBO Max this Thursday, December 10. It stars Meryl Streep as renowned writer Alice who is called to England to receive a prestigious literary award. Since she doesn’t fly, she’s booked on a cross-Atlantic trip on the Queen Mary II ship. Alice decides to bring her old friend Roberta (Candice Bergen)—whom hasn’t spoken to her in three decades--and Susan (Dianne Wiest) as well as her nephew Tyler (Lucas Hedges) to serve as her assistant so she can focus on her writing. Little does she know that her young agent Karen (Gemma Chan) is also on the ship hoping to find out what Alice is writing about with the help of Tyler, who is quite smitten with her.

I’m not sure where to begin with one of week’s films that I probably had the highest expectations and ended up leaving me with the most utter disappointment. I wasn’t really that crazy about last year’s The Laundromat, and I’ve generally found Soderbergh’s work to be hit or miss over the last few years. I loved his thriller Unsanefor instance, and the Magic Mike movies were fun. This one, written by author Deborah Eisenberg, is just plain boring for most of it, offering nothing particularly interesting or insightful, as it’s basically another movie where Streep is playing a character who moans about how difficult her life is and how much better everyone else has it. I mean, if I wanted that shit, I’d spend more time on Twitter than I already do. And then there’s Hedges, one of my favorite young actors over the past few years, who seems to have fallen into a niche playing

In fact, my favorite aspect of the film was Gemma Chan, who plays a character with far more depth and dimension than normal, although much of her role is just to spy on Alice and fend of the subtle advances by the much younger Tyler. The two actors have some fun scenes together, far more lively than anything involving the older actresses, but you always know where it’s going. It’s kind of awkward and painful to watch Hedges bomb so hard. (At least he fared better playing a similar role in French Exit, but in that one, his love interest was Danielle Macdonald.)

The movie looks good with Soderbergh handling his own camera duties and cinematography as usual, and it’s scored with the same hipster jazz he might have used in one of his Ocean movies, but the movie just goes on and on and on, and it hs one of the most “what the fuck?” moments you’ll see this year.

If you can imagine one of The Trip movies without any of the laughs or the delicious food porn…but on a ship, that’s basically what you end up with. More than once while watching Soderbergh’s movie, I was ready to abandon ship.

And from pretty bad, we go to much, MUCH worse. Do you know what thyme it is? It’s WILD MOUNTAIN THYME!!!

John Patrick Shanley adapts his own play Outside Mullingar into a film that will be released in theaters and On Demand by Bleeker Street this Friday, and believe me, its biggest problems isn’t some of the awful Irish accents on display, but they certainly don’t help. Emily Blunt plays Rosemary and Jamie Dornan is Anthony, childhood friends who live down the street from each other in their Irish farming community. When they grow up, Rosemary’s father dies leaving her with a plot of land that forces Anthony and his father Tony (Christopher Walken) to have to use a gate to get to their home. Remember this gate, because it’s going to be mentioned so much over the course of the movie, you’ll wonder why the movie wasn’t called “Wild Mountain Gate.” (It’s actually named after a song that Blunt’s character sings for no apparent reason.)

First, you’ll have to get past the odd choice of the very non-Irish Walken in a key role as the dead narrator of the story with that aforementioned horrid accent. It won’t take long for you to start scratching your head how a noted playwright like Shanley could write such a horrible screenplay. Soon after, you’ll wonder how he convinced someone to finance making it into a movie. I’m normally a pretty big fan of Blunt, but this movie and role might be one of her biggest missteps as an actor to date. As a child, Rosemary was told by her father that she was the White Swan in Swan Lake, so of course that will lead to

It’s not long before Jon Hamm shows up as one of Anthony’s distant relatives who also has interest in Rosemary’s plot of land – nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Pretty soon we’re thrust into awkward love triangle rom-com that falls somewhere between Leap Year and The Holiday. Not exactly something you’d expect from the filmmaker behind the drama Doubt that produced multiple Oscar nominations for the cast, eh?

Instead, Shanley ends up trying to foist the… I don’t want to call it chemistry. What is the exact opposite of chemistry? Between Blunt and Dorman with one long boring conversation after another. At one point, they’re having a romantic chat about suicide, the next Anthony is telling Rosemary that he thinks he’s a honeybee. I mean, what the holy fuck?

Honestly, the whole thing is just grueling to watch, because you wonder how so much talent could falter so badly, particularly Shanley? Even the recent Shane MacGowan doc was a far more romantic take on Irish farming than this could ever possibly be.

One of the nicer surprises of the week is the sci-fi thriller PARALLEL (Vertical), which will be in theaters and On Demand this Friday, and it’s likely to be missed by a lot of people who would enjoy it. Directed by Isaac Ezban from a screenplay by Scott Blaszak, it follows four young people working in the tech sector of Seattle who discover a mirror in a hidden section of the house they’re renting that apparently allows them to experience other dimensions and other versions of their lives. Soon, they’re experimenting with different ways they can make money and achieve fame, although not all of them are cool about how they’re doing it.

Although Parallel opens like a home invasion thriller featuring the great Kathleen Quinlan, we soon learn that it’s a red herring before we meet the quartet of young entepreneurs working on a parking app with an almost impossible deadline. When they find the mirror that leads into an alternative dimension, they immediately start to experiment with figuring out what is happening exactly, and once they do, they realize they can make money by stealing from “alts” i.e. other versions of themselves. Soon, their success starts driving them insane with a desire for even more money and power.

Ezban’s movie benefits from a talented mostly unknown cast, including Martin Wallstrom and Mark O’Brien as boisterous alpha males. Georgia King’s artist Leena is far more than a love interest, although she does become an obsession for one of them eventually – and man, does she remind me of a young Reese Witherspoon. British actor Aml Ameen plays Devin, whose father committed suicide after being accused of corruption, and he’s also wary of some of the activities his friends get up to. There’s also the quartet’s main competitor Seth who gets suspicious of their success as they start producing all sorts of incredible technical inventions.

Parallel is a pretty twisted sci-fi movie that in some way reminded me of the ‘90s thriller Flatliners and even Primer a little bit, but the mirror aspect to it also will draw comparisons to Oculus, one of Mike Flanagan’s cool earlier movies. It doesn’t take long for the twists to start flying at the viewer, and once they do, your mind will be boggled and not necessarily in a bad way. I wouldn’t want to even begin sharing some of the crazy places where the film goes, but even gore fans won’t be disappointed by some of it.

It’s a real shame this terrific movie has floundered without distribution or deserved attention for so long, because there’s absolutely no question in my mind that Jason Blum should be talking to Ezban and Blaszk about doing something together. Parallel is the type of quality high-concept thriller Blumhouse thrives upon.

Another nice surprise this week was Ekwa Msangi’s FAREWELL AMOR (IFC Films), which debuted at Sundance earlier this year and barely got any attention, which is a real shame. It’s expanded from her earlier short, and it’s about an Angolan immigrant named Walter (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), who is reunited with his wife Esther (Zainab Jah) and daughter Sylvia (Jayme Lawson) after 17 years. As they share a small New York apartment, Walter and Esther try to rekindle their romance while Sylvia tries to adjust to an American school.

Msangi’s film opens at Newark airport where the small family is reunited, Walter not having seen either wife or daughter in a decade and a half. He’s working as a cab driver, and he’s ready to rekindle the old flame and meet his daughter who was only a baby when he moved to the States. (Little does Esther know that Walter was in a relationship with another woman, a nurse who isn’t too happy about having to leave Walter’s life.)

One of the things Msangi does to keep things interesting is that she splits the film into three sections, one for each character that focuses specifically on them, and the story gets infinitely interesting as we learn more about each of them. Walter is somewhat at odds with doing the right thing by his wife and daughter, who is wanting to explore her love of dance that her ultra-religious mother forebids. For some reason, I thought Sylvia’s section would be the most interesting as she deals with the trials of being a teenager, but then Esther’s section shows her to be a far more layered character we might have assumed earlier. She also befriends a neighbor woman played by Joie Lee that helps her expand. The thing is that all three are clearly good people, and you never feel as if one is doing something bad in relation to the others.

Farewell Amor is a quiet but beautiful film that explores an immigrant story in a far different way than we’ve seen before. It’s a discovery film, and I hope people will not just presume it won’t hold their interest. It’s a wonderfully relatable human story, similar to Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor.

Sienna Miller and Diego Luna star in Tara Miele’s psychological drama WANDER DARKLY (Lionsgate), playing Adrienne and Matteo, a couple who recently had a baby. After they get into a horrible car accident while arguing, they end up revisiting the highs and lows of their relationship as Adrienne believes either she or Matteo or both are dead.

This is a surprisingly stranger film than I expected, delving into the supernatural not quite in the way as something like Wes Craven’s Serpent and the Rainbow or Jacob’s Ladder, but having a few elements in common. Although I haven’t seen Miele’s other films, this one feels very much like something Drake Doremus might have made to the point where I’m not sure I could say I fully understood what was happening from one moment to the next. The film seems to be exploring a couple’s relationship through a horrible tragedy but does in a strange way.

With the emotional performances by the two leads being enhanced by an amazing score by Alex Weston (who also scored The Farewell last year), Wander Darkly is more than anything, a performance piece with a decent script and further proof Miller continues to be one of the most underrated actresses working today. Despite those great performances, the movie’s strange premise might be too metaphysical and intense in execution for everyone to be along for the entire ride. In that sense, I probably liked last week’s Black Bear just slightly more.

I reviewed Steve McQueen’s ALEX WHEATLE (Amazon Prime Video) in last week’s column, and that will hit Amazon Prime this Friday, but I think I’m going to save Education, the last film in his “Small Axe Anthology” for next week’s column. I was also hoping to review Tom Moore and Ross Stewart’s WOLFWALKERS (Apple+) this week, since it premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, but I just couldn’t get to it. Story of my life.

I’m not sure if I could tell you how many of the Ip Man movies I’ve seen over the past 12 or so years, many of which I saw at the New York Asian Film Festival, but Ip Man is indeed back after last year’s Ip Man: The Finale, but that’s because IP MAN: KUNG FU MASTER (Magnet/Magnolia Pictures) is part of the spin-off prologue series starring Dennis (Yu-Hang) To, who looked enough like a younger Donnie Yen to start a whole sub-franchise. This one is directed by Liming Li, who is also directing a Young Ip Man: Crisis Time prequel movie that presumably stars someone younger than both Yen and To. Got it?

Okay, maybe this needs a little more explaining, although the nice thing about Kung Fu Master is that it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone in case you’ve never seen any of the other movies. This one takes place in the ‘40s as Man is a police captain in Foshan, dealing with the ever-present gang known as The Axes. He’s framed for murder when the leader of the gang dies in prison, and his daughter, Miss Qingchuan (Wanliruo Xin), wanting revenge as she takes over the gang. Ip Man has other issues like being disgraced as a police officer and then the arrival of the Japanese army who have their own agenda. Ip Man ends up donning a mask to become the Black Knight to fight crime in another way.

I make no bones about my love of martial arts films when they’re not stupid or hoaky and sadly, the Donnie Yen franchise was getting by last year’s so-called “finale.” Kung Fu Master starts out with an amazing action scene of To fighting off what seems like hundred of axe-wielding gangsters, and it barely lets up, constantly throwing interesting and thoroughly entertaining fights at the viewer. Eventually, there’s a bounty on Ip Man’s head with whoever kills becoming leader of the Axes, but he has other issues, like his wife giving birth to their baby boy, just as the police chief and force shows up to arrest him. Cutting quickly between childbirth and kung fu action is just one of the interesting things Director Li does to make his Ip Man debut.

The resemblance between Dennis To and Donnie Yen is more than just facial as his wushu techniques are equally impressive, and sure, there’s a few more dramatic moments between Ip Man and his wife, but it’s Xin’s Miss Qingchuan who ends up being more of a formidable counter to To in just about every way, including a few fight scenes where axes are flying through the air.

Ip Man Kung Fu Master is fairly short, less than 90 minutes, but it still feels long because it feels like it finds a good ending, and then tacks on an epilogue and then another one. There were times I thought it might end on a cliffhanger to set up Ip Man’s inevitable next movie. The abundance of evil antagonists Ip Man must fight in this one tends to become a bit much, but it’s hard not to be thrilled by the martial arts on display and Li’s terrifically stylish visuals that keeps the movie interesting.

Ip Man Kung Fu Master will be available digitally Friday through a variety of platforms.

Filmmaker Adam Egypt Mortimer, who released Daniel Isn’t Real last year, returns with ARCHENEMY (RLJEfilms), starring Joe Manganiello as Max Fist, who claims to be a hero from another dimension that fell to earth. He ends up spending time with a teen brother and sister, Hamster (Skylan Brooks) and Indigo (Zelee Griggs) who want to clean the streets of the local drug syndicate, led by The Manager (Glenn Howerton from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). It’s a strange and quirky dark superhero movie that includes appearances by the likes of Paul Scheer and Amy Seimetz, and though I ran out of time to review, I do have an interview with Mortimer at Below the Line.

Time to get to some docs, and there are definitely some you’ll want to check out, although I don’t have as much time to write that much about them, and some of them I wasn��t able to watch yet.

Another great doc out of the September festival circuit is Ryan White’s ASSASSINS (Greenwich Entertainment), which follows the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother to North Korean leader Kim Jon-un in 2017 at a busy airport in Malaysia by two young women. Although the two women had never met before, they were jointly charged with attacking the North Korean ex-pat with a lethal nerve gas called VX but White’s investigation takes him all over South-East Asia trying to get answers to how the two women were tricked into committing the assassination. This is a pretty masterful display of doc filmmaking by White, not just in the sense of the way the story is paced and edited like a good political thriller, but it’s one that keeps the viewer invested even as the last act deals with the trial of the two young women and the bond that forms between them.

I’ll have more about this film over on Below the Line sometime very soon, but it hits theaters and virtual cinema this Friday and then it will be on PVOD on January 15

I saw Seamus Murphy’s doc PJ HARVEY: A DOG CALLED MONEY way back in March when it was supposed to open at New York’s Film Forum, but it’s finally getting a virtual cinema release there. Murphy travelled across Afghanistan, Kosovo and Washington DC with singer/songwriter PJ Harvey as she prepared material for her 2015 album, The Hope Six Million Project, which she produced with Flood and John Parish as an installation at Somerset House where people can walk by and view the recording process. This is an amazing doc that allows you into the process of writing for an amazing recording artist who has given Murphy and the viewer unprecedented access into her creativity. I had fully lost track of Harvey over the years, even though I was a huge fan of hers when she first hit these shores – in fact, I saw her play a concert where Radiohead opened for her… and there as another band (Gallon Drunk) after them! Because of that, I wasn’t familiar with the album, but I just love good music docs, especially ones that take us behind the scenes of a talented artist, and Murphy has created quite a fascinating film even outside the recording studio, whether it’s following Harvey around (narrated by her own poetic observations) but also with commentary by others they encounter. I found the Washington DC segments particularly interesting, since that’s the one place where I’ve spent the most time. An absolutely fantastic doc whether you’re a fan of Harvey’s or not.

Also playing in the Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema this week is Thomas Balmés’ SING ME A SONG, the filmmaker’s second doc set in the Himalayan village of Bhutan that’s been isolated for centuries. He returns to update on Peyangki, the 8-year-old Buddhist monk from his 2014 film Happiness, now a teenager who has fallen under the sway of technology including pop music and smartphone games, as he begins a WeChat romance with a young singer, which makes him consider leaving the monastery.

Also premiering on Netflix this Friday is Jim Stern and Fernando Villena’s doc GIVING VOICE, tying into the streaming premiere of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom next week. It follows six student actors auditioning for the August Wilson Monologue Competition, which brings thousands of students from twelve U.S. cities together to perform the Pulitzer Prize winner’s work.

Joshua Faudem’s doc THE LAST SERMON (Gravitas Ventures/Will Kennan) follows the director and Jack Baxter as they follow 14 years after making their 2004 documentary Blues by the Beach, in which the two ended up in a terrorist attack by British Nationals on Mike’s Place, a bar next door to the National Embassy on Tel Aviv. This event sends Baxter and Faudem across Europe to refugee camps and mosques in order to understand the essence of Islam and the truth about the international terrorists that almost killed them.

Drew Barrymore plays a dual role in THE STAND-IN (Saban Films), directed by Jamie Babbitt (But I’m a Cheerleader). While under normal circumstances, Wild Mountain Thyme would have been the dog of the week, then this movie came along. Yikes. Barrymore plays Candy Black, a comedy star best known for her pratfalls in bad movies (ala Melissa McCarthy). She also plays Paula, Candy’s much sweeter and almost identical stand-in. Candy is a nightmare to work with and after a fall from grace, she holes herself up in her Long Island Estate for five years, while Paula’s own fortunes falter without having that work. I’m sure you can figure out where it goes from there.

Yes, folks, we have what is now one of the worst iterations of a Tale of Two Cities not made by Barrymore’s frequent co-star Adam Sandler, although there are times where you wonder if she is actually playing a version of Sandler with Candy. Eventually, either Candy or Paula or both decide that Paula can take Candy’s place in her attempt to return to work, but the results are just far worse than The Hottie or the Nottie, as Paula also stands in for Candy on dates with the man she’s fallen in love with online through their love of woodworking. (I didn’t make that up.) You almost always know where it’s going and can’t help but groan when you’re right.

Basically, there’s one Drew that’s glammed-down and the other talking in an annoying wispy voice, so there really isn’t getting away from the awfulness even for a second.The thing is that, like the worst comedies, The Stand In is not funny, and it’s sad to see a decent director like Babbitt being dragged into this one. It’s just a terrible overused premise that’s executed quite poorly. Not only that, but the movie also co-stars TJ Miller, who has fallen so far from grace himself, that it’s shocking to see him in another movie.

Besides guaranteeing Barrymore a double-dose Razzie nomination, The Stand In also leaves her with cow shit on her face, much like her character.

Movies I just didn’t have time to get to this week:

Funny Boy (Array/Netflix) Gunda (NEON) Safety (Disney+) Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (HBO Max) 40 Years a Prisoner (HBO Docs) Through the Night (Longshot Factory) To the Ends of the Earth (KimStim) Rompan Todo: The History of Rock in Latin America (Netflix) The Wilds (Prime Video) Nasrin (Virgil Films) Finding Ying Yin

By the way, if you read this week’s column and have bothered to read this far down, feel free to drop me some thoughts at Edward dot Douglas at Gmail dot Com or drop me a note or tweet on Twitter. I love hearing from readers … honest!

