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ies10 · 28 days ago

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Grant Medical College: A Legacy of Medical Excellence

Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Grant Medical College (GMC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical institutions in India. Founded in 1845, GMC has a rich history and has consistently maintained a reputation for excellence in medical education and healthcare services. It is affiliated with the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and works with the renowned Professor Sir J.J. Hospitals, providing students with valuable clinical and hands-on experience.

Historical Significance:

The establishment of Grant Medical College marked a turning point in medical education in India as it was the first time a formal medical curriculum was offered in the region. Named after the then Governor of Bombay, Sir Robert Grant, GMC was established to cater to the growing demand for medical professionals in India. Over the years, it has produced a large number of outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions to the medical field both at home and abroad.

Academic Programmes and Specialisations:

GMC offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate programs in a wide range of specializations including Surgery, Paediatrics, Radiology, Gynaecology, etc. The college admits around 200 MBBS students every year, who are selected through a competitive admission process. Postgraduate courses are also in high demand and provide advanced training in over 20 subject areas. The courses are designed to not only impart medical knowledge but also develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing them for real-world medical challenges.

Curriculum and Training:

The curriculum at GMC is comprehensive, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Students receive extensive clinical training and encounter a wide range of medical cases and complex surgeries. Access to Sir J.J. Hospital, a large tertiary care hospital, allows students to work with experienced doctors and interact with patients from a variety of backgrounds. This hands-on training gives them a realistic and in-depth understanding of healthcare.

Grant Medical College also values research and innovation and encourages students and faculty to get involved in clinical research projects. The university has a research center that promotes research in areas such as pathology, microbiology, pharmacy, and public health. The strong focus on research enriches the student's learning experience and keeps abreast of advancements in the medical field.

Faculty and Infrastructure:

GMC has highly qualified and experienced faculty members who are dedicated to serving students. Many faculty members are recognized experts in their fields, having published papers in medical journals and participated in conferences across the world. Their expertise ensures that students receive a quality education backed by practical insights.

GMC's infrastructure is also noteworthy. With modern laboratories, a large, well-resourced library, lecture halls, and digital learning facilities, the college offers an ideal environment for medical training. Its affiliated Sir J.J. Hospital functions as a teaching hospital, providing quality medical services and facilities for both patients and students.

Campus Life and Student Activities:

GMC is known for its academic rigor, but it also encourages students to get involved in extracurricular activities. The college has a variety of student organizations and clubs that focus on sports, cultural events, and community service. The annual GMC festival, known as Astitva, is a much-anticipated event where students showcase their talents and take part in various competitive activities. This balance of academics and extracurricular activities contributes to the holistic development of students, preparing them to become well-rounded medical professionals.

Employment and Career Outlook:

Grant Medical College graduates enjoy a high employment rate, securing many prestigious positions in leading hospitals and medical institutions in India and abroad. The college's reputation and strong alumni network provide excellent career opportunities. GMC graduates hold key positions in healthcare institutions, research institutes, and academia across the globe. Many of our graduates pursue further specializations, research careers or participate in public health efforts.

Conclusion:

Grant Medical College is a pillar of medical education in India. With its tradition of producing qualified medical professionals and commitment to quality education, GMC continues to be a preferred choice for aspiring doctors. A combination of academic excellence, practical training, and a rich historical background makes it a reputed institution driving the future of healthcare in India.

#Grant Medical College #GMC Mumbai

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wausaupilot · 3 months ago

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Letters from Evers, Republicans present clashing views on juvenile corrections

Scott Kelly, staff for Sen. Van Wanggaard, the chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, said Evers is “trying to cover up his administration’s mismanagement of Lincoln Hills by blaming the situation on the [former] Governor Walker.”

by Andrew Kennard, Wisconsin Examiner August 15, 2024 Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators are at odds over a consent decree that has mandated change at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools, juvenile correctional facilities in Irma, Wisconsin. In 2018, the state of Wisconsin settled J.J. vs. Litscher, a class action lawsuit against Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake filed by the…

#Copper Lake #Gov. Tony Evers #juvenile justice #Lincoln Hills

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dankusner · 8 months ago

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Old City Park's long history in spotlight as Dallas Parks and Rec prepares to take over operations

Old City Park supporters reflect on its long history as Dallas Parks and Rec prepares to take over operations

A house used for storage inside what was then called Dallas Heritage Village — now once again known as Old City Park — in 2019.

The future of Old City Park, Dallas’ oldest park, remains in flux as the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department prepares to temporarily take over operations of the park in May.

An estate sale including nearly 22,000 historic antiques and artifacts opened Monday, April 29 and is set to run through May 4.

The sale will run from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.

The proceeds of the sale with go toward maintaining the park.

Here’s a look at the park's history, what got it to this point, and where things stand in planning its future.

The history of Old City Park

Old City Park started on land in what’s now known as the Cedars neighborhood, which was also the site of a series of natural springs.

The springs became known as Browder Springs after Edward C. Browder acquired the property in 1845.

The springs figured into legislation that made Dallas the intersection of the Texas & Pacific and Houston & Texas Central Railroads in 1871 and helped spur the town’s growth.

On July 4, 1876, 10 acres near the springs were set aside as Dallas�� first municipal park.

"City Park" was also known as "Eakins Park" because J.J. Eakin originally owned the land. By 1885 nine more acres, including the Browder Springs property, were added.

The springs supplied water to the city, and the park served as the site of the city’s first zoo.

Later, it featured fountains, greenhouses, tennis courts, a playground and more.

The neighborhood, now known as the Cedars, grew up around the park.

The site was renamed “Sullivan Park” for former Dallas Water Commissioner Dan L. Sullivan in 1936, but it remained popularly known as Old City Park.

A group of women sought to save the Millermore house, which was built by William Miller between 1855 and 1862 and inherited by one of his children, Minerva, who lived in it with her husband, Barry Miller, a former lieutenant governor of Texas.

A group that sought to preserve the Millermore home came up with the idea of reconstructing it in what was then known as City Park, and it became the first of 21 buildings transported to the park to become a village.

It opened as a living history museum in the '60s, and the museum was called Old City Park.

It’s now home to what’s known as the state’s largest collection of 19th-century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings in Texas.

The Dallas Parks Board agreed to allow the Dallas County Heritage Society to revitalize the park as a "heritage center" of restored buildings/structures in 1966 and the Dallas County Heritage Society has managed it since 1967, per city officials.

"Through the years, Dallas County Heritage Society would put up all the money in order to bring in all of these buildings to restore them, and then once they were on the grounds, then the Parks Department would accept these buildings, and they would become the city’s property," Michael Meadows, interim CEO of the Dallas County Heritage Society, said.

"Likewise, as the park started needing more land for parking and was trying to expand the amount of green space it had, which was paid for by a combination of private donations and bond dollars — that was kind of how the park expanded."

"If you go back and look through all the paperwork, one of the things that was very clear was that the Parks Department and the administration of Dallas County Heritage Society, which is the organization that was put in place to manage all of this and bring all of this to Old City Park — it was very collegial and you could tell that they were working together to try and make all of this very successful," Meadows said.

What brought Old City Park to this point?

Meadows first joined the Dallas County Heritage Society as a consultant in 2021 and said the park struggled with lagging attendance amid changes in how people consume parks and cultural attractions in recent years.

In response, the board made changes, including making admission free, changing the name back to Old City Park from Dallas Heritage Village, and more.

"Ultimately, the revenues and the attendance still weren’t sufficient to be self-sustaining and so with our contract coming to an end, I think the city has decided that they want to spend a little bit of time doing some master planning, figuring out how they want to use the park in the future, and then having another competition for a management contract … and then see who’s going to run the park in the future," Meadows said.

