In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff — aka Black Widow — confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. Black Widow — the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.
See movies including “Black Widow” in the theatres (instead of at home) when you can!
Why Are You Here?
It’s been a tough nearly two years for most all of us. But realize, things are getting better. Life IS getting better! As 2021 winds down, now is an important time to reflect back on what matters most to you, and to achieve your top most goals.
One of the most important questions we need to ask ourselves and even more importantly, to accurately answer, is “Why are we here?” If you work for someone else at a job, can you imagine going to work and not knowing what you are there for? Or if you are in business for yourself, can you imagine not knowing why you are in business? Surely that would be insanity, right? And yet arguably millions of people do not know the even more important question that entails the entirety of their life, “Why are you here in your physical body, and on this Earth?” Surely we are here for a reason!
I believe that that reason we are here on this Earth is individual to each person, which is to use the greatest gifts each of us were given in this lifetime. To one person it may to be a doctor. To another, an artist, and to yet another—an athlete. What is your gift? Your greatest talent? Have you harnessed it, trained, and made yourself the best you that you can be? If you have not, you owe it to yourself to start doing that now.
The second reason I feel we are here on this Earth, is a universal purpose, which is to develop good character. Another way of saying this would be that we are here to evolve spiritually, by rejecting evil, and doing good.
Doing good to others stars with doing good to ourselves first. That means having self-respect, and self-love. To be worthy of self-love and self-respect, we have to live respectable lives, which means we have integrity with our word to ourselves and to each other. To be worthy of self-love and self-respect means that our values and ideals are in alignment with how we speak and how we act. In order to treat others how we ourselves would like to be treated, we also have to demand that others treat us with respect, and not tolerate abuse. And to stop abuse from others, we have to first stop abusing ourselves. That means that how we think about ourselves is not negative, that our “self-talk” is constructive, not damaging and degrading to our self-esteem.
After you have a proper value and vision of yourself within society, make it your habit to live in integrity with your word. Ask yourself why you are here, what is your highest calling, and then manifest that purpose. Help others when you can. Constantly increase your value not only in the marketplace, but also your value spiritually and socially.
1, Treat yourself as you want others to treat you
2, Treat others as they want to be treated
3, Live in integrity. Be true to yourself and others
4, Ask yourself and most importantly answer, Why Are You Here?
5, Manifest Your Life Purpose
6, After you have Achieved Abundance, Give Back, and teach others how to do the same.
Let us know what you want to hear, read and see in our next issue. Explore all of our pages via the table of contents tab, and check back often as we will soon be rolling out new content on a weekly basis.
Frances McDormand accepts the Oscar® for Actress in a Leading Role during the live ABC Telecast of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 25, 2021. Photo Credit: Todd Wawrychuk / A.M.P.A.S.
One of the greatest actors of our time, Frances McDormand won the Oscar® for Best Actress in a leading Role in Nomadland, directed by Chloe’ Zhao, who also won the Oscar® for Best Director. In Nomadland, Frances McDormand plays a widow, who after losing her job, departs on a journey across the American West, living as a modern-day nomad in her van. The film also won the Oscar® for Best Picture.
How to Succeed
By Bruce Edwin
I recently read a quote from an unknown author that states, “Don’t go for what you know you can get. Go for what you really want.” I like this, but I would also add, make it so that what you really want, IS what you know you can get—and then get it.
I don’t believe in a plan B. I believe that if you have a plan B, you will usually settle for plan B. I never have a back up plan. This doesn’t mean not to be prepared. It also doesn’t mean not to plan for an emergency. I suggest you always plan for an emergency, set things in place for that preparation, such as emergency savings, an emergency backup of data, an emergency food supply, etc. So, prepare for the emergency, but then forget about it after you have the preparation done. Put it in a closet, bank, or safe or wherever applicable, and forget about the potential emergency, and then PLAN for the best, and make that happen.
Sure, you can run a scenario of IF there is an emergency, what will you do, how will you execute THAT plan, such as a natural disaster, etc. That’s a good idea. Maybe do that once or twice a year—but not every week. Not every day. Don’t obsess over potential disaster, and don’t obsess over failure or a second-best scenario. PLAN and GO FOR the BEST. Plan out the steps needed to get there so well, that you believe it is true because it CAN be true if you follow the plan. And then do it—follow your plan and make it happen.
When people settle for second best or settle for less than the best of what they want or dream of, then they get what they settle for. If you see a person working at a job they hate, you can know they basically settled for that job. They have not yet pushed themselves harder to get something better.
If you are not self-employed and you work for people, or ever have, have you ever been without a job, and could never find a job for the longest time? Then when you got a job, and were not really that serious about getting a job, all kinds of job offers came your way? This is not because the universe is cruel, and fate is playing a cruel trick on you. Rather, it is because when you have a job, you are not desperate for another. Desperation does not show in your face or energy vibe that you are desperate. You have more confidence. You are more self-assured. Yet when you don’t have a job, you may put off a desperate vibe. Your energy may be off. People see and read in your words, tone, or demeanor that you are a desperate man or woman. Employers are not charity case workers. Good, top employers typically do not want to hire weak, desperate people. They want to hire winners.
When you have what you need, then you can more easily get what you want. And beyond the basic things of food, water, clothing, and shelter; most of what you think you need is a matter of your personal opinion.
I may need a big house, a fast new car, a lot of money in the bank, and to live in one of the most expensive, famous cities in the world. You may need two houses, two cars, your own private jet airplane, and to live in two cities on both coasts. Or you may need far less. Our wants are determined by what we think we need, and what we think we need is based on what we will settle for.
A homeless person may not settle for “not” having a tent to sleep in, taking a shower every day, and hustling for money on the corner. He will always find a way to get a shower, have a tent, and be out on that corner every day with a legible sign he makes to ask people passing by for money.
Another man will always have a roof over his head, with a toilet and running water and power. He may struggle and have little else more, but he will never settle for less than that.
A woman may always have a new model Mercedes. She may struggle to get it some years, but every year, no matter what, she will find a way to get the latest model of that new car. She will settle for nothing less.
What we settle for is what we get. And what we settle for is what we BELIEVE we can get. And what we BELIEVE we can get is what we feel we DESERVE. To settle for something, you have to believe you deserve it. And if you don’t yet have what you want, then you don’t yet fully feel that you deserve it. If you did feel you deserved it, then you would logically do the steps necessary to get it and you would have it. If you don’t yet have a billion dollars, then you don’t yet believe you can, because you don’t feel you deserve it. And factually, if we don’t yet have what we want, then we don’t yet deserve it. For the marketplace is generally pretty fair, and only rewards us with what we deserve. If one produces enough goods or services to warrant netting a billion dollars, then one generally deserves it. And the billionaire believed they could do it because they did it.
So, you see, these two areas, of what we want and what we need are intricately connected. And they are also closely connected to what we FEEL. The part of your brain that causes you to feel emotions heavily controls what actions you will take or not take if you are one who is controlled by your emotions. And let’s face it–we all generally are—to a greater or lesser degree.
When you increase your positive belief in yourself; your self-esteem, then your expectations can increase. When your expectations increase, then your goals and targets to match reaching those expectations can be more easily reached. They are more realistic.
HOW TO SUCCEED?
Your job is to:
1, increase your self esteem
2, determine what your needs are
A, a part of this is determining what you do NOT need and getting rid of and avoiding that
3, determine what your wants are
A, a part of this is determining what you do NOT want and getting rid of and avoiding that
4, make a strategic plan to always have your needs met, no matter what
A, include an emergency plan you prepare for, go over once or twice a year, then forget about it
5, make a strategic plan to reach what you want
A, break the major goals into monthly, weekly, and daily targets and objectives and take steps on them DAILY
B, always be learning new skills that more quickly help you reach your goals
C, delegate when possible
D, track your progress with statistics and
E, write down and review your goals at least twice or more daily including when you wake up and before you go to sleep
F, never make excuses
put your attention ONLY on what you want—not on what you don’t want
Have positive expectations in all your thoughts, words, and actions; assume the best from yourself and from others
iii. if you are in a bad mood and have bad expectations, do NOTHING, and come back to work when you HAVE positive expectations. Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy and when your mind and your mouth is your enemy, the best thing is to DO NOTHING and SAY NOTHING until you are back on track
iv: As Zig Zigler would say, don’t allow anyone with “stinkin’ thinkin” around you. Tend your mind as if it were a delicate garden that could be destroyed by weeds. In fact—it is like that, and the weeds are negative people and a negative mental attitude. Don’t let losers and pessimists pollute your mind, destroy your goals, and ruin your life.
G, never settle for second best.
G, Look around you and improve your conditions of the scene around you and improve yourself and your life every day. If you walk into a room, something should be better about it when you leave the room. If you walk down the street, it should be better for you having done so—whether you pick up a piece of trash or whatever. When you go to sleep, you should be some more steps closer to your top goal and dream every day. You should also improve ALL areas of your life daily; spiritual, emotional, intellectual, financial, and physical.
6, When you reach your top goals, help others along the way—pay it forward
A, give thanks to those that helped you along the way including
the creator of the universe who made you—if you believe in that
help others less fortunate; charitable help
7, Increase your goals and start all over again with new dreams
About Bruce Edwin:
Bruce Edwin is publisher of Hollywood Sentinel, manager of Hollywood Sentinel Public Relations, and CEO of Starpower Management. A writer and producer, he also heads Bruce Edwin Productions, a production company for feature film and streaming television.
For questions or comments to the author, contact Bruce at StarpowerManagementLLC at gmail dot com or call 310-226-7176. Your questions or comments MIGHT be published for the world to see or hear.
The Hollywood Sentinel publishes ONLY the good news. Explore our pages, and check back often for new content each week on our various pages.
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”–Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
FEAR is an emotional state. It is not something outside of you that someone can give or take. The only one that can make YOU afraid is YOU. So, do NOT let the politicians, the media, even well intentioned “friends” on social media, or ANYONE scare you into being afraid of anything. You are an adult. You know not to cross the street when cars are coming. You know not to touch a hot stove. You know not to go rock climbing 10,000 feet if you have never trained or done it competently before. You know what can hurt you and what to reach for and what to avoid. You DO NOT NEED to be afraid. Fear does not serve you. Fear is one of the many covert psychological WEAPONS of an enemy. Do NOT let the enemy steal your peace in 2021. Do not fear poverty. Learn how to make money and invest it. Do not fear tyranny or censorship of free speech. Stand up and fight for what you believe in. Do no fear disease or a virus. Learn how to boost your immune system. Do not fear the daily barrage of bad news and insanity that the media propagates to try control you. Be IMMUNE to propaganda. Be un-brainwashable. Be POWERFUL. And be Brave. Wishing you much love, happiness and peace in 2021.
Visit here soon for our great new issue out this weekend.
Paradise has returned to Los Angeles and Southern California this month—thankfully. The fires are out, fire season has winded down, and the smoke is gone.
Granted, the city is still shut down, but at least we have the mountains and the ocean and beautiful weather. Shutting down nature is not only difficult, its simply cruel, and wholly unnecessary. So we are thankful that we at least have this! We are still missing the concerts, art museums, orchestras, nightclubs, and gyms. We hope this changes SOON!
During times of turmoil, fear, difficulty, or challenge; music, art, and film can offer us a refuge and a place of healing to get deeper in touch with our spirit, to release our feelings, and to celebrate what we have, and to heal. For this reason among many more, the artists among us ARE essential workers, and important to the very essence of society. The artists of the world are the soul of its culture. Today, there is no better band to represent that fact than London Grammar.
One of the most powerful and significant newer bands of our time, critically acclaimed British trio LondonGrammar recently released a new video for their soaring new single “Baby It’s You” (Columbia Records). Directed by Oriol Puig, the music video was filmed on location in the forests of Catalonia and is intertwined with 3D generated imagery created by Trizz Studios. See more with London Grammar in our “Music’s Greatest” page here in this new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel.
Image: Beach of Big Sur, California, USA. Image created: April 12, 2016, by Michael Durana. Source: WikiCommons, fair use.
Covid 19! The Shutdown! Heat Wave! Power Outage! Earthquake! Smoke! Fire!
If you live in California, including in Los Angeles particularly during September of 2020, you may think, “What is going on? It can’t get worse than this!” Then it did.
Politically, many Democrats blame everything on Trump, and many Republicans blame everything on the Democrats. Factually, many around America even wonder if the world is ending, and consider all of the recent calamities befalling America and more particularly in California and the West Coast; as signs of the apocalypse.
While we won’t digress on the four horseman, or tyrants in the form of health officials, mayors, and governors, we can definitely all agree, there is “Trouble in Paradise.” Those of us who have lived in California and L.A. for years who have been fortunate enough not to be hit by the Malibu fires last year, all found their lives affected by the many other fires throughout California during the fire season this year. While the flames only reached some, the smoke reached everyone.
While L.A. generally is like paradise for many of us, in reality, no one ever promised us a heaven on Earth in 2020. And it is times like these that teach us just how fortunate we usually, really are. 2020 has taught us–or at least should have, to appreciate and be thankful for a safe, healthy environment, for good, clean water, for fresh, clean air, for good health, for our every basic freedom we have; big and small, and for every breath of life itself.