#TheWeekendWarrior #Movies #Reviews #Minari #TheMidnightSky #LetThemAllTalk #VOD #Streaming #WildMountainThyme #Parallel #TheStandIn #IpManKungFuMaster

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drumflute6 · 4 years ago

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The Coming Year Developments by Apple

Apple is considered to be the state-of-the-art organization in the globe right now. It is the business to which nearly all others search for guidance. When Apple reveals a forward thinking new design vocabulary or launches a new product, it generates ripples through the entire market. Eventually, the whole industry is crafting products in Apple’s overall image. But to say Apple is merely a trend-setter understates the business’s position as arguably the figurehead of development in consumer technology. Apple isn’t simply setting technology styles; Apple’s vision models precedents and starts motions that allow the developments to exist to begin with. As great since it must feel to be Apple in this situation - and as humbling since it must feel to be any of the many businesses copying Apple at every change - it’s not all sunlight and rainbows. Most people can claw your way to the top of a mountain, but there’s not a lot of stable floor up there. One wrong step and your toppling back off the mountain, undoing years of the effort needed to get right up there. I do not want to price cut Apple’s successes in 2018: Apple Pencil support for iPad was a good addition; iOS 12 has given new life to iPhones as outdated as the 5S; Apple Watch Series 4 generally is saving lives; and that’s just a few highlights. Searching back again, though, 2018 was a fairly tough year for Apple as certain missteps finished up affecting the company’s bottom line. Among Apple’s most dubious movements in 2018, there’s one I wanted to highlight for an essential reason: With no second-generation iPhone SE around the corner, it seems Apple has exited the spending budget flagship market. In fact, I’ll consider it one step additional: I am positive Apple won’t be launching any longer budget iPhones, and here is why. Apple’s merchandise portfolio is varied. The business generates revenue from solutions like iTunes and Apple Music to add-ons like AirPods and the Magic Key pad, from home entertainment gadgets like Apple Television 4K to personal processing products just like the MacBook Pro. But product sales for most of these aren’t that amazing (though Apple’s income undoubtedly are). It’s essentially the iPhone that makes up about the majority of Apple’s revenue. Since its debut in 2007, iPhone has pushed Apple’s earnings to such incredible heights that the company has become the first trillion-dollar company ever sold. With so a lot of Apple’s income riding on the game-changing gadget, you can bet there will be a significant drop in Apple’s income if people starting buying less iPhones. And that is exactly what we are discovering. Soon after a fair fourth quarter, revenue for Q12019 - which, to be clear, is comprised of October, November, and December, covering the vacation shopping season - was much lower than Apple traditionally projected. With the expense of new iPhones rising, revenue would’ve increased actually if unit sales got only remained regular, but there have been fewer iPhone units sold through the period. The implication is definitely that demand offers waned, or it’s feasible there wasn’t very much demand for Apple’s costly new iPhones to begin with. The initial symptom of difficulties was in 2017, the entire year iPhone X premiered. At a starting cost 50 percent greater than the prior year’s baseline model, iPhone X unit product sales were reportedly flat although Apple’s income increased. Just how? Because even though Apple sold roughly the same amount of systems as the entire year before, the average cost of an iPhone had increased. When you sell the same number of products but mark up the purchase price, you still see a bump in earnings. Of program, it’s not simply the iPhone that’s gotten more expensive. Apple has elevated selling prices across just about all the enterprise’s portfolio. But with the iPhone driving earnings, the implication can be this: In the event iPhone sales remain smooth or start to fall, Apple will have to keep raising the cost of the iPhone each year to maintain year-over-year income gains. As possible plainly see, it’s not a coincidence Apple has decided to stop reporting iPhone unit sales publicly. Even if 2017 was an outlier, the launch of new iPhones in the fall is meant to give Apple a go of revenue adrenaline in the ultimate stretch, enabling for a strong finish as the company crosses the economic finish line. But for the second 12 months in a row, that did not happen. Doesn’t it appear reasonable, if not likely, that increasing the prices for brand-new iPhones has resulted in lower demand? About a week ago, Apple CEO sent a document to investors. You can browse the document for yourself on Apple’s web-site, but it warns investors that Apple’s 1Q2019 revenue will end up being $9 billion less than was originally projected. The letter mainly blames China’s economy for the vast majority of the year-over-year iPhone revenue decline although also suggesting that buyers remain adapting to the extinction of carrier financial assistance. In a recently available talk Cook explained many of the same concerns to explain lower-than-predicted iPhone profits. Beyond slowed development in developing markets and the lack of subsidized prices through carriers, Cook mentioned to iOS 12 and the $29 battery substitute program seeing that having encouraged users to hold their previous iPhones instead of looking for new ones. As you may remember, Apple began the battery alternative program in late 2017 in hope of hiding the smell of the battery controversy, which had garnered claims of designed obsolescence. As outlined by Cook, many with old iPhones decided not to upgrade mainly because they could get fresh batteries for inexpensive. This would remove the overall performance caps that Apple acquired imposed on them, fixing their iPhones with their previous glory, specially when paired with iOS 12. Actually, Apple went to lengths to make sure that iOS 12 would make old iPhones faster, so Make is likely correct in thinking the battery substitute program and iOS 12 factored in to the weaker sales of 2018 iPhones. Nevertheless, Cook declared that challenging trade operations between the US and China was eventually the largest factor. China represents a ton of untapped sales prospect of Apple, so there’s most likely some truth compared to that, too. You can view the entire interview in the video below if you want to listen to more of what Make has to say about it. On the other hand, critics and analysts have suggested poor iPhone sales certainly are a sign of marketplace saturation; at this stage, most people who want an iPhone curently have one, and that’s a difficult hurdle to overcome, specifically with people transitioning less frequently. It’s even quite feasible that Apple valued the 2018 iPhones from the developing markets the business claims to end up being targeting. After all, in the event that you reside in China and want to buy a new smart phone, will you buy an iPhone XS for $1,000 (¥6800) or even more, or are you going to get the most recent Vivo or Xiaomi Android phone that’s produced locally and may do essentially anything iPhone XS can do at a portion of the purchase price? Not surprisingly, Cook mainly sidestepped this issue of increasing iPhone prices - a burden that we’ve found across most of Apple’s product line for that situation - which has been one of the main criticisms of recent iPhones. Brand-new Price Range will Increase Price increases for the iPhone used to be pretty rare. Actually, after carriers stopped offering subsidized prices on cell phones, forcing us to start paying full MSRP if we wished to buy new iPhones, we're able to at least depend on a consistent starting price from year to year. That starting cost used to be $649. With the discharge of iPhone 8 in 2017, it increased to $699, a discouraging increase, nonetheless it was not too surprising. It was only a $50 boost after generations of a consistent price, a lot of people gave Apple a pass. In addition, also at the higher price, iPhone 8 seemed positively cheap when compared to $999 price on the new iPhone X. However reportedly, the purchase price increase for iPhone 7 place a precedent because in 2018, the purchase price jumped again. Matching the increase from iPhone 7 to iPhone 8, the 2018 iPhone line-up started out at $749 for iPhone XR. You could argue that iPhone XR is a better device than iPhone 7 and justifies the extra $100, but worth is subjective. Although some might say iPhone XR will probably be worth its $749 beginning price, especially in comparison to Apple’s more superior versions, many customers will fixate on how each new generation of iPhone is more expensive compared to the one before. And at this point, is it possible to blame them? To create matters worse, as iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR were getting unveiled about stage during Apple’s fall 2018 event, iPhone SE was being discontinued. So not only are iPhones getting a lot more expensive, but Apple has eliminated the only spending budget option we had. So if you’re seeking to get a new iPhone in 2019, there’s very little choice anymore. Buyers are mainly having to accept Apple’s higher starting price in the absence of a genuine budget iPhone. Naturally, consumers and critics alike are receiving more vocal in their demands an iPhone SE successor. Overwhelming Unpredicted Benefits Apple revealed the iPhone SE , which means Particular Edition, in March 2016 at a special spring event. Both for consumers and the industry most importantly, iPhone SE was a very un-Apple device for Apple to release. The iPhone 6 had simply jumped in size and received a totally new style from the previous generation. Then iPhone SE premiered, featuring a smaller, compact form with its design virtually indistinguishable from the previous-generation iPhone 5. Even more surprising was the fact that iPhone SE particularly featured the majority of Apple’s up-to-date, front runner-level engineering regardless of the low starting price; for just $399, you have the same custom A9 processor as iPhone 6S and a 12 MP camcorder with 4K video recording and a bigger electric battery. In fact, the just significant compromises were having less 3D Touch and the usage of first-generation TouchID instead of the faster second generation. But, again, considering its low starting cost (which eventually settled to $349), the iPhone SE provided uncharacteristically great value for something made by Apple. The situation was that iPhone SE did not become a top-selling iPhone. Throughout its life-span, its defining characteristic was that it offered an inexpensive point of access to the iOS ecosystem though it eventually gained somewhat of a cult pursuing among specific Apple fans. Obviously, after iPhone SE have been the baseline of the iPhone lineup for a couple of years, consumers were ready for the required refresh. Although iPhone SE offered a great cost-to-performance ratio in 2016, a refresh would connect the functionality gap that developed as iPhone SE’s A9 processor chip was followed and replaced, first by the A10 Fusion chip in iPhone 7, then again by the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X . Patiently Awaiting Apple's New Releases Affirmed, we heard through the grapevine that Apple was focusing on a new version of the spending budget iPhone. Details varied, but the iPhone SE successor - alleged to be called possibly iPhone SE 2 or iPhone X SE (with suffix and modifiers meticulously arranged)- appeared to have the equal purpose as the initial, which was to be a compact, low-cost iPhone offering great performance and most of the most recent features. Much of the disagreement encircling the naming pattern for the iPhone SE 2 was because of unclear reports as to whether the device will maintain its iPhone 5-era design or whether it would embrace the brand new iPhone X visual. A few insisted (or possibly hoped?) iPhone SE 2 would appear to be an iPhone X from leading with a nearly bezel-less, edge-to-edge display. These reports were mainly informed by supposed styles for screen protectors and instances; if genuine, the implication was that iPhone SE 2 could have a bezel-less, notched display comparable to iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Of program, the notch would become among the defining features for 2018 smartphones overall as its was imitated by nearly every smartphone manufacturer after the iPhone X debuted in late 2017; however, for Apple’s reasons, the notch only exists to accommodate biometric sensors for Apple’s proprietary FaceID. Therefore the implication was that iPhone SE 2 would feature FaceID although the high price of FaceID components made it an unlikely inclusion in virtually any budget iPhone. Following these reviews, renders were made to show how the device might appear if it ended up being real. Assuming the case styles and resulting renders had been accurate, iPhone SE 2 would’ve been a really fascinating gadget, the lovechild of the bygone iPhone 5 and the more futuristic iPhone X. Provided Apple could keep creation costs and, by extension, the MSRP down, iPhone SE 2 could’ve easily outsold the initial iPhone SE, possibly learning to be a top seller like the original iPhone SE never could. These weren’t just the pipe dreams of iPhone SE enthusiasts and anyone who wanted cheaper iPhones; reviews from Apple’s own suppliers all but confirmed plans for iPhone SE 2, giving estimates for possible production schedules and ship dates. In early August 2017, Wistron Corp. - a low-volume manufacturer based in Taiwan that Apple recruits when iPhone demand is certainly high - was focusing on expanding its production base to accommodate a fresh compact Apple smartphone, which many presumed to become an updated iPhone SE. Then came a tentative ship day: In late November 2017, Economic Daily Information in Taiwan reported Apple have been eyeing a release time in the first half of 2018 for the iPhone SE 2, which would’ve been consistent with the spring release of the original iPhone SE. January 2018 brought another report of iPhone SE 2 launching in 2018. Shortly thereafter, there was a rumor iPhone SE 2 would include a glass back panel, suggesting the addition of the wireless charging features that the iPhone has already established since 2017. Just simply because rumors pointed to Apple gearing up for the release of a next-generation iPhone SE, Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities who's known for predicting Apple’s products with uncanny accuracy, planted one of the initial seeds of doubt. In late January 2018, Kuo reported iPhone SE 2 had very little chance of released because Apple had exhausted its resources on the three flagship versions to be released in 2018. Of program, those three models finished up being iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Nevertheless, rumors persisted - though at a slower pace - in spite of Kuo’s doubt. For instance, there have been specifications and other information on the iPhone SE 2 reported in April 2018. According to these leaks, Apple intended to keep production costs (and, by extension, the eventual retail price) down by omitting the 3.5mm headphone jack and using iPhone 7’s A10 Fusion chip instead of the A11 Bionic chip used in iPhone 8 and iPhone X. For all intents and reasons, the axe was decisively dropped in July 2018 as BlueFin Research told MacRumors that Apple had nixed all plans to proceed with iPhone SE 2. We’ll probably never find out for sure whether iPhone SE 2 was ever actually in the offing; however, also if it was planned originally, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever obtain an iPhone SE 2 at all. It’s been four weeks since the start of the 2018 iPhones, a meeting that coincided with iPhone SE being removed from Apple’s lineup, which, in and of itself, allegedly happened because Apple retired its A9 processor. So apart from Apple quickly unloading the last iPhone SE units at a discounted $249 price, which took just 24 hours, iPhone SE is fully gone from Apple’s catalog, and anyone looking forward to a next-generation iPhone SE has little trigger for hope. In the event that you ask me, the composing is on the wall structure: Apple won’t be making another budget iPhone. FORGET ABOUT Budget iPhone? Spending budget smartphones, or smartphones that cost roughly $300 or less, are pretty common nowadays. In some instances, these budget devices present great bang for your buck. Some of the newer notable for example the Moto G6 for $240, LG Stylo 4 for $250, Huawei Mate 20 Lite for $290, and, of course, the amazing Pocophone F1 for $299. For those who have a tad more to spend, you can find a used or refurbished Samsung Galaxy S8 for just barely over $300. Or you may get the brand new Nokia 7.1, an Android One gadget with the look and nearly all of the features that top-shelf Android flagships have for the bargain price of $350. I’m not sure where in fact the expression originated, but I completely agree: “Good cell phones are getting cheap, and cheap mobile phones are getting good.” Of course, you might’ve noticed that the smartphones mentioned previously are Android smartphones. How about iPhones? When carriers did aside with subsidizing smartphones, we had to start paying full retail price for new smartphones. Therefore Apple’s decision to create the iPhone SE was extremely timely: Rather than paying $649 or even more, you could purchase an iPhone at under $400 without producing a huge amount of compromises. Suddenly, people who preferred iOS to Android had their own Pocophone. From September 2016 to its discontinuation in September 2018, iPhone SE was never a top-selling iPhones. Actually at its peak, iPhone SE by no means accounted for more than 11 percent of iPhone sales as the third-best-selling iPhone, and only by a thin margin. Meanwhile, both iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus almost tripled the product sales of iPhone SE during that period, accounting for 28.5 percent and 29.5 percent of iPhone sales, respectively. After September 2017, iPhone SE sales dropped substantially, remaining somewhere within 5.5 percent and 8 percent until the device was taken in fall 2018. Imagine that you’re Tim Cook looking at these numbers. Everybody has been requesting a second-generation budget iPhone, but sales numbers show that whenever a lower-cost option is available, nearly all customers keep purchasing the more costly iPhones. If clients are willing to pay more for high-end iPhones, does it make sense to produce a cheaper gadget that, at best, only about one in ten customers would be interested in buying? With some context, positioning the iPhone more as a luxury item starts to make sense. Like voting on a ballot, Apple’s consumers have been casting their votes on higher-end iPhones, therefore we can’t actually blame Apple for moving away from budget smartphones that don’t sell well. If you’re miffed about the loss of life of iPhone SE 2, there are, actually, cheaper iPhones obtainable for people on a budget. But you’re not likely to discover them in shops. Current Market Conditions Apple gave customers the lower-cost iPhone they’d long been asking for, but most of them decided not to buy it. Therefore if you’re Apple, do you create a second generation knowing the first era didn’t sell well, or do you ditch the budget-iPhone idea altogether? It seems Apple find the latter. However, it doesn’t take away from the actual fact that spending budget iPhones already are available, not forgetting plentiful. Specifically, I’m discussing used iPhones on the market. The gray market identifies the buying and selling of used iPhones on the secondhand market. It’s comprised of the many people selling their utilized gadgets after upgrading, which essentially produces an unofficial market of budget iPhones. So all those listings for iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8 on eBay, the Amazon Marketplace, services like Swappa, and yard-sale apps like LetGo are the gray marketplace for iPhones. Apple doesn’t need to invest in R&D, sourcing parts, manufacturing, and distribution for a budget iPhone because we already have access to all of the discounted iPhones we're able to ever need in the secondhand marketplace. And each year when fresh iPhones are released, millions even more iPhones will revitalize the secondhand market as users who upgrade to fresh iPhones sell their older ones. Plus, any post-2016 iPhone models on the gray market could have better specifications than iPhone SE, and some of these used iPhones will be cheaper than investing in a new iPhone SE from Apple for $349. In other words, Apple doesn’t have to sell a budget iPhone since the current-generation iPhones purchased at full retail cost today become budget iPhones as consumers utilize them and finally sell them to on the gray marketplace when they upgrade. And more devices are listed on the gray market every day, in order long as Apple is selling smartphones, the gray market is a renewable source for budget iPhones. Of course, the gray marketplace isn’t the only method to get an iPhone on the cheap. Depending about how you look at it, Apple actually offers new spending budget iPhone options each year. With the official unveiling of new iPhones each year, the MSRP of every preceding generation still in production is decreased. For instance, when iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X had been announced in nov 2017, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus became previous-generation products, which warranted cost cuts. The iPhone SE was still in production when iPhone 7 got its price cut, so if you wanted a fresh iPhone but didn’t want to invest $699 or even more for iPhone 8 or iPhone X, you could choose iPhone SE from $349, iPhone 6S from $449, or iPhone 7 from $549. Though $349 isn’t precisely chump switch, it’s certainly more palatable than iPhone X’s thousand-dollar starting cost. With iPhone SE discontinued, the cheapest iPhone available is iPhone 7 for $449, meaning the cheapest iPhone available today is $100 more than last year. To be fair, iPhone 7 was an excellent device at start, and it’s still a compelling option today, especially for the cost. Though it was divisive as Apple’s 1st iPhone without the seemingly requisite 3.5mm headphone jack, iPhone 7 is in any other case a full-presented flagship. But if you’re shopping for a new iPhone on a budget, which would you rather buy: a 2016 iPhone for $449 or an iPhone SE 2 with the latest A12 Bionic processor for $100 less? Regarding iPhone SE 2 not materializing, maybe knowing what could’ve been is normally what makes this so disappointing for some. Even though the data suggests a restricted audience for budget iPhones, there will always be situations in which a low-cost iPhone with current-generation functionality hits the sweet spot. Where Should Apple Go From Here? It’s an enjoyable experience to become a lover of tech, particularly cell tech as budget and mid-range flagships are slaying in the Android smartphone marketplace. Though priced greater than a $349 iPhone, the OnePlus 6T is definitely a primary example of how to offer flagship-level specs, design, and functionality at a reduced cost. For better or worse, Apple appears to have evacuated the spending budget smartphone sector after just one single attempt. Granted, Apple hasn't actually catered to budget-minded consumers with almost all the company’s hardware starting at $1,000 or more and a shrinking amount of gadgets, like iPods and iPads, priced lower than that. This is why it had been so unusual for Apple to produce a budget iPhone in the first place. The problem is that it seems Apple is currently trying to close a door that maybe the business never should’ve opened in the first place. In the end, when you’re offering this inexpensive iPhone on the lineup, all of the flagship iPhones seem that much more expensive by comparison. Whether there’s a fresh iPhone SE later on, the prices attached to Apple’s items are climbing. In many markets, Apple is coming dangerously close to pricing the iPhone along with most of Apple’s other products out of reach. For customers who can’t (or don’t desire to) pay out such exorbitant prices, the actual fact that Apple offered inexpensive options previously but no longer offers those options today will certainly leave a bad taste in people’s mouths, nearly like biting right into a rotten apple. Honestly, I am hoping I’m wrong concerning this, but if Apple really wants to curb the decline in iPhone demand and for product sales to resume an upward trajectory, one of two things will need to happen, and sooner rather than later. Apple must either lower the margins on iPhones to make them less expensive (or even just less expensive), or there must be a fresh budget option so consumers at least have the illusion of choice. Because as the figures show, most buyers go for the premium iPhones anyway, but if Apple puts a budget model on the table, at least they won’t feel like they’re being forced to pay the ever-growing Apple tax. Apple’s current pricing structure gives consumers only high- and higher-priced models to choose from. But it seems buyers are beginning to understand there’s still one other choice, which can be to save themselves the difficulty, and possibly some buyer’s remorse, by not buying new iPhones at all.