Meadows, who also serves as chair of the board of The Arts Community Alliance, said Old City Park's issues are a cautionary tale for other cultural organizations in the city.

"Part of the reason why this is all happening is because we didn’t have enough attendance. We didn’t have enough contributors, and we didn’t have enough support from the city in order to be profitable — not profitable, but just even break even," Meadows said. "There’s a lot of organizations in this town that are struggling right now, and if people don’t go to the performances, if they don’t contribute to these organizations … what we’re going through at Old City Park can be an experience that they all have."

The future of Old City Park

Dallas County Heritage Society's management contract for the park ends May 26, and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department will take over management of the park on May 27.

Ahead of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department taking over operations of the park, nearly 22,000 historic antiques and artifacts — everything from furnishings to quilts, documents and more — will be part of an estate sale beginning April 29 and running through May 4.

In September 2023, the city contracted with the landscape architecture firm SWA to create a master plan for Old City Park before considering accepting proposals for a different private partner to manage the park.

"This is inclusive of a facility condition assessment and public engagement meetings.

The public will be very involved in the future park plans," Dallas Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson Andrea Hawkins said of the master planning process, noting the site will remain a park.

The heritage society, which is rebranding to the Old City Park Conservancy, will remain involved in advocating for and supporting the park.

"It has been our honor and privilege to manage Old City Park for over 50 years," Dustin Bullard, the society’s board chair, said in a statement. "Although the Society will no longer manage the daily operations of this historic park, we remain committed to supporting Old City Park well into the future."

Robert Kent, the associate vice president and Texas state director for Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit dedicated to acquiring land for parks, preserves, and trails since 2014, is a direct descendant of Edward Browder, whose former land Old City Park sits on.

Now, Kent is passionate about ensuring people in Dallas and beyond have easy access to parks.

"I think that we are proud to trace our roots to some of the earliest settlers of the city while also recognizing that there are systems of inequality, perpetrated through 100-plus years," he said. "I’m extremely proud to be able to work for an organization like Trust for Public Land, where we can really try to make good on those promises so that everyone in Dallas is able to benefit from parks, which my family’s had a long history of being involved in. … Now we can really make sure that everyone is able to enjoy those benefits equally and equitably."

Kent said he’s hopeful the park will be able to chart a new course for the future.

"I think everyone recognizes there’s a need for a change and a new path forward. What that path is more than anything should be driven by what the community wants," Kent said. "The city is going to be doing the master plan for the park, which will hopefully chart that path forward that will carry it through the next hundred and something years of its history."

Both Meadows and Kent are hopeful the 2024 bond package proposition related to parks will lead to more investment in Dallas’ oldest park and parks throughout the city.

The $1.25 billion bond package up for a vote on May 4 includes $345 million-plus for parks and recreation. Early voting runs through April 30.

"That money will be invaluable to the future of the park because if the city won’t invest in it, it’s really hard to get private philanthropists to invest in it," Meadows said. "I think this park could really be like Southfork is for Plano, but it’s just going to require some investment, and hopefully that starts with the city."

"This is one of the best opportunities that Dallas has to really make sure that everyone’s able to enjoy a park close to home," Kent said of the bond package.

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marwahstudios · 11 months ago

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Global Cultural Maestro Sandeep Marwah Conferred with Prestigious Ashoka Award

New Delhi: In a spectacular event held at Habitat Centre, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, the unparalleled cultural luminary and founder of Noida Film City, Marwah Studios, and Chancellor of AAFT University, was honored with the distinguished Ashoka Award. The accolade was presented by General J.J. Singh, former Chief of the Army Staff, Republic of India, and former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, amidst an august gathering.

Introduced by Dr. Abhishek Pandey of Charles Walters Council for Innovation and Research as the “one man army” and the “cultural ambassador of India,” Dr. Sandeep Marwah stands as the epitome of excellence and inspiration for millions. With an outstanding record of nine World Records to his name, Dr. Marwah holds key positions on the boards of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India.

A truly global figure, Dr. Sandeep Marwah is the only individual in the world nominated by seventy-one governments as their Cultural Ambassador. His association with 7500 events, 3500 short films, and the training of 30,000 students from 145 countries exemplify his unwavering commitment to fostering cultural understanding and collaboration.

Under his visionary leadership, Marwah Studios has welcomed 3 million people from 156 countries, contributing significantly to film and cultural tourism. Dr. Marwah has played a pivotal role in uniting nations on a singular platform through the powerful medium of art and culture.

The Ashoka Award, a symbol of recognition for exceptional contributions to society, was bestowed upon Dr. Sandeep Marwah in acknowledgment of his unparalleled achievements and transformative impact on the global cultural landscape. The ceremony was a testament to his enduring legacy as a cultural icon and visionary leader.

In a reciprocal gesture, Dr. Sandeep Marwah presented Ashoka Awards to other distinguished individuals from various spheres of life, as envisioned by the Charles Walters Council for Innovation and Research.

#Sandeep Marwah Honored with Prestigios Ashoka Award by CWCIR #Dr. Sandeep Marwah President of Marwah Studios

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comic-covers · 7 years ago

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(1970)

#The Governor and J.J.#comic book #1970 #Governor Drinkwater #retro #comic #Gold Key #1969 #vintage #comic cover #J.J.#comics

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papermoonloveslucy · 7 years ago

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WON'T YOU CALM DOWN, DAN DAILEY?

S4;E9 ~ November 8, 1971

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Hollywood star Dan Dailey buys the building where Lucy and Harry work and Lucy wangles a job working for him. But when Lucy's starstruck nature gets in the way of her work, Dailey conspires with Harry about how to go about firing her!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, although she does receive opening title credit.

Guest Cast

Dan Dailey (Himself) started his career in vaudeville, later making his Broadway debut in the 1937 stage version of Babes in Arms. He began his screen career in 1940 and was nominated for an Oscar for his work in When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948). From 1969 to 1970 he played the Governor in the CBS TV series “The Governor and J.J.” This is his only time working with Lucille Ball.

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane, left) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83.

Vanda Barra (Vanda, right) makes one of over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was married to Sid Gould so is Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law.

Sid Gould (Sam, Waiter) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton and was married to Vanda Barra (Vanda).

Sam is the waiter in the building's luncheonette. He is never addressed by name.

Joan Carey (Diner Patron, uncredited) was one of the few performers to appear in “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” She also served as Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in. [Thanks to The Lucy Lounge for spotting Carey!]

The cashier and the other diner patrons are played by uncredited background players.

The title is a parody of the song "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey" published in 1902 and written by Hughie Cannon. It was sung by Lew Parker in “Lucy and Her All-Nun Band” (S4;E8). This is the second title to pun on the name of a familiar song and not use the name “Lucy.” The first was “Someone's On the Ski Lift with Dinah” (S4;E7).

In his DVD introduction to the episode, music director Marl Young remembers that during rehearsals he would improvise on the piano while Dan Dailey danced.

Lucy mentions that she sent a poison pen letter to the network when they canceled “The Governor and J.J.” Although the network goes un-named, it was Lucy's own employer, CBS.

We learn for the first time that Mary Jane works for a trial lawyer. She says that every week its like working on a “Perry Mason” rerun. “Perry Mason” (1957-66) was a hit CBS TV courtroom drama starring Raymond Burr.

Peering through the foliage behind her, Harry overhears Lucy bragging about playing hooky from work. He says “Very interesting!” recreating the famous catch phrase from “Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In” spoken by Arte Johnson as the German solider (inset). Elizabeth Taylor spoke the line in “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S2;E1).