We are not owed a perfectly working universe. We are not owed a planet that always has enough oxygen and fresh clean air, but that is what we usually have. We were not promised enough gravity that we can walk but don’t fly into the sky, or enough warm sun that gives just enough heat to warm us, but not kill us, and just enough air and wind that cools us, but that overall doesn’t blow us away; but that’s what we were kindly given.
In reality, the universe is a perfect creation, designed for our survival, sustenance, and success. Most natural disasters are a rare occurrence compared to the countless times of peace and calm when there are not disasters, and the majority of the disasters anyone does experience, are generally caused by manmade problems–not by the universe or its creator.
While the above is true, and the awareness of this mindset is good to focus on, it does little to help those confronting the devastation of air that one can’t breathe in because it is too smoky, a state they can’t live in because the majority of the economy is shut down and there is no work to be found and no where to go, or to deal with the home that one lost if it got burned down. Thinking of others less fortunate to try make a terrible condition seem less horrible, does not necessarily change one’s condition. Times are tough for many in 2020 to be sure, and in California, let’s face it–for many, things have gone from bad–to worse.
So what is the solution?
1, Realize that any condition is not permanent. Forest fires, viruses, tyrannical governments, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters all end. The nature of any human being and the nature of the earth is to heal and to survive. Bad conditions will end, and things WILL get better.
2, Do realize that the more stressed or depressed you are, the worse things will seem, and the more overwhelmed you will be, being less capable of handling the problem. That means, you need to be well rested, well fed, and in a calm state of mind and body to confront any problem. Look at things when you are calm and consider things objectively, and rationally.
3, Do look around at all of the things you have yourself that are working, and look out in society at other people that are happy, healthy, and safe and functioning and working. Look at society itself at things that are working and functioning properly and realize that most things are OK and you will be OK do.
4, Know that any good condition takes work. To be healthy, you need to eat well, get enough sleep, work out, and take care of your body, mind and spirit. If you have bad air for a few weeks or months, you may need to invest in some air purifiers. If you can’t work out at the gym or outside, you may need to invest in some workout equipment for indoors until things change. If the city or state you live in has crazy politicians that won’t let you work, you may need to do new things for work online, or move to a location that has more freedom. Take action, and do it now. Don’t wait until you are in a lower condition where you can’t function.
5, Expand your power. Build reserves of money, food, capitol, and resources. Prepare for disasters that may occur in the future, and then focus on the present, here and now. Be prepared for the future, but don’t obsess over it. Focus on the now.
6, Once you are in a condition of power, help others. We are all in this together.
With that said, if you, one of our readers needs help with anything, call us, and if we can help, we will if we can. There is no guarantee but we will see if we can try.
7, We must come together as a city, as a state, as a nation, and as as world to be better people, kinder people, and more forgiving, compassionate, thoughtful, and loving to each other, and to the earth itself. While we don’t always live up to what we preach–we try each day. No one is perfect, but the goal of every human being should be to be better, do better, and be kinder than the day before. Spread the love–even to those with whom you disagree with politically. What we reap, we sow. In other words–karma is real. We are treated by others based on how we treat others. Be kind.
Sure, we have some trouble in paradise, but it is still paradise. The trouble will soon fade, and we will make it.
Be sure to check out the back issues, and let us know what you liked, disliked, want to read, hear or see. We might even publish your words or message for the world to hear or see in the next issue.
Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, during which he delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, calling for an end to racism. Image: Rowland Scherman (1937–). Restored by Adam Cuerden. Image made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Source: National Archives at College Park.
If you listen to someone telling you over and over how horrible life is, a part of you is eventually going to start believing them. When you believe you are doomed, you eventually WILL be doomed, because your thoughts will create the circumstances that manifest the reality of what you predominantly think.
A person can fail at life because:
1, someone around them that they personally know is telling them they are going to fail or die
2, someone from their past has told them this, and their voice is still ringing in their head like a broken record, or
3 this person can even be many people in form of the news media.
Thoughts turn into things. If you feed your mind with toxicity, you will have a toxic life. Whether you pollute your mind with junk food, drugs, or a failing mentality in the form of bad company or bad news, what you reap with the results of your life is what you sow into your mind.
It has never been harder during our time, to avoid bad news and doom and gloom news media. There is even a new buzzword to describe the activity of this on social media; “Doom Scrolling.” Much of what is posted on social media is not even accurate or is just a headline from a news story that does not convey the true reality of the story. Many times, mainstream media itself simply does not fact check, copying other news media sources without doing their own investigation. At other times, mainstream media is simply deliberately biased or deceptive, attempting to pass of their politically motivated opinion as fact.
There certainly are plenty of real and valid things to be worried about or get angry about. In “Alice in Wonderland,” The queen stated she used to find at least six impossible things to believe before breakfast. Today, we can all easily find at least six outrageous things to make us furiously mad or depressed before breakfast—if we watch the mainstream news. However—fear and anger do not serve you. Fear weakens the immune system, and anger does too. Fear and anger actually shorten your life and distract you from your goals.
The stocks for most major, mainstream news outlets have skyrocketed since Covid19 was declared an emergency by President Trump earlier this year. The same media that literally ignored the virus during the first month it was reported in China, later went on a rampage of creating fear and panic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for over half a year.
Instead of telling people how to be calm, relax, and boost their immune system, the mainstream media went on a hell rage of mayhem and death, telling us how millions would be dead (which was false), and how all of us, including healthy individuals, needed to hide in our homes and wait for the savior—big pharma (their source of ad revenue)—to create a vaccine.
In reality, most people will be safe from Covid19. Most people will be healthy and live and not die. But if you believe most of the local, city, state, and county governments, the World Health Organization, many universities and politicians, and most mainstream media, you will not know that.
Don’t be a sheep and a blind follower of the herd. Think for YOURSELF. Don’t be a victim of propaganda, even if it’s delivered in a meme or post by your friends.
It is not Noble to be a Victim
The mainstream media, now largely an arm of a political agenda, wants to treat you as and portray you as a victim. Let us be clear; it is not noble to be a victim. It is not praiseworthy to fall ill, to be weak, to suffer, or to die. There is no victory in death and no heroic effort in getting sick. Getting sick and dying are easy. You just believe what the merchants of chaos and doom and gloom tell you. You just give up. Fighting and living is the true worthy goal, and the true noble feat is to live and live strongly and powerfully, with greatness and strength, with fearlessness and grace.
You were not born to take drugs and be another “case” for big pharma. Your body and mind and the “natural world” generally have all you need to be healthy and strong. Trust yourself.
Most people are basically good. America is overall a great country. Most people know it is wrong to destroy art, property, loot, and riot. While there are great political forces fighting for the very soul of this country and world, we can know several things;
Every person of every race, creed, color, ethnicity, age, sex, nationality, and sexual orientation has value.
ALL lives have value.
Censorship is a dangerous thing and is a step towards tyranny.
Goodness is greater than any evil.
Truth wins in the end.
We are blessed with each breath of life to be here.
We must cherish it, and we must fight on and live with power, faith, and forgiveness. Be a victor, and follow your passion, with strength and determination, and never—never give up.
English: US Postage stamp, Credo issue of 1961, 4c, famous quote by Patrick Henry, Date: 11 January 1961. Source: US Post Office Smithsonian National Postal Museum Photo image obtained/rendered by Gwillhickers. Author: US Post Office. Courtesy of WikiCommons, Fair Use.
Greetings,
And welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel. And my, what a time it is. As we are in the process of re-designing our pages for increased functionality with smart phone usage, we invite you to explore our pages on your laptop as well now, through our table of contents tab on the left of this site. Check back often, as many pages will be updated throughout the week.
Music video by U2 performing Beautiful Day (C) 2000 Universal-Island Records Limited.
If you are reading these words, you should be aware that there are reportedly over 4 billion people on the planet that do not have internet access as you do right now. That’s a very large segment of the global population. 13 countries, including China, Iran, and North Korea either have no internet or very limited freedom of speech or of what they can read online.
Reportedly 1.8 billion people, or around 25% of the global population, do not have access to clean water.
Around 1.6 billion people on the planet do not have adequate housing.
And not only do approximately 1.1 billion people not own a cell phone, they don’t even have electricity.
We are not telling you this information to depress you, but rather—to remind you of how fortunate you really are.
The fact that you have a warm place to live, with electricity, own a cell phone, have access to clean water, have the internet, and have a fairly large degree of freedom of speech, makes you far more fortunate than billions of other people on planet Earth. You can be thankful for all of these things right now.
I dare you to think of this. And just close your eyes for a few minutes, and let yourself feel the gratitude of all that you have right now. You have a lot.
The Hollywood Sentinel, since it’s beginning over 11 years ago, has been dedicated to reporting ONLY the good news, and dedicated to bringing the world our celebration of all areas of the arts.
Your body and your life itself is a miracle; a masterwork of art made by a genius creator. Your body automatically seeks—like a flower reaching for the sun—to heal itself, and to live.
Do not let the world and media tell you that you are sick and weak, and that you need to give up your freedoms and wait for the pharmaceutical industry to give you drugs to save you, before you can have your freedom back or a chance of living.
Do not Panic, Avoid Fear
Even if a meteor were going to strike the earth in 30 days that we knew about, wiping out all of humanity, it would not serve us to be fearful and panic and be miserable. The thing to do in that situation would be to spend out our last days living for each moment with happiness, thanks, and gratitude, love for ourselves, treating ourselves well, love for our loved ones and every other person on planet earth, love for the earth, and love for our creator (if you believe in that), and making peace with our mortality and preparing for death. If one believed in an afterlife, they should do things spiritually that make them feel most successful in handling that transition.
How to Help Prevent Getting the Virus?
1, Be happy. Any enemy you will ever have in your life wants you to be miserable. They want you miserable, and in fear. Fear weakens the immune system.
You may be angry over the situation and what is going on. That’s normal. Set aside a few short minutes a day where you allow yourself to get angry if you must–and then let it go. Bring yourself back to gratitude, love, and happiness, as much as you can. Don’t let anyone else pull you into emotions you are not ready to deal with. Do what’s right for you. Take care of yourself first–and others later, when you can.
ASSUME great health. Focus on great health–not sickness, and not symptoms. What we put our attention on is what we get.
2, Do not stress. Stress, a form of fear, weakens the body. When stress gets too bad, it causes the body to literally attack itself. This triggers the virus or makes it worse. Avoid stressful things including most media, negative people, and toxic situations.
3, Exercise. Exercise boosts the immune system. Work out daily, even if it’s just a mile or two walk in the neighborhood. But more is better.
4, Get plenty of sunshine, a natural source of Vitamin D, which boosts immunity. In addition, take vitamin D supplements as needed.
5, Take vitamin C and Zinc, which even some doctors have now had to admit help fight infection. Take a multi-vitamin as needed.
6, Eat healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid greasy, fried foods. Avoid chemical laden, processed foods. Avoid GMO’s. Avoid too much meat, or avoid it all together. Eat healthy, balanced, nutritious meals.
Drink a lot of water. At least 1 glass of fresh clean water per hour.
7, Get plenty of good sleep, at least 8 hours a night.
8, Set goals daily and achieve them each day. Stay clean, keep goal oriented, and stay busy.
9, Focus on making money and work smarter. Don’t assume you can’t make money. Don’t let the world and media convince you that you should give up and hide in a corner. Life is not over. You will make it.
10, If you can get a N95 or K95 mask, get one and wear it if you feel safer doing so when you are near people. If it makes you feel better wearing something else, go for it.
11, If you feel safer doing what we call “anti” social-distancing, than do that. You should always be clean and wash your hands regularly as needed during any time–including now.
12, Be kind to those who disagree with you, and be a source of patience and kindness.
If you feel you have contracted Covid19, What to Do?
(This following information is the opinion of the editor, and is not to interpreted as medical advice or the substitute of a medical professional).
1, Call a doctor immediately that you can trust if you feel you need to. If you take any, read about any drugs before you take them, and their side effects. It is always best to avoid man-made chemicals, whenever possible.
2, Breathe in steam which can even be a hot shower as needed.
3, Get pure mint oil or similar, to put in your nose and breathe in as needed. Test on your hand first to make sure it is safe to do so. The following link has the one that we use, called Sunbreeze. https://ibo.sunrider.com/site/bruceedwin/testimonial
4, Gargle with salt water regularly, and rinse your nose regularly with salt water, breathing in as needed to clear your head, Blow it out.
5, Repeat the list above in steps 1 through 10 and do more of each of 1 through 7.
6. If you believe in a higher power than you–pray.
7, Trust and simply have faith in yourself, your body, and the universe which is a benevolent place and is looking out for you.
8, Music has been scientifically proven to boost the immune system. Listen to great music that makes you feel good.
9, Smile and laugh, and watch happy, funny things that make you feel hope.
10, Do Qigong! An incredible, healing practice that combines slow martial arts like movements with moving meditation. Here is one of our favorites:
We wish you much peace, love, and happiness during these terribly trying times. Read these lists often, as needed, and do them. Trust and know that we WILL get through this, and if you are reading this, I trust that YOU will come out bigger and stronger and better than ever before.
–Bruce Edwin
As always, if you have questions, you may contact us at 310-226-7176. If we answer your question, your question and our answer may be published for the world to see.
This content is (c) 2020 Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
The first ever foreign language film to win an Oscar for Best Picture, “Parasite” dominated the awards, winning also for, Best Director, Best International Film, and Best Original Screenplay. Director Bong Joon Ho paid tribute to one of his inspirations during the night; Martine Scorsese.