#smartphones

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android-for-life · 4 years ago

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"Get ready for the school year with Google"

I've always loved the start of a new school year. There's something magical about watching my kids reach new milestones, tackle new assignments and surprise me with their newfound interests and passions. While heading back to school won’t be the same this year, Google is helping families like mine stay on track with new features like Family Bell, communicate better with targeted broadcast messages and make learning from home a little more fun.

Keep your family on track and organized

These days, my family can use extra help keeping on top of our schedules. With a new feature called Family Bell, we can add bell reminders throughout the day that announce when it's time to start an online class, take a break, settle in for reading time, have a snack or even for bedtime. To get started, simply say “Hey Google, create a Family Bell” or tap on Family Bell in your Assistant settings. It includes suggested bells for activities like recess, nap time or math time, or you can customize bells to alert someone in your household of an upcoming activity. One of my bells helps keep my son on track by saying, “Hi superhero, it’s time for math!” You can even have different bells go off at the same time on different devices—super helpful when both of my kids have various activities going on. You can create and manage bells on Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones to play on smart speakers or Smart Displays in your home. This feature is starting to roll out today in English in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and India.

And surely, most parents can relate when I say that sometimes my kids need that little nudge to get excited about the day—whether that means heading to school or starting a day of virtual learning. I can say, “Hey Google, start the school day!” or “Hey Google, school’s in session!” and Smart Displays like Nest Hub Max will show a school-themed visual and play the familiar sounds of school—like kids ruffling through their lockers. And since we have smart lights set up in our living room, this will also trigger the lights to flash upbeat red, orange and yellow colors—which my kids love. This feature also works on Assistant-enabled smart speakers and is now available around the globe.

A popular feature on Google Assistant is the ability to broadcast and reply to messages around the house, and starting to roll out today, you can broadcast to a specific room or device—making it even easier to communicate at home (no shouting needed). So when I’m working in my bedroom office, my husband can broadcast a message to me by saying, “Hey Google, broadcast to the bedroom, ‘breakfast is ready!’” This feature is rolling out in English on Assistant-enabled smart speakers and Smart Displays around the world.

And to remind learners when to start homework, try setting a fun alarm with some of their favorite characters. Just ask your Assistant-enabled smart speaker or Smart Display, “Hey Google, set a Hatchimals alarm for 4:00 p.m.” and you’ll hear signature music, jokes, facts, words of encouragement and other fun messages when it goes off.

Make learning from home fun

I appreciate getting to spend extra time with my kids, and now Google helps me make the most of it by teaching my daughter (and often me) some new facts. On Assistant-enabled smart speakers and Smart Displays in the U.S., say, “Hey Google, tell me about the animal of the day” and hear fun facts about a new animal every day, listen to the sound each animal makes and even receive a creative daily challenge, like drawing what the animal looks like.

From homework help to how-to’s, on YouTube Kids you’ll find videos that give kids a greater understanding of the world around them. To get started, make sure you’ve linked your YouTube Kids account in your Google Home app. Try watching a video on your Smart Display by saying,“Hey Google, watch Brave Wilderness on YouTube Kids.”

To get some help together, parents and older learners can also ask, “Hey Google, help me with my homework" for suggestions to learn about historical events, the periodic table or for help with calculations. Google can also help with spelling (“Hey Google, how do you spell rhythm?”) or math (“Hey Google, what's 3 x 7 + 80?”). Google Assistant can even act as a translator and interpreter for language learning—try asking, “Hey Google, how do you say butter in Spanish?”

With their parent's permission, children under 13 (or the applicable age in their country) can have their own personalized Google Assistant experience when they log in with their own account, powered by Family Link.

Spend quality time together as a family

Game nights have surged in popularity at our house. My kids like to ask, “Hey Google, play a kids game” to discover new games.

And when it’s time to wind down for the day, say, “Hey Google, tell me a story,” or if your family loves fairy tales like mine, try “Hey Google, tell me a fairy tale” and listen along. We also enjoy listening to classics from Storynory, like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and more.

The balancing act of working, parenting and schooling at home continues, and as it does, we hope these new tools will help keep your family on track in your new routine.

Source : The Official Google Blog via Source information

#jeprog

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dentelle-grise · 7 years ago

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Your Latest Trick

Chapter 17

(Loki x Reader) Long after everyone has stopped talking about Loki and his misdemeanors, his failed attempt to take over Midgard and his punishment, you meet him at a party. A tale in which Loki woos the reader despite life imprisonment, mortal wounding and the cumbersome pretense of impersonating his father. Covering the events of ‘The Dark World’ and beyond Original Prompt: Imagine Loki undressing you slowly, entirely by magic, only touching you with his eyes. All chapters to date at AO3 (42K, NC-17) Tagging: @frenchfrostpudding

Chapter 17 (NSFW)

You’re aware that you are leaning slightly on Dagny, on her good side. It could look companionable to anyone just glancing at you, but in fact you’re falling from sleep. This morning was fine, but here, standing listening to Odin’s latest speech, you’re paying the price for your short night. You wanted to hear the official line though. How much of what Loki told you are the people allowed to know? How much of what you know will you have to hide. Everything it seems. In Odin’s speech, there is nothing to suggest that Malekith is still at large, just plenty about the glory of Asgard, a monument to Frigga that will be built, and praise for the good work of the builders repairing the city. He drones on rather, his habitual dramatic pauses seeming more like an old man losing his way. You long for it to be over, stifle your yawns and lean on your friend. Dimly you register Asta moving to support you from the other side.

Odin doesn’t talk about Asgard’s allies on Svartalfheim. Is that where Loki has been going? You usually manage to avoid thinking of him during the day but here you drift off - imagining his voice, his warmth against you, his hair touching your face. The trouble is there’s not just him there in your thoughts. There’s the elf girl. She saved his life — he is indebted to her. You are indebted to her! The face that he showed you was both alien and beautiful. Was that because he found her beautiful?

You are sagging into Dagny and she pushes you upright. Odin is reminding all present of the importance of fighting skills once more. Then he starts talking again of the glory of Asgard. It’s a speech you’ve heard time and again since childhood. His voice, deep and proud lulls you with its familiarity. You know these words by heart.

Asta gives you a sharp a dig in the ribs and you’re suddenly awake, like you fell here. It’s only then that you realize you had been fully sleeping, standing propped up between your friends. You can’t hear Odin’s voice any longer and it’s not a dramatic pause. You glance up toward the throne, terrified to be caught. But there your eyes meet not the condemning stare of the King but those of your own mother. She’s up there on the dais in front of the throne and for a moment you haven’t the slightest idea why. But your confusion and her glare are over in a moment as she continues talking, telling the crowd how her team are working to harness the power of the Aether. It’s simplified for the masses but you still don’t understand much. You only know that if your mother and her team at the armory are involved, then any harnessing is unlikely to be for peaceful purposes.

When she’s finished, Odin thanks her and there’s a round of applause. It’s over. The crowd disperse. You should be glad; you can go and rest now. Only now of course you don’t feel tired anymore, only anxious.

On the way out, your father greets you warmly. He either missed the vital embarrassing moment or thinks it of no matter. You don’t see your mother afterwards though and decide you must go and apologize right away, rather than let your shame and her annoyance fester.

*******

The armory is set away from the palace but still within the protected perimeter. You’ve got rocks in the pit of your stomach as you approach. This is supposedly a social call, but it doesn’t feel like one. When you ask for your mother, they send you on to her lab but you have to pass through a security point before they let you in. That’s new. Finally, you step into a great room divided by a glass screen. Mother is back at work already. She hasn’t seen you and you know better than to disturb her. She lays out a bowl and hooked lance in the center of the workspace, then pulls on thick protective gloves.

On this side of the glass, protected from the experiments, there are books and papers everywhere. This is a place for planning research and discussing it. There are drawing boards, innumerable unnamed machines, and scrolls. This is a world where she once tried and failed to entice you. Against one wall are working models of some of their creations, a pivoting plinth for an antiaircraft weapon and various models of armor, including the one you so labored to get Loki out of.

Mother has a workgroup with student apprentices from across the realms. The two with her now are dwarves from Nidavellir. Through the glass shield you see them supporting a shield of lead before the three of them while mother holds a spear with, at its end, an impaled cabbage. You almost laugh, but your mother’s expression is so serious that you simply wait and watch, wondering at what military significance this could possibly have.

On the opposite wall of the room, a door in the wall slides open and there emerges a bright-red horned creature. As it advances, you see that it is in fact only a common goat, but bright red and pulsing.

The animal goes to take a bite from the proffered cabbage and as it does the red color jumps to the vegetable, leaving the goat’s coat a pure white.

The group go into action. Resting the shield down, one of the students lobs a second cabbage into a far corner and the goat goes running after it. Mother lowers the glowing one into the bowl you saw and her second assistant drops the lid from the end of the hook. There are audible sighs of relief.

She turns her head to you immediately. She must have known you were there all the time. Then she smiles and it’s much more conciliatory than when she caught you napping earlier. Perhaps this won’t be too bad.

She pulls off her gloves and enters the study area. Indicating a chair to you, takes the one opposite.

“Progress is so slow.” She sighs.

You sit down and one of the students brings tea. There is the ceremony of offering, pouring, milk and sugar and stirring while you squirm inside. Then her eyes rise over her cup and meet yours.

“It’s good to see you, but we need to t–“ she stops herself an instant. The other student is still the experiment room, fussing over the goat; hugging him round the neck and calling him a ‘good boy’.

“Hornace. Stop that.” she calls to him. “We don’t know he’s safe yet.”

Then she turns back to you.

“Even at times like these…”

“Mother?”

“When will you take life more seriously and just, stop with this…?” she spreads her hands in an exasperated gesture.

Even in your tired state you understand what she thought she saw: you falling from sleep after a night of partying. But it’s too complicated to deny and the truth must stay hidden at all costs.

“I thought, when you started to help the sick…” she continues. ”Well I thought it was strange – for you – but I was proud. You were going somewhere, doing something more than gallivanting.”

‘Gallivanting’? You’d hardly call calming Loki’s nightmares gallivanting, but you’ll take the criticism rather than risk revealing anything.

“But, now I see you with your friends, in the state you were in, in a speech by the King of all places. Thank goodness it wasn’t seen.” She pinches her brow.

“Soon you will be old enough to bear children and marry. This will have to stop.”

To bear children and marry.

Once you would have retorted that you wanted to make the most of your freedom, but her comments are so at odds with reality that you don’t know how to reply. You stay silent.

“You know this. I don’t have to tell you,” she says. “I don’t like having to tell you, But try…Try to start behaving like an adult. Your lifestyle is so….“ She can’t relate. This you know. You couldn’t make her understand it if you tried. And she’s got it all so wrong anyway.

Your eyes have wandered back to the armor model as she’s talking. She notices and narrows her eyes.

“Very proud of that one. If only everything were so simple.”

“Its very robust.” You say, hoping to divert the subject.

“Fuckproof,” she affirms.

“What?” You feel yourself blush, shocked by her use of the word.

“But then you knew that.” And you’re blushing no longer. Your blood runs cold. How could she know? Were you and Loki seen?

Or could it be only that she’s only guessing, guessing that you’ve tried to have relations with men in armor before. Your heart is thudding. That she knows the truth is impossible. That she simply thinks the worst of you… Ridiculously, that’s the vastly preferable option.

“The whole point being that our warriors bring their passions home with them. Something I think you’ve appreciated a great deal up until now. But the time’s coming when you have to make a choice. Find a husband.”

Once upon a time you might have answered back that ‘appreciating’ was the best way to choose objectively (with no intention of actually doing so), but at the moment that choice would be easy. Impossible, but easy. Meanwhile, she’s virtually accused you of harassing on-duty guardsmen. You can feel your anger rising, but you hold it down.

“Mother, I know. But I am years from being able to bear a child.”

“I thought you were gaining in responsibility, yet you still consider life a party.”

You know what you want to say - What is life if you don’t enjoy it to the max? But you hold your tongue, just hoping she’ll finish.

“You need to slow down and choose one who is worthy to love properly.”

“What if I already had?” you say, defiant and finally too tired and angry to stop yourself.

First, she looks at you in surprise, then with scrutiny. You’re not lying, you don’t need to. She looks shocked, disbelieving, confused, and then…elated.

You’re horrified at the turn this has taken and at yourself. You can’t take it back, can’t hide it. Only try to limit the damage.

“Oh but that’s wonderful, darling,”

“Please, please, its early days. Please don’t ask to meet him yet.”

She’s smiling broadly now and it’s far worse than anything she said.

What can you do? You can’t produce him. You’re sworn to silence and it’s almost a no go subject – all wrapped up in Loki’s secret.

Between the you and Loki it’s just so very real. Why is he holding it back from existing in the real world? It’s not that Loki ‘meeting your parents’ is something you relish, but why oh why can’t he come home properly?

She doesn’t press, just wishes you well and let’s you go. She looks pleased and you feel like you’ve been played. Those few seconds when you thought she knew everything she was just trying to goad you with vulgarity. And she succeeded.

You traipse home, wondering how you will stop her from pressing for more details. You’re amazed, afraid and intensely mad at yourself.

********

He’s already there when you arrive home, sitting in your reading chair. Light from the lamp warms the colors on his face. And, though he does look tired, he is beautiful. The sight of him chases everything else from your mind, like magic, like you’ve stepped into another world. He’s clearly just taken a bath and is wearing one of your peignoirs. An ample and unsexy garment, or so you thought. But seeing him in it, it’s as though you’ve already wrapped a part of yourself around him. His hair is damp and bits of it stick out at crazy angles. He’s either unaware or doesn’t care that you see him like that, which feels cozy… until he turns his gaze fully on you. It’s cold and serious and you are almost afraid for a second, until you realize that what you see here is lust, pure and simple. And it feels like it’s catching.

He’s staring. You might as well be naked, for he has stripped you with his thoughts. He comes no closer though and you watch as his eyes soften and his brow furrows with some unvoiced concern. He looks away again and you miss those eyes terribly. The moment passes and you’re still standing there, aware no one has said a word. Then he turns to you, his seriousness gone.

“I was hoping to help you wash as soon as you got home, but I think that can wait.”

Your breath catches as he rises, slowly and deliberately, his movement shifting the peignoir and drawing your eyes to the ‘v’ of skin that widens below his throat and down his chest, and yes, of course, he’s naked underneath. He holds out a hand to you and when you take it you feel the sureness of his grip. He looks you up and down and you wonder if he will disappear your clothes, but no. He rests a hand on your hip and turns you, then starts unbuttoning your dress from behind, his breath hot on your neck.

He works slowly, kissing your nape all the while and you struggle to stay still. On him, you smell the notes of the spiced oil you put in the bath. He’s using your own weapons against you! Once the dress is loose enough he puts his hands inside and caresses you through your undergarments, then he starts to undo those too without finishing with the dress. All this is delaying things still further, but his mouth on your neck is persistent and when he succeeds in finding a particularly sensitive spot you cannot keep still or quiet any longer.

You’re half in and half out of two layers of clothes, hobbled by your dress and desperate with want when, in a single movement, he casts the spell that strips you naked and sweeps you up and onto the bed.

Still trailing your peignoir from his shoulders like a cape he’s upon you and in you all at once, hot, urgent and desperately welcome. You enfold him in your arms and legs, entwining your heels behind his back as he moves, eyes gleaming and fixed on yours, grinning from ear to ear. He chases off all that remains of the stress and embarrassments of the day. He chases away the very need for words.

You spur one another on. You’re starting to be able to read him now, to know when he’s about to lose control. What’s more he knows for you. You see it in the quirk of his mouth, just before each of his breaths becomes a hissed ’Yes’. You love seeing the moment the venire of humor cracks revealing what’s behind. But it’s already too much - the weight of him, the heat of him and the feel of him inside you, so perfect. You couldn’t make a ‘yes’, or any other word for that matter, if you tried. You’re already shaking with pleasure when you feel the heat of his release.

Your climax draws out as his moves slacken and he watches at you as you plead and sigh and stretch and arch with the sensation. He looks ridiculously pleased with himself.

When finally you have calmed, he leads you to the ready-warmed bathroom where you wash and dry each other fastidiously.

Then, wrapped, almost modestly, in towels, you return to the bedchamber.

The bed is a mess. You laugh when you see it. There is nothing modest or innocent about the state of the bed. And there creeps the shadow of your mother’s words, about your lifestyle, about your future. How you hate her for following you here.

Loki’s magic has everything looking spick and span again in an instant but those rogue thoughts and the questions linger. You wish he could come home for real, or that he could at least tell you why not. You think with incredulity of him meeting your parents. Besides having to explain his return from the dead and obtain a formal pardon from his father, he is still, in the eyes of your parents, the boy who publicly embarrassed you and who got you lost in the forest when you were a little girl.

He’s looking at you, wondering perhaps why you aren’t saying anything. He’s relaxed and you daren’t bring up such realities. You don’t have the strength to ask him, you won’t break this moment. But then, thinking of all your past you remember something. A simple thing that symbolizes how closely you’ve been linked and for how long.

“I have something of yours.”

He hums like he’s known all along and smiles at you, softly in a way that makes you want to melt, a way that almost makes you forget everything.

You had only been thinking about a trinket. The pendant made from a stone that his mother made him give you as a child.

But his expression is so earnest and expectant that it hints at something much more profound and that gives you pause.

Could he be thinking of his heart?

Chapter 18

#Thor #loki #the dark world #loki fanfiction #loki x reader #MCU #imagine loki #your latest trick

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williamexchange · 5 years ago

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Top 10 Predictions For Media & Tech In 2020

These are my annual “Top 10 Predictions” for our brave new tech-driven world of media and entertainment for the New Year.

PREDICTION #1 – “The Great Streaming Wars” and global subscription video on demand (SVOD) land grab are finally fully “on” after years of anticipation. Disney+ exceeds expectations, Apple TV+ underperforms, and Netflix faces new headwinds as it plows forward with its Herculean content budget that ballooned to $15+ Billion in 2019 (and its rising debt load to support it).

Meanwhile, AT&T’s “all in” HBO Max bet, NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Jeffrey Katzenberg’s mobile-first Quibi find it hard to take off in those same headwinds due to consumer confusion and “subscription fatigue.” Advertising video on demand services (AVODs) like Viacom’s PlutoTV - an anticipated antidote to that SVOD fatigue - are also lost amidst the noise. Relentless SVOD pricing and exclusive content battles continue unabated in this new “golden age” of movies and television in which the line between the two increasingly blurs (and where the phenomenon of “Peak TV” is nowhere yet to be found). Apart from consumers, Hollywood creative talent is the great beneficiary of the sheer volume of big budgeted stories being told.