In a previous episode, Kim reminds Lucy that Harry has fired her 14 times. This makes 16.

Dailey asks Lucy to call Clark Caterers to set up a party for the building's tenants. The name of the caterer may be a nod to Wanda Clark, Lucille Ball's personal secretary.

Dan Dailey dictates a letter to Betty James, 19 San Leone Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada. Lucy correctly guesses that he is writing to Betty Grable, who was married to bandleader Harry James. Grable did four films with Dailey and both Grable and James appeared as themselves on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, “Lucy Wins a Racehorse” (above). Her name was mentioned in “Lucy and Carol Burnett aka The Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (S3;E22).

In his penthouse office, Dan and Lucy suddenly break into a song and dance routine to “I Want to Be Happy.” It was written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar for the 1925 musical No, No Nanette which was filmed in 1930 and again in 1940. The routine was choreographed by Jim Bates. This is Bates' first episode of the series, taking over for dance director Jack Baker.

Dailey starts to dictate a letter to Paul Newman at Universal Studios. Lucy says she saw Newman on the late show in Winning, a 1969 film about a race car driver.

Dailey slips and mentions that he knows Robert Young. Young played two of television's most enduring characters, the title roles in “Father Knows Best” and “Marcus Welby M.D.” Harry confirms that Lucy is star-struck and goes to pieces over Rin Tin Tin, a dog who was the star of film serials and his own television series.

Lamenting not having Lucy around anymore, Harry and Dan Dailey quote the lyrics (verbatim) to “I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from the stage and screen musical My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe. Dailey says “If Rex Harrison can talk through that song, we can too.” Harrison 'sang' the song on Broadway, in the West End, and in the 1964 motion picture, for which he won an Oscar.

When Harry suggests getting someone to act as Dailey's wife in front of Lucy, Dailey tells Harry that he likes the wife he has. In 1971 this would have been his fourth wife, Carol F. Warner. In less than a year after speaking those words, Warner and Dailey divorced. He would stay single for the rest of his life (seven years). Lucy says that she read in TV Guide that Dailey was a widower, but Dailey corrects her that they were talking about his character on “The Governor and J.J.”

In some ways, this episode resembles “The Star Upstairs” (ILL S4;E25) where a star-struck Lucy Ricardo goes to great lengths to meet movie star Cornel Wilde, who is staying in the room above her.

Sitcom Logic! Although Dailey says his manager convinced him to buy the building, it doesn't make sense that a famous actor would want a second career managing an office building.

Lapse of Character Consistency! After trying to get Lucy to quit by making advances on her in the office doesn't work – in fact, Lucy encourages it – Dailey tells Harry he has a wife. Harry seems to think she knows that and it doesn't matter because he's a big star. This is highly unlike conservative Lucy.

Fact Check! In his DVD introduction to the episode, music director Marl Young says that the episode originally aired on November 15, 1971, when most agree that it was aired on November 8, 1971. It is also presented out of chronological order on the disc.

“Won’t You Calm Down, Dan Dailey?” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5

Dan Dailey really isn't suited to Lucy's kind of comedy. He looks uncomfortable and rarely lands a joke. The only saving grace is that his low key performance draws some interesting moments out of Gale Gordon and Lucille Ball. In these days of women facing sexual molestation in the workplace, this storyline is a bit off-putting. Of course, the premise is completely unbelievable so perhaps the farcical premise allows some of the comedy to shine through.

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azuremallone · 4 years ago

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brian-in-finance · 3 years ago

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2017 Oscar Wilde Awards: Martin Short, Caitríona Balfe, Ruth Negga, Zachary Quinto, Glen Hansard, J.J. Abrams (Michael Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock)

Oscars: Complete Guide to 2022 Red Carpet Events and Parties

From Vanity Fair and Elton John's starry bashes to fashionable soirees by Chanel and Armani, THR rounds up the highlights of Oscar week.

In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Reese Witherspoon poses backstage the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. RICHARD HARBAUGH/A.M.P.A.S./GETTY IMAGES

Event producers are preparing to roll out miles of red carpet this week for what is shaping up to be a packed schedule of starry parties and gatherings to celebrate the 94th annual Academy Awards. The Hollywood Reporter has gathered intel on all the events below.

Sunday, March 20

Holly Shorts Film Festival Oscar Nominee Brunch

Japan House LA, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, 2-6 p.m.

The third annual event will host guests from nominated films including Summer of Soul producer Beth Hubbard, Take and Run’s Maria Brendle and Nadine Luchinger, The Dress’ Tadeusz Lysiak and actress Anna Dzieduszyka, The Long Goodbye’s Aneil Karia, The Queen of Basketball’s Ben Proudfoot and When We Were Bullies’ Jay Rosenblatt. Additional guests expected: Sujata Ray, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Jaylen Moore, Kimberly Scott, James DuMont, David Dastmalchian, Anna Chazelle, Jon Huertas, Jay Hunter and Kevin Wilson Jr.

Monday, March 21

More to come

Tuesday, March 22

Oscar Week: Shorts

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 7 p.m.

Hosted by Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Governor Jon Bloom. The Academy celebrates the nominated films and filmmakers in the Animated Short Film and Live Action Short Film categories. The evening will include a screening of all 10 nominated shorts in their entirety, as well as introductions by all the nominated filmmakers (schedules permitting).

EMILY’s List: The Collective Power of Women

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 South Doheny Dr., 8:30-11 a.m.

The organization centered around women in politics will host its fifth annual event during the week of the Academy Awards. Speakers include Amber Tamblyn, Bozoma Saint John, Chiney Ogwumike, Gloria Calderón Kellett, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (an EMILY’s List-endorsed candidate for Los Angeles mayor), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Robin Thede and Yvette Nicole Brown (who will moderate). Host committee includes Alyssa Lanz, Andrea Nelson Meigs, Amy Landecker, Denise Melanson, Desiree Flores, Emmy Rossum, Hannah Minghella, Kathryn Hahn, Lizzie Thompson, Natasha Rothwell, Maddy Roth, Rene Jones, Sara Benincasa, Sarah Clossey, Tony Wallace, Tracy Brennan, Shelter PR and WME.

Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood

Musso & Frank, 6667 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

Vanity Fair and Bacardi Rum celebrate as part of the mag’s Campaign Hollywood series with this event co-hosted by Licorice Pizza breakout Alana Haim, West Side Story Oscar nominee Ariana DeBose and Giveon, all of whom have been covered in VF’s Vanities column. Tequila Don Julio is back for a second consecutive year to handle curated specialty pours.

Wednesday, March 23

Oscar Week: Documentaries

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by Academy Documentary Branch Governors Kate Amend, Jean Tsien and Roger Ross Williams. The Academy showcases the nominated films and filmmakers in the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories. The evening will include a presentation of clips from this year’s nominated films with introductions by the nominees (schedules permitting). A livestream will be available here.

Pre-Oscars Event Celebrating South Asian Excellence

UTA, 9336 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, 5-8 p.m.

UTA, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Johnnie Walker, South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund of the India Center and the Juggernaut are sponsoring this gathering to toast South Asian excellence on film. Hosts include Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling, Kumail Nanjiani, Anjula Acharia, Bela Bajaria, Maneesh K. Goya and Shruti Ganguly. Honorary guests to include Riz Ahmed and Suroosh Alvi (Flee); Pawo Choyning Dorji (Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom); Joseph Patel (Summer of Soul); Riz Ahmed and Aneil Karia (The Long Goodbye); Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei (Three Songs for Benazir); and Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh and Anurima Bhargava (Writing with Fire).