We have a saying in Korea; “The more personal you get, the more creative you are.” –Bong Joon Ho
The following is the excerpt of Oscar Winner Bong Joon Ho, backstage at the Oscars.
Q (…)What does this (win) do for the acceptance in this country of foreign language films, films with subtitles? Is this a breakthrough moment, do you think, and allows you, other people from — who make films in foreign languages?
A. [Bong Joon Ho Translated] So during the Golden Globes I mentioned the one-inch barrier of subtitles, but I feel like that was already a little late. People were already overcoming these barriers. There are streaming services, YouTube, social media, and the environment that we currently live in, I think we are all connected. So I think naturally we will come to a day when a foreign language film — or not, it doesn’t really matter — a foreign language film winning this won’t be much of an issue later on, hopefully.
Q. This is amazing. This is history tonight. This is history, not just for the Academy Awards, but for South Korea. Can you please talk about that significance?
A. [Kwak Sin Ae Translated] So it’s the first time a Korean film has been nominated for the Oscars, so to just win one award would have been a huge celebration, but to win in four categories, six Oscars in total, I can’t even imagine the atmosphere in Korea right now and what would happen when we get back. But I did once imagine what it would mean to win Best Picture. To win Best Picture means that this film was voted by the members of the Academy, and I realized that that would signal the beginning of a different kind of change for international cinema, not just for Korea. So in that sense, it would have been great to win. We did win.
Q. What a historic night. Four historic wins for South Korea and also for Asians in general. So, Mr. Joon Ho, can you talk about your early influences, Asian directors in particular, who influenced you when you were growing up and to make you what you are now?
A. [Bong Joon Ho In English] It’s quite many. So first of all, the Kim Ki-young, the Korean big master, he is a huge master in the 1960s and ’70s who made THE HOUSEMAID, the movie digitally restored by the Martin Scorsese Foundation, you can find out that movie in the Criterion DVD, I strongly recommend. And I also strongly inspired by many Japanese directors, like Imamura Shohei, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, all those masters, and also, yeah, quite many wonderful Asian directors. For example, the Taipei New Wave directors, like Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Edward Yang, they also — they made always so beautiful movie which I admire so much, yeah.
Q. Your win is not just a win for South Korea, but it’s a win for international films, especially Asian cinema. My question is, what is your message for the actors of Asian descent that are based in Hollywood? It’s more than winning an Oscar, more than getting a nomination. They’re just fighting to get more work. What is your message? What does this award mean to them?
A. [Bong Joon Ho In English] Yesterday, in the Indie Spirit — Indie Spirit Award, THE FAREWELL, Lulu Wang, won the Best Picture, so I was so happy with her. I really love her works and — [Bong Joon Ho Translated] but I don’t think it’s necessary to separate all the borders and divisions, whether it’s Asia, Europe or the U.S. If we pursue the beauty of cinema and focus on the individual charms that each piece has, I think then we will naturally overcome all these barriers.
Laura Dern accepts the Actress in a Supporting Role award for ‘Marriage Story’ onstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 9, 2020 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images, AMPAS, used with kind courtesy.
Happy New Year from The Hollywood Sentinel! We are already into February, with the new awards season upon us. The Golden Globe and Grammy Awards have commenced, and the Oscars have now commenced.
Congratulations to all of the nominees, and winners.
When a stranger is shocked at another strangers random act of kindness, you know that we are in dark times. But are they indeed that dark?
Since the creation of man, there has always been one man or group of men seeking to impose their whims upon the will of another man or group by force. There has always been what some call “evil” on this planet. But there is also good.
Most people are basically good, and want peace, and random acts of kindness happen every day; more than acts of evil. The good is just not usually reported.
If human beings were not mostly good, the world would have ended long ago. And if any group of men in any church or government knew how to save all of humanity from ourselves, that would have happened by now too.
Both good and evil are within us all. It is up to us to choose. What master do you follow? Is anger, hatred, and cruelty your way? Or do you seek to be calm, forgive others and yourself, and try to be kind to yourself and others?
I have never met a man who tried to do good, who wished instead he were bad. But I have met many bad men who were ashamed at who they were, and wanted to turn good.
It has been said that the only thing for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing. And so what good does it do the world when good people are silent? When evil is not confronted? Is this who we are? Should we allow comedians, politicians, or reporters to tell us to sit down and shut up, and then obey in silence?
The nature of a human being is to be free. Free to choose what we do, so long as it does not harm another. And our nature is to be free to speak and express ourselves as we see fit. If that means expressing ourselves in the media, on the stage, or in the streets, then so be it. We may not always get it right. Contrary to the delusions of some–no one is perfect. But at least we can say we tried. At least we can lift our hearts and our voices with our spirits united, and fight for what we believe in.
The world doesn’t need another verbally abusive public figure, whether that person is hosting an awards show, or hosting the governments of the world.
It’s not cool to be a jerk anymore.* Perhaps the only people not tired of mean, abusive people, are other mean and abusive people themselves.
And so let us fight the good fight. Follow what you know is true and good in your own heart and mind, and fight for what you believe in. Don’t let anyone silence you into submission now because they say you were not loud enough before. Do not be afraid of bullies or tyrants. Do not deny your soul the freedom it demands–to tell the truth, to condemn evil, and to be free. This isn’t just being a good American–it’s being a good human being.
Being an artist is not just about creating your art. Being an artist who is true to yourself is about ‘living’ your art. At that means being true to who you are and what you believe in. Be brave. Dare to change the world for the better. And happy new year.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD; In Theaters November 22, 2019. Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in the drama of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor. Directed By: Marielle Heller. Written by: Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster. Inspired by the article “Can You Say. . . Hero?” by Tom Junod. Produced By: Youree Henley, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub, and Leah Holzer. Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Chris Cooper. Image, (c) 2019, Sony, Columbia, Tri-Star, used with kind courtesy. All world rights reserved.
Soulless Hollywood and the Bad People in It
I recently met someone who supposedly follows the so-called “law of attraction.” Yet one of the first things she said to me was to criticize “Hollywood,” and in their words, all of the “soulless, terrible people in it.”
What exactly is Hollywood? In reality, Hollywood is one of over 100 neighborhoods in Los Angeles with a population of around 85,000 people. According to the Los Angeles Times, the median income for Hollywood proper residents is around $34,000 per year.
West Hollywood, an actually incorporated city, has a population of around 37,000, and an average annual income of around $67,000. Are these the people this person was attacking, and that so many others thoughtlessly, automatically attack? No.
When most people think of Hollywood, they think of the entertainment industry. And more particularly, the music industry and even more so, the motion picture industry.
There is not one person in civilization who has not been affected by the entertainment industry, whether it be radio, music, movies, TV, or today, motion picture on the internet.
Yet although Hollywood is known as the entertainment industry; the entertainment capitol of the world of Hollywood–and the motion picture industry, is actually all throughout Los Angeles County. And the wider entertainment industry is of course, existent throughout many parts of the United States and the world.
When people refer to Hollywood however, they often refer to all of mass media, including the news, radio, magazines, and newspapers. While indeed Hollywood, and to be more accurate–Los Angeles–is the media capitol of the world, it is obviously, not the only place where mass media is created.
Those that work in Hollywood; the entertainment industry, often get maligned by those who do not work in our industry, just as this supposedly enlightened woman I encountered, so callously spoke.
With an average of 600 movies made per year, and nearly 500 TV shows made last year, “Hollywood” is a multi-billion dollar per year industry, that employs people around the world. In addition to adding to the economy, the motion picture industry gives entertainment, happiness, and pleasure to literally billions of people–with the help of the internet; around the world.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are around 400,000 people working in the motion picture industry. Think of that; just under a half a million women and men; most of who have dreamed, trained, struggled, and finally made their dreams come true of working on a creative field they love so much.
From the hair and make up person, the film editor, sound designer, wardrobe designer, set designer, writer, producer, actor, actress, casting director, special effects artist, fine artist, and even the set construction crew, transportation crew, and more, Hollywood is filled with both skilled and creative labor and talent from many areas of industry and the creative arts.
Hollywood is made and kept alive not only by its audience, but by the creative artists who struggle, work, and make manifest their labor, creative vision, and dreams every day. Many work 12, 14, or more hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. When the film or show is wrapped, most are unemployed, and go back to hustle and try do it all over again.
Hollywood is not a thing or a place to hate. Instead, Hollywood is more like a state of mind of an artist, and the manifestation of the artists work in the biggest of ways.
To hate that; to hate Hollywood, and to call us all soulless, bad, or evil, is not only foolish and immature, it is dangerous and reckless. It is feeding the same biased, stereotypical, hateful propaganda used by certain alt-right media and alt-right politicians to degrade and denigrate an entire group of people–the artists of the world. It is to contribute to the very degradation of a society that Hollywood simply, largely reflects.
Hollywood is a rich, beautiful, exciting place filled with dreamers, believers, and creators who MAKE their dreams happen. It is a place where the artists of the world dream of coming to, and some do, to share their dreams and talents with the world. It is a place not to hate and scorn, but to celebrate. Because ultimately, Hollywood is the land of artists. It is the land where, as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, “Dreams DO come true.”
May YOUR dreams come true, and may you enjoy this new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel.
I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration (c) 2019 CBS Home Entertainment and Fathom Events, used with kind courtesy of CBS and Fathom Events, all rights reserved.
What does success mean to you? And when you feel someone does you wrong, how do you deal with that? Many people out there–especially in our industry of Hollywood, scoff at that line above of “Success is the best revenge.” To many, “Revenge is the best Revenge.” But is it?
Imagine you are walking down the sidewalk, and accidently bump into someone, and they drop their phone. Would you grip your phone tightly, expecting them to jump up to their feet, and bump in to you, purposefully knocking your phone out of your hand? Or would you pick it up and hand it to them, and quickly apologize? Obviously, you would apologize and be courteous, because you know it’s the right thing to do, and it’s how you would want treated.
The line of “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you,” otherwise known as “The Golden Rule,” has some serious truth to it. The law of reciprocity says that when you treat another person kindly, they are inclined to act back in a kind way. Not that good sense is necessarily common, but if it were, this would be it. Likewise, the reverse is true. If you speak to someone with rudeness or anger, they will most likely respond back in a similar manner.
Allowing for the fact that we are not perfect–we all make mistakes, and sometimes accidentally hurt people that we didn’t mean to; especially the ones we deal with the most and love the most, doesn’t it make sense that if we want to be forgiven, and not have every accidental slight we cause another held against us with retaliatory action, that we should forgive others first?
While the philosophy of “Might is Right” and “An Eye for an Eye” may appear “tough” and “cool” to some, it is– we are seeing more and more in this new age–this is NOT how the world works. Karma is REAL. The liars, cheats, crooks, cons, and murderers generally always go down, and down hard.
No one respects the “screw me over and I will screw you ten times harder” politician or punk on the street. The only one that perhaps likes them, are other similar jerks, and–they are the first one’s to be surprised when their devilish friend or hero screws THEM over. What?! A person who embraces evil did ME wrong?! I thought it was only for THEM! Duh.
Befriend a snake, and don’t be surprised when your slithery friend acts like one.
If I had a list of every person who did me wrong; looked at me the wrong way, spoke rudely to me, didn’t bag my groceries correctly, hurt my feelings, lied to me, wasted my time, flaked, cheated, gossiped, libeled, attacked, or more, it would make up quite a large notebook full of many pages. And sure, I could try go after each and every one–attacking back, and getting even. But who would it serve? For one, it would take up years of my time, and by the time I was finally done getting even, I’d have yet another new notebook full of enemies to try get back or destroy.
Mean people want you to think, obsess, and worry about them. The more you focus on the jerks of the world, the less you are focused on your goal.
Hate, plotting revenge, and getting angry will literally make you sick. Stress causes disease; a slow death that still yet surely kills. The perfect weapon your enemy would love is; knowing you are talking about them, thinking about them, worrying about them, and stressing about them all night, without sleep.
When you feel hurt or angry, repeat these mantras:
Revenge is not worth my time.
Revenge is not worth my health.
I deserve to be at peace.
I deserve to feel good and be happy.
While the path of revenge promises you power, in actuality, it weakens you, distracts you from your goals, and pulls you into an endless battle of fighting the enemy more, and yet more endless rows of new enemies.
Even the most crazy and wicked of politicians generally try to avoid war. They generally know and care about the reality, that what we reap, we sow.
By no means am I sitting here professing to be an angel, and saying that I always immediately forgive everyone. I don’t. But I eventually try. And the times I lived my life with forgiveness, grace, and a positive outlook, were vastly more happy, lucrative, and successful than those earlier years that I focused on anger, hatred, and pessimism.
Now, the more you try to live a life of peace, grace, and forgiveness of yourself and others, oftentimes, the more you may be attacked. Attacked not only by others who see you as a soft, easy target who will not fight back, but also attacked by certain spiritual forces that prey on those seeking to create a heaven on Earth–rather than a hell.
The solution on the physical plane is to resist the urge to fight, focus on the good, and keep moving forward. With that said, don’t allow yourself to be a victim. By all means, defend yourself, your loved ones, your community, and your business when you have to.