PREDICTION #2 – As cords continue to cut amidst these SVOD wars (or never connect in the first place), advertisers scramble for new ways to reach and effectively engage with audiences on and off TV screens. They act with new urgency to create impactful content and optimize targeting and personalization. Out of necessity (but also real opportunity), marketers increasingly experiment and turn to eSports, immersive and live experiential advertising.

Lost amidst all the “streaming wars” hoopla is the basic fact that subscription services, for the most part, jettison advertising as a key part of their overall value proposition. That’s the challenge. But the opportunity for brands is to engage more deeply and impactfully with specific coveted audiences. Through it all, traditional ad-supported television broadcasters’ long-term prospects continue to dim, but their short-term bottom lines are buoyed by SVOD giants that spend billions of dollars to break out (not to mention political candidates who bet it all during this upcoming pivotal election year). Marketing expenditures skyrocket as a result in 2020.

PREDICTION #3 – Mega media-tech M&A comes to a crawl (for now) in the wake of Viacom’s acquisition of CBS. 2020 marks the first year of rest after the past several years of frenetic dealmaking. Now, virtually all major “traditional” media companies have found their dance partners.

That doesn’t mean that media and entertainment M&A is gone forever. Behemoth tech born media companies will ultimately target Netflix, Spotify and others to serve as strategically critical pieces in their much larger machines. Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Verizon are prime suspects here. And, don’t forget massive international media-tech players like Alibaba and TenCent. We live in a borderless media and entertainment world now.

PREDICTION #4 – Once maligned streaming again drives double-digit growth for the music industry. Spotify continues its leadership dominance and drives much of that growth, but adds greater losses that ultimately become unsustainable and make it ripe for acquisition.

Meanwhile, China-born social video music giant TikTok, which became a U.S. teen darling in 2019, deepens its fan engagement and monetization model and targets Spotify with its own subscription streaming service that launches in 2020. China’s Tencent Music, which also successfully drives and monetizes direct artist-fan engagement, points the way to others and underscores the global nature of media and entertainment (and players in it).

Podcasting’s consumer appeal and strategic importance to Spotify, Apple and others grow, but monetization at mass scale remains elusive.

PREDICTION #5 – 2020 finally gives vision to augmented reality (AR) and its ultimate mass commercial appeal. Just like the iPhone ushered in the age of smart phones at mass scale, Apple’s long-anticipated AR glasses usher in a brave new world of visual computing (and ultimately become Apple’s elusive “next big thing”).

Think the film Minority Report and this gives you an idea of this game-changing paradigm shift and evolution of the screen to wearables. Semi-immersed industry eyes also closely follow AR’s original poster child Magic Leap as it struggles to live up to its hype and closes another massive round of financing, which takes its total haul to over $3 billion. Meanwhile, fully-immersive virtual reality (VR) continues to underperform commercially. But that doesn’t mean that VR’s long-term promise won’t ultimately be realized. The coming onslaught of 5G wireless networks hastens the growth of extended reality (XR) in all its forms. Speaking of 5G …

PREDICTION #6 – 5G networks launch in earnest and 5G compatible smart phones (including Apple’s next iPhone) enter the market. 5G drives high quality video consumption on those phones (a boon for Quibi), begins to transform our media and entertainment experiences (including cloud-based games and eSports), and accelerates the push toward visual computing.

5G networks are critical for data intensive entertainment experiences that demand low latency. 5G also reduces the size of consumer AR and VR “glasses,” since computation and data flow now occur in the cloud and on edge networks rather than in the hardware itself.

PREDICTION #7 – Warnings grow about an eSports bubble, but smart money plays the long e-game as 5G fueled cross-platform and cloud-based mobile gaming accelerate. Early innovators like Google Stadia and Apple Arcade subscription gaming platforms lead the way.

Given the passionate coveted young demographic at play, brands increasingly embrace games and eSports, which together dwarf the global motion picture industry. Scopely, now valued at $1.7 billion, is one to watch. Look out for the YouTube-ization of games as well, as companies like Koji give everyone (including brands) a platform to easily create, share and monetize games (not to mention use games to deepen consumer engagement). No engineering required. [Note: I am an advisor to Koji.]

PREDICTION #8 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerates its game-changing ways in the world of media and entertainment. Look beyond home assistants like Alexa and Siri that have already transformed our lives, and say “hello” to virtual humans and virtual beings.

Real emotional connections with non-human AI-driven characters become a paradigm shift that is closer than we think and increasingly draws venture capital. Look at virtual influencer Miquela with “her” very real 1.8 million social followers as a model here, as well as Fable’s Lucy Project. AI also increasingly drives cost-effective and efficient content development and production. Synthesia is one startup worth watching. Virtual live events also proliferate, inspired by the success of DJ Marshmello’s Fortnite experiment and musician Lindsey Stirling’s Wave XR virtual concert.

PREDICTION #9 – Real, not virtual, live “experiences” also increasingly find their way into multi-platform media strategies, driven by a growing counter-movement to digital’s frequently heads down isolation. Live experiences, and their more lasting “soul” (not to mention selfie-worthy moments) deepen brand engagement and monetization. They also drive ever grander “offline” experiments and M&A.

Think of Madison Square Garden’s audacious Sphere project here, a $1.2 billion project that aims to reinvent the venue experience. The first MSG Sphere is rising up from the desert floor in Las Vegas right now to blow minds. At smaller scale, but equal mind-blowing impact, Woolf & The Wondershow’s Cages music experience in downtown Los Angeles’s Arts District demonstrates how technology can expand and enhance the possibilities without overpowering the underlying story. It is a “must.”

PREDICTION #10 – “Fake news” (including AI-driven “deepfakes”) overrun 2020’s U.S. elections and cause unprecedented societal disruption. The White House hangs its hat on disinformation campaigns actively promoted by major media and social media players, and claims victory no matter what the actual outcome.

The country is divided and threatened like never before in generations. Hacking headlines add to an increasing sense of mass insecurity. But in the face of daunting forces, optimism survives and social activism rises up. 2020’s fear transitions to 2021’s brave new redemptive possibilities.

THE BOTTOM LINE

2020 begins a new decade that pushes media and entertainment boundaries and possibilities significantly further. And, looking back at it all, much of it will seem so very obvious – like it does now as we look back at the long and winding road that led us to where we are today.

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biofunmy · 5 years ago

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Apple’s new MacBook Pro: Bigger screen, better keyboard

Apple has released upgrades and features on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro including bigger battery, larger internal drive and a ‘Magic Keyboard.’ USA TODAY Handout

Consider this if you’re looking at the new 16-inch MacBook Pro: When Apple says “pro,” it means it.

These pricey ($2,399 on up) and muscular machines that went on sale Wednesday are, indeed, aimed at pro-type customers – video editors, game developers, scientists, Hollywood creators and the like.

But consumers seeking more power than they get from Apple’s MacBook Airs buy them, too, even as some Pro features, notably a Retina display, have trickled down to the Airs of recent vintage. Typically, such folks edit pictures and videos as well, and produce pro-sounding podcasts.

The first thing you’ll likely notice is the brilliant-looking 16-inch Retina display (nearly 6 million pixels), which, thanks to narrower bezels, fits into a 4.3-pound overall package that’s roughly the same size as the 15-inch MacBook Pro that this new model replaces.

Apple fixes the keyboard

But the first thing you’ll likely want to try is the newly designed “Magic Keyboard,” modeled off the keyboard on the iMac Pro.

If you’ve been following the saga around MacBook keyboards, you know that the “butterfly” type mechanism on prior MacBook Pros generated so-so reviews at best, and at worse resulted in class-action filings around defective or faulty keyboards. There were complaints, for example, around keys that tended to stick.

Apple acknowledged the problems and even issued an apology earlier this year, while working to remedy butterfly keyboards.

The butterfly flew away on the new Pros. Apple says it focused on “human factors” in coming up with a refined “scissor mechanism” that delivers 1mm of key travel and results in more stable and responsive keys.

Alexa, I’m lonely: Can a robot with AI or your voice assistant help you feel less lonely?

It sure felt that way to me, at least judging by my limited time banging away on the new keyboard. I compared it, quite favorably, to the butterfly keyboard on a 13-inch MacBook Pro I bought only a few weeks ago.

While on the subject, users will also appreciate the return of a physical escape key on the MacBook Pro that had disappeared on models with a virtual Touch Bar above the physical keys.

And yes, the new models have a Touch Bar, too, along with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Power comes with a high price

Harder to gauge without running benchmark tests or putting the new computer through its paces over time is the (up to) 80% performance boost Apple is claiming, but there seems little doubt these laptops can handle heavy lifting.

Apple plugs the computer’s thermal design, 6- and 8-core 9th-generation processors, next-generation graphics with up to 8GB of VRAM and memory that maxes out at 64GB. You can also get it with a whopping 8TB of storage, (The base model comes with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM).

Keep in mind that, fully configured, the price exceeds $6,000. Ouch!

Better battery life and sound

The new laptop has a bigger battery, too, with Apple claiming 11 hours of wireless web browsing between charges, or about an hour longer than its predecessor.

If you are into podcasting, or creating your own music, you’ll appreciate the minimal hiss built-in microphone-array that I briefly got to check out.

Let me also praise the six-speaker high-fidelity sound system with what Apple describes as “force-canceling” woofers. In another brief test, they sounded great.

Or put another way, very professional.

Email: [email protected]; Follow @edbaig on Twitter

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wfmaqh · 5 years ago

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Jeannette

INT-Scene opens with Abby on the floor of her bathroom curled around the toilet. Playing with the palm of her hand.

ABBY (V.O.)

Jeannette... That's all you remember, Her name. You don't remember why it was so special but if tracing out the ink on the palm of your hand was any indication of the gooie tingly feelings you woke up with, then hell yes it was important. And more important that the last two digits of her phone number had smudged off.

Camera pans to Abby’s hand and back to her face. Suddenly, she realizes how drunk she is and shakes a grimace.

ABBY (V.O.)

If only I could get off this floor and-

Abby is cut off by Max entering the bathroom with a bag of McDonald's and gatorade in his hands

MAX

Jesus, girl. You're a hot mess. Here.

Max passes the bag and drink off like a hot potato. Abby immediately tears through the bag. Cramming fries in her mouth.

ABBY

Sometimes I wish I could marry you.

Max stands akimbo sashaying his hip- Leaning on the door

MAX

I wish the feeling was mutual. When was the last time you got me McDonald’s when I was hungover?

ABBY

When was the last time you were hungover like this?

Groggy arguing back

MAX

That's not even the point.

(waving hands)

You seemed pretty out of it when you got home. You kept going on about this “goddess” you met. I wish I had snapped it. Girl, it was funny.

ABBY

Well I got her number but…( shows Max her palm. With a look of desperation )

MAX

Okay, I have a plan but let me finish my coffee and bring a pen and paper.

Abby looks back confused then feels like vomiting. Max turns to leave the room.

MAX (Cont.)

This is your problem so,you can be my assistant but it looks like you need to pull yourself together.

Abby slowly gets ready still a bit drunk trying to get a hold of herself, leaving the bathroom she enters the kitchen. The apartment has a lofty open feeling to it there is an island that Max is sitting at sipping from a paper cup scrolling through social media faster than he can even comprehend. Abby places the paper and pen near him. He slides it closer to him. Abby sits next to him.

ABBY

So what’s your plan, oh great master.

MAX

If you don’t want my help then…

Max flashes a sparkle in his eyes that is devilish and Abby acquiesces. Max starts to scribble numbers.

ABBY

Well, we can’t call 100 different combinations. That could take all day.

MAX

No, that’s insane. Look the first number looks like a 5. It could be a 3,7 or 2. The second number looks like a 6, which could be an 8 or 0. So that leaves us with 12 options. I’d say that’s progress.

Max begins typing the numbers

MAX(Cont.)

Hi, this is Maxine from the Human Rights Campaign do you have a couple of minutes to talk about gay rights?

(pause)

No, okay would you like to be put on the do not call list?

(pause)

Can you verify your name?

(pause)

...Have a blessed day sir. Homophobic piece of shit.

ABBY

I mean what did you expect? No one wants give money away for free. And why are you pretending to be ‘Maxine?’

MAX

Oh my little Abby. So sweet.

Max continues with the calls.Finally down to the last number we both took a deep breath as the phone rang. This time Max puts the phone on speaker.

MAX

Hi, my name is Maxine I work with the Human Rights Campaign. How are you today?

JEANETTE

(quizzically)

I’m good. How are you?

MAX

Good. Thanks for asking. I’m calling to see if you have a moment to talk about gay rights. Is now a good time?

JEANETTE

Not really. But I already contribute and I’m not going to increase it at this time. Thank you.

MAX

So would you like to add to your contribution?

JEANETTE

I just said no.

Both Max and Abby are perturbed by this response.

MAX

I’m terribly sorry. Can you confirm your name for our records?

JEANETTE

Jeanette Issing, 602 W 185th Street, New York.

MAX

Thank you.

(hangs up)

Sounds bitchy to me.

ABBY

(nervous)

I wouldn’t say that. You did just cold call her.

MAX

Whatever...Now you have her number so get to texting girl. Work some lady loving magic. I’m going to read my book and take a nap.

Max leaves. Abby sits staring at the number catatonically trying to figure out if what to do next. She punches the number in her contacts.

Fade to black “The Next Day”

INT-Music store that Abby works at. It’s around 4 PM Abby stares at her phone trying to figure if she should send a text. The store if virtually empty but abby cautiously looks around. Abby starts typing

“Hey. It’s Abby I just wanted to see what you were up to tonight?”

Then deletes the whole text.

“Hey, sorry to bother you”

Then deletes the whole text.

“Hey, This is Abby from Steamy Bunny. I had a good time ;)”

ABBY

You don’t even remember that night.

(Types again)

“This is ABBY from the other night. I wanted to see what you were up to?”

Her finger hovers over the send button, wincing she presses send. And lets out a breath of relief. Dots begin appearing. 5 seconds passes.Jeanette’s message.

“Hey ;)”

ABBY

Holy shit!

Abby looks around the store. Blushing. dots appear again.

“I’m teaching until 5:30 we could meet up for happy hour. Do you know Mel’s on Broadway?”

Abby’s hands are a bit shaky she exits pulls up google maps and types in Mel’s

ABBY

111th Street! That’s gonna take me and hour.

Her manager pops up behind her.

MANAGER

Hey.

Abby jumps slamming the phone down. Manager follows it with his eyes.

MANAGER(Cont.)

It’s fine if you’re on your phone. No one’s in here anyways.

ABBY

Sorry, thanks.

She doesn’t even know why she’s apologizing.

MANAGER

So.. Anyways. I was just going to let you off early.I’ll close up See you tomorrow.

ABBY

I can stay if you need me to?

MANAGER

Avoiding plans you made?

Manager turns and leaves visibility

ABBY (Cont.)

Shit.

Sighs and texts back

“Sounds great. I’ll see you around 5:45?”

Dots appear

“Works for me.”

Abby goes to the back of the store and grabs her backpack and bike and begins montage.

EXT-”Greenlight” by Lorde is playing. Abby bikes from Williamsburg with headphones. She riding across the bridge leisurely while speeding hipsters pass her but she doesn’t care. As she get on Houston she is cut off by a car song stops as she yells at them. Then continues on. Jumps to her biking on the west side highway at the chorus. Jumps to Abby staring at the large mountain cliff sighs has she struggles to bike up it. Finally arriving Mel’s She rushes inside a bit sweaty. She walks into the bar

ABBY

Can I get a water?

BARTENDER

ID?

She sighs and hands him her ID, He rolls his eyes and gets a very fast non icy water

ABBY

Thanks..

Abby looks around the bar pretty busy with college students. In slowish motion Jeanette walks in. She has this gorgeous aura and Abby instantly remembered why she woke up with tingly feelings. Jeanette walks in and doesn’t recognize Abby and heads to the bar. She orders quickly and starts to look around. And spots Abby Then waves to her. Abby eagerly walks over.

JEANETTE

Hey.

Jeannette instantly hugs Abby catching her off guard.

ABBY

Sorry I’m a little wet.

JEANETTE

(laughs in a sultry tone)

Well aren’t you forward.

ABBY

(nervous laugh)

No! No, I biked here. I’m all sweaty and gross.

Abby avoids eye contact. The previous bartender walks up with Jeanette’ drink, vodka tonic

BARTENDER

Here you go Jenny. You know, we missed you the other night.

(winking)

JEANETTE

Ha, you’re just saying that to tease me. Anyways, Abby, first round's on me. What do you want?

Bartender sneers

ABBY

Um, what kind of whiskey do you have?

BARTENDER

(sighs)

Jack, Jameson, Wild Turkey...

ABBY

Mmmm...I’ll just have a beer. Stella?

Bartender leaves. Jeanette is sort of looking Abby up and down.

JEANETTE

You like whiskey?

ABBY

Yeah. Most places don’t have what I want. But there’s this great place in Brooklyn-

JEANETTE

(cuts off Abby, sarcastically.)

There’s always a ‘great place’ in Brooklyn.

ABBY

You know, it’s not all hipsters. It’s actually owned by this nice guy named Steve. Plays great music. The food is awesome too.

JEANNETTE

I guess you’ll have to take me some time.

She takes a sip of her drink. Abby nervously gulps.Bartender returns with beer. Slamming it down a bit. There’s an awkward silence. Both women sizing each other up.

ABBY

So if I’m being honest, I don’t really remember the other night.

JEANETTE

Well, I’m not surprised.

ABBY

Wait, what happened? You make it sound bad.

Jeanette laughs whilst Abby swoons.

JEANETTE

Well…

(puts drink down)

I was going to the bathroom and there you were. You were on the floor , I think waiting for a stall but you were pretty out of it. So I sat down next to you and we chatted. You looked like you were going to throw up but you didn’t. Anyways, you asked if we could hang out sometime and I gave you my number. Now here we are.

ABBY

Wow, sorry about that. That bathroom floor is not clean. You didn’t have to take care of me.

JEANETTE

(laughs again)

That’s what you said then too. Listen, I don’t think you would have gone home if I hadn’t found you. But I wouldn’t call that a proper introduction.

(holds out her hand)

I’m Jeanette, you can call me Jenny. Nice to meet you

ABBY

(shakes her hand)

Abby-Nice to meet you sober.

(chuckles)

JENNY

So, Abby who drinks whiskey and lives in Brooklyn. What do you do for fun?

ABBY

Fun?

JENNY

Yes, that thing people occasionally indulge in.

ABBY

Um...I play guitar. So I like doing that when, I’m alone.

JENNY

You don’t like an audience?

ABBY

(earnestly)

I have a hard time palying when there are people around. It’s distracting.

Jenny is distracted staring across the room at another woman.

ABBY (Cont.)

Jenny?

JENNY

(shakes her head)

Sorry about-.There’s just someone I- I’ve just seen them around recently.

ABBY

Oh which one?

Jenny points to a woman far away.

JENNY

(wanton)

Her name is Jeanie.

ABBY

She kind of looks familiar. How do you know her?

JENNY

I’ve just seen her around before.

Jeanie catches to Abby looking across the room and begins to walk over. Jenny begins to act nervous. Abby is rather unfazed.

JEANIE

Oh my god Abby!

Jenny looks at Abby with confusion.

JEANIE (Cont.)

Shit it is you. Jeanie, we went to Pace together. Max and I acted together.

ABBY

Oh? I think I remember you and Max did ‘Stop Kiss’ or something? You looked a little different. I guess I didn’t recognize you right away.