Celebration of Norwegian Films and Talents

The Stanley House, 1894 N. Stanley, 6-midnight

Norwegian Film Institute is hosting a series of celebrations to toast Liv Ullmann’s honorary Oscar and noms for The Worst Person in the World, Flee and Writing With Fire.

Thursday, March 24

Essence 15th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards

Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills

The magazine returns to Oscar week by hosting its event that shines a spotlight on “the extraordinary achievements of the industry’s most inspiring Black women who are helping diverse Black stories to be told.” This year’s event is billed as “The Black Cinematic Universe” and will honor Nia Long, King Richard Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis, Abbott Elementary breakout Quinta Brunson and A Journal for Jordan star Chanté Adams. Essence has tapped Snowfall star Damson Idris to host the event, which will air as a virtual experience on March 28 on Essence.com and EssenceStudios.com. Disney’s Onyx Collective and Warner Bros Television Group are sponsoring.

Taste the Future

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 South Doheny Dr., 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Uma Thurman, Liam Payne, Paul Wesley, Questlove, Christian Angermayer and Sean O’Sullivan are co-hosting the luncheon celebration for the future of food. SOSV and Apeiron Investment Group present the event which will feature a menu by Matthew Kenney using products created by the industry’s “most innovative food-tech companies.”

Consul Generals of Norway and Finland VIP Luncheon

Fanny’s, Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., 12 p.m.

Invite-only, VIP luncheon to toast the region’s showings during year’s awards season.

Reception for Liv Ullman

The Stanley House, 1894 N. Stanley, 6-8 p.m.

Norwegian Film Institute is hosting a series of invite-only celebrations to toast Liv Ullmann’s honorary Oscar and noms for The Worst Person in the World, Flee and Writing With Fire. This reception shines a spotlight on the actress and her career achievements leading up to the major honor.

Fiction Norway Reception

The Stanley House, 1894 N. Stanley, 8-10 p.m.

Norwegian Film Institute is hosting a series of invite-only celebrations to toast Liv Ullmann’s honorary Oscar and noms for The Worst Person in the World, Flee and Writing With Fire.

Vanity Fair and Lancome Celebrate the Future of Hollywood

Mother Wolf, 1545 Wilcox Ave., Los Angeles

The mag teams with the beauty brand, back for a ninth year as exclusive beautify partner for Campaign Hollywood, for a soiree that has sights set on the future. Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones teams with The Dropout star Amanda Seyfried to co-host the bash, held at one of L.A.’s hottest and most exclusive new restaurants in the heart of Hollywood. Tequila Don Julio is back for a second consecutive year to handle curated specialty pours.

W’s Best Performances

Gigi’s, 904 N. Sycamore, Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

W’s editor-in-chief Sara Moonves, longtime staffer Lynn Hirschberg and Louis Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquiére are teaming to host the mag’s annual awards event, postponed this year from a pre-Golden Globes fete to Oscars week due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The themed issue shined a spotlight on 35 actors for turning in head-turning performances including notable names like Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Kirsten Dunst, Ruth Negga, Alana Haim, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Andrew Garfield, Tessa Thompson, Jared Leto, Simon Rex, Renate Reinsve and many more.

The 5th Annual MACRO Pre-Oscar Party

SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Dr., Inglewood, 9 p.m.

Charles and Stacey Walker King return to host a 4th annual outing during the lead-up to the Oscars. But this year, they’re moving the party to Inglewood’s new(ish) $5 billion crown jewel, bringing superstar DJ D-Nice along to orchestrate the vibes. Starry guest list expected. Presented by Chase Sapphire.

Oscar Wilde Party

Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles

Due to COVID-19, the 16th annual event is moving from Bad Robot to the Ebell, welcoming honorees to the stage like Kenneth Branagh, Jamie Dornan, Adam McKay and Donall O Healai and presenters Caitriona Balfe, Richard Curtis, Mary Steenburgen and Reinaldo Marcus Green. Irish performers Loah & Bantam and the band True Tides will perform with Richard Mooney of Kensington Caterers handling the menu. J.J. Abrams will emcee.

The Latinx House Pre-Awards Celebration

Issima in West Hollywood, 623 North La Peer Dr., West Hollywood, 12 p.m.

The Latinx House hosts a pre-awards lunch with diverse industry creatives, advocates and community members to toast representation across this year’s nominees.

Net-a-Porter + LaQuan Smith

Olivetta, 9010 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 7 p.m.

Net-a-Porter president Alison Loehnis joins Smith for a dinner to celebrate the designer’s spring/summer ’22 collection on the platform. Guests expected: Tiffany Haddish, Olivia Culpo, Taylor Hill, Hilary Rhoda, Cleo Wade, Maggie Holladay, Elaine Welterorth, Akira Akbar, Aleali May, Bozoma Saint John, Stephen Galloway and others.

Oscar Week: International Feature Film

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by international feature film award executive committee co-chairs Susanne Bier and Rajendra Roy, the evening will feature clips from each nominated film, as well as a panel discussion with directors (schedules permitting). A livestream will be available here.

Canada & the Oscars

Private residence, 5 p.m.

The Consul General of Canada Zaib Shaik and Telefilm Canada, the Talent Fund and National Film Board Canada team for a reception at Canada’s House in Los Angeles to toast the season and honor as “extraordinary Canadians, and friends of Canada, who are among this year’s Oscar nominees.”

Friday, March 25

Publicists Guild Luncheon

Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, 11 a.m.

Honorees include Francis Ford Coppola, MGM’s Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, and Reservation Dogs team of Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. Presenters to include Garett Dillahunt (Ambulance), Gerald (Mac) McRaney (NCIS: Los Angeles), David Alverez (West Side Story), Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary) among others.

Governors Awards

The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Board of Governors will present Honorary Awards to Samuel L. Jackson, Elaine May and Liv Ullmann, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Danny Glover.

Secret Room Events Pre-Red Carpet Style Lounge

SLS HOTEL Beverly Hills, 465 S La Cienega Blvd., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Invite-only gifting lounge featuring gift bags with more than 60 items and more than 40 in-person sponsors from luxury shoes and skincare to Botox and fillers being administered onsite. A gift bag with celebrity autographs will later be auctioned to support Ukraine refugees, who will also be supported with an on-site donations program.

DPA Gifting Suite

Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, 11461 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, March 25-26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Nathalie Dubois and DPA are back on the big awards weekend with a suite featuring brand partners in the garden and five suites at the hotel. Swiss Nescens will recreate a private spa, with skin analysis and facials; Kenyatta International Convention Centre will host a Kenyan safari lounge; and other partners include Topo Chico, Luxie Beauty, Buttery Popcorn, My Bougie Bottle, Chipz Happen, Connect with Keao, Helen Ficalora Jewelry, Sparti Scents, Hearthstone Collective, Annick Levesque, Mantra Mask, Manna Kadar Cosmetics, Fazup, Alkazone, Maine Island Soap, Reach Out Recovery, ASEA, Art Botanica, Dermaclara, Beach Sandy, and one of DPA’s favorites Peaches Skincare. Select guests will receive trips to Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts in French Polynesia or Soori Bali Hotel. The Ukrainian Creative Coalition of Hollywood will host a fundraiser in-suite to spread awareness about the conflict and rally support.

eBay & GBK Brand Bar Luxury Lounge

Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, March 25-26

GBK Brand Bar is back to celebrate Academy Awards week with an exclusive, invite-only lounge. GBK CEO Gavin Keilly will welcome nominees, presenters and guests along with other VIPs from all of awards season from the Grammys to the Oscars as it’s their first lounge of the year. As part of the experience, eBay will gift luxury goods available on the platform from top-tier brands like Oris, Montblanc, Tag Heuer, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta as authenticated through eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee service. Funds raised will benefit American Red Cross for Ukraine.