The solution on the spiritual plane, is to remember that words–which effect our unconscious mind, have power. For this reason alone, the art of prayer is a real, and a workable tool, as you speak out loud that which you want to change and manifest, through the help of the creator. If you don’t believe this and all worlds were created by anything other than a random accident, then you can at least speak your intentions out loud. Focus on the good, cleanse your energy with a nice bath or shower, or walk outside in nature, and write down the WAY you want your life to be, in the present tense.
If the devil ‘is’ real, he’s probably a politician, but you DON’T have to vote for him.
Vote for Peace, and peace of mind instead. Love, Laugh, and Follow the Light, Your Happiness and Success will surely follow.
We hope you enjoy the new issue. As always, contact us through this site or at 310-226-7176 if you have any questions or comments. We might even publish your words in our next issue, for the world to see.
About the image: One of the most famous television sitcom’s in American history, on August 6, Fathom Events and CBS Home Entertainment paid tribute to “I Love Lucy” and its legendary star Lucille Ball with “I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration” that screened in movie theaters nationwide for one night only on the comedienne’s birthday.
–Bruce Edwin
This content is (c) 2019, Bruce Edwin, Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved.
Charlize Theron stars as ‘Charlotte Fields’ in LONG SHOT. Photo Credit: Philippe Bossé.
Hello, and welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel. We bring you each week, news you will not find anywhere else in the world of art, music, fashion, film, celebrity interviews, and more.
More importantly, we report only the good news. There is enough toxic, negative, depressing news in the world by the mainstream media, that may end up making a person feel angry, sick, hopeless, lost, confused, and depressed. The purpose of life is to be happy, and productive–not to be miserable, and reactive to the bad news others propagate. Why should we add more toxic words or images to the already over-saturated, negative marketplace of information and ideas? And why should you let the media control how you feel? Never let anyone insult you for trying to be happy. You were not born to suffer.
The Hollywood Sentinel serves as a place to celebrate some of the greatest human beings on the planet–artists, of all types. The entertainment industry–above all other professions; along with nature–makes life worth living.
Fine Art, Literature, Theatre, Dance, Storytelling, Film, TV, and Fashion; all of these things and more, and add to the power, beauty, and happiness of this planet thanks to the artists of the world. Join us here in viewing a glimpse into our world, and visit often.
Enjoy the new issue!
–Bruce Edwin
Long Shot
Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) and Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) in LONG SHOT. Photo Credit: Philippe Bossé.
Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (The lovely and talented Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she’s a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for almost anything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism.
As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish out of water on Charlotte’s elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamourous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to a round-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.
From Summit and Lionsgate, and the celebrated team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; creators of comedy hits including THIS IS THE END and NEIGHBORS, LONG SHOT also features O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Den of Thieves, Straight Outta Compton), Andy Serkis (Black Panther, Planet of the Apes), June Diane Raphael (The Disaster Artist, Grace & Frankie), Ravi Patel (TV’s Master of None) and Alexander Skarsgård (TV’s Big Little Lies and The Legend of Tarzan).
Directed by Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies), Starring Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, with Bob Odenkirk, and Alexander Skarsgård.
Produced By Charlize Theron, A.J. Dix, Beth Kono, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, and James Weaver.
Comments or Questions? Call 310-226-7176. Your question or comment might be published live for the world to hear in our next issue.
Penny Marshall (right) and Cindy Williams from the hit show Laverne and Shirley. Image: (c). 1976, 2018, ABC; Publicity still from American Broadcasting Corporation for January 27, 1976. Source: WikiCommons.
Actress / Comedian
An outstanding actress and comedian, Penny Marshall filled America’s hearts with love and laughter for decades starring and appearing on shows including; Happy Days, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mork & Mindy, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Saturday Night Live, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Frasier, Dinah! The Odd Couple, Laverne and Shirley, and many more.
Producer / Director
Penny Marshall later become one of the greatest producers and directors of our time, with films including; Cinderella Man, Riding in Cars with Boys, Bewitched, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, and many others.
World Record Holder: Big
In 1988, Penny Marshall directed Tom Hanks in the motion picture “Big,” which went on to gross over 152 million dollars with a reported 18 million dollar budget, making her the first female director in the world to gross over 100 million dollars with a major motion picture.
Groundbreaker: A League of Their Own
Just four years later in 1992, Penny Marshall directed Tom Hanks again in a film with an all female ensemble including her daughter; actress, writer, producer, and director Tracy Reiner, as well as Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, Anne Cusak, Bitty Schram, Lynn Cartwright, Anne Ramsay, and more, in the hit film “A League of Their Own.” This film again broke the 100 million dollar barrier, became a cult classic, and went on to influence the world, leading the cause and serving as the empowering call to help champion the long overdue need for the formation of women’s baseball teams throughout the world.
Born on October 15, 1943 in The Bronx, New York as Carole Penny Masciarelli; Penny Marshall married Michael Henry, and later actor, writer, director, producer, and political activist Rob Reiner. Her brother; writer, producer, director Gary Marshall, passed on in 2016.
Forever Remembered
Known for her great sense of humor, hard work ethic, love of Hollywood and sports, and love of family and friends, Penny Marshall will forever be remembered as not only one of the greatest comic actresses, producers, and directors of our time, but also as one of the most groundbreaking female leaders on the planet. Penny was a woman who changed and shaped history, proving to young girls around the world that not only can they too dream, but that they achieve what it is out they set out to accomplish.
Widely respected throughout Hollywood for her cultural achievements, Penny Marshall and her family have been responsible for some of the most memorable, iconic moments in filmmaking of all time. Positively impacting the world of sports, and women’s equality in all areas, Penny Marshall lit and carried the torch for women around the world to not only be funny–but to be brave, and to change history by making it. And make history Penny Marshall did.
Today, her daughter Tracy Reiner–who were very close, carries on that legacy from her mother. In addition to heading her own feature film production company, Tracy Reiner serves as President of the historic Hollywood Women’s Club. Penny Marshall is also survived by her sister; actress Ronny Hallin, and five grandchildren.
As the first female producer and director on the planet to break the 100 million mark with “Big,” Penny brought laughter and tears to audiences around the world. With her role as Laverne DeFazio in the legendary TV sitcom Laverne & Shirley,” Penny gave a face to the woman next door, and an example for women to stand up, and stand strong. And with her trailblazing, iconic film “A League of Their Own,” Penny Marshall helped make what was once a man’s world and a man’s business of movie-making and baseball, a little more female. She will forever be remembered.
Image: Jean Luc Godard with Cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond. Image used with kind courtesy of The British Film Institute, and with kind courtesy of Mr. Richmond for The Hollywood Sentinel. British Film Institute: http://www.bfi.org.uk/
Jean Luc Godard; one of the most iconic filmmakers of all time, is pictured above with the legendary cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond. Both are featured in this special issue of The Hollywood Sentinel, with an exclusive interview with Mr. Richmond found on our “Backstage Hollywood” page, and our review of Godard’s film lensed by Mr. Richmond, “One Plus One,” on our “Art in Los Angeles” page.
Also at the top of our “Art in Los Angeles” page, be sure to check out the review of art critic Jerry Saltz by fine artist and Hollywood Sentinel art writer Moira Cue. This, and much more can be found in the pages here of Hollywood Sentinel, where each week, we bring you ONLY the good news in the world of art and entertainment.
Life in L.A.
Never a dull moment, life in Los Angeles is an exciting, adventure filled time. With the best in the world of entertainment, nightlife, dining, and cultural events to choose from; Los Angeles County also has some of the world’s greatest surf, beaches, campgrounds, hiking trails, mountains, and more.
This month, as most of the world knows, has been a very challenging time for our great land of California. With many fires raging for weeks across the State of California, burning nearly a quarter million acres of land, and displacing reportedly over 300,000 people across the State, with over 100 still missing, and over 50 lives lost, the fires in California this year were simply among the worst.
My usual beautiful drive down PCH in Malibu turned heartbreaking, with many hills and mountains filled with fresh green grass, trees, and homes, reduced to splotchy shades of brown, gray, and black ash, burned to the ground.
Thankfully, the majority of Malibu is still standing, as beautiful as ever, as is the majority of California’s amazing forests. Even the town of Paradise, California, which was essentially entirely destroyed by the Camp Fire, has already vowed to rebuild.
Even moments after the biggest obstacles, or the worst tragedies, human beings vow to fight and survive, rebuild from their loss, and turn things back around. Such is the nature in us all–to fight to live, to be victorious, to beat disaster.
It doesn’t have to take a near brush with death to shake us out of our routine and ignite a fighting spirit to conquer and succeed within us. This is who we are. Not as California’s; Not as Americans; but as human beings on this planet Earth. It is our human nature to not only survive, but to thrive.
We need not wait for adversity, fear, or doom to raise our spirit. We have the same soul within us. We need only to awaken it, to shake it free.
Get outside today and do something to get your pulse racing; to remind yourself that you really ARE alive. You are a part of the beat of this universe. You are a part of the pulse of life and the energy on this Earth. Find your passion, follow your purpose, and make it a life worth living. This is YOUR time NOW. Make it count!
Enjoy the new issue.
–Bruce Edwin
This content is copyright 2018, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
Be who you are, and dare to be great. Greatness comes in many forms, from the greatness of art, the greatness of nature, of beauty, of music, of a film, of a humanitarian, or of an idea.
The world through the eyes of media is a dangerous place. The world through the eyes of truth is a place of love. Through the words of politicians and pundits, danger is around every corner, a tragedy waiting to happen at every moment. In reality, most people are basically good. A benevolent force of love is behind the universe and all creation. Happiness is your birthright.
Hollywood Sentinel was created to celebrate life, through our love for all areas of the arts, which are the greatest and most important gift any society could have after nature and the ones we love. Fashion, Beauty, Film, Dance, Poetry, Literature, Music, Art; these are some of the greatest things of life, and what gives our sprit a chance to open up, shine, and be free.
We hope you enjoy our new issue here, with our tribute to the outstanding singer Dua Lipa pictured above, and much more. Explore all of the pages with the Table of Contents tab, and let us know what you want to hear and see in a future issue. And remember, never let anyone stop you from being who you were meant to be.
–Bruce Edwin
Dr. Terry Cole Whittaker has dedicated her life to successful living, and to spiritual growth. Visit her official website here below, and check out her amazing work: https://www.terrycolewhittaker.com/
This content textual content is copyright, 2018, Hollywood Sentinel. Video used with kind courtesy of Dr. Whittaker. Image of Dua used with kind courtesy of the publicity office of Dua Lipa.
Elsie Fisher stars in Eighth Grade, Written and Directed by Bo Burnham. Photo by Linda Kallerus, with kind courtesy of A24.
In our modern age of instant and non-stop news, political mayhem, and social divide, living day to day for many, can be a challenge. Hundreds of millions throughout the world are addicted to news, most of which they prefer that simply aims to reinforce their political beliefs. No matter how extreme those views are; one can find newscasters, preachers, supporters and groups to belong to that match their convictions.
It feels “good” to think we are morally right. It feels even better to know we are right. And it feels perhaps best yet to share our belief in our “rightness” with others, who agree with our views. It also feels good to many, to attempt to practice what one considers moral and intellectual superiority over another.
Why not “preach to the converted,” when those who think and feel like we do, offer a safe space for our feelings, will not invalidate our viewpoints, and will not challenge our beliefs?
The ego, which drives the mind of many a human, is a fragile, tender thing. It needs fed, it needs fueled, and–dare it be called in to question; it needs entertained.
And thus, the safely of “challenging” our ego by stepping outside of our little boxes of those with whom agree with us, is safely fed, by the conspicuous, yet covertly “anonymous” game of social media.
The “flame wars” of the 2000’s internet junkies, have been replaced by the “trolls” and “haters,” who–like any parasite, feed on their host until they can suck their life force no more, and then move on to the next victim.
“ANYONE can be a JERK. It takes GREATNESS to be KIND.”
In an age when American politics have lost the common decency of a social veneer of politeness and feigned respect, and denigrated into a fowl gutter of moral turpitude and hate filled morass, the true face of American government has at once, been un-masked.
And yet, while the insatiable ego’s of presidents, politicians, newscasters, and private citizens tirelessly yearn for more chances to feel “right” and make others wrong, the reality is; such an existence is as tiring, as it is unmistakably devoid of real worth.
Simply put, it’s not fun to be angry. And the person always seeking to make themselves right be making the other side wrong, will inevitably run into anger; that dwindling fire of modern politics.
Anger kills. If not quickly and overtly; by violence and death, then slowly and covertly; by stress and disease. There is nothing good about being angry, and certainly not on a prolonged basis. And yet such is the state that American news and political hegemony wants you in.
I encourage you today, to pretend like nothing matters but your well-being, your happiness, your peace of mind, and your relaxed state of existence. Pretend for a day, that everything is fine, that the Sun will keep shining, that your life will keep on living, and that you will find a new reason to smile. Skip the news for a day, and listen to nothing upsetting from anyone for a full day. Fill your mind and your day with things that make you happy, that improve the world, and that make you feel good, without making others wrong.
Pretend for a day that happiness and peace is something you deserve for one day. And if you mess up, don’t be mad at yourself. Start over again tomorrow. Try this for a day, and I’ll bet you, you will be tempted to try it again– and again, and again. And do you know what? That would not be such a horrible thing, if you had a long row of happy days, now would it? For this is our birthright.