JEANIE

(look of disappointment)

Yeah, I chopped off my hair. Who’s your friend?

JEANETTE

(interjects with her hand)

Jenny, pleasure to meet you.

JEANIE

The pleasure is mine.

There is an awkward amount of hand touching, then Jeanie turns to Abby.

JEANIE (Cont.)

Abby we should hangout sometime. Max still has my number. Anyways I won’t keep you. See ya.

JENNY and ABBY

Bye!

Jenny turns back to Abby.

JENNY

Sorry, you were saying... you played guitar?

Music plays over them talking “tip of my tongue” Civil Wars. They continue talking as fast paced people move past them. Seemingly hours past.

ABBY (V.O.)

I don’t think I knew it then but this was the start of something truly...messy.

INT-Abby is asleep in her bed. Sunlight is pouring into the room. The decorations are miss mashing of odd strange things that don’t particularly match. In the room bursts Eliza high energy and jumps on the bed effectively pouncing on Abby. Abby tries to hide underneath the covers and escape.

LIZA

Wake up sleepy head.

ABBY

It’s a Tuesday at 8:00 AM. Why are you here? Don’t you have work?

LIZA

For your information I have the evening shift and Max told me you were out late with a lady love and I want to hear all about it.

ABBY

(defensive)

She’s not my ‘lady love’

LIZA

Whatever...Are you gonna tell me about it or not?

ABBY

(pulls off the covers)

Will you buy me coffee from downstairs?

LIZA

(rolls her eyes)

Fiannneee if you insist. Get up you lazy bum!

INT- Coffee shop. Both are seated Abby is cradling her coffee with sunglasses on. Liza is fast away texting a mile a minute.

ABBY

(disdainfully)

New boy toy?

Liza is still paying attention to her phone.

LIZA

Maybe you’ll find out. Maybe you’ll never know.

ABBY

Hmmm. Well you know I have to pre-vet him before you bring him around the boys. We can’t have a repeat of Michael. Jake near ripped his head off.

LIZA

Yeah yeah. Jake won’t do anything stupid. I hope.

(Places phone down)

Why are you wearing fucking sunglasses inside?

ABBY

I had a long night and I don’t give a fuck.

LIZA

Because you were up all night with your new lady love?

(bats eyelashes)

ABBY

(glows with embarrassment)

It’s not even like that, number one. And we were just talking most of the night. She’s nice, her name is Jenny.

LIZA

That’s not how Max describes it. Gimme your phone?

ABBY

What for?

LIZA

Cause. Now hand it over.

Abby passes the phone over reluctantly. Liza types in the passcode

LIZA (Cont.)

I don’t even know why you bother with a passcode, when I know all of them.

scrolls through Abby’s texts.

“Hey winky face?”

LIZA (Cont.)

I wouldn’t call that nothing.

Abby snatches back her phone.

ABBY

Stop looking through my texts. It’s nothing, Okay?

LIZA

(puts her hands up defensively)

Okay! Jeez. Look I’m happy if your happy. If y’all are just friends I’m cool with it. Just don’t bring her around until you’re sure.

ABBY

What’s that supposed to mean?

LIZA

Remember Angie? Max harassed her all night.

ABBY

I remember. I’m still mad at him for that. She was nice.

LIZA

She was weird and you know it.

ABBY

Maybe not a healthy relationship but it worked at the time.

LIZA

Anyways, if you like this person, Jenny, then get to know her first. Okay? I don’t want you writing some love sick song about her and presenting it to her.

ABBY

That only happened once. And you know I’m sensitive about that. Listen, I will be careful. I’m fully aware of the fully beating heart on my sleeve. Mom!

LIZA

I’m just looking at for you Tabs. Now, I’ve got to go make myself look presentable for Juan. I look like a damn bird lady.

ABBY

(shakes her head)

No you don’t. You look fine.

LIZA

Thanks for the complement. Real confidence booster.

ABBY

You know what I mean.

LIZA

I know. I’m just teasing.

ABBY

(stands up and hugs Liza)

Love you Liza. I’ll see you later

LIZA

Love ya Tabs. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

ABBY

Like that means anything.

Liza shrugs

INT-Scene opens on Max playing video games in their living room. Abby enters through the front room discarding her sunglasses and hoodie. She vaults over the back of the couch and sits next to Max leaning back and sighing.

MAX

So how was Liza?

ABBY

(indifferently)

Good. Why didn’t you come?

MAX

Coffee isn’t my thing

ABBY

I literally saw you drink coffee yesterday.

Max pauses the game and passes Abby the remote and they both begin to play “rayman”.

MAX

You know,Liza and I haven’t exactly been on the same page since the whole thing with Jake.

ABBY

(very focused on the game)

You have got to let that go. I know Jake is your brother but that was forever ago and we All need to move on.

MAX

It’s not that simple. Jake says he’s fine but he’s not. I haven’t invited him over in sooooo long. I just don’t want him to cause a scene. But I can’t cut him out of my life. He’s the only family I have. Besides I still think I can keep them separated for at least another 2 months.

ABBY

Oooo go back. secret level

Tapping controllers.

ABBY and MAX

Yes!

ABBY

You know I love all of you guys but this has got to stop. This isn’t healthy for anyone. And I can’t be a buffer anymore.

(pause)

Why don’t we all get together for my birthday? We can invite John.

MAX

Ugh John.

ABBY

You know you love him.

MAX

Not since he started dating what’serface. I see them all over facebook all gross and shit. When is the last time he hung out with us. Just us.

ABBY

Exactly my point. We should all get together. It will be hella fun. Pleease it’s my birthday!

MAX

Fine, fine fine. But there better be lots of booze or I am not entertaining. This is my house too.

Abby’s phone buzzes in her pocket she pulls it out to inspect it. Text from Jenny

“I get out of class in at 12 would you want to grab lunch? I had a great time last night. :)”

Max shuffles in his seat realizing that Abby is still just staring at her phone. Abby doesn’t move for about 3 seconds just looking over the words.

MAX

Ah Mah Gawd just say yes. Jesus! Let’s get on with our live’s

Abby protectively pulls away her phone and feigned a shocked look.

ABBY

Ah! What have I said about over the shoulder text reading?

MAX

(mockingly)

It’s an invasion of person space and boundaries and isn’t fair.

ABBY

Yeah! The fact that you know how I feel about it should say something.

MAX

I’m just a curious cat. Now, are you going to text her so we can beat this level? I want a perfect 100 and no less.

Abby types away fast then throws the phone to the other side of the couch.

ABBY

(slightly demonic voice)

Let’s do this!

INT- Barnard College. Students are filing out of the lecture hall. Jenny is putting her books in her bag. She’s sporting fake reading glasses. Abby slowly tip toes into the lecture hall trepidatiously. Checking the students as she walks past. Abby walks up to Jenny.

ABBY

Hey.

(looking down at a syllabus)

When you said you were a teacher I wasn’t expecting this. “Women’s studies a look through an intersectional lense.”

JENNY

It’s just an Intro class they won’t let me teach anything above a 100 level until I’ve been here for a couple more years. But I like it.

Jenny smiles sweetly, a student walks up and stand patiently with her book to her chest, Jenny notices and looks towards the girl and the girl blushes.

STUDENT

Professor Issing, I was wondering if you might have some time to chat about the mid-term paper. I wanted to run an idea past you.

JENNY

(cocks her hip and stares at her knowingly)

I am more than willing to discuss it at office hours. They should be listed on the syllabus. Or you can talk to My TA Gerardo

STUDENT

(looks down)

Oh okay. I’ll stop by this week. See you then.

She smiles and looks up as she leaving then frowns at Abby.

ABBY

(flustered)

So… should we get a sandwich?

Jenny pulls her bag over her shoulder. And they begin to walk out.

JENNY

Don’t worry about her. I’m the youngest professor at Barnard. So they all think I’m available.

ABBY

(nervous)

But you aren’t seeing anybody though?

JENNY

Of course not! I mean I’m not available to them. I’m so not doing a student/teacher thing. I’m trying to get a promotion. And I’m not going to fuck that up. Anyways, there’s great cart I like to go to. We can sit on the library steps since it’s such a nice day.

ABBY

Sounds great to me.

EXT- at the cart. Abby and Jenny are grabbing their boxes of food

JENNY

Thanks Sammy. I’ll see you around.

SAMMY

Okay habibi. Stay safe, these people crazy out there.

JENNY

Always.

Jenny and Abby stroll along Broadway quietly before entering the campus. Abby looks around amazed. Enjoys her bewilderment. They climb to the top of the steps and sit opening their food.

ABBY

Pace never had a campus like this or really even one at all.

Abby opens her box and pokes food.

JENNY

Well that’s what you get with a $9 billion endowment.

(takes a bite)

But that doesn’t make it any better. Education is what you make it. You put in the effort then you’ll make out pretty well. Some of the people who go here don’t even have a clue.

Abby looks down at her food. Sad.

JENNY(Cont.)

I’m sorry did I upset you?

ABBY

No I just think sometimes I’m not on the right path to what I want to do. I have this expensive degree and I’m working at a music store for just over minimum wage. It’s just silly.

JENNY

Are you happy? Like on a day to day basis.

Abby thinks for a moment.

ABBY

I’m happy with what I’m doing. I just don’t know about everything else. You know?

JENNY

(puzzled)

I think that was the most vague nondescript answer I’ve ever heard.

ABBY

(laughs)

Sorry. You don’t want to hear about my melodrama. It’s not even about me.

JENNY

(sits facing Abby)

See this is the problem today. Women think ‘oh my problems aren't valid because they don’t speak to some higher purpose’. We can’t elevate the world around us without elevating each other first. So, tell me.

ABBY

(takes a deep breath)

I guess I want to play music, which is what I’m doing. I don’t want to be famous or anything I just like playing. Being at the store does give me some time to mess around. I used to be inspired but I was bad at writing things down. By the time I figured that out a system the lyrics kind of left me. But I also feel like I let my parents down because I’m not running some successful business. Which I don’t want to be doing. On top of that I’m trying to hold the balance between my best friends. They’re my family, I love them but they constantly make mountains out of mole hills and in some ways it’s valid but like they just can’t seem to move on.

JENNY

(nods head and hums)

So you’re friends can’t get over small bullshit?

ABBY

Not exactly.Long story short my roommate's brother dated this girl in our friend group. It wasn’t exactly healthy, but we didn’t mind. The problem was Jake, the boyfriend, would get drunk and try to cause fights or get angry and leave, yell at his girlfriend for no reason. Of course Jake's brother is my roommate, Max, so, like I can’t avoid him. And honestly Liza, the girlfriend, did nothing wrong. She just broke up with him and it wasn’t mutual. So Jake is upset, still, this was a year ago. And Max blames Liza for breaking up with him. URGH! It just drives me crazy.

JENNY

Wow, that sounds messy. So you’re stuck in the middle? Trying to be friends with all of them.

ABBY

YES! And the worst part about it, is no matter what I say it’s like ‘yeah you’re right but that doesn’t change anything. And I’m just like ‘Damn can you just step back and look at your actions’. Like everyone is physically stressed out by this situation.

JENNY

I mean people can’t exactly change their feelings that’s what makes things like this messy. It’s illogical but it doesn’t matter because it just is. You can’t fix everyone’s problems, Abby.

(reaches for Abby’s hand)

Sometimes you have to take care of yourself.

ABBY

(nervously swallows hard and stills)

You’re ...Right. I just want...things to go back to normal. If I had a time machine.

JENNY

(smiles)

Again you can’t fix everything. Even if you want to-

(looks at her watch)

Shit I’ve got to get to class. But if you ever need to talk I’m here for you.

Jenny Embraces Abby in a deep hug.

ABBY

Thanks.

They hug for a long moment and Abby nuzzles into the crook of Jenny’s neck. Jenny pulls away and looks at Abby then kisses her cheek.

JENNY

Maybe we can hang out in Brooklyn tomorrow I don’t have class then.

ABBY

That would be nice.

Camera pans out and up into the sky and fades into Abby’s notebook, she is writing words to song lyrics at the counter of the music store. While humming. The manager walks up to her peeking over her shoulder.

MANAGER

Are you going to show me what you got there?

Abby pulls away some not totally recoiling.

ABBY

Maybe. It’s a work in progress. I’ll show you when it’s done.

MANAGER

You know I can always lend an ear.

He laughs a little at his own pun.

ABBY

Cute Ed.

(Pause)

Fine but, I’m not singing I’ll just show you the guitar parts.

They walk over to the stands, Abby pick up a cream colored Telecastor.And plugs it into the amp(fender deville) she plays a soft finger plucked song humming softly. Ed picks up a guitar. He lets her play a bit before for joining in. He plays the harmony that she is singing. Abby smiles and stops humming. They play one round and Abby starts to sing some of the lyrics. After a verse Ed stops from the ding of the door.

Hey, feel free to take a look around.

Ed looks down at Abby and whispers.

ED (Cont.)

She looks cute.

Abby turns around in her stool. revealing Jeanie. Abby places the guitar down and turns off the amp.

ABBY

I got this Ed.

(Pause)

Hey Jeanie. Are you looking for something in particular that I can help you with?

Jeanie pulls out a small Ukulele

JEANIE

I broke a string on this.

Abby steps closer to inspect the ukelele.

ABBY

Got it. You want me to replace it for you? There’s no extra charge.

JEANIE

That’d be great. I don’t really know how anyways.

ABBY

Sure.

Abby walks over to the wall of stings and grabs a pack and places the uke on the countertop. Then starts replacing the string.

ABBY (Cont.)

I didn’t know you played the Ukulele.

JEANIE

Not really. I know a couple of songs. I actually need to for a prop.

ABBY

(playfully)

Oh another play. You starring on Broadway or something?

JEANIE

I wish. I’m doing this black box thing not too far from here. I mean not many people go to Brooklyn to see a play

ABBY

(sarcastically)

There is culture and things here. And not just in Williamsburg.

JEANIE

(does not pick up on the sarcasm)

I love Bedford ave. They have such cute stores. And there’s this little gem.

Abby finish stringing the Ukelele and plays a little diddy.

ABBY

All done. The strings will slip out of tune for a little bit so you may have to tune it a couple of times

Jeanie looks puzzled.

JEANIE

I don’t have a tuner actually. I don’t think I’ve ever actually tuned it.

Abby scratches her head.

ABBY

Um..well.Someone told me you can just remember this.

(sings while plucking each string)

‘My dog has fleas’. I’m those aren’t the notes but it’s the tones. It’s easy enough to remember.

JEANIE

I think I can remember that.

(smiles and places her hand over ABBY’s on the neck of the uke)

You know I don’t remember you being this cute in college.

ABBY

(eyes dart down in embarrassment)

I guess I just grew into myself more. Here

Abby holds out the uke and Jeanie takes it.

JEANIE

Listen you should come to the show it’s suggested donation.

Jeanie holds out card. Abby takes it.

JEANIE (Cont.)

Show starts at 8.

ABBY

I might stop by later if I have time.

JEANIE

Well we’re playing all week so you should stop by st some point.

ABBY

I will.

JEANIE

Great I’ll see you around.

Jeanie exists through the front door. Abby takes a deep breath.

She’s a piece of work, ain’t she.

ABBY

Ed!

What? Oh please fix my Ukulele. Did you even charge her?

ABBY

You know if that was a regular you wouldn’t have charged her.

But she’s not a regular. And she caught you off guard with that little hand thing.

ABBY

I am so not in the mood for this conversation

Whatever. I’m just pointing out the obvious.

ABBY

Which is?

This is why you don’t have a girlfriend. She was flirting with you. She came into this specific store to fix one string. And she wants you to go to that show. So go!

ABBY

Even if she was flirting I’m sure she’s into someone else.

So! Seize the moment. You just have to go for it. Rip the band aid off. Jump in the deep end. Swim with the sharks

ABBY

OK! I get it. Lay off with the analogies. I’ll think about it.

Well don’t miss an opportunity because you’re holding out for something better. If you get a call about a gig you take it then worry about the set list.

ABBY

Yeah yeah. Sage advice from my guru

(points finger)

You know I’m right which is why you’re deflecting.

ABBY

I think you should have been a psychiatrist because you love this shit.

What can I say. I’m a good read of people.

8. EXT- Abby is standing outside smoking a cigarette checking her phone before placing it in her pocket.There are other groups of people standing around talking. Jeanie walks up behind Abby and taps her shoulder.

JEANIE

Hey. I’m glad you could make it.

ABBY

Yeah, well you said to. Couldn’t pass it up.

Jeanie check behind her. ABBY shakes her head mouthing ‘what the fuck’ to herself, Jeanie turns back to face her

JEANIE

You think I could bum one of those.

Abby is taken aback reaching in her pocket and pulls out a pack.

ABBY

Sure.

Pulling out a cigarette and Jeanie places it in her mouth and leans forward for Abby to light it. Jeanie cups her hand around Abby’s looking up at her with hooded eyelids. Then pulls back.

JEANIE

What did you think of the play?

ABBY

Um I thought it was interesting and uh….

JEANIE

You didn’t like it huh?

ABBY

(laughs)

No. It was hard to follow for me. The whole nonlinear thing didn’t make sense at times.

JEANIE

Well that’s the point. To make you question what’s really going on when.

ABBY

I’m not a theater person I guess.

JEANIE

(places her hand on ABBY’s bicep)

That’s okay at least you showed up. That’s more than I can say for some of my friends.

ABBY

I’m glad I could help be supportive.

JEANIE

You’re are always so sweet Abby. I think that’s what I remembered the most about you. Max always said such nice things about you.

ABBY

Well I’m glad he did because he could say worse.

JEANIE

I highly doubt that

ABBY

I probably should be getting home.

Abby starts unlocking her bike next to the pole].

ABBY(Cont.)

Where do you live?

JEANIE

I live on the upper west side where you saw me the other night. I’m just going to the train.

ABBY

Let me walk you to the stop. It’s on my way.

JEANIE

Thanks I appreciate that. Maybe I won’t be verbally harassed today.

ABBY

One can only hope.

They continue to walk down the street.

JEANIE

Speaking of the other night, who was that woman you were with? Jenny?

ABBY

Yeah what about her?

JEANIE

Just curious. You know what her deal is?

ABBY

She’s a friend. She works at Barnard. She’s a professor

JEANIE

Ah. So you two aren’t together?

ABBY

No, no, no

(quietly)

But...

Jeanie cuts her off without hearing the but

JEANIE

Is she single?

ABBY

Um yeah I think so.

JEANIE

Do you think...if it’s not too much to ask, maybe get her number off of you?

ABBY

Um what?

JEANIE

If that’s not too weird. Or anything.

ABBY

(take a second to think about it.)

I mean sure why not. Here

Abbyr pulls out the phone from her pocket pulling up the contact.

JEANIE

Wow! Thanks a lot I really appreciate it. I’ll text it to myself so you can have my number too. Maybe you could teach me some of your music skills.

Jeanie passes the phone back.

ABBY

Yeah sure no problem.

They arrive at the train stop.

ABBY (Cont.)

I’ll see you around sometime.

Jeanie pulls Abby in for a side hug.

JEANIE

Yeah I’ll see you around. Thanks for the walk.

ABBY

No problem.

Jeanie leaves down the stairs while Abby turns around doubling back the way she came.

9.EXT. Roof of the loft apartment. Max and Abby are smoking a joint on the roof listening to music and drinking a few beers. Ratatat’s song Nostrand is playing in the background.

ABBY

I feel played man.