Essence Hollywood House

Private location, Los Angeles

The third annual gathering will feature thought leaders, industry stakeholders and members of the creative community including actors, directors, writers, showrunners, studio heads and others. They will lead a curated schedule of interactive conversations, virtual panels, masterclasses, fireside chats and more that will be featured on Essence.com and EssenceStudios.com on March 29. Disney’s Onyx Collective and Warner Bros Television Group are also sponsoring this Essence event as well.

Women in Film

Bar Lis at Thompson Hollywood

The organization returns to the Oscar week events calendar with an event co-hosted by WIF board president emeritus Cathy Schulman and Oscar winner H.E.R. The cocktail party is presented by sponsors Max Mara, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty and Heineken, with additional support from Major Partners IMDbPro and Tequila Don Julio.

CAA

San Vicente Bungalows, 845 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood

The powerhouse agency hosts a private event for guests and VIPs to toast nominated clients include Denis Villeneuve, Will Smith, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg, Beyoncé, Ariana DeBose, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Garfield, Ciaran Hinds, Aneil Karia and Jessie Buckley.

Saturday, March 26

Oscar Week: Makeup and Hairstyling Symposium

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 2 p.m.

Hosted by Academy Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Governors Howard Berger, Bill Corso and Linda Flowers. The Academy spotlights the artists nominated for the Makeup and Hairstyling award. The afternoon event will include a screening of the “bake-off” reels that Academy branch members viewed before voting on the nominated films. Each will be followed by a discussion panel with the nominees (schedules permitting).

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani, 436 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 5-8 p.m.

Roberta Armani hosts a celebration for friend of the brand Nicole Kidman in honor of her Oscar-nominated turn in Being the Ricardos at the newly designed boutique.

Charles Finch & Chanel

Private event, Los Angeles

Annual pre-Oscars dinner and event featuring well-dressed VIPs and friends of the luxury house, such as muse and close collaborator Kristen Stewart who is nominated this year for her work in Spencer. Other expected guests include Penélope Cruz, Javier Barden, Sofia Coppola, Robert Ferrell, Pedro Almodóvar, Andrew Garfield, Annabelle Wallis, Austin Butler, Brie Larson, Caitriona Balfe, Chris Pine, Daisy Edgar Jones, Giveon, Jamie Dornan, Jessie Buckley, Johnathan Majors, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lily James, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Keaton, Paolo Sorrentino, Pablo Larrain, Rashida Jones, Regé-Jean Page, Reika Kirishima, Ryûsuke Bernstein and many more.

MPTF’s “Night Before”

Fox Studios lot, 10201 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles

A star-studded host committee, nominees and presenters, along with industry power players converge for the 20th annual party to benefit MPTF. Funds raised will be used to support their industry colleagues and friends who benefit from MPTF’s charitable programs and services such as financial assistance, crisis counseling, care-giving support and, of course, the legendary retirement facility. Presenting sponsors include Delta Air Lines, L’Oréal USA, Penske Media Corporation (parent company of The Hollywood Reporter) and YouTube. Carmelized Prods.’ Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo will provide specialty foods for the guests.

Oscar Week: Animated Feature Film

Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 10 a.m.

Hosted by Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Governors Bonnie Arnold and Jennifer Yuh Nelson. The Academy celebrates the films and filmmakers nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. The morning event will feature clips from each film, with an onstage discussion with each group of nominated filmmakers (schedules permitting). A livestream will be available here.

Sunday, March 27

Academy Awards

6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 5 p.m.

The 94th Oscars, hosted by Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, will be televised live on ABC.

Governors Ball

Ray Dolby Ballroom, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, immediately following the Oscars

The Academy’s official post-show bash will once again feature a menu by Wolfgang Puck who, for the first time, will be joined in collaboration with Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro. Also on the menu: Champagne Fleur de Miraval, Francis Ford Coppola Wines and Don Julio Tequila cocktails.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Viewing Party

West Hollywood Park, West Hollywood

The legendary singer will be on tour, so he’s drafted pals Lady Gaga, Billy Porter and Eric McCormack to co-host with partner David Furnish. They will share the stage with headliner Brandi Carlile. Presenting sponsors of the party include Elton John Eyewear (exclusive to Walmart); Christian Lundberg and R. Martin Chavez in partnership with Equality Utah; Bob and Tamar Manoukian; and Neuro Brands. Cadillac, Gilead Sciences, Robert K. Kraft, the Leonard & Judy Lauder Fund and MAC VIVA GLAM are serving as co-sponsors. American Airlines is the official airline partner.

Vanity Fair

More to come…

Mercedes-Benz USA’s Viewing Party

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 South Doheny Dr., 4–10 p.m.

The luxury automaker once again rolls out the red carpet to host talent and industry insiders at this private affair at which guests can take in a live broadcast of the show in an outdoor space, accessorized by a first look of the brand’s Concept EGQ, a near-production preview of an all-electric model variant of the iconic G-Class.

Hollywood Roosevelt Viewing Party

Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

The iconic property opens its Blossom Ballroom (site of the first Academy Awards in 1929) for a bash with a live broadcast of the show complete with meal and cocktails to make it complete.

French Riviera Film Festival, Indie Entertainment Media and Baker Entertainment Group’s Viewing Party

Baker Manor, 12431 Mulholland Dr., Beverly Hills, 4 p.m.

The estate, once home to Warren Beatty, will host an invite-only viewing party. Guests to include director-producer Jonathan Baker, FRFF founders Nicole Muj and Gotham Chandna, Oscar winner George Chakiris, Eric and Eliza Roberts, Caroline Lagerfelt, Eugenia Kuzmina, Erika Stasiuleviciute, Paulina and Pable Aguirre, Vincent de Paul, Jezlan Moyet, Josie Goldberg, Dustin Quick and Medi Em, Larry Kasanoff, E! founder Larry Namer and many more.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/oscars-2022-parties-photos-red-carpet-roundup-1235114841/

Remember when we learned Caitríona would be presenting the Oscar Wilde Award to Sir Kenneth?

And so ends the musical chairs mystery

#Tait rhymes with hat #Good times #BelfastMovie #The Hollywood Reporter #21 March 2022 #Belfast #Worldwide 2022 #Thanks castlemaine123 #Campaign To Shorten Awards Season

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oldshowbiz · 2 years ago

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youtube

The Governor and J.J. (1969-1970)

#Dan Dailey #sitcoms

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booksforthegays · 3 years ago

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“The Goode Governor” by J.J. Arias

Description: Governor Georgia “George” Fernandez has just announced her re-election campaign when a scandal implicating Mila, a younger woman working as an exotic dancer, threatens to derail her run. Her quick-thinking chief-of-staff spins the disaster by having Mila, a recent graduate of George’s alma mater Goode College, join the staff. From the moment they meet, Mila and George’s interactions are fraught with tension. Mila’s direct manner and disregard for rules are anathema to George’s conservative nature and need for control. As they work together, the women find themselves drawn to each other and unable to resist the lure of a physical and emotional entanglement. Mila might be exactly what George needs to access the vulnerability she forgot existed. But George has never been one for risks, neither with her heart nor her career.

Representation: The main plot follows two lesbians and their eventual romance.

Genre: Romance Length: 256 TW(s): Age gap, explicit sexual content

#f/f #lesbian #romance #lgbt books #wlw #wlw books

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lokiondisneyplus · 4 years ago

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As the film and TV industry attempts to restart after a COVID-19 shutdown, some states like Georgia hope to be trailblazers. Home to Tyler Perry's sprawling film studio, Pinewood's Atlanta outpost and other production facilities, the Peach State is establishing itself as a pioneer in the industry's quest to get back to work.