We were not made to suffer, and we were not designed to make others suffer either.We are meant to be happy.
Enjoy our new issue, by exploring our table of contents tabs to the left of this page on your desktop, or below on your phone. Let us know what you think and want to hear and see, through our CONTACT form on the table of contents page, or call us at 310-226-7176.
What is the purpose of life? Since life began on planet Earth, men and women have asked such a question. What is your purpose? I challenge you today, to ask yourself, What is the purpose of your life?
Find the purpose of your life, and then follow it.
I had the pleasure and honor to interview a great man recently, who has influenced me in my life. Les Brown, along with a handful of other men and women have impacted my life and my ability to change it’s course, by changing my way of thinking.
What you think is what you become. We were not born with a manual handed to us at birth, on how to live a successful life, and how to master what is most often, our greatest adversary–our mind. As such, it should be the goal of every person to rise above ourselves, to discover our life purpose, and to leave our mark in the world before we die. I suggest that that mark should be one that advances not only ourselves, and our friends, family and loved ones, but also–the Earth, and all living things on it as a whole.
The following speech–like all of the speeches by Les Brown, should give you some idea of his own greatness, which is helping to teach others to find their own.
I encourage you to listen to it, to explore our exclusive interview with him here in this new issue (Art of Success Page), and explore the other new articles through the Table of Contents tab to the left of this screen on your computer, or down below if you are on your phone.
Be sure to see our just added exclusive interview with TV legend Donny Most; Ralph Malph from Happy Days, who is so much more than this unforgettable role.
I hope that our creation here in at least some small or greater way adds to the value of your life, and helps you to learn and grow. Let us know what you want to see, hear, read, and what you think. Call us at 310-226-7176 and leave a message, and we might even make your words or message published for the world to hear.
Thank you for being here, and remember, as Les Brown says, “It’s Possible” to live your dream.
This textual content is (c). 2018, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
INGLEWOOD, CA – MARCH 24: Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) walks to stage at Nickelodeon’s 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards at The Forum on March 24, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The beautiful and talented Zendaya appears below as seen at Kids’ Choice Awards Nickelodeon 2018, in a pretty prom gown, seen below.
INGLEWOOD, CA – MARCH 24: Zendaya attends Nickelodeon’s 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards at The Forum on March 24, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/KCA2018/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)Compare this look with her beautiful silver dress two years earlier at the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards for Nickelodeon.
“INGLEWOOD, CA – MARCH 12: Actress Zendaya, winner of Favorite Female TV Star Kids Show, for ‘K.C. Undercover,’ onstage at Nickelodeon’s 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards at The Forum on March 12, 2016 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/KCA2016/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)”
Read more about the 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards; Nickelodeon, at Back Stage Hollywood here at Hollywood Sentinel dot com.
This textual content is copyright 2018, Hollywood Sentinel. Images, with kind Courtesy of Nickelodeon.
Greta Gerwig and Laura Dern present the Oscar® for best documentary feature to Bryan Fogel & Dan Cogan for work on “Icarus” during the live ABC Telecast of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Wawrychuk / Bill Barnes / (c). 2018, A.M.P.A.S..
A flawless Oscar® show was held tonight, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who did a great job. Inclusion was the theme of the show, as well as commentary on the Me Too movement, with women strongly vocal about standing up for equal pay, fair treatment, and an end to sexual harassment.
Shape of Water won best picture, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, who also won best director, for this year’s 90th Academy Awards. Congratulations to all of this years winners.
Guillermo del Toro made a heartfelt statement during his acceptance speech for best picture, stating, ” …I am an immigrant like Alfonso and Alejandro, my compadres. Like Gael, like Salma and like many, many of you. And in the last 25 years, I’ve been living in a country all of our own. Part of it is here, part of it is in Europe, part of it is everywhere. Because I think that the greatest thing our art does and our industry does is to erase the lines in the sand. We should continue doing that when the world tells us to make them deeper.”
He made an acceptance speech for his win for best picture, partially stating, ” I want to dedicate this to every young filmmaker, the youth that is showing us how things are done. Really they are. In every country in the world. And I was a kid enamored with movies, and growing up in Mexico I thought this could never happen. It happens. And I want to tell you, everyone that is dreaming of a parable–of using genre or fantasy to tell stories about the things that are real in the world today, you can do it. This is a door, kick it open and come in. Thank you very much.”
Frances McDormand: Inclusion Rider
Frances McDormand won Best Actress in s Motion Picture for “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, bringing great applause for her acceptance speech, in which she stated, ” We are a bunch of hooligans and anarchists but we do clean up nice.”… She then asked all of the female nominess from every category to stand up, and then later stated, “Okay, look around everybody. Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don’t talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple days, or you can come to ours, whatever suits you best, and we’ll tell you all about them. I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.”
Academy members from each of the 17 branches voted to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and Foreign Language Film categories, nominees are selected by a vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.
The 90th Oscars®, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, were held tonight Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, California.
Copyright 2018 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “Oscar®,” “Oscars®,” “Academy Awards®,”
The Grammy’s were held this last Sunday night, with at least one reporter asking the head of the Grammy’s later during press interviews, why there were not more women nominated for awards. Grammy CEO Neil Portnow, who I have had the pleasure to meet at a Grammy’s event, is a very down to Earth, nice guy. Neil reportedly stated something to the effect of there was nothing stopping women from being more involved, and that they simply needed to step up and get more involved. Neil later faced a backlash for this remark, according to the LA Times, and later stated his remarks were taken out of context, and regretted the words he used.
The fact is, it is not Neil’s fault, or in my view–anything necessarily against women. The Grammy’s are an awards show for very mainstream, largely safe artists that fit a certain mold and genre, that are already at the top of their game.
Even though YouTube is what now dominates the music industry, and is the actually relevant barometer of the industry, the Grammy’s largely ignore that–the YouTube stars. Before YouTube, it was the music blogs, and before the blogs, it was the fanzines, radio, and TV including MTV and VH1.
Grimes, below–is a major music star who has racked up millions of views, and sells out venues around the world. She is also one of the greatest new artists working in music today.
One award at the Grammy’s is the so called New Artist Category, of which the majority of all said winners throughout the history of the Grammy’s further fall into the same predictable genre category, that don’t really shake up the system.
Sade and Amy Winehouse’s wins in this category back in the day are notable, however Amy was bringing back blues, and Sade was bringing back jazz to pop music–two already very established genres. Culture Club‘s win in the same category was also good, yet considering the massive influence of New Wave and Punk, countless bands were still ignored for this or any other awards category from these genres. Evanescence were also a notable win in this category, yet here too, countless other bands in the so called gothic / metal crossover genre, or the metal / industrial crossover area were totally ignored. Nine Inch Nails, for example, who were massive for years in the club circuit, did not get noticed by the Grammy’s until years later.
Does it matter? Not really. The best music throughout time has often times been ignored by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and the Grammy’s. I and others like me, were listening to bands including The Smiths, Depache Mode, The Cure, The Cult, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jesus and Mary Chain, Mazzy Star, The Cranberries, Jane’s Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, Ministry, Hole, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, and countless more before they became ‘trendy’ enough to be noticed by the so called mainstream.
The Grammy’s are an important musical institution–sure, and they do a lot of good. But, ultimately, they are not the only barometer of greatness in music. The Grammy’s are the mainstream of the mainstream.
Bands and artists including Skinny Puppy, Suicidal Tendencies, Diamanda Galas, Lydia Lunch, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Death In June, and countless other greats, have been and continue to be simply ignored by The Grammy’s. And, that’s OK.
U2 of course, are a great band, and put on a great performance Sunday night. Sting is a massive talent and naturally–never disappoints. Elton John is an amazing singer and songwriter, who did a great performance with Miley Cyrus. Miley–despite her haters, is a truly talented singer with a great vocal range, who really respects musical history and multiple genres, as seen by her duets with Metallica, Billy Idol, and others. Pink, though not my preferred style, also has an incredible vocal range and did great. Kesha, who exploded online with her massive YouTube hit Tik Tok, is a truly great songwriter and singer, who performed a heartfelt, powerful set backed by Cyndi Lauper, among others, singing about a women getting enough courage to leave an abusive man. Having read Kesha’s biography, I am very happy for her that she achieved this herself, and is spreading her talent and love to the world.
Lady Gaga, who also respects multiple genres, having done songs with Tony Bennett, Elton John, and Marilyn Manson among others, is a truly great singer with an outstanding range and vocal control. Aside from U2, these women were the most entertaining this Grammy night, performing the best songs.
Alessia Cara won the best new artist award, yet very sweetly mentioned how many other great artists were out there that don’t have the numbers to be considered for such awards shows, that deserve more recognition. This is of course–totally true.
Of the best new music being made across the past decade, the majority of it just happens to be made by women–and, it is largely ignored by the Grammy’s.
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s,Warpaint, Grimes, Tove Lo, Mo, Elliphant, Sunflower Bean, Pussy Riot, Niia, Starcrawler, and countless more new musical acts are women, or led by women, and most are very successful. Lana Del Rey was in the audience. She, and all of the artists above, should have not only been present, but nominated or performing, or both.
The problem is not totally with the Grammy’s not making room for women in the Grammy’s. The problem is with the Grammy’s not making room for better, more daring, and more original music–period.
But instead of waiting for the institution of the Grammy’s to change, or trying to change it, perhaps someone should instead Create a new awards show. An alternative to The Grammy’s, that actually awards artist’s awards based on things such as creative uniqueness, soul, and original talent–not just on how well they get popular at following mainstream trends already established and laid out before them. Some of those already established artists at the Grammy’s may even get a chance to compete in the new awards show too–after some of them get introduced to a greatly needed vocal coach and learn how to sing on key.
Artists deserve awards. They work hard, and everyone likes to feel appreciated. We don’t need the Grammy’s to tell us women are important to music. Woman ARE music. From Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Rudimanary Peni, Patti Smith, X-Ray Spex, We’ve got a Fuzzbox, Blondie, The Slits, PJ Harvey, Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Toyah Wilcox, Bjork, Siouxsie Sioux, Hope Sandoval, Tina Turner, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Kim Gordon, Ivy, Veruca Salt, Courtney Love, The Breeders, Bikini Kill, Poe, Letters to Cleo, Garbage, The Cocteau Twins, Ute Lemper, and countless more; Women comprise far over 50% of the best music of all time, and of the past 10 years, over 95% percent of the best music being created is by WOMEN.
So on second thought, maybe the Grammy’s really ARE ignoring handing out more female awards on purpose. Because maybe if they started actually handing out the awards to the people that truly deserved it, the men would be OUTNUMBERED. And if we are–that’s quite alright with me. I prefer the company of women anyway; especially the talented ones.
Check out our music page here at subnormal magazine at the Hollywood Sentinel LINK below, to see The REAL best in music of 2017; all women.
The following video is from my dear friend Dr. Terry Cole Whittaker; New York Times Best Selling Author of “What You Think of Me is None of My Business,” spiritual teacher, and law of attraction expert.
In this video, Dr. Terry Cole Whittaker wisely reminds us to love ourselves, as we hope to be loved, which includes to also talk well to ourselves and about ourselves within the thoughts that we think.
As we love ourselves, and treat ourselves with the respect that we demand from others, so too can we better love others, and give them pure and genuine communication, love, and care.
I have interviewed, worked with, and met many of the most beautiful and talented people on the planet, and too often, many of them beat themselves up mentally and emotionally, as they are used to suffering, and addiction to pain, and a feeling of being unworthy. In turn, they take this warped and abusive sense of self out on others, in many times damaging and destructive ways.
Take some time each day to ground yourself. Love and appreciate yourself for who you are, where you are, and why you are. Forgive yourself, and accept yourself.
And, in this modern world where politics and too much of culture has devolved even more in to hatred, animosity, and crass behavior, realize that it feels better to be happy, and that you deserve to be happy. Realize that that it’s cool to be kind, and you deserve kindness done upon you from yourself and to yourself by others. And–give kindness to others, you will be glad you did.
Enjoy the new issue, explore all the pages on the table of contents to the left of this page, and write us here on the front page and let us know what you think.
MOLLY’S GAME is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.
In Select Theaters Nationwide Christmas Day
Everywhere January 5th
9 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS ADVANCE IN OSCAR® RACE
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week announced that nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 90th Academy Awards ®. Ninety-two films had originally been considered in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Hungary, “On Body and Soul,” Ildikó Enyedi, director;
Israel, “Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz, director;
Lebanon, “The Insult,” Ziad Doueiri, director;
Russia, “Loveless,” Andrey Zvyagintsev, director;
Senegal, “Félicité,” Alain Gomis, director;
South Africa, “The Wound,” John Trengove, director;
Sweden, “The Square,” Ruben Östlund, director.
Foreign Language Film nominations for 2017 are determined in two phases.
The Phase I committee, consisting of Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 11. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.
Academy members eligible to participate in the Nominations round of voting in New York, London, Los Angeles and, for the first time, the San Francisco Bay Area, will screen the nine shortlisted films in theaters over a three-day period from Friday, January 12, through Sunday, January 14, with three films screening each day. Additionally, international members (who live outside of the U.K.) will be invited to opt-in to stream the nine shortlisted films on the Academy’s member site. Members must see all nine films before casting their ballots
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week announced that 141 scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2017 are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 90th Academy Awards®.