MAX

What did you expect It’s Jeanie fucking Thompson. She’s manipulative. She was like notorious for that shit.

ABBY

I had totally forgotten about all that drama. I just thought like she was being nice. She said I was ‘cuter than she remembered’. Like I’ve always been cute. Look at this face.

MAX

Tabby, I don’t want to burst your bubble but... you used to wear cargo shorts.

ABBY

That didn’t mean I wasn’t cute

MAX

They had holes in the butt.

ABBY

Maybe I didn’t have a fashion sense but that is conceded to say that I wasn't cute.

Max raises his hands, in defense.

MAX

Alright. You were cute. But this is coming from the man not attracted to women.

ABBY

True. I just can’t believe it. If you were there you would have seen it.

MAX

I’ve seen you around girls, Abs. She probably wasn’t actually hitting on you.

ABBY

She totally was! I swear it was just so she could get that number out of me. Fucking cunt.

MAX

So you’re telling me you actually gave her the number. I spent a good time on figuring that out. I’m gonna give her a piece of my-

ABBY

Maaax.

MAX

Ok fine I’ll leaver her alone. But if she comes over here I’m doing something.

ABBY

What are you gonna do?

MAX

I don’t know lick the top of her chapstick. Fart in her bag.

(shruggs)

ABBY

You are straight childish. But I support it.

Both laugh

MAX

Alright. So like what’s the deal with this Jenny? Are you going to take her on a real date because this weird grab a drink/ lunch is not sexy.

ABBY

(sighs)

I haven’t figure that out yet. She’s smart for god sake. Where am I going to take her? I can’t take her to the ale house.

MAX

NO! It needs to be romantic.

ABBY

I could take her to a performance something at the Met.

MAX

You have gone to Manhattan too many times. Let her come to you.

ABBY

Fine I’ll take her to BAM

Abby pulls out phone typing away.

MAX

Ew Ew you should take her to 5th Ave they have some little places right by there. Have a drink in a quiet secluded bar, dark mysterious like our little Tabs.

ABBY

Okay- The Principles of Uncertainty. I’m getting them. Done

MAX

Impulsive much?

ABBY

It was almost sold out and it’s like the premiering night. And it’s next weekend so timing is everything.

MAX

Whatever. I do have to meet her at some point. Approve her potential status.

ABBY

For all the mothering I do for your guys. This is the thanks I get.

MAX

(places hand on Abby’s shoulder)

Love blinds. And you are very weak.

ABBY

Like I said the thanks I get

MAX

It comes from a good place.

10. EXT- Abby is waiting outside the Barclay’s center waiting for Jenny. Jenny is slowly coming up the escalator.

ABBY

I’m glad you found your way. I know it’s a bit of a trek

Abby rubs the back of her head.

JENNY

It was fine although without the helpful tip about the back of the train I might have gotten lost in the station

ABBY

I have literally been lost in there for like 30 minutes, before. So tips from a pro. Shall we go.

JENNY

Where will we be going to first?

ABBY

There’s a little strip of bars on 5th. All of them are pretty good so, which ever one sticks out to you.

JENNY

You don’t have a special place picked out ?

ABBY

Maybe ?

They walk down the street when Abby begins to slow down in front of the place she wants to go. Jenny smiles and takes the hint.

JENNY

Very subtle.

ABBY

I have no idea what you’re talking about

JENNY

So you want to go to this one

(points with finger)

ABBY

You said it not me.

Jenny shakes her head and opens the door. It’s a small dark bar with a few older couples drinking wine quietly. They both walk up to the bar and sit.

BARTENDER

(places napkins on the bar)

What are you ladies having to drink to night?

JENNY

Vodka tonic.

Abby stands on the edge of the chair looking behind the bar. For 3 seconds. Jenny looks confused.

ABBY

Ooo yeah Blanton’s

BARTENDER

How do you want that?

ABBY

Neat.

Bartender leaves.

JENNY

So Blanton’s is your kind of whiskey? Neat, how very sophisticated of you.

ABBY

It’s good. And I don’t want it watered down by ice. It’s pretty expensive.

JENNY

If you work at a music store then how do you afford a $20 drink?

ABBY

I have other business ventures.

JENNY

And what would those be?

Drinks are placed down. Abby passes her card to the bartender. Then passes a business card to Jenny.

JENNY

(laughs)

You teach music? That’s so cute! Are they like little 10 year olds learning chopsticks?

ABBY

That’s piano and more like 40 year old single men. Some younger hipster guys who walk into the shop but, once they realize they aren’t as good as me , a girl, they get pissed and don’t come back.

JENNY

Sounds shitty. Do they come to your apartment?

ABBY

Worse, I go to theirs. I’ve seen things that can’t be shared with regular people.

JENNY

(Jokingly)

I’m just regular.

ABBY

Of course not!

In a realization of what she just said her eyes dart down. Jenny searches Abby’s face. They both take drink separately to avoid further conversation.

JENNY

(calmly)

Do I ever get to hear you play?

ABBY

Maybe. I haven’t done an open mic thing in a while.

JENNY

You should. I bet you’re great.

ABBY

Thanks. Encouragement is appreciated.

JENNY

And tips.

ABBY

That’s actually what it says on my jar

JENNY

Really?

ABBY

No. They don’t let you put jars out at open mics

JENNY

Oh I’ve never been before. I’ve been to some poetry slams but those are very different.

ABBY

Some people do poetry

JENNY

Really?

ABBY

Some people dance. I’ve seen comedy before.

(with disgust)

There’s this one guy with puppets it’s not great.

JENNY

(playfully)

What’s wrong with puppets?

ABBY

The bit is about creepy old men with audience participation.

JENNY

Ah. Well I’d like to hear some of your works.

ABBY

Right now?

JENNY

Is that possible?

(leans in closer)

ABBY

I- um...It’s well

JENNY

That’s a yes. Show me. Please

(claps hands together)

Abby sighs and finishes her drink, reaching for her phone slowly. Mumbles in a low voice.

ABBY

Don’t judge me okay.

JENNY

(earnestly)

I won’t.

Abby passes the phone the Jenny looking down at the hands clasped in between her legs. Jenny has the phone cupped to her ear. We can’t hear the music. Jenny bobs her head dictating a slow rhythm. Jenny’s face turns loose and limp. Sadness takes over. The song ends and she passes the phone quietly to Abby.

ABBY

(concerned by the silence)

Did you like it?

JENNY

I did. But who is it about?

ABBY

It’s about my grandpa. He died when I was in highschool. It wasn’t exactly sudden but, my parents weren’t very forward the fact that he was on his deathbed. I just didn’t get to say what I wanted to say to him.

JENNY

I’m so sorry .

ABBY

(straightens up)

This was years ago, there’s not too much to be sorry for now. But I needed that song, then. It just poured out of me. I wrote it in about 15 minutes. Which is crazy. Everything I’ve written that is actually good it is just in these spurts. And I don’t even see it coming. I just pick up my guitar and there it is. I’m lucky if I can grab a pen in time.

JENNY

Wow. So why aren’t you out there writing songs?

ABBY

If only that were so easy. I have only about 5 of those moments in 13 years. And I remember them, distinctly. But there are so many songs that just get lost or unfinished. Sometimes I can’t find the thing that the song is about. So they just lay there in my 2 minute recordings.... I’m sorry I’m babbling

JENNY

No, No! I want to hear this. I never thought-

(stops herself)

ABBY

Thought what?

JENNY

That -

(pauses to choose a particular word)

You were so deep?

ABBY

(angry)

What did you think?

JENNY

I don’t know. You worked in a music shop and you’re funny and cute. I don’t know what I thought.

ABBY

Listen don’t get me wrong here but there’s more to me then how I act. I don’t open up to people, easily. I’m more often hurt than helped and...I just want to honest about who I am. That’s all I’ve ever been.

JENNY

(confused)

There’s not anything else you want to be honest with.

Abby stares off looks up a clock-sudden shock. Turns towards the bartender.

ABBY

Oh my god is that the real time?

BARTENDER

Why else do I hang a clock on the wall?

ABBY

Shit we got to go.

“Queen Bitch by David Bowie starts playing. Grabs Jenny’s hand and runs out of the bar. Running through the streets on green lights skillfully running around people with Jenny trotting behind.

JENNY

You left your card!

ABBY

Forget it. I’ll come back tomorrow. The show starts in 5 minutes. I got too caught up there.

Stops at a busy intersection. ABBY looking left and right bouncing a bit.

JENNY

It’s okay if we’re late. I’m sure they’ll seat us.

Break in traffic Abby starts to run again.

ABBY

It’s opening night we can’t be late. Also BAM is hella strict on closed door policy.

They run up the stairs outside bam. Pulling out the tickets quickly. Getting them scanned and sitting at the house lights close as they take their seat

11.INT- Abby and Jenny are walking side by side talking about the show. Abby sees a restroom and excuses herself. Camera follows Jenny outside she walks up to a bike rack and leans against it. Camera pans out showing her playing on her phone. A group of men walk past. One of them pats the other and walk towards Jenny.

GUY

What’s a pretty girl like you doing all alone?

JENNY

(looks up from her phone)

I’m just waiting for a friend so…

GUY

If I was him I wouldn’t leave you out here in the cold.

JENNY

Well that’s not gonna happen, okay? I have a boyfriend.

GUY

Then where’s he at?

JENNY

(Snarky)

On his way so scram!

GUY

(turns back to his friends)

I like em feisty. What’s your name beautiful

JENNY

Nonya….Nonya bussiness

GUY

How very 90’s of you. Listen if your boyfriend don’t come out here in 5 minutes. You have to give me your number

JENNY

In your dreams.

Jenny begins to walk away. Abby is coming down the stairs. Man is following her. His friends are about 10’ away.

GUY

Come on! Give me a chance

Abby walks faster to Jenny once she sees the bastard. Jenny walks a bit faster catching up. Abby cuts off the guy and stumbles bumping into him.

ABBY

OH I’m soo sorry. Are you hurt?

Guy tries to get around her.

ABBY (Cont.)

No seriously I didn’t mean to

GUY

Dude get outta my way!

ABBY

But really though? I don’t want you to sue me.

GUY

Jesus lady I’m fine. Now will you move.

ABBY

(Feigns shock)

You are so rude.

FRIENDS

Let it go man she’s gone. Come’on let’s go. You’re being annoying. She’s a bitch anyways

GUY

Yeah yeah, Whatever.

They all turn and walk away. Abby looks to see where Jenny went. She checks her phone. ‘Around the corner’. Abby walks on a quiet secluded street and is standing waiting impatiently.

ABBY

You okay?

JENNY

I hate that I can’t go out one fucking night without some fucking comment. Did you tell him off?

ABBY

No. I don’t want to piss off the angry/ horny bear.

JENNY

(broods)

Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I’m just angry.

(looks at Abby)

Thank you, you didn’t have to do all that falling business.

ABBY

Well better then running away.

Jenny looks down with her arms crossed.

ABBY (Cont.)

I mean that’s why I’m here. I’m sorry the night ended on a bad note. I had a good time, though.

Jenny still looking at the ground quietly.

ABBY(Cont.)

You alright?

JENNY

I just hate that this shit gets to me.I teach feminism at an all women's college, for god sake. Now I’m all pissed and shit. And it’s an hour train ride. Probably longer because the trains are all fucked up. And I am not sitting in a cab with a strange man after that.

ABBY

I totally understand . Listen, I live about 30 minutes from here. If you don’t want to go home. I have a nice couch you can sleep on?

JENNY

Really? What train to do live off of?

ABBY

Well um, the M or L but we would take the bus it’s faster.

JENNY

I don’t think I’ve ever taken the bus before.

ABBY

It’s not glamorous but it is direct and you get cell service. But I guess you’re used to that in your fancy Wifi manhattan stations.

JENNY

I didn’t say I was opposed to the bus just hadn’t taken one before.

ABBY

Then let’s be on our way.

They are waiting at the bus stop as it pulls up. Abby let’s Jenny enter first. Jenny tries to sit in the front. Abby pulls her to the back. And sit down in the back.

ABBY

You always take the back seats first. Bus etiquette.

JENNY

Oh sorry. Why ?

ABBY

It’s hard to move around. Plus a bunch of older people take the bus and they sit in the front for easy access.

JENNY.

I see.

Abby pulls out her phone and headphones and passes a free earbud. Quietly takes it. Better Times by Beach house or dramamine by modest mouse comes on Jenny stares out of the bus window as they pass through narrow streets. Some people are walking about Abby is looking forward not wanting to look at Jenny. Jenny’s hand twitches towards Abby’s leg just as she’s about to touch it. Abby get’s up and presses the button.

ABBY

This is our stop.

Jenny gets up quietly and follows Abby out the doors. Abby holds the doors open for a little old lady and her cart

ABBY (Cont.)

Want a hand?

LADY

Oh yes.Please

Abby grabs the bottom of a cart and carries it down the stairs

LADY (Cont.)

Thank you sir.

ABBY

No problem. Stay safe

LADY

You too.

Abby and Jenny walk past.

JENNY

(jokingly)

Such a chivalrous young man.

ABBY

I’m not gonna shove my white privilege in people’s faces and I was misgendered for 2 seconds, I don’t mind.

Jenny finds the gesture endearing and sweet. Abby is focus on the street ahead. They walking into a building and stop up the stairs. Only hear the jingle of her keys. Jenny leans against the wall while Abby unlocks the front door.

ABBY

Well here it is. In all it’s glory

Jenny looks around curious

JENNY

It’s cute.

Abby goes to the kitchen and fixes two glasses of water and passes one to Jenny. Jenny looks down at drink.

JENNY

I’m sorry that I was being a little crazy back there. Normally that stuff doesn’t bother me.

ABBY

It’s totally okay. You should be upset. That guy was an ass hat. I’m just sorry that you have to sleep on my couch. Which by the way-

Abby walks over to find a Jake (Max’s brother) sleeping on the couch fully dressed. Abby turns back to Jenny.

ABBY

Looks like we have a problem.

Jenny peaks over the edge of the couch.

JENNY

Oh.[pause] Well I can just sleep in your bed.

Abby blinks a few times.

ABBY

I-could sleep on the floor

JENNY

I meant we could both sleep in the bed. You don’t need to sleep on the floor.

Jake begins to stir. Abby leads Jenny to her bedroom. Abby starts sifting through her drawers trying to find spare pajamas for Jenny. Meanwhile Jenny is undressing to her underwear and T-shirt. Abby turns around as Jenny is bent over. Abby blushes and turns around and puts the clothes on top of the dresser. Jenny has already climbed into bed.

JENNY

Sorry I’m just so tired

(yawns)

Abby slow follow’s Jenny’s lead and strips to her underwear and shirt. Quickly dart under the covers. They’re backs are facing. Abby is still rustling a bit to get comfortable.

JENNY

Abby?

ABBY

Yeah?

JENNY

Can we cuddle?

Abby stills, breathless. Jenny stirs but doesn’t roll over. Abby reluctantly turns over and scoots closer. They are close but not touching. Jenny reaches for Abby’s and pulls it around her.

JENNY

Is this okay?

ABBY

(barely audible)

Yeah.

JENNY

Good.

“Run All Night” by Rachael Cantu plays. Jenny pulls Abby tighter. Abby lays awake. Somewhere between terrified and excited. But petrified.

INT-Abby’s Bedroom. The sun is barely up but Abby didn’t sleep at all that night. She quietly gets up not to wake Jenny and goes into the kitchen and starts to make coffee. She rubs her head in frustration. She slams the coffee cup down hard. It wakes Jake.

JAKE

(Incoherent mumbles)

Abby?

Abby takes another cup of coffee and walks it over the the couch. Passes it to Jake who sits up. They both sit on the couch.

ABBY

So what happened?

JAKE

Why do you assume something happened?

ABBY

Your knuckles have cuts on them.

Jake tries to hide his hands.

ABBY (CONT.)

I don’t care what happened. Just let me know if I shouldn’t open the door.

JAKE

I wouldn’t. But for the record it was self-defense.

ABBY

Didn’t say it wasn’t. Listen I have a someone over so if you could-

Jenny is holding her coat over her arm and is quietly leaving the room. Her path is aimed towards the door.

JENNY

Thanks for letting me stay over. I have to get going I have a class in a few hours. I’ll text you?

ABBY

Yeah no problem.

Abby stands up

ABBY (CONT.)

I can walk you down?

JENNY

No it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you. Bye.

Jenny leaves and the door slams a bit. Jake lifts his brows in surprise.

JAKE

That was rude.

ABBY

She had to leave.

JAKE

She didn’t even hi to me. Bitch

ABBY

Can you not?

JAKE

Sorry. Just saying man.

ABBY

Yeah, well it’s not cool. Anyways. You coming to my party next weekend?

JAKE

I wouldn't miss it for the world Tabs!

Scruffs Abby’s Hair. Abby pulls away and adjusts it.

ABBY

Just be chill okay?

JAKE

I’m always chill

Abby looks down at Jake’s hands.

JAKE (CONT.)

Okay. I’ll be chill. Just don’t be lame and puss out. We gettin you fucked up!!!!

ABBY

I won’t puss out. You just worry about yourself.

Both sip coffee at the same time.

INT-The Apartment. Party night with the gang. Abby is prepping the house with drugs, booze and tunes. Max idly helping out but also playing different music than Abby wants. Door knocks Abby goes to get it group of Jake, Eliza, John and John’s girlfriend. Liza enter first and pinches Abby’s cheeks

LIZA

Oh Tabby!

Jake does a sort of dab hand shake

JAKE

Hey man what’s going on.

John does the same hand shake

JOHN

Hey Abb’s this is my girlfriend. I hope it’s cool I brought her.

ABBY

Of course. Nice to meet you nameless girlfriend.

(Abby smiles)

DENISE

Oh, uh my name is Denise. Nice to meet you.

Chaos ensues. All the pre-party planning destroyed in one fell swoop.Jake is poking through the drawers looking for something. No one knows. Max and Liza are cackling and making weird cooing noises at Abby’s efforts to maintain calm while John and Denise are make themselves a drink being disgustingly cute. Abby hangs her head.

ABBY

Jake, stop looking for drugs. They’re all laid out on the table for you.

Jake puts on Abby’s sunglasses

JAKE

I’m not looking for drugs. But these sunglasses are awesome. Can I have them?

ABBY

No!

Jake ignores Abby and sits on the couch next to his brother, sunglasses on. Abby walks behind Liza fiddling with the music.

ABBY

You know I did make a playlist. Guys.

LIZA

Oh Mama Abby.

(pats Abby’s hand)

You know I got to play my boy Bob before John plays his weird ass dubstep

John walks over to the couch, Denise follows

JOHN

You guys don’t like my music?

ABBY

No one said that. Liza just wants to be the DJ for once. alright?

LIZA

Yeah! Fuck you male privilege!

(fist to the air)

JOHN

Let’s play Medusa!

ABBY

Do we have to jump right in? Can’t we enjoy each other’s company for 5 minutes.

LIZA & MAX

(Talking over each other)

Come on Tabby Abby get in the game! It’s gonna be a long night. You don’t even have to work tomorrow. Or drive or get home. Pleeaaasee.

ABBY

Fine.

MAX.

(Mimics Abby)

Fine

(then smiles)

JOHN

(to Denise)

Okay so, the game works by everyone putting their heads on the table. When I say go we all look up. Whoever is looking at someone and they are looking back at you they have to drink. Kay?