Perry was one of the first Hollywood players to lay out his plans to restart production. The producer — who said he'd fly actors on two of his TV shows, Sistas and The Oval, to Atlanta on his private jet and keep cast and crew quarantined on his 330-acre studio campus throughout the duration of filming in July — detailed on-set safety protocols May 20 in a 30-page document titled "Camp Quarantine." But he's far from the only producer who's been plotting a return to filming in the state.

While studios are wary of naming specific projects and target shoot dates due to the volatile nature of the pandemic (after all, Georgia set a new single-day record on July 1 with 3,000 new COVID cases in 24 hours), sources say that some of the major projects expected to start or restart production in the state in the coming months include Universal's feature adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen, MGM's Sylvester Stallone action pic Samaritan and a pair of Disney+ series: Loki and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In addition, at least two major Netflix projects plan to return to Georgia: comedy thriller Red Notice, starring Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot, and Stranger Things. Sources say the cast of the latter was told season four production would tentatively start back up again on Sept. 17.

“Georgians want to get back to work and show that we can not only beat this virus but be leaders in this industry to hopefully encourage America to get back to work,” says John Rooker, founder and owner of Atlanta Metro Studios (AMS), where HBO’s Watchmen filmed.

Georgia, which has lured Hollywood productions in recent years with its uncapped film incentives program, says it plans to hire an estimated 40,000 production workers across roughly 75 upcoming productions. Together, those projects are expected to invest $2 billion into the state’s economy over the next 18 months. The industry first got the green light to get production back up and running when Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp officially released the state’s protocols for film and TV production on May 22, two weeks before California released its filming guidelines.

"Thanks to the 'Best Practices' for set safety released by the state, in addition to the guidelines provided by the national guilds and unions, we look forward to helping thousands of crew members and support service personnel get back to work safely," says the state’s film commissioner, Lee Thomas. "It will help Georgia maintain its position as one of the busiest production locales worldwide."

A large part of that return to work will be led by Pinewood Atlanta Studios. President and CEO Frank Patterson has spent the past few months exploring how to make the facilities safer, investing $1 million in new safety protocols. The film studio has brought on BioIQ, a medical testing firm that will monitor the wellness of entrants, and Synexis, a biodefense company that uses tech to try to reduce viruses, bacteria and mold in the air.

"We've put a whole lot of thinking into how we should do this safely, and I think we're going to learn and iterate a lot in the next few months in terms of how these protocols work," says Patterson. Though he isn't at liberty to name any of the projects starting up soon, sources say Pinewood has two feature films and multiple streaming shows (including The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki) beginning preproduction this month, with the aim to start filming as early as August.

Some studios are testing out protocols with smaller productions first. Atlanta Metro Studios, for instance, recently hosted a commercial shoot. "It was a good dress rehearsal for when production comes back full speed," says Rooker, who notes that he has a large show (which he also can't name) returning in July that will be using their entire facility for the remainder of the year.

Over at Atlanta-based Blackhall Studios, which saw HBO's Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams-produced series Lovecraft Country and Paramount's Chris Pratt thriller The Tomorrow War conveniently wrap production just before the shutdown, chairman and CEO Ryan Millsap has focused on the physical aspects of making the facility safer — that means looking at getting rid of door handles and swapping out all the bathroom fixtures for touchless ones — in an effort to get his facility ready for the rush of projects he's anticipating post-virus.

In fact, there are currently six productions vying for space at his studio, and he has room for about two. "Right now, we have people circling like sharks," says Millsap. "It's just a question of who can finally pull the trigger in a world where everybody wants to be working but nobody knows exactly how to work — and it's going to come down to whoever is ready to go tomorrow."

In an effort to remain competitive, others in the state are building out new production facilities that are pandemic-proof. Patrick Millsaps, a lawyer and political consultant turned film producer, is constructing a brand-new 1,500-acre studio complex in Albany, Georgia, named Kane Studios that will not only offer 650,000 square feet of purpose-built soundstages, 300,000 square feet of production offices and 1,000 acres of backlot — it will also be able to sequester an entire production the way that Perry’s studio can.

"We hopefully won't open until post-vaccine of this pandemic, but Bill Gates keeps calling this Pandemic One, so we're making sure the things that we've learned during this pandemic are a permanent part of what we're building," says Millsaps, adding that the studio is slated for a 2022 debut. “In this business, where people are always crammed in on top of each other, we just thought, why not make this the safest and healthiest studio on the planet?”

Surely, now more than ever, Georgia’s wide-open spaces are appealing to cast and crew coming from densely packed cities like New York and Los Angeles. And in another recent win for the state's film supporters, concerns about its controversial abortion legislation were attenuated this week when the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Louisiana. Though a Georgia Senate discussion about the uncapped film incentive program may have briefly worried some, ultimately the Senate Finance Committee's approval of a bill that requires audits for all film and TV projects that claim the credit seemed to quell any concerns about potentially more significant changes to the program.

"There’s a really beautiful element to what's happening in Georgia and the support that we're getting at the political level to return to production," says Millsap, noting he gets regular calls from the governor's office and state senators asking him when he's getting production going again. “They know that entertainment is one of the few sectors that's going to come up out of COVID like a rocket ship, and everything I hear from all of my relationships with politicians in Georgia is that they are ready to rock and roll this thing.”

#Atlanta #film and tv production #Loki #Falcon and the Winter Soldier #Pinewood

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a-cai-jpg · 5 years ago

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it's startlingly easy for the line between reality and fantasy to blur

(hold on tight, don't lose your grip.)

glossary:

S. - novel by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams Ship of Theseus - fictional novel by V.M. Straka S. - character in Ship of Theseus "S" - collective of writers Ekstrom, Durand, Summersby - part of "S" Filomela - editor for V.M. Straka Signe Rabe - daughter to Ekstrom and Durand (contested!) Desjardins - Straka scholar, married to Signe Rabe

For the past few days, I've been reading and re-reading a book titled S.

S. is a novel co-written between Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams. (I believe Dorst did most of the writing and Abrams came up with the idea.)

I was taken by the novel when I first saw it because of the handwritten notes in the margins and the inserts.

(I don't know if y'all remember those huge, flip books in Costco that would have inserts and pop-ups about dragons and faeries and stuff. I used to spend hours standing in that aisle flipping and perusing through all of them.)

But damn, S. is so much more than margin-notes and fake post cards.

S. is a novel with three different storylines.

When you first take the physical book out of its booksleeve, it's a book titled Ship of Theseus by V.M. Straka, a novel published posthumously by Straka's editor, Filomela, after his untimely death in 1946.

Within this 456-page book, you become privy to the lives of three groups of people. Firstly, there is the protagonist of Ship of Theseus, a amnesiac man simply named S. Then, there are the authors of the margin-notes, Jen and Eric, two students at Pollard State University trying to discover the secret behind the mysterious and elusive author of Ship of Theseus, V.M. Straka. Lastly, there is the story of Straka himself.

(I feel like I can't talk about the book without explaining what I found in the book, so heavy spoiler alert.)

After some extensive note-taking and reading, I've more or less figured out the three storylines. I will allude to two of them, but the following is an in-depth-ish synopsis of Ship of Theseus itself.

In Ship of Theseus, S. wakes up in an unnamed town known only as The Old Quarter, washed up from shore. He hears voices of those suffering, and he meets a girl who introduces herself as Sola. She is reading a novel titled The Archer's Tales. This is a real book (real, in the sense that it exists in the second level, the Jen and Eric level), written by Sobreiro. In Spanish, it is El Libro de Ese (The Book of S).