The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title:
“Alien: Covenant,” Jed Kurzel, composer
“All I See Is You,” Marc Streitenfeld, composer
“All the Money in the World,” Daniel Pemberton, composer
“Annabelle: Creation,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer
“Band Aid,” Lucius, composer
“Battle of the Sexes,” Nicholas Britell, composer
“Baywatch,” Christopher Lennertz, composer
“Beauty and the Beast,” Alan Menken, composer
“The Big Sick,” Michael Andrews, composer
“Blade Runner 2049,” Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer, composers
“The Book of Henry,” Michael Giacchino, composer
“Born in China,” Barnaby Taylor, composer
“The Boss Baby,” Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, composers
“Boston,” Jeff Beal, composer
“Brad’s Status,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer
“Brawl in Cell Block 99,” Jeff Herriott and S. Craig Zahler, composers
“The Breadwinner,” Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna, composers
“Breathe,” Nitin Sawhney, composer
“Brigsby Bear,” David Wingo, composer
“Brimstone & Glory,” Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin, composers
“Captain Underpants The First Epic Movie,” Theodore Shapiro, composer
“Cars 3,” Randy Newman, composer
“The Circle,” Danny Elfman, composer
“Coco,” Michael Giacchino, composer
“Cries from Syria,” Martin Tillman, composer
“A Cure for Wellness,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer
“Darkest Hour,” Dario Marianelli, composer
“Despicable Me 3,” Heitor Pereira, composer
“The Disaster Artist,” Dave Porter, composer
“A Dog’s Purpose,” Rachel Portman, composer
“Downsizing,” Rolfe Kent, composer
“Drawing Home,” Ben Holiday, composer
“Dunkirk,” Hans Zimmer, composer
“Earth: One Amazing Day,” Alex Heffes, composer
“A Fantastic Woman,” Matthew Herbert, composer
“The Fate of the Furious,” Brian Tyler, composer
“Father Figures,” Rob Simonsen, composer
“Ferdinand,” John Powell, composer
“Fifty Shades Darker,” Danny Elfman, composer
“Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool,” J. Ralph, composer
“First They Killed My Father,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, composers
“Get Out,” Michael Abels, composer
“A Ghost Story,” Daniel Hart, composer
“Gifted,” Rob Simonsen, composer
“The Glass Castle,” Joel P. West, composer
“Going in Style,” Rob Simonsen, composer
“Good Time,” Daniel Lopatin, composer
“Goodbye Christopher Robin,” Carter Burwell, composer
“Gook,” Roger Suen, composer
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Tyler Bates, composer
“The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” Atli Ӧrvarsson, composer
“Hostiles,” Max Richter, composer
“Human Flow,” Karsten Fundal, composer
“An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” Jeff Beal, composer
“It,” Benjamin Wallfisch, composer
“Jane,” Philip Glass, composer
“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Henry Jackman, composer
“Justice League,” Danny Elfman, composer
“Kepler’s Dream,” Patrick Neil Doyle, composer
“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” Daniel Pemberton, composer
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson, composers
“Kong: Skull Island,” Henry Jackman, composer
“LA 92,” Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, composers
“LBJ,” Marc Shaiman, composer
“Lady Bird,” Jon Brion, composer
“Lake of Fire,” Qutub-E-Kripa, composer
“Last Flag Flying,” Graham Reynolds, composer
“The Lego Batman Movie,” Lorne Balfe, composer
“The Lego Ninjago Movie,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer
“The Leisure Seeker,” Carlo Virzì, composer
“Let It Fall,” Mark Isham, composer
“Life,” Jon Ekstrand, composer
“Logan,” Marco Beltrami, composer
“The Lost City of Z,” Christopher Spelman, composer
“Loveless,” Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine, composers
“Loving Vincent,” Clint Mansell, composer
“The Man Who Invented Christmas,” Mychael Danna, composer
“Mark Felt – The Man Who Brought Down the White House,” Daniel Pemberton, composer
“Marshall,” Marcus Miller, composer
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” Takatsugu Muramatsu, composer
“Maudie,” Michael Timmins, composer
“Molly’s Game,” Daniel Pemberton, composer
“Moomins and the Winter Wonderland,” Łukasz Targosz, composer
“The Mountain between Us,” Ramin Djawadi, composer
“Mudbound,” Tamar-kali, composer
“The Mummy,” Brian Tyler, composer
“Murder on the Orient Express,” Patrick Doyle, composer
“My Cousin Rachel,” Rael Jones, composer
“Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer,” Jun Miyake, composer
“Okja,” Jaeil Jung, composer
“Oklahoma City,” David Cieri, composer
“The Only Living Boy in New York,” Rob Simonsen, composer
“Only the Brave,” Joseph Trapanese, composer
“Our Souls at Night,” Elliot Goldenthal, composer
“Paris Can Wait,” Laura Karpman, composer
“Patti Cake$,” Geremy Jasper and Jason Binnick, composers
“Phantom Thread,” Jonny Greenwood, composer
“The Pirates of Somalia,” Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau, composers
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” Geoff Zanelli, composer
“The Post,” John Williams, composer
“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,” Tom Howe, composer
“The Promise,” Gabriel Yared, composer
“Pulimurugan,” Gopi Sundar, composer
“Raw,” Jim Williams, composer
“Roman J. Israel, Esq.,” James Newton Howard, composer
“Saban’s Power Rangers,” Brian Tyler, composer
“Same Kind of Different as Me,” John Paesano, composer
“The Second Coming of Christ,” Navid Hejazi, Ramin Kousha and Silvia Leonetti, composers
“Served Like a Girl,” Michael A. Levine, composer
“The Shack,” Aaron Zigman, composer
“The Shape of Water,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
“Slipaway,” Tao Liu, composer
“Smurfs: The Lost Village,” Christopher Lennertz, composer
“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Michael Giacchino, composer
“Split,” West Dylan Thordson, composer
“The Star,” John Paesano, composer
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” John Williams, composer
“Step,” Laura Karpman and Raphael Saadiq, composers
“Stronger,” Michael Brook, composer
“Suburbicon,” Alexandre Desplat, composer
“Swing Away,” Tao Zervas, composer
“Thank You for Your Service,” Thomas Newman, composer
“Their Finest,” Rachel Portman, composer
“Thelma,” Ola Fløttum, composer
“Thor: Ragnarok,” Mark Mothersbaugh, composer
“Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Carter Burwell, composer
“Tickling Giants,” Paul Tyan, composer
“Tommy’s Honour,” Christian Henson, composer
“Trafficked,” David Das, composer
“Transformers: The Last Knight,” Steve Jablonsky, composer
“XXX: Return of Xander Cage,” Brian Tyler and Robert Lydecker, composers
“Victoria & Abdul,” Thomas Newman, composer
“Voice from the Stone,” Michael Wandmacher, composer
“Wakefield,” Aaron Zigman, composer
“War for the Planet of the Apes,” Michael Giacchino, composer
“Wilson,” Jon Brion, composer
“Wind River,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, composers
“Wonder,” Marcelo Zarvos, composer
“Wonder Woman,” Rupert Gregson-Williams, composer
“Wonderstruck,” Carter Burwell, composer
“Year by the Sea,” Alexander Janko, composer
A Reminder List of works submitted in the Original Score category will be made available with a nominations ballot to all members of the Music Branch, who shall vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award.
To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs or any music not composed specifically for the film by the submitting composer, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.
10 CONTENDERS REMAIN IN VFX OSCAR® RACE
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 90th Academy Awards®.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“Alien: Covenant”
“Blade Runner 2049”
“Dunkirk”
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
“Kong: Skull Island”
“Okja”
“The Shape of Water”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”
“War for the Planet of the Apes”
The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 6, 2018. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar®consideration.
Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.
The 90th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
This content is copyright 2017, AMPAS, all world rights reserved.
ACADEMY MUSEUM ANNOUNCES ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, HEADED BY NBCUNIVERSAL VICE CHAIRMAN RON MEYER
A Dozen Leaders from Film and Philanthropy Assume Governance of the New Museum, Scheduled to Open in 2019
Kerry Brougher, Director of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, announced today December 5, 2017, that the institution has completed the formation of its Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Ron Meyer as Chair. Plans for the new museum were originally spearheaded by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With the inaugural meeting of the Trustees on December 4, the new Board—which will continue to grow—assumed responsibility as the governing body of the Academy Museum and will be responsible for overseeing the Museum’s strategic vision, preserving the organization’s financial health, and assuring the fulfillment of its mission.
Established to be the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of movies and moviemaking, the Academy Museum is scheduled to open in 2019 on Wilshire and Fairfax in the Museum Mile area of Los Angeles, housed in a 300,000-square-foot facility designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.
Ron Meyer says, “The Academy Museum has already made great strides in raising funds, constructing the site, and developing the exhibition plans that will make this museum an essential destination for visitors and locals who love film. Now, with the formation of this Board of Trustees, we have real momentum. I couldn’t be more pleased by the talent we’ve gathered to oversee this great new institution.”
Kerry Brougher says, “The leaders who have joined together as the Academy Museum’s Trustees are among the most respected and influential figures in the world of motion pictures and philanthropy. Their caliber speaks volumes about the level of achievement this museum aspires to attain. All of us who have been working to build this institution are immensely grateful to them for stepping forward to assume Board responsibility as we move toward our grand opening in 2019.”
About the Board of Trustees
Ron Meyer (Chair) is Vice Chairman of NBC Universal and with 23 years as the head of the studio, he is the longest serving studio chief. He provides strategic guidance and counsel on all aspects of the company, including its valuable portfolio of film and television assets, as well as the global theme park businesses. He is also a co-founder and former President of Creative Artists Agency. Previously, he served as the President and CEO of Universal Studios (formerly MCA), a position he held from 1995 through 2013.
John Bailey is an American cinematographer and film director, elected in August 2017 as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He earned his first credit as director of photography for Boulevard Nights (1979), which was followed by Ordinary People (1980), American Gigolo (1980), The Big Chill (1983), Groundhog Day (1993), As Good as It Gets (1997), The Anniversary Party (2001), The Way Way Back (2013), A Walk in the Woods (2015), and many more. In 2014 he received the American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jason Blum (Treasurer), founder of Blumhouse Productions, is an Oscar®-nominated and two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer. Specializing in low-budget films, Blumhouse has produced the highly-profitable The Purge, Sinister, Paranormal Activity, and Insidious franchises, along with the 2017 blockbusters Split (2016) and Get Out (2017). Additional credits include Whiplash (2014), The Normal Heart (2014), and The Jinx (2015). Blum serves on the Board of Trustees for Vassar College, the Board of the Public Theater and is a member of the Sundance Institute’s Director’s Advisory Group.
Jim Gianopulos is the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures where he oversees the studio’s film and television operations worldwide, including production, marketing and distribution. He previously headed 20th Century Fox. He sits on the Boards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he serves as Treasurer, the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and the X Prize Foundation. He is a member of the Board of Councilors of the University of Southern California of the Cinematic Arts.
Tom Hanks is a five-time Oscar-nominated actor and filmmaker known for his various film roles including Big(1988, nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role), Philadelphia (1993, won for Best Actor in a Leading Role), Forrest Gump (1994, won for Best Actor in a Leading Role), Saving Private Ryan (1998, nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role), Cast Away (2000, nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role), and many more. In 2016 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His book, The New York Times bestselling Uncommon Type—inspired by his collection of vintage typewriters—was published in 2017. He is co-chair of the Academy Museum’s Capital Campaign.
Dawn Hudson has served as the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2011. As CEO, Hudson directs all of the Academy’s efforts across a broad spectrum of activity that includes education, outreach, research, and preservation programs. In this capacity, she also oversees the Oscars®, and supervises the Academy’s staff of more than 350 employees. Under Hudson’s leadership, the Academy has been at the forefront of shaping diversity and inclusion efforts industry-wide. The Academy has implemented strategies to modernize its business practices, including digitizing its unparalleled archival collections, and connecting its more than 8,000 global filmmakers and artists. For more than 20 years, Hudson worked as Executive Director of Film Independent, an organization dedicated to supporting independent film, which grew from a small non-profit into a nationally recognized arts institution under her leadership.
Kathleen Kennedy has produced over 70 feature films and is the eight-time Oscar-nominated producer of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Color Purple (1985), The Sixth Sense (1999), Seabiscuit (2003), Munich (2005), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), War Horse (2011), and Lincoln (2012). Kennedy is currently the President of Lucasfilm, which includes film, television, visual effects, sound design, games, consumer products, and virtual and augmented reality. In addition, she oversees the Star Wars franchise and produces Lucasfilm’s feature films including the upcoming Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies. Prior to Lucasfilm, Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her husband Frank Marshall.
Alejandro Ramírez Magaña is CEO of Cinépolis, one of the largest film exhibition companies in the world with operations in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, India, the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Central America. He served as Mexico’s representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and as technical secretary of the Social Cabinet in the executive office of the president of Mexico. He is chairman of the Mexican Business Council, the most influential business organization in Mexico and the Morelia International Film Festival. He serves on the boards of the Sundance Institute and the Harvard Board of Overseers.