DENISE

Um, I’ll sit this round out and watch until I figure it out.

John gives her a reassuring side hug

MAX

I mean it’s pretty simple game.

JAKE

Yeah, even Abby is doing it.

ABBY

Wow. Didn’t know I was setting the standard.

LIZA

Abby Tabby (shake head)

JOHN

ANYWAYS! Get your drinks so we can get started.

Jake and Max run to the refrigerator as if they were racing. Abby and Liza follow behind and return with their drinks.

JOHN

Head’s down

Everyone but Denise puts their heads down.

JOHN (CONT.)

1,2,3 GO!

Max and Abby make eye contact

ABBY & MAX

Damnit!

ABBY

We must be in sync. Fuck.(both drink)

MAX

I don’t have a vagina so. Don’t know how that’s possible.

Montage of lots of drinking few rounds, everyone has had a turn except Denise. Door knocks( music stops). Abby gets up.

MAX

Who’s that?

ABBY

I invited Jenny.

Liza puts her finger in his open mouth and gags, Max laughs both Denise and John are clueless. Abby opens the door to reveal Jenny in a fancy trench coat holding a bottle of wine.Very much dressed for a dinner party.

ABBY(CONT.)

Hey, come in.

Abby opens the door further and lets in Jenny. Once the door is closed Jenny pulls Abby in for a firm, long sensual hug.

JENNY

Hey

Everyone else is watching this for the entire length of the hug.Shocked and taken aback at how Abby and Jenny do not seem to realize they are still in the room. Jenny pulls back and turns to the room noticing the drinking is already taking place.

JENNY (CONT.)

(Awkward)

I brought wine but I don’t think anyone wants it. So I’ll just put it in the kitchen.

Liza springs up from couch and runs towards the kitchen.

LIZA

Oh I’ll have some. White wine spritzer!

Abby stares coldly as Liza takes the bottle from Jenny.

JENNY

Sure, go for it.

She passes the bottle at an arm's length distance.Liza opens the bottle and pours nearly to the brim of the glass before returning to the group.

ABBY

I do have vodka if you want that?

JENNY

Sure. You know what I like by now.

ABBY

I suppose. Go and sit down make yourself comfortable. I’ll fix it for you.

Jenny approaches slowly, careful to not feel too comfortable. She sits awkwardly in a single chair.

JENNY

So what game are you guys playing?

Liza is sprawled lazily drinking her wine regally.

LIZA

I’m done playing. I have a headache. But I’m interested in hearing about you Jenny. Abby hasn’t told us too much about you.

JENNY

There’s not much to tell really. I’m a professor at Barnard. I teach women's studies but mostly intro classes. I only started working there last year.

LIZA

And what were you doing before that?

JENNY

I was getting my master’s at Barnard.

MAX

So you like all women’s schools?

Abby returns from the kitchen and hands Jenny her drink.

ABBY

No interrogations before midnight.

Abby winks at Jenny. Jenny ignores it, still focused on Liza.

LIZA

Well we just wanted to get to know Jenny your...friend here.

ABBY

Well like she said she teaches women’s studies and you all know how we met. So what more is there to know?

LIZA

But how does she feel about Bob Dylan?

Everyone in the friend group eye rolls and sighs. Denise and Jenny are lost. Jenny searches Abby for any indication of the right answer.Abby won’t answer.

JENNY

I guess he’s alright?

Liza passes her glass to Max and leans forward.

LIZA

He is possibly the great musician that has ever existed. He is more than alright.

Stands up abruptly and walks to the speakers.

LIZA (Cont.)

If you are not converted after this song. Then I don’t know what.

Abby knits her eyebrows and rubs her head.

ABBY

Really? Do you have to do this?

LIZA

Tabby, don’t be such a downer. You know you like him too.

Liza puts on “going going gone” by Bob Dylan. While the friend group rolls their eyes again as they have hear this song for the umteenth time. Denise being on the outside looks at Jenny and they share an awkward exchange as if to say “is she for real right now?”

Abby sits at the table and rolls a joint, some how in a way to bridge a divide. Once finished rolling she lights it and passes it to Jenny

ABBY

(while holding in the smoke)

Guests first.

Jenny Semi-reluctantly takes the joint and takes a baby puff and passes to Max.

MAX

(Earnest)

We do puff-puff pass. If you want.

Max passes it on to Liza who is still very much into the song. Once finished, she passes it to Jake. They share a devilish look. Jake stands up before passing it to John.

JAKE

I’ll be right back.

Abby and Max exchange a knowing look and follow their eyes to Jake going to the bathroom. John and Denise are whispering over how Denise hasn’t really smoked before and John is assisting with the joint. Max leans over to Liza to have a side conversation. Abby turns to Jenny

ABBY

(in a whisper) I’m sorry about Liza she can be...forward.

JENNY

It’s okay.

Jenny wants to say more but John leans in a passes the joint to Abby.

JOHN

I’m John by the way. This is my girlfriend Denise.

DENISE

Nice to meet you. Abby, thanks for having us over. I’m glad to finally meet you. John talks about you alot

ABBY

No problem. I just want to be around people I love on my birthday. I hope John hasn’t told you any horror stories.

JOHN

Tabby I would never.

JENNY

Why do you guys keep call her Tabby?

Max and Liza overhear this and jump over to where Abby is sitting and pinch her cheeks and rub her hair.

MAX and LIZA

Because she’s cute Tabby cat

MAX

She’s soft and cuddly

LIZA

Gets all angry and flustered when you don’t do things her way.

JOHN

She’s just Tabby. Don’t know how to explain it any other way.

ABBY

(disheartened)

I’ve learned to accept it.

LIZA

You know you love it.

Abby grunts. Meanwhile (in the background) Denise has left to use the bathroom. The bathroom door swings open. Jake appears to be doing something secretive and closes it. Denise asks to use the bathroom.

DENISE (from across the room)

Can I just get in there for a minute?

JAKE (from across the room)

Give me a second.

DENISE

I got to go (Opens the door knocking into Jake.)

JAKE

What the fuck, Bitch! I said wait.

DENISE

You did not just call me a bitch!

All the friends have been alerted by this time. Abby and Max share a frantic look. John turns into ultra protective mode and stands up. Jake emerges.

JAKE

John, you need to keep your bitch in line!

Denise pushes Jake’s back

DENISE

You are not gonna let him talk to me like this? You call this guy your friend?

JAKE

John Seriously, no manners.

John is now chest to chest with Jake

JOHN

Dude, you need to calm down.

JAKE

Me? she’s the one acting all crazy and shit!

JOHN

I’m serious man. You need to chill

Jake pushes John. John lunges into Jake and grapple each other. Max and Abby spring from their seats. Abby pulls Denise away, who is in shock. Max prys the two of them apart grabbing Jake by the shoulders and leading him to the front door. John still angry tries step forward Abby steps in front of him.

ABBY

He didn’t mean it. You know that.

John looks at Abby and steps back and walks to Denise and asks if she’s alright.

MAX

You need to leave now.

Max is livid but calm. He’s done this many times. Jake steps back and sniffles his nose and pinches it.

JAKE

Com’on I’m family. You’re not gonna kick me out, are you? Look I’m cool man, I’m cool. I swear.

MAX

You need to leave, go home calm down. Ride it out.

ABBY

Jake, just go and cool down.

Jake looks around the room expecting someone to defend him. Just silence.

JAKE

Fuck you! I’m outta here.

Jake leaves and slams the door. Abby nods to Max who follows Jake out into the hall. Abby turns back to John and Denise.

ABBY

I am so sorry Denise. Jake can lose his temper,sometimes. I suggest you guys wait a bit, if you want to leave. If you need some space,you can use my bedroom.

Denise looks at John.

DENISE

Thanks.

John and Denise walk off into Abby’s bedroom. Abby looks at the front door, murmurs of yelling are going on in the hallway. Abby goes to sit down next to Liza and downs her drink

LIZA

God, I hate it when he does this.

Abby is too afraid to acknowledge Jenny’s presence she is embarrassed and remorseful, that all of this is happening.

ABBY

Yeah. I think he’s had a rough couple of days.

Jenny looks at both of them curious

JENNY

You’re not seriously defending him? He just did blow in the bathroom and yelled at that girl for no reason!

ABBY

I’m not defending his actions. But he’s still my friend.

JENNY

Friends don’t have angry bursts of rage at someone else’s house on their birthday.

Abby wants to rebuttal but Liza cuts in

LIZA

Listen. It’s complicated I wouldn’t try to understand it. Don’t think you can just come in here and get.It.

ABBY

Liza, please. Jenny, I don’t expect anything sort of understanding but Jake is our friend no matter what. I don’t like what he did anymore than you do. Neither does Liza. But we have to support him.

JENNY

Why? He doesn’t seem to support you?

Door opens and enters Max.

ABBY

Hey, did he leave?

MAX

Yeah. Do you have a cig I can bum?

ABBY

Yeah I’ll come down with you.

(turns to Jenny.)

Do you want to come?

JENNY

I think I should leave.

Liza and Max exchange a look, as though they realized they messed this up. Abby is disappointed but knows she can’t fix it.

ABBY

Yeah sure. Whatever you want.

Max, Abby, and Jenny grab their coats down stairs. Outside it’s cold Abby lights a cigarette and passes the pack to Max They are standing next to each other and Jenny is across from them. Jenny doesn’t know how to talk to Abby while Max is present.

JENNY

I wish I could stay but I think you guys should enjoy your night without me.

MAX

I’m sorry about my brother. But, honestly it doesn’t have to ruin the rest of the night.

Max elbows Abby’s side.

ABBY

We can just listen to music.

JENNY

Another time. I’ll text you?

ABBY

Yeah sure. Get home safe.

Abby and Max take a long drag and exhale, standing in silence. Shortly John exits with Denise behind.

DENISE

I’m sorry things got messed up on your birthday.

Denise nudges John.

JOHN

I’m sorry I got physical in there. I’m a little tipsy.

ABBY

It is by no means your fault. Jake lost it and you responded like anyone else would have.I’m just sorry it happened.

JOHN

Anyways, we’re gonna get home. I’ll see you guys around.

MAX & ABBY

See ya.

Shot from across the street. “Let it go” by James Bay starts to play. Max finishes his cigarette and leaves Abby outside. Abby leans against the wall alone, cars and people pass. She’s reflecting on everything. Why Jenny left, why Jake has to ruin everything, why is she still alone. It feels futile. She checks her phone and starts to type then stops. She looks at her phone then stops and puts her it in her pocket and goes back inside and enters the apartment. Max and Liza are sitting on the couch. Abby sits and places her head in her hands. Max and Liza wrap their arms around her.

ABBY

I like her. And I fucked it all up.

Max and Liza look at each other over Abby’s back and rub gently.

EXT-roof of Abby’s apartment Abby and Max are sitting in lawn chairs wrapped in blankets. Max is fast asleep. Abby is watching the sunrise. She’s moves to stand near the edge of the building with the blanket wrapped around her. She pulls out her phone and calls Jenny. Jenny’s hand slams the phone, she pulls it under the covers.

JENNY

Hello?

ABBY

Hey. Sorry to wake you.

JENNY

Are you okay?

ABBY

I’m fine. I’m just...watching the sunrise.

(pause)

It’s beautiful.

Jenny shuffles to get out of bed. We can see a lump but it’s unclear if it’s a person or just covers.Jenny walks over to her window and manages to get to the fire escape and see the sun rise.

JENNY

It is. You didn’t call me at 6:00 AM to tell me the sunrise was beautiful did you?

ABBY

I did.

Both laugh

ABBY (Cont.)

I guess I was sitting here thinking about being another year older. Realizing that things can change in an instant. Given what happened last night. And I just feel sorry-

Jenny cuts her off.

JENNY

You don’t need to be sorry about anything. Last night wasn’t your fault in any way.

ABBY

I should have just talked to Jake-

JENNY

I bet you apologized to everyone at that party?

(pause)

You shouldn’t go around apologizing for a man’s action. That is so classic just make everything about fixing the situation without it even being caused by you.

ABBY

Jenny, don’t get all theory on me. I just wish things had gone differently but there’s something-

JENNY

This isn’t theory. Sexism isn't a theory it’s a reality we live in everyday. And you aren’t helping Jake be a better person.

ABBY

That’s not what I meant. I don’t even want to talk about this I just wanted to tell you-

JENNY

That’s the problem you don’t want to talk about it. Jake has clearly had this problem before but you and your so called “friends”. Who‘ by the way’ seem to take advantage of you and demean you with that little nickname.

ABBY

Hey! You’re totally out of line. You met them for ,not even, an hour and you’re already judging them. You know what, I’ll talk to you later.

Jenny tries to speak but Abby hangs up. She throws off the blanket and carries it back to where Max is sitting and sits next to him.

MAX

Why are you yelling so early?

ABBY

Just cause. How you holding up?

MAX

I’m fine.

ABBY

I know when you're lying

MAX

Well I don’t want to talk about it.

Abby looks off in the distance.

ABBY

I think I’m gonna take a break for a bit. Take a minute. Just not worry about anyone else... besides you

MAX

Aw thanks Tabs. You know I love you... I just hope Jake didn’t ruin whatever you have going on with Jenny.

ABBY

I think it’s beyond repairable.

MAX

Well I’ll give him a piece of my mind

ABBY

I just hope Jake can get off coke soon. He’s already in trouble. After last night I don’t know what’s gonna happen to him.

MAX

He’s grown. He can make his own choices. Unfortunately, the ripple effect is wide. I am going to talk to him later today. He was being a dick and you didn’t deserve that.

ABBY

Or Denise.

MAX

Yeah, yeah.

Abby stands up and stretches.

MAX

And where do you think you’re going?

ABBY

I am going to bike a bit . Clear my head, get some exercise, be productive.

MAX

Gag! Exercise.

ABBY

I wasn’t asking you to come with me. I already know the answer.

EXT-Abby is biking across the Williamsburg bridge with headphones on.”Land of a Thousand words” by the scissor sisters. Very slow and dragging. It early morning the city is waking. Abby isn’t really sad but enjoys the moment. She Bikes up the east river and parks her bike against the railing near southstreet seaport and watches ships. She returns back to the apartment and picks up her guitar and starts writing a song furiously. The song is written over several days back and forth between the apartment the shop and over again. Tolling over the details.

INT- Abby is in the apartment watching TV with Max. Jake enters

JAKE

Hey. What are we watching?

MAX

Downton Abbey

ABBY

Because it’s relatable

JAKE

How’s that?

Max and Abby both giggle

ABBY

Because it’s my name

JAKE

Wow...Been partaking in a little wake and bake?

MAX

Loosen up a bit. It’s good. I just love Mary and Matthew they are too perfect. I love them.

Abby tears up

ABBY

So beautiful.

Jake looks down at Max and Abby who are enthralled in this british melodrama.

JAKE

So…. Anyways, I have a surprise for you Tabby.

Abby turns around, confused and holds out her hands.

JAKE (Cont.)

Not like that. I signed you up for the open mic night at the Underground.

ABBY

Wait… What?

JAKE

I got you in. I heard you playing your guitar again. And I thought you should show everybody your new song.

Abby fully turns around on the couch.

ABBY

How do you know about that?

JAKE

Because I have ears. You’ve been playing it like every day.

Abby turns back around in a flop.

ABBY

Well you shouldn’t have.

JAKE

Come on Abby! You got to get out there. You are so good people need to hear you.

MAX

You’ll be be fine. Just picture everyone in their underwear.

ABBY

You know that stresses me out.

JAKE

Well you can’t puss out. It wasn’t cheap.

MAX & ABBY

You paid?

JAKE

Not like that. Listen don’t worry about the details.

(pause)

Listen, let me borrow your phone for a second. I think I misplaced mine.

ABBY

Here.

(hands phone)

I’m mad at you, by the way.

Jake takes the phone and waves Max over.

JAKE

Max help me out I think it’s on vibrate.

Jake gives Max his phone. They pantomime there conversation

Max: What are you doing?

Jake: go with it.

Jake pulls up Abby’s contact for Jenny and sends her a text. “Underground tonight at 8PM. No questions.”

Jake and Max give each other a thumbs up.

MAX

Oh here it is in my pocket.

Jake mouths ’what?’

MAX (Cont.)

Anyways, let’s pick out your outfit tonight.

ABBY

I don’t want to.

MAX

I want to dress you up. Can I put makeup on you ?

ABBY

NO!

MAX

I’m just going to go through your closet.

ABBY

No! I don’t know what you’ll find

MAX

A big pink DILDO. Oh my!

Max runs to her bedroom and slams the door shut. Abby follows but it’s locked.

ABBY

Open up Max!

MAX

Oh it is big.

ABBY

I know you’re lying

Max opens the door with one of Abby’s sports bras over his shirt.

MAX

Such a party pooper.

ABBY

That doesn’t even fit you.

Abby and Max are bickering. Jake still has Abby’s phone. Text appears from Jenny “I’ll be there ;)”

INT- Open Mic night. Abby is nervous holding her guitar as Jake and max stand tall behind her. She nervously walks up to the stage and places the guitar down then returns to stand next to the boys. Jake passes her a drink.

JAKE

To ease your nerves.

Max starts messing with Abby’s hair. Abby swats at his hand.

ABBY

Thanks dads! Jeez there’s a lot of people here. I don’t know if I can go up there.

MAX

Trust and believe. You are gonna do just fine.

JAKE

Yeah. You’re not playing until the middle so it doesn’t even have to be great.

Max slaps Jake’s arm

JAKE (cont.)

I mean, no pressure.

A few people get up to play. They're all fairly good. Abby is less tense but still nervous. Jeanette walks in and slips in the back she can’t see Abby over the boys. Finally it’s Abby’s turn. She get’s on stage and keeps her head down and focuses on setting up her guitar. She pulls out a small metronome and places it on a still next to her.

ABBY

This is a new song I wrote. It doesn’t have a name.

Abby starts the metronome and starts to sing “stranger things have happened” by the foo fighters or new song

“It's like the river and the rocks always fighting back

It's like the sky and clouds always moving past

It's like daydream that’s always out of grasp.

Will the moon and sun ever meet?

Or spin round looking down at their feet

It’s Lonely feeling being so meek. Staring straight into the sun

You make me angry and worthless.

I make you feel nothing or less

And I'm laid bare for you

And means nothing at all”

Abby never looks up from her guitar but Max and Jake look on proud. Jenny stares impassive, not really understanding the song is about her until the end. Abby finishes the song and looks up and sees Jenny. It’s upsetting, frustrating and whemling. Abby walks off stage and returns to Jake and Max. Who suddenly realize Abby is pissed.

ABBY

I can’t believe you invited her.

JAKE

I wanted to help.

Jenny is walking over.

ABBY

Well don’t.

Abby begins to storm towards the front door. Trying to get past Jenny. Jenny grabs Abby’s arm.

JENNY

Hey? Where are you going?

Abby pulls away.

ABBY

Leaving.

JENNY

Well you invited me. I was hoping we could talk.

ABBY

Well that wasn’t me. And I don’t really feel like talking.

Abby pushes past and walks out onto the sidewalk. Jenny looks at Max and Jake then follows Abby.

JENNY

Abby wait!

Abby turns around. Jenny pauses.

ABBY

Well?

Jenny doesn’t know what she was going to say.

JENNY

I just wanted to catch up.

ABBY

Catch up? Really?

Jenny steps closer and and grabs Abby’s hand.