S. is kidnapped and wakes up on a ship, which is later revealed to have the name Sobreiro etched on its hull. After a storm, he ends up in a town called B--- and finds himself amidst a worker's rebellion against a factory. He sees a woman who looks similar to Sola, but goes by the name Szalómé, and in his pursuit of her, he realizes that there is a man planning to bomb the factory and kill the workers. He hesitates between warning them and following Sola, and ultimately retraces his steps back to the factory, but he is too late.

He and four crucial persons of the rebellion survive the blast and escape. In the getaway, the four are killed by the Detectives who work for Vévoda, the malicious owner of the factory hiding a dangerous secret. S. jumps off a cliff into the ocean. Somehow, he ends back up on the ship. It looks different, a patchwork of different types of wood, but he knows its the same ship.

Something interesting to note about the ship is that the sailors have their lips sewn shut. There is a rotation system, where one sailor at a time goes to the orlop, but S. is never allowed to go there.

(i didn't know wtf an orlop is, but apparently, it's the lowest deck of a ship lol)

S. searches for his identity through writing and scrawls his stories into the wooden walls of the ship with a nail. When the ship approaches land again, he is rowed to shore by a crewmember. He follows a guide on the land through a town, El H---, and realizes that decades have passed since he last stepped foot on shore. In El H---, he arrives at a library/museum where the residents are packing up art and literature to protect from an impending invasion by the Agents, who are the evolved version of the Detectives. There, he sees a portrait of a woman who looks like Sola, but is told her name is Samar. He is given a valise and then told to return to the ship. The invasion arrives, but he successfully makes it back to the ship with the help of a person that he believes is Sola.

The valise is filled with material and notes on how to make various poisons and a stack of 57 photographs of individuals.

The next time he arrives on shore, the crewmembers haul boxes and boxes of cargo from the ship into a warehouse for safekeeping. He climbs a volcano and meets a very old woman who shows him a book of the Ship of Theseus. She tells him to make a decision, and that the question of Sola is always there. He races back to the ship, enters the orlop, and sees a solitary writing desk, ink, reams of paper, and boxes identical to the ones currently being packed into the warehouse. He sits down and begins to write.

(It's clear that when the sailors go to the orlop, they too, are writing.)

The sailors return and sew his mouth shut.

S. embarks on his new mission, having made the decision the old woman had presented him. He begins his journey to kill each and every one of the 57 people photographed, who are Agents of Vévoda. With every person killed, a page of a book is tucked into his or her pocket. In Vévoda's retaliation, a similar signature is used.

In a mission to kill the governor, another one of Vévoda's people, he recognizes the governor as one of the original four who had escaped with him from the rebellion. Not only does he realize he's been betrayed by someone who believed in the cause even before he did, the guides who are with him are killed, and he thinks he sees Sola and his younger self.

After a stint in the Winter City, S. finally meets Sola, who travels with him to the château to kill Vévoda and his guests, who are all powerful statespeople and businesspeople from around the world. During the operation, which is to poison the black wine that Vévoda has created, he realizes that this is not what he wants. He asks himself if it matters what he wants, and makes the decision for the very first time that yes, it matters. So he doesn't kill them.

Instead, he persuades Vévoda's heir to drink the wine, and the young man ends up spilling the intentions of the Vévoda powerhouse, which is to create the opportunities and provide the resources for power-hungry people around the world to have their way, utterly disregarding the powerless.

At the end, there is a vision where S. and Sola return to the ship and, as they sail, spot another ship that he says is "one of theirs."

Just Ship of Theseus by itself, ignoring the other two storylines, is packed with allegories and metaphors.

The novel itself is difficult to get through and vaguely existential, but I think Straka's message ultimately distills to the notion that the struggle against greed is both overwhelming and relentless. To join in the fight is to lose your identity and free will, but sometimes, it is the decision that you have to make.

S., therefore, is not a singular person, but rather, one link in an ongoing "tradition" starting with perhaps Sobreiro, in the 1600s (I quote "tradition" here because it is the term used in the book). He wakes up with no memory and is pushed into and along this revolution against the growing power of Vévoda, likely like the many people before him and the many after him (the younger S. that appears with Sola).

(Hence why he has no name, but instead, a placeholder, because this is a story that will be lived many, many times by those who hear and answer to the calls of the suffering.)

(I write about S. in a very passive manner, because he is just that.)

The Ship of Theseus is a thought-experiment exploring whether or not the ship is the same ship if you replace all of its original parts. The answer presented in the novel is a conflicted one. The author argues that the next Vévoda, the heir to the corporation, may or may not be the same as his father. Furthermore, the author writes an S. that deviates from the original plan--who chooses Sola over the tradition. Both Vévoda and S. are placeholders for two ideas--the former being the corrupt and greedy, and the latter being the opposing force. Using the Ship of Theseus as the title implies that each iteration of Vévoda and S is identical, yet the author challenges that notion in the last chapter.

Why would the author do that, you may ask?

BECAUSE the message Dorst and Abrams tries to bring with S. is much more nuanced.

NOW.

NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING IN THE NEXT LAYER.

WHO IS V.M. STRAKA?

That is the question asked in the foreword written by Filomela, the editor, but also the question Jen and Eric try to answer throughout the book.

There is one compelling theory that I love very much, which is V.M. Straka is ultimately a figurehead for a movement started by a collective of radical literary scholars who are trying to uncover the corruption and greed of businesses and governments around the world, sometimes with very extreme methods like murder.

This is true. To a certain extent. (The group is known as "S.")

(Yes. I know.)

(Guess what their signature is? A page of a Straka book tucked in the pocket of the corpse.)

But, Straka was also a person.

(This is where Dorst and Abram's novel grows beyond Ship of Theseus.)

In the original Ch. 10 that Straka writes, Sola and three others die, and he returns to sea feeling like he has failed the people he's tried to protect. At the ocean, the point-of-view suddenly shifts, and the reader begins seeing through the lens of an unnamed young man.

The young man boards the ship.

WHAT BEGINS AT THE WATER SHALL END THERE, AND WHAT ENDS THERE SHALL ONCE MORE BEGIN.

See, Ship of Theseus is semi-autobiographical, regardless of how much Eric tries to argue that you can't assume everything a writer writes is about him/herself. Ship of Theseus is Straka's final reckoning with the movement in which he's immersed himself. This is why it’s titled Ship of Theseus.

In Straka's original manuscript, with S. standing in as himself, he writes that he's failed his fellow comrades. He despairs that the next generation will similarly be both humbled and tortured by the fight.

Because this original manuscript is lost after Straka's death, Filomela writes a happier ending, in which S. loses neither Sola nor the fight. S. and Sola continue the "tradition," along with numerous others after them. This is the ending she wishes for them, because she was in love with Straka, but the ending Straka never dared to choose.

Ugh, and that's what's so fucking powerful about S. It is a conversation amongst three S.'s and three Solas. There's the original S. and Sola in the novel, where S.'s preoccupation with the "tradition" ends in Sola's death. There's Straka and Filomela, where Straka's fear of choosing Filomela ends in his own death and a missed opportunity with Filomela. Then, there's Eric and Jen, where they choose each other AND Ship of Theseus.

They choose to continue embarking on this journey to prove who Straka is together, possibly outing the powerful corporation the “S” was fighting against in Straka’s time, and ultimately, reconciling the indecision of S. and the fear of Straka.

Before I leave you, there is one other thing Ship of Theseus discusses that makes my heart skip a beat when I think about it.