Ted Sarandos (Vice-Chair) has been the Chief Content Officer at Netflix since 2000. With more than 20 years’ experience in the home entertainment business, he led the transformation of Netflix into an original content powerhouse, redefining how serialized television is produced, released, and distributed globally. Sarandos is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and serves on the board of Exploring the Arts, a non-profit focused on arts in schools as well as on the boards for the Tribeca Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, the American Cinematheque, American Film Institute, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Kimberly Steward (Secretary) is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and producer. In 2013 she formed K Period Media, whose releases include the noted documentaries Opposite Field (2012), Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (2015) and the forthcoming Looking for Terry and Conversion. In 2016, K Period Media released Manchester by the Sea in partnership with Amazon Studios. The film won three Oscars and was nominated Best Picture, making Steward only the second black woman to have her film nominated for this award. Steward is hands-on in her support of charities such as The Elizabeth Taylor Foundation, Fresh Air Fund, and Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Foundation. A patron of the arts, Steward also gives to AFI, LACMA, New York City Ballet, and the Geffen Playhouse.
Diane von Furstenberg entered the world of American fashion in the seventies. Her iconic wrap dress soon became a symbol of power and independence for an entire generation of women. Diane’s commitment to empowering women is also expressed through philanthropy and mentorship. In 2010, with the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, she established the DVF Awards to honor and provide grants to women who have displayed leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to their causes. She serves on the boards of Vital Voices; the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation; and The Shed, the new center for cultural innovation in New York City. She was actively involved in the campaign to save the historic High Line railway and to develop The High Line into what it is today.
Kevin Yeaman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Dolby Laboratories. Under his leadership, the company has built on its rich heritage of technologies that transform storytelling, expanding its focus to produce new sight and sound experiences that unleash the potential of entertainment and communications. Before being named CEO in 2009, Kevin served as Dolby’s Chief Financial Officer, developing the financial infrastructure to support growth and expansion. Prior to Dolby, Kevin was the Chief Financial Officer of E.piphany and Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations at Informix. Kevin was inducted as a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in 2014. He holds a BS degree in commerce from Santa Clara University.
About the Campaign for the Academy Museum
The Board of Governors established the Campaign for the Academy Museum to support the construction of the museum’s site and fund its opening exhibitions and programs. Chaired by Bob Iger and co-chaired by Annette Bening and Tom Hanks, the campaign has a target of $388 million and to date has achieved nearly 80% of that goal.
The Academy Museum’s Trustees join the ranks of other leadership donors in supporting the museum, including Cheryl and Haim Saban, The David Geffen Foundation, Dalian Wanda Group, Dolby Laboratories/Family of Ray Dolby, The Walt Disney Company, Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg.
This content is (c). 2017, AMPAS, all world rights reserved.
Depeche Mode visited Hollywood last week for an amazing four nights, and The Hollywood Sentinel was there. Check out our review in Music’s Greatest here inside.
Hello! And welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel. The Hollywood Sentinel is unique in that publishes ONLY the good news. That also means, unlike some publications that tried copying us by stating that they report only the good news too–we do not run ads for destructive diet pills, plastic surgery, or toxic food and bad lifestyles. Not only that, we advance culture in Hollywood and throughout the world, by teaching people and reminding those that know, that “What we put our attention on, generally happens.” And that “like attracts like,” and–that we are spiritual beings, having a human experience.
We also give free, massively valuable education on How to Succeed in Hollywood, from a good, moral, positive perspective, without compromising one’s honesty or integrity. And, more importantly, we give free advice on How to Keep Kids Safe in Hollywood and the entertainment industry, not only helping their parents to avoid getting ripped off, but most essentially, helping to keep them free from abuse.
We invite you to sit down with us here on your phone, on your tablet or computer, and get to know us a bit, or–if you have already read us before, look at the new and old content. Explore each unique page by clicking on the table of contents tab to the left, or scrolling down. And if there is something you would like to read but don’t see here in our pages, be sure to let us know. You can even go ‘way’ back and explore our older Archives section at www.thehollywoodsentinel.com that will give you hours of reading and educational enjoyment–straight from those that are not only huge fans of all areas of the arts including Hollywood, but are also, working professionals in this land that so many from all the world over dream of.
The Hollywood Sentinel is also e-mailed directly to the office of every star in its pages. We have been told by strangers from around the world, dreaming of Hollywood, that it has helped them greatly–taught them what they wanted to know, and gave them hope. We have also been told by many of the rich or famous, how they love it, and thanking us for what we create and the service we provide. We hope this continues to be the situation for many. We hope this is true for you. We are here to give back–we are here to help and entertain, and we are here because we love what we do, and we hope it shows. Enjoy the new issue.
–Bruce Edwin; Publisher; Hollywood Sentinel
This content is (c). 2017, Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved. Video, (c). 2017, Columbia Records / Depeche Mode.
Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy.
Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.
Cruise is joined by a cast including Annabelle Wallis (upcoming King Arthur, television’s Peaky Blinders), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Courtney B. Vance (TV’s American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson), Marwan Kenzari (The Promise) and Oscar® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator).
The creative team is led by director/producer Alex Kurtzman and producer Chris Morgan, who have been instrumental in growing some of the most successful franchises of the past several years—with Kurtzman writing or producing entries in the Transformers, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible series, and Morgan being the narrative engineer of the Fast & Furious saga as it has experienced explosive growth from its third chapter on. Sean Daniel, who produced the most recent Mummy trilogy, and Sarah Bradshaw (Maleficent) produce alongside Kurtzman and Morgan.
ZERO-GRAVITY STUNT BACKGROUND
Over the course of his career, Cruise has dedicated himself to accomplishing ever-more ambitious practical stunts, ones that would test the most seasoned stunt performer. His goal is to place the audience right next to his characters…in every single frame captured by the camera.
In the Mission: Impossible series, Cruise free-climbed the Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building), gripped the outside of an in-flight transport plane (eight times), made free-water dives of 130 ft., hung from Utah’s jagged Dead Horse Point by his fingertips and leaped from a Triumph Speed Triple motorcycle…only to tackle a co-star mid-flight.
Whether dangling on the 800-ft. edge of Iceland’s Earl’s Peak for Oblivion or slamming his Chevelle into fellow drivers’ cars in Jack Reacher, it’s crucial to the performer that he pushes himself further in each film, and that the audience shares in the adrenaline.
Cruise has long wanted to lens in Zero Gravity, and in The Mummy, one tactical stunt has become his biggest, most demanding maneuver to date. In order to shoot one of the most visceral plane-crash sequences ever filmed, he’d need to take to the skies.
DETAILS OF THE STUNT
Almost four miles above sea level, Cruise, co-star Annabelle Wallis and key crew—all under the eye of The Mummy director/producer Alex Kurtzman—lensed a sequence that is impossible to shoot on land.
Off the coast of France near Bordeaux—over two days and multiple flights—pilots and astronauts of Novespace Airbus (A-310) took the company 20,000 ft. high.
From this altitude, they climbed rapidly to a 50-degree angle to just over 25,000 feet; there, the plane reduced thrust, and free fell from the sky.
For 22-23 seconds during the ballistic phase, the company felt weightless. As the Airbus free fell, cast and crew balanced dialogue, camerawork and choreography for a plane-crash scene that will appear in summer 2017’s The Mummy.
For the stunt, the pilots enacted a total of 60 parabolas (repeated weightlessness sessions). Each parabola allowed for the filming of a key sequence in the scene.
At least 90% of the plane crash sequence is real. The only visual effects will be added in post-production and blend sets together so they look the same size and scale.
PARABOLIC FLIGHTS / AIRBUS ZERO-G TECH FACTS
Under the direction of European Space Agency astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy, crew filmed with Novespace, founder of the first parabolic (Zero Gravity) flights in Europe. The Zero-G Airbus is the only plane in the world manned by three pilots simultaneously: one controls pitch, one controls the wings and one controls thrust.
The “pull-up” phase starts at full thrust and max speed from level flight until a 50-degree incline, before the “injection” phase and beginning of weightless (actual freefall, not floating).
During “pull up,” those aboard feel twice their weight on Earth.
The aircraft is briefly injected into orbit, following an elliptical trajectory above the Earth, so passengers live the true weightlessness that astronauts feel.
ABOUT THE SARCOPHAGUS
The largest single vertical structure ever assembled at the Hollywood & Highland gateway, The Mummy sarcophagus stands almost 75 feet in height, 28 feet in width and weighs an astonishing 15,000 pounds.
Princess Ahmanet’s head section alone is 13 feet tall. This extraordinary feat of engineering took two firms a total of eight weeks to construct, and scores of workers more than 160 hours to install. Split into 9 different units, her supposed eternal resting place required more than 2,500 square feet of steel.
The hundreds on hieroglyphics on Ahmanet’s ancient tomb tell the story of betrayal by her people, and their attempts to hold her between this world and the next. To prepare Ahmanet’s sarcophagus for its The Mummy Day revealing, the tomb required 18 wide-load tractor trailers to move all of the elements into place.
THE MUMMY ZERO GRAVITY STUNT VR EXPERIENCE
As seen in Universal Pictures’ The Mummy, there is a plane-crash sequence in the upcoming film that was shot 90% practically.
The Mummy Zero Gravity Stunt VR Experience goes behind the scenes with Tom Cruise and co-star Annabelle Wallis as they perform the intense Zero G stunt.
Almost four miles above sea level, Cruise, Wallis and key crew—all under the eye of The Mummy director/producer Alex Kurtzman—filmed a sequence that is impossible to shoot on land. A set was built inside Novespace Airbus (A-310) to make it look like the interior of C-130 military transport aircraft.
This immersive VR experience is enhanced by Positron’s Voyager platform, featuring custom engineering and software, guided 360-degree motion control, head-tracked 3D audio, and haptic integration—allowing guests to experience the world of The Mummy in a way they could only imagine.
THE MUMMY ESCAPE GAME
In The Mummy Escape Game, an immersive live-action fan experience that also makes its world premiere at The Mummy Day, guests will be recruited as security guards and enter the sweeping story of The Mummy.
They must solve interactive puzzles to save mankind from the revenge of an ancient princess who has awakened in current day.
Ahmanet’s thirst for justice has spanned centuries, and players must outwit the fearless warrior to survive. Turning the storyline into reality by traveling through multiple rooms, up to 10 players work together within a 60-minute time limit to solve the puzzle and defeat the game.
The Mummy:
Genres
Epic Action-Adventure
Starring
Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, Marwan Kenzari, and Russell Crowe
Directed By
Alex Kurtzman
Produced By
Alex Kurtzman, Chris Morgan, Sean Daniel, Sarah Bradshaw
This life we have been given is truly amazing. We create what we want. If you want to fly across the world, you can make some money, buy a plane ticket, and do it. If you want to write a book, make a song, dance, or paint a picture, you can do that. If you want to fall in love, you can be loving, meet someone, and fall in love. You can make money, buy a house, and live your dream. The only thing stopping you is you. If you feel stopped, look at what you tell yourself and what others tell you. Validate your self worth, and do not tolerate others who do not tolerate you or your dreams. Dream bigger every day.
The 89th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 26, 2017. Photo credit, image group LA.
A roughly four hour long Oscar Ceremony was greatly entertaining this evening, with host Jimmy Kimmel who did a great job. With nearly every presenter and acceptance speech monologue laced with political comments against the current political administration, Kimmel led the assault with at least 4 jabs at the President in the first four minutes of his opening monologue, including jokes about Trump’s tweeting, immigrants not getting in the country, and a divided nation. He further joked about Trump stating how Meryl Streep was an over-rated actress.
The stellar show wound up cursed however, when Warren Beatty let Faye Dunaway read the Best Picture winner from the envelope, and she read ‘LaLa Land.’ ‘La La Land’ producers were in the middle of reading their acceptance speech, when they stopped and stated how there had been a mistake, that ‘Moonlight’ actually won.
Like the political insanity of the past several months itself; from hacking, to leaks, to false hopes, so called fake news, surprise victories, and surprise losses among more, The Oscars–heavily tackling politics, wound up itself a victim of at least part of the political type of insanity it aimed to criticize.
Having changed the rules last year from what many considered false accusations of racism, more blacks were nominated and won this year, yet nearly didn’t. The mostly white film ‘La La Land’ won first–only to be dethroned in a matter of seconds, with the Oscar being snatched away from the ‘fake’ winners and given to the real winners–the more ‘real’ liberal Hollywood film of ‘greater’ diversity about not only ‘black’ characters, but ‘gay’ too.
At a moment, it seemed like all a part of the show, great scripted drama for the highly entertaining awards show itself. And who knows? Maybe it was? Then again, that may be highly doubtful, considering the manner in which it has already reflected on the Academy, Warren Beatty, and Faye Dunaway. In reality, only the person handing the envelope to Warren and Faye should be to blamed, with Warren reportedly stating that the envelope he was given had a card stating Emma Rose– ‘La La Land’ on it. Which just goes to prove, we don’t just need ballot checkers at the presidential polls, but evidently we now need envelope checkers at the Oscars too.
It’s almost as if Trump himself had someone sneak in and mix up the envelopes to seek revenge. Or, perhaps those Hollywood hating Trump supporters cast a spell and cursed the finale’ of the show, seeking revenge for the many barbs, and–the witches cursing him just two nights before.