JENNY

I miss you.

Abby looks down.

ABBY

I know but...

JENNY

What?

Abby looks up.

ABBY

Nevermind.

Awkward silence.

JENNY

Just come with me to Steemy Bunny on Friday. Please?

Abby just nods and Jenny hugs her a little non-consensually. Abby isn’t exactly a fan.

EXT- Max and Abby are waiting to enter “Steamy Bunny”. Abby is anxious and Max doesn't want to be there.

MAX

I hate lines. Especially with a bunch of horny lesbians. I can smell the pheromones from 4 blocks away.

ABBY

Well you only have to bear it for a little bit. You can leave after Jenny gets here.

MAX

Why didn’t you just come with her?

ABBY

She lives super far away. I don’t want to be waiting by myself like a fool.

MAX

Well you better be buying my drinks.

The line starts to move forward.

ABBY

2 drink limit.

Max crosses his fingers emphatically.

INT- “Loophole” by Etta Bond - Slow motion dancing. Abby and Max are dancing with each other and actually having a good time. Others are dancing around them ignoring their bad dancing. Time passes.The slow motions stops as a slow jam song comes on. “Don’t go” by Reece. Max looks at his phone.

MAX

It has been an hour. Where your girl at?

Abby pulls out her phone. No notifications.

ABBY

Don’t know. But maybe she’s here already. Go grab us some drinks.I’m gonna look around.

Max disperses into the crowd. Abby stares at the women dancing slow with each other with melancholy. She weaves through the crowd to get a better look from upstairs something catches her eye so she turns. Her face turns white. Shot moves to Jenny dancing with Jeanie very closely. Abby is frozen in place. Jenny moves into kiss Jeanie, it’s slow and sensual. Abby watches in horror. Once, their kiss breaks Abby shakes her head and storms upstairs. Max at the bar sees a flash of Abby rushing out the front door. He’s confused but stays. Abby is outside smoking a cigarette.Just as she puts it out, Jenny comes outside stumbling.

JENNY

(to herself)

Shit, I’m drunk.

Abby! What, um ,how long have you been here?

ABBY

Long enough.

Jenny ignores the comment.

JENNY

Oh my god. I just kissed Jeanie. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t even like her.

ABBY

(beyond frustrated)

I saw.

JENNY

I need to get out of here.

Looks like she’s going to hurl.

ABBY

Do you need me to get you a cab? You don’t look good.

Jenny is a bit shaky. Abby looks around and sighs. She walks to the corner and waves a cab down. She pulls Jenny over and tosses her in a cab. Abby goes to leave but Jenny pulls her in.

JENNY

Take me home.

There’s a moment of indecision. But it’s too late the door is closed and Jenny has given the driver the address. Abby acquiesces as Jenny leans on Abby’s shoulder. The driver steady’s on. Abby shoots a text to Max that she’s left. The ride is quite. Abby stare catatonics out the window until Jenny’s hand wraps around her. Abby looks down and places her hand over it.

EXT-On the corner outside Jenny’s apartment. Jenny stumbles out of the cab. Abby follows suit. Jenny fumbles with her keys, as she’s opening the door and turns to Abby and places a kiss on her cheek.

JENNY

Thanks for taking me home. You always take such good care of me.

Abby blushes averting her eyes.

ABBY

It’s no problem. It’s kind of late do you think..

Abby looks up to see Jenny closing the door behind her.

ABBY

Jenny?

(realizing that she’s left her)

Jenny!

Abby turns to see if the cab is still there it’s not. The street is dark and quiet. Abby looks at her phone it’s 12 something. Throwing her head back she starts to walk. “Pendulum’ by FKA twigs plays as Abby takes the train. Taking the C train downtown. Waiting for her transfer on the platform next to sleeping people on benches and couples holding hands. Finally she is walking down her block and opening her front door slowly trudging up the steps. She opens the door to her dark apartment. She plugs in her phone it’s now 2 something.There’s a text from Jenny. Abby ignores it and flops on the bed.

INT-Eliza’s dirty messy apartment clothes all over the floor. Fluffy cat perched on the kitchen table. Abby is sitting on the couch while Liza flings her clothes about.

ELIZA

(from a closet)

Well, if you want my opinion…

ABBY

Not really

ELIZA

She’s a bitch! Like what the fuck?! If that were me I would just venmo request her for that cab ride there and back. Why didn’t you take a cab again?

ABBY

I have no money and I wasn’t exactly in the mood to be in a car with a stranger for an hour back home. She practically lives in washington heights.

Eliza comes out of the closet in a thrift store dress with a few holes in it.

ELIZA

You can’t see my nips in this?

ABBY

No but your ass is hanging out.

Eliza looks in the mirror, shrugs and pulls off her dress with no bra on. Abby’s hands fly up.

ABBY

Give a girl a warning.

ELIZA

It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.

Eliza returns to her closet.

ABBY

I’m just looking forward to this concert.And I’m looking for your support. Okay? I haven’t talked to Jenny in like two weeks so it would be great if we could just drop the subject.

Eliza comes out of the closet in a sequin dress looking in the mirror.

ELIZA

I don’t know. I look like whale in this.

ABBY

Oh my god! If I have to tell you one more time that you look great I’m literally going to tackle you.

ELIZA

Tabbs I know you’re just saying that. But thanks.

ABBY

(sighs)

Girl you look fine as fuck. Now can we go we need to pick up Max?

ELIZA

Why didn’t he just come here?

ABBY

Because he has no patience for this

(pointing to Eliza)

like I do.

ELIZA

(rolls her eyes)

I didn’t know I was such a burden.

ABBY

Can we just go?

(melts into the couch)

ELIZA

Fine. Fine. Let me say bye to snugglepuss

Picks up cat.

ELIZA (CONT.)

I love you boo boo kitty.

(kiss)

Abby walks over cat to try and pet it. Hisses.

ABBY

I love you even if you don’t love me.

INT-Abby and Eliza are knocking on the apartment door.

ABBY

Max! Hurry yo ass up.

No response. Abby looks a Eliza. Abby pulls out her keys and opens the door. Max is talking to Jeanie on the couch. Abby clears her throat.

ABBY

I didn’t know you were having a party without me.

Max mouths sorry. Abby is a little perplexed until she walks in further to find Jenny is there too.

JENNY

That’s not a pleasant greeting to a friend.

Jenny gets up to hug Abby. Jeanie has a smirk that isn’t pleasant.

ABBY

Sorry, I wasn’t really expecting you.

JENNY

I’m just messing with you.

Eliza walks in with a stank face.

ELIZA So what are you doing here? We’re on our way to the concert in Prospect Park. So…

Abby’s eyes widen she looks at Eliza

ELIZA (CONT.)

Sorry. Just curious. Max are you ready?

MAX

Actually no, come help me pick out a shirt.

Max nods his head nonchalantly to his room. Eliza and Max leave turning to check on Abby who could quite possibly petrified.

ABBY

So?...

Jeanie stands up from the couch.

JEANIE

We just happened to be in the neighborhood. I hadn’t seen Max in a long time so we thought we would stop by.

ABBY

Cool. Well, Liza was actually right. We were literally here just to pick up Max.

JENNY

Well we were just talking to him and it sounds like a fun concert. Would it be cool if we came with you guys?

Abby looks as Jeanie. Jenny looks at Jeanie. It’s Awkward.

ABBY

I mean, its free so… It’s up to you. It’s kind of far from your house.

Jeanie steps forward and wraps her arm around Jenny’s waist.

JEANIE

You can always stay at my place.

Jenny nods then looks at Abby, who is fidgeting.

JENNY

So is that what you’re wearing?

Abby looks at her clothes.

ABBY

What’s wrong with this?

JEANIE

There is definerlty going to be some queermosexuals there.

JENNY

Yeah, we want you to get some ladies.You got to gay it up.

ABBY

I mean, I’m fine like this. Just really want to be comfortable.

Jenny starts towards Abby’s bedroom. Jeanie follows.

ABBY (CONT.)

Um, where are you going?

JENNY

Going to pick out an outfit for you. Duh?

Abby rushes to stop them but it’s too late they are going through her clothes.

JEANIE

Ooo...Yes these pants! This is going to make your butt looks so good. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in skinny jeans.

Abby shuts the drawer.

ABBY

Really it’s fine. And I don’t really wear those pants too much. There’s no pockets!

JENNY

Oh! This hat is so cute.

Jenny comes out of the closet, standing close to Abby while putting on the hat. Jeanie hangs the pants in front of Abby.

JEANIE

See won’t these look so good.

Jenny steps back.

JENNY

Oh yeah. Put them on.

Abby looks confused.

ABBY

Right now?

JENNY

Yes?

Abby takes the pants and is holding them waiting. Jeanie and Jenny wait in anticipation. Abby twirls her finger for them to turn around. They do. Abby checks to make sure no one is looking and slips off her pants. The door opens as her pants are at har ankles.

MAX

Damn girl! I leave you for one minute and you on some voyeur shit.

Abby falls to the floor. Jenny and Jeanie see her exposed.

ABBY

EVERYONE OUT!

They all scurry as the door shuts. Back to Abby on the floor face covered.

ABBY (CONT.)

Can someone come shoot me now?

Leaving the apartment. Abby, Max and Eliza stay to lock the door. Jeanie and Jenny are ahead.

ABBY

Not a word.I don’t want to hear it.

Max and Abby raise their hands and walk away.

INT- at the music store. Abby had her hand placed on her hand place on her chin and is staring out the window.

MANAGER

Now I know you’re not sitting here because the new loop pedal doesn’t interest you.

Abby turns to face him.

ABBY

Sorry, just lost in thought.

MANAGER

I can tell. Listen,I’m not gonna pry into your personal life but, if it’s something serious I hoped you know I can be a person to talk to.

ABBY

Ed, I know I can talk to you. I just don’t want to talk about it. It’s all my friends want to talk about. It’s all I focus on. Like a vicious cycle.

MANAGER

Hung up on a girl.

ABBY

I never said that.

MANAGER

Okay. Fine. Just know your are worthy of time and respect. If you’re not getting that then they’re not worth your time.

ABBY

Mmmm…

INT-Abby is pulling out her keys to go into her apartment after work. She is visibly tired. Before the key enters the lock the door cracks open, stretches his neck out.

MAX

Um… What are you doing here?

ABBY

I live here?

MAX

Didn’t you get my text?

Abby pulls her phone from her pocket showing Max’s text.

ABBY

I’m sorry. I didn’t see it. Can I just be in my room?

Loud talking erupts from the living room. Max leaves into the hall closing the door behind him.

MAX

Look you can’t be here right now.

ABBY

Max, I live here. You can’t just tell me to leave whenever. Who do you have over, anyways?

MAX

(Sighs)

It’s my parents. They… (in a whisper) they want to put Jake in rehab.

ABBY

Oh my god what?! Your parents are here? What the fuck Max?

MAX

Look I’m just trying to get this all figured out and I don’t want you involved. Okay?

ABBY

Max..

MAX

Please just let me work this out. I’ll text you.

Max backs up into the apartment. Abby lingers. Shouts are muffled through the walls. She turns and walks down the hall.

EXT- Abby is out on the sidewalk at night. She’s aimlessly walking. She finds a coffee shop and goes inside. There is one lone barista. Not very tall, friendly face charismatic in energy. ”Medley:Kendrick Lamar” by Jessica Domingo is playing softly in the background, to an empty store. Abby walks up to the counter.

BARISTA

What can I get you?

ABBY

Can I have a latte, for here?

Barista looks at the clock

BARISTA

Actually, we’re shutting down here soon. I can get you a drip?

ABBY

Then why didn’t you just say that?

BARISTA

Sorry habit. So a coffee or no?

ABBY

Sorry, that sounded rude. Yeah a coffee is fine.

Abby pulls out her wallet shaking her head to herself. Feeling ridiculous.

BARISTA

Here you go. Did you you want any milk or sugar?

ABBY

Yeah, both. I can get it-

BARISTA

I just put it away. I’ll grab it.

Abby looks around anxiously.The barista returns and starts to pour.

BARISTA

How do you like it?

ABBY

(cooly)

Light and sweet.

BARISTA

Like your women?

Abby blushes while the barista laughs at her own joke.

ABBY

Oh no, no…

BARISTA

Which part?

ABBY

Huh?

BARISTA

The color or women?

ABBY

(stammers)

I uh, you know, like not like..

BARISTA

So both.

ABBY

I didn’t say that.

BARISTA

She speaks!And in sentences.

ABBY

I don’t appreciate the taunting.

Abby picks up her coffee and sips it and passes money.

BARISTA

It’s okay. It was the bottom of the thing so. No worries.

ABBY

Well, thanks. That makes up for the comment.

BARISTA

Uh huh. Sure. Anyways, we are closing so…

ABBY

Oh. Shit. Sorry I uh, just need to not be at home of a bit and-

BARISTA

Nothing else is open.

ABBY

Yeah…

BARISTA

Well I mean technically, you could just be here while I clean up?

ABBY

You’d be cool with that?

BARISTA

I am here alone and clearly you have a silverfish infestation that’s out of control.

ABBY

I wish it were only that. Thanks, I’ll just sit over on the couch. If you don’t mind.

BARISTA

I don’t.

Abby walks over sheepishly to a couch and sits. The barista follows her with her eyes, then proceeds to start closing up shop. She finishes behind the bar and begins to start wiping the tables down making her way back to Abby who is sipping and playing with her phone. The barista is within ear shot.

ABBY

Is this a cover of Kendrick Lamar?

BARISTA

Ah someone was paying attention.

ABBY

I like it. I’m always down for an acoustic guitar mash up.

BARISTA

Especially a woman with a guitar.Mmmm

Abby blushes furiously and has no idea what to do with her body.

ABBY

So do you want me to give you a hand? I know I’m not supposed to or what ever but I feel bad just sitting here doing nothing.

The barista stands for a moment thinking then tosses the rag to Abby and walks away.

BARISTA

Start wiping the tables. I’ll flip the chairs.

They both work together cleaning and closing up the shop occasionally getting near each other but focused on the task at hand.

BARISTA

Thanks for helping out. You didn’t have to.

ABBY

Thank you for letting me stay. I just hope I can actually go back now.

BARISTA

I hope so too. It’s too late to be not at home in bed.

Abby shrugs.

ABBY

True. It was nice to meet you…

BARISTA

Shawna. It was nice to have a helping hand.

ABBY

Well with an awesome playlist like that, wasn’t a trouble at all.

SHAWNA

I’m glad you liked it.

[pauses]

Wait a sec.

Shawna reaches over to a cup and pulls out a pen and starts writing on it. Then passing it to Abby.

SHAWA (CONT.)

Just in case you have another invasion of roaches.

Abby reveals the number on the cup and nods.

ABBY

Will do.

They both get ready to walk out the door awkwardly weaving until both outside. Shawa locks the door while Abby waits.

ABBY

I guess I’ll see you around.

SHAWNA

I guess you will.

They both go to leave but end up walking the same direction, continuing to walk.

SHAWNA

You’re going this way?

ABBY

Well this is awkward.

SHAWNA

Nah, nah. I’m not going that far. Just to the bus stop.

ABBY

Yeah, I just live a couple of blocks away.

SHAWNA

It’s weird I’ve never seen you around.

ABBY

I suppose. I don’t really buy my-

Abby freezes.

SHAWNA

What? What it is?

Abby darts over to a wall looking down the street. Jake is walking out with his parents and getting in a car while Max stands by the door. Abby looks back at Shawna.

ABBY

It’s nothing. You can go ahead. I’ll just wait here a minute.

Abby looks on silently while Shawna watches it all unfold. Max is standing by the outside door, eyes fixed on the sidewalk.

SHAWNA

You know him?

Abby is still silently focused on Max.

ABBY

Huh? What, oh yeah… um it’s a long story. Seriously you don’t have to wait for me.

Shawna looks back and forth. Disappointed.

SHAWNA

Okay...I’ll see you around.

Abby still focuses let’s Shawna leave. Pivoting back around the corner she stews in frustration, for a moment then walks up to Max.

ABBY

So what the fuck happened?

MAX

I-I tried to convince them but…

Max looks down.

ABBY

Max… I

MAX

Can we just go inside? It’s been a long day.

ABBY

Sure whatever you want. I got you.

Fade to black. Text across the screen. “Three months later”

INT- The gang in playing settlers of catan together. Jake is back and healthy. Liza is getting along and is excited to play together.

LIZA

Ha-ha! Give me longest road bitch!

Liza celebrates

JAKE

You know the game isn’t over. Right?

LIZA

I don’t care. I win fair and square.

MAX

We haven’t even moved the thief. Liza that’s not how the game works.

ABBY

Unfortunately, they’re right.

LIZA

Whatever.

Sits with a plop. There’s a knock on the door.

GROUP (coos together)

MAX

Must be Shwana….

Abby rolls her eyes to get the door as she shushes them. He opens the door.

ABBY

Hey.

SHAWNA

Hey, yourself. You ready.

ABBY

Yeah. Let me grab my stuff. Come on in.

Shawna enters quietly and looks at the coffee table.

SHAWNA

Oooo. Catan. Who’s winning?

LIZA

Well that depends on who you ask.

MAX

I didn’t say you weren’t actively winning just that you hadn’t won.

SHAWNA

Well, someone has the longest road. I would say that’s winning.

LIZA

I knew I’d like you.

Abby returns to the living room.

ABBY

Ready?

Shawna nods. Abby turns to the group.

ABBY (Cont.)

I see you guys later then. Don’t burn down the house.

IN UNISON

Yes… Mama Abby

EXT- Abby and Shawna are walking hand in hand.

SHAWNA

Jake looks good. How’s Max holding up?

ABBY

He is. He’s been back a week or so. We’ve been trying to keep him close. Max is doing a lot better. I think her felt like everything was falling apart. But now he’s sort of realized he can’t control Jake and Jake wants the best for his brother. We had a little talk about it.

SHAWNA

That’s good. He probably needed to hear that from you more than anyone else.

Abby smiles

ABBY

It’s just good to have things a little calmer. For while I thought it was all going to fall apart, there for a minute.

SHAWNA

Mhmm. When you’re trying to stop smoking and your best friend goes to rehab, being stressed out is pretty normal. Speaking of which.

Shawna holds out her hand.

ABBY

What?

Shawna lifts her eyes brow.

ABBY (Cont.)

I have to ween myself off.I can’t just quit cold turkey.

Shawan waves her hand. Abby pulls out a pack of cigarettes.

SHAWNA

See that wasn’t hard.

She takes them and throws them in the nearest trash can.

ABBY

You’re cruel sometimes.

SHAWNA

You’ll thank me when you don’t have lung cancer.

(Pauses)

I’m going to go ahead and get our tickets from will call. Wait here.

Shawan kisses Abby on the cheek. Abby waits and pulls out her phone. There’s a text. She’s opens it to see that it’s Jenny. “Hey.” Abby looks up a Shawna getting their tickets and looks back at the phone. She pulls up the keyboard, fingers hovered over. Then stops. She taps the contact button thumb hovering over the delete contact. Shawna walks over.

SHAWNA

Who’s that.

Abby looks up.

ABBY

Oh. It’s nobody important.

She presses delete and puts the phone in her back pocket. She wraps her arm around Shawna’s waist and walks into the venue. “Somebody that I used to know” plays the outro.

THE END BITCHES.

#oc #screenwriting #queer #lesbeans #mine

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