S. writes. His crewmembers write. Their writings are protected in a warehouse. They no longer have the ability to speak, but their power comes through the words that they write and leave for the next generation.

(Eric was right to be fixated on the "generation" theme.)

When S. is on the Territory (where he kills the governor), Vévoda's people are blasting mountains carved with images of the Old Village's history for natural resources to build formidable, destructive weapons.

The erasure of indigenous stories for the benefit of the greedy and powerful and the erasure of stories in general is a prominent theme throughout Ship of Theseus.

(similarly, our world is plagued by the same problem, both in the past and today. see: cultural terrorism. but also colonialism and imperialism in general lol.)

However, what is striking is the black stuff that Vévoda is manufacturing. This black stuff is the puddle of grotesque liquid that burns through the flesh at the top of the mountain when S. and his comrades flee from B---, it is the exquisite wine Vévoda saves for his most important guests and markets as his greatest weapon, and it is ink.

His most powerful weapon is ink. What all the rich and powerful want is the power to write the past, present, and future.

After Vévoda's son drinks the wine, he has a choice to make. He can continue on the Vévoda tradition and bring destruction about the world under the guise of creating something greater, or he can rewrite the future. He chooses the latter. (and unfortunately dies.)

BUT.

Straka writes,

"He passes a barrel on which no mark is visible, as its contents have leaked through a split stave and blackened the wood below....He kneels down and touches a finger to it, and all at once, the mad chorus of voices in his head goes silent.

Silent.

Settled. Returned to the earth and settled. Voices and narratives, re-absorbed into the ground on which we walk. And this is the key, he realizes, the thing that makes the purpose of all that work on the ship and in El-H--- and on the Obsidian Island and in Budapest, Edinburgh, Valparaíso, Prague, Cape Town, Valletta, the Winter City, and a thousand others come into focus. All that ink, all that pigment, all that desperate action to preserve that which had been created--it is valuable because story is a fragile and ephemeral thing on its own, a thing that is easily effaced or disappeared or destroyed, and it is worth preserving. And if it can't be preserved, then it should be released and cycled. To write with the black stuff is to create and, at the same time, to resurrect. We write with what those who've come before us wrote.

Everything rewritten. Part o' the tradition."

We all have the power to write our own stories and the story of the world around us. We all have the power to choose to destroy or create. Destruction is not a necessary precursor to creation.

(I lied, I'm not leaving yet.)

There is very, very important note that Jen writes in the book. She says that for every person who betrays the "S," there is someone who is their ally. This applies to the collective "S" and S., the character.

I think the most irresistible part of S., this larger novel written by Dorst and Abrams, is the "S"--this collective of radical writers (the pen is mightier than the sword!) dedicated to bringing about a just world.

I--

Oh my god.

Many of the members of "S" are parallels to the characters in Ship of Theseus (and this is the most exciting part with Jen and Eric's research, as they match each real life person with the characters).

There is one person in particular, Durand, for whom my heart sings. After her lover, Ekstrom, passes away (possibly due to Straka's carelessness), she writes and researches relentlessly. Before dying, she is determined to fight for women's voting rights and to untagle the stories of history so they are not forgotten.

And then there is Filomela, who singlehandedly tries to rewrite the accepted "tradition." She falls in love with a person through the words, never meeting him, but dedicates ten years of her life to waiting for him. She isn't part of the "S," but she's part of the "S" because like how Sola has The Archer's Tales at the beginning of Ship of Theseus, the "tradition" is passed to Filomela, unbeknownst to her. But she fucking kills it.

I mean, she even fakes her own death and manages to live until over 100.

In her parting letter to Eric and Jen, she writes,

"Please remember, though, not every question must be answered. Matters of the past may be allowed to remain in the past; matters of the present and future may be allowed to go unexplored. The world will not end in any case....I will tell you what matters most (although you must know this already, as you know my story): it is love. When you fall in love, friends, let yourself fall. It is my fondest wish that this note finds you both happy, healthy, and falling."

As Straka's editor, she must know that "falling" is a prominent theme in Ship of Theseus. As privy to part of the "S," she must also know that falling is ultimately how many of the members find their end. And yet, she uses and repeats this word, because falling is terrifying and negative and unwanted, but falling in love shouldn't be feared.

I like that last line, but I really, really, really like, "...not every question must be answered. Matters of the past may be allowed to remain in the past; matters of the present and future may be allowed to go unexplored."

See, V.M. Straka is a person with flesh and blood, with history, with emotions.

But he is also something greater than that. He is a collection of writings influenced and contributed to by a number of skilled authors and scholars with a singular vision. He is a fight against the corrupt and evil.

So, when Filomela fell in love with the words written, whom did she fall in love with?

Jen is convinced that she fell in love with the person, Vaclav Straka, who disappeared after a suicide attempt by drowning in 1910 and had his future erased to become V.M. Straka.

But, I think she was in love with the person who embodies a revolutionary spirit. She suspects who Straka is, she must have after so many years working with him, but she's okay with not knowing and loving the ideal in her mind, especially after Straka dies.

(maybe i'm just projecting)

There's another arc in the storyline that I love very much, which is that of Signe Rabe.

In the "Interlude" chapter, Filomela writes a question to V.M. Straka into the text, asking, "Who is Signe Rabe?"

Jen and Eric ultimately discover Signe Rabe to be the wife of Desjardins, a Straka scholar, but also, the daughter of Durand.

The identity of Signe's father is contested. Some people think it's Straka, others think it is Summersby (another member of the "S"), but I like more answer more.

Signe Rabe is the daughter of Durand and Ekstrom, raised by Summersby and Straka (there's a margin-note where Eric talks to Summersby's lawyer's daughter, who mentions a little girl whose parents were killed and chased around the world by bad people so she's raised by two uncles).

I love that--I love it so much more than Signe being raised by her real father and his friend.

(that's awful, i know but shh)

Because, the "S" is more than just a collective of radicals--it is a family bound together by their vision for a better world, a greater ideal. And Straka--Vaclav--who was like a son to Ekstrom, who was saved from ending his life by Ekstrom in 1910 to live this extraordinary life, atones for his sins and raises Signe, who forgives him.

WHAT BEGINS AT THE WATER SHALL END THERE, AND WHAT ENDS THERE SHALL ONCE MORE BEGIN.

UGH.

Ok, I'm done.

-ish.

(My favorite character is Desjardins, who is first described as "too old + senile to take on students" by Eric.

But God, imagine. This man who marries a woman he loves, a woman who dies far too young and leaves him with a secret about who she is. And because he loves her so much, he looks for Filomela for twelve years, possibly decoding everything in Ship of Theseus just like Jen and Eric did, and hands her the final chapter that Straka wrote.

And he continues to pursue the question of "Who is V.M. Straka?" for the rest of his life, embroiled in this larger conspiracy for the simple reason that he fell in love with Signe Rabe.

And he ultimately dies, falling out of a window in the same hotel Ekstrom, his father-in-law, died in.)

(I HURT.)

( Filomela describes him as a nice, polite man "moving with great sadness.")

(I imagine him to be a wily, tall, young man who falls in love, who becomes sad and serious, who begins to hunch over as the years pass him, who finds someone--Eric--to continue on his work, who is okay with dying after passing his documents to Eric because someone will continue the tradition.)

(Ok, now I'm really done.)

(Thank you for reading. Farewell. Next time I will not write so much.)

daily song rec: 任贤齐 - 天涯 (cover by 任贤齐 & 刘宇宁)

(sometimes i hear liu yuning’s voice and i’m like oh yes this is why girls wore wedding dresses to his concert)

#ship of theseus #s.#jj abrams #doug dorst #wow #are these proper tags for once?

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