One ‘can’ say that two films at The Oscars and the presenters got cheated–‘La La Land’ had their hopes dashed to bits, ‘Moonlight’ lost their glory and speech time, and the Oscars and presenters of Faye and Warren got humiliated. Or, one can say what I prefer and tend to feel, that in a way in actuality–there were two winners. ‘La La Land,’ who would not have seen the stage for best picture, got to pretend they won for a moment and have their speech and moment of glory as Best Picture Winners, and ‘Moonlight,’ a young film from a young filmmaker got its nod and Best Picture award in a world often against gays and blacks.
Warren and Faye, two stellar stars and legends, who have weathered the ups and downs of Hollywood for decades, will be just fine, and the brilliant and funny Jimmy Kimmel, who was a great hit this night, deferentially assumed all of the blame. And the Oscars, well–they will go on being the greatest awards show of all time, and the greatest night in TV history. And–mistake or no mistake, they kept us watching, entertained, and loving every minute tonight, like only the Oscars can–drama and all. After all, isn’t that what Hollywood’s all about? And anyway, we simply ‘can’t’ be out-drama’d by Washington now, can we?
Viola Davis shined at the Oscars tonight, winning Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film ‘Fences,’ and giving a heartwarming acceptance speech, as partially shown here below;
VIOLA DAVIS:
“Thank you to the Academy. You know, there’s one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered. One place. And that’s the graveyard. People ask me all the time, “What kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola?” And I say, exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition. People who fell in love and lost. I became an artist, and thank god I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life. So here’s to August Wilson, who exhumed and exalted the ordinary people.”
Viola continued, “(…) I became an artist, and thank God I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life. (…) And to Bron Pictures, Paramount, MACRO, Todd Black, Molly Allen, Scott Rudin for being the cheerleaders for a movie that is about people, and words, and life, and forgiveness and grace. (…)”
This content is copyright, 2017, The Oscar®,” “AMPAS®.” The Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have released the nominations for the Oscar’s–hosted by Jimmy Kimmel— which will air live this Sunday February 26th 2017 on ABC.
Nominations for the 89th Academy Awards
Best motion picture of the year
“Arrival” Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder and David Linde, Producers
“Fences” Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington and Todd Black, Producers
“Hacksaw Ridge” Bill Mechanic and David Permut, Producers
“Hell or High Water” Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn, Producers
“Hidden Figures” Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams and Theodore Melfi, Producers
“La La Land” Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt, Producers
“Lion” Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Angie Fielder, Producers
“Manchester by the Sea” Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck and Kevin J. Walsh, Producers
“Moonlight” Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Casey Affleck in “Manchester by the Sea”
Andrew Garfield in “Hacksaw Ridge”
Ryan Gosling in “La La Land”
Viggo Mortensen in “Captain Fantastic”
Denzel Washington in “Fences”
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Mahershala Ali in “Moonlight”
Jeff Bridges in “Hell or High Water”
Lucas Hedges in “Manchester by the Sea”
Dev Patel in “Lion”
Michael Shannon in “Nocturnal Animals”
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Isabelle Huppert in “Elle”
Ruth Negga in “Loving”
Natalie Portman in “Jackie”
Emma Stone in “La La Land”
Meryl Streep in “Florence Foster Jenkins”
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Viola Davis in “Fences”
Naomie Harris in “Moonlight”
Nicole Kidman in “Lion”
Octavia Spencer in “Hidden Figures”
Michelle Williams in “Manchester by the Sea”
Best animated feature film of the year
“Kubo and the Two Strings” Travis Knight and Arianne Sutner
“Moana” John Musker, Ron Clements and Osnat Shurer
“My Life as a Zucchini” Claude Barras and Max Karli
“The Red Turtle” Michael Dudok de Wit and Toshio Suzuki
“Zootopia” Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer
Achievement in cinematography
“Arrival” Bradford Young
“La La Land” Linus Sandgren
“Lion” Greig Fraser
“Moonlight” James Laxton
“Silence” Rodrigo Prieto
Achievement in costume design
“Allied” Joanna Johnston
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Colleen Atwood
“Florence Foster Jenkins” Consolata Boyle
“Jackie” Madeline Fontaine
“La La Land” Mary Zophres
Achievement in directing
“Arrival” Denis Villeneuve
“Hacksaw Ridge” Mel Gibson
“La La Land” Damien Chazelle
“Manchester by the Sea” Kenneth Lonergan
“Moonlight” Barry Jenkins
Best documentary feature
“Fire at Sea” Gianfranco Rosi and Donatella Palermo
“I Am Not Your Negro” Raoul Peck, Rémi Grellety and Hébert Peck
“Life, Animated” Roger Ross Williams and Julie Goldman
“O.J.: Made in America” Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow
“13th” Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick and Howard Barish
Best documentary short subject
“Extremis” Dan Krauss
“4.1 Miles” Daphne Matziaraki
“Joe’s Violin” Kahane Cooperman and Raphaela Neihausen
“Watani: My Homeland” Marcel Mettelsiefen and Stephen Ellis
“The White Helmets” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara
Achievement in film editing
“Arrival”Joe Walker
“Hacksaw Ridge” John Gilbert
“Hell or High Water” Jake Roberts
“La La Land” Tom Cross
“Moonlight” Nat Sanders and Joi McMillon
Best foreign language film of the year
“Land of Mine” Denmark
“A Man Called Ove” Sweden
“The Salesman” Iran
“Tanna” Australia
“Toni Erdmann” Germany
Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
“A Man Called Ove” Eva von Bahr and Love Larson
“Star Trek Beyond” Joel Harlow and Richard Alonzo
“Suicide Squad” Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Jackie” Mica Levi
“La La Land” Justin Hurwitz
“Lion” Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka
“Moonlight” Nicholas Britell
“Passengers” Thomas Newman
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from “La La Land”
Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
“Can’t Stop The Feeling” from “Trolls”
Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster
“City Of Stars” from “La La Land”
Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
“The Empty Chair” from “Jim: The James Foley Story”
Music and Lyric by J. Ralph and Sting
“How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana”
Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Achievement in production design
“Arrival” Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Paul Hotte
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“Hail, Caesar!” Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“La La Land” Production Design: David Wasco; Set Decoration: Sandy Reynolds-Wasco
“Passengers” Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena
Best animated short film
“Blind Vaysha” Theodore Ushev
“Borrowed Time” Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj
“Pear Cider and Cigarettes” Robert Valley and Cara Speller
“Pearl” Patrick Osborne
“Piper” Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer
Best live action short film
“Ennemis Intérieurs” Sélim Azzazi
“La Femme et le TGV” Timo von Gunten and Giacun Caduff
“Silent Nights” Aske Bang and Kim Magnusson
“Sing” Kristof Deák and Anna Udvardy
“Timecode” Juanjo Giménez
Achievement in sound editing
“Arrival” Sylvain Bellemare
“Deepwater Horizon” Wylie Stateman and Renée Tondelli
“Hacksaw Ridge” Robert Mackenzie and Andy Wright
“La La Land” Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
“Sully” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Achievement in sound mixing
“Arrival” Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Claude La Haye
“Hacksaw Ridge” Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace
“La La Land” Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee and Steve A. Morrow
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” David Parker, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson
“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Mac Ruth
Achievement in visual effects
“Deepwater Horizon” Craig Hammack, Jason Snell, Jason Billington and Burt Dalton
“Doctor Strange” Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, Vincent Cirelli and Paul Corbould
“The Jungle Book” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon
“Kubo and the Two Strings” Steve Emerson, Oliver Jones, Brian McLean and Brad Schiff
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal Hickel and Neil Corbould
Adapted screenplay
“Arrival” Screenplay by Eric Heisserer
“Fences” Screenplay by August Wilson
“Hidden Figures” Screenplay by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
“Lion” Screenplay by Luke Davies
“Moonlight” Screenplay by Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Original screenplay
“Hell or High Water” Written by Taylor Sheridan
“La La Land” Written by Damien Chazelle
“The Lobster” Written by Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
“Manchester by the Sea” Written by Kenneth Lonergan
“20th Century Women” Written by Mike Mills
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 7,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is under construction in Los Angeles.
This content is copyright, 2017, AMPAS, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
Top row, left to right: Mother of Brooke, Kim Martindale (Producer/Partner: L.A. Art Show), Emma Roberts, Scott Diament (President/CEO) Palm Beach Show Group, Brooke (St. Jude), and VIP guests.
The now legendary L.A. Art Show is back. After a strongly divided country emerges in to the new year after one of the most heated Presidential races in American history, The L.A. Art Show launched last night into 2017 with perhaps just what this great city of Los Angeles, and the entertainment capitol of the world–needs; Art.
Art–The Universal Language
Art is after all, the great communicator. A universal language that began with the dawn of time and birth of humanity, art is divided by no race, creed, color or ethnic line. Whether rich or poor, an artist can grab some ink and paper, or forage for some canvas and paints, and in hope– release a part of their spirit in that art, for at least some of the world to glimpse and see. Art can heal, or it can incite. It is the eternal voice of the artist that out-lives its’ creator.
The L.A. Art show, now in its stunning 22nd year, is with us again to welcome in an emotional 2017, when part of the nation is still in shock and mourning, and another part is in either secret or fearless public celebration of its new President.
Scott Diament and Kim Martindale Soar
Like this great city of Los Angeles itself, the L.A. Art Show is liberal, political, brave, and magnificent. The brainchild of Palm Beach Show Group President and CEO Scott Diament and Producer and Partner Kim Martindale, the rainy, gray skies of a winter Los Angeles literally parted this special day, and shone forth L.A’s famous sunshine, giving guests, patrons, participants, and the stars a reminder that yes–L.A. does have the best weather in the world, of any famous city.
Emma Roberts Shines Bright
Stars glided in this exiting night for the VIP Opening Night Gala, including the lovely and talented Emma Roberts, who hosted the Patron Level Opening Night Premiere Party Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Emma Roberts proved to be a sweet, genuine actor, discussing her support for St. Jude, which pays the entire bill for special needs patients at this hospital who have what could be a life threatening illness.
Dancing Barefoot
Emma Roberts later walked quickly around the L.A. Art Show–after removing her heels to comfortably go barefoot in the sprawling Los Angeles Convention Center, and appeared to be purchasing at least one print of a famous master work. Master Work prints, for those not in the business of art–can run between several thousand to around one hundred thousand dollars for a limited edition, which is well worth it for a master.
Up in Smoke
Host Committee members Natasha and Cheech Marin were back–Cheech Marin is that Cheech from the seventies iconic Cheech and Chong comic fame.
Like a Rolling Stone
Musical guests Whitney Myer Trio rocked the VIP stage with some songs including a commendable cover of the Rolling Stones. Even more commendable, considering a female was doing Mick’s voice, making it all the more interesting.
Eat, Drink and be Merry
Endless gourmet food from Chef Jeffrey Nimer of Haute Chefs LA was offered, as was endless glasses of red and white wine and other beverages, at a myriad of open bars. More endless food from a bevy of top local diners and restaurants served guests all from ice cream, chocolates, coffee, donuts, tacos, and more. White table clothed tables filled up hundreds of VIP guests seated; enjoying dinner, deserts, and socializing with other patrons.
Art–A Man’s Name
The evening began with an exclusive collectors’ preview followed by the opening party, which also featured performance works by Carlos Martiel, Eugenia Vargas Pereira, Raphael Montañez Ortiz, Melanie Pullen, and Narcissister.
Back on the main floor, rows and rows of gallerists’ booths treated hundreds and later thousands of patrons and guests to fine art from some of the top galleries around the world. Denis Block Gallery (Beverly Hills) is back, and shows a nice Lichtenstein litho, Eckert Fine Art (CT) is back with those fabulous parrots (Lories) by Hunt Slonem, artist Ryuma Imai (Japan) shows some very nice work including Giraffes and Bats at Yuji Fukuda, Robert Adelman (Oakland, CA) shows some nice Picasso ceramics, and Jerry Suqi is back from Chicago with some great Klimpt prints (collotype).
The Antique and Jewelry show with the LA Art Show, which was scaled back last year, is now gone, save for a select few booths. The classical side further too seems to be scaled back this year.
Naked as a Jaybird
Continuing the trend of last year which started showing live nudity with performance artists, this year has one or more partially body-painted, topless young women walking around in a near trance, another group thong clad topless, body painted male and female artists doing dancerly moves and poses, and an African American performance artist Carlos Martiel lying totally naked on a few inch platform on the ground. (Parents, keep this in mind when bringing children). Yes–art has nudity. Remember the Romans and Greeks from Art History?
Tony Song –the Selling Machine
Artist Tony Song (originally from China–now in L.A) is back, who had already sold a large painting when I spoke with him, and Angel Ricardo Rios is featured with a striking work called “The Garden of Excesses.” MFA returns with their usual great prints of Master Works including Warhol, Picasso, and Chagall, as well as some nice Picasso ceramics.
There is much more to tell and see at this exciting show, which I will cover in the next installment of this review series. The L.A. Art Show runs daily through Saturday, January 14th from 11am to 7pm, and on its final day–Sunday, from 11am to 5pm.
General AdmissionTicket Prices – per person (well worth it)
One Day Pass: $30 – Receive $5 discount if purchased online in advance
Four-Day Pass: $60 – Received $5 discount if purchased online in advance
Location: Los Angeles Convention Center: West Hall, at 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California, 90015.
Happy New Year! The Legendary Golden Globe Awards kicked off today at 3pm, with many of the biggest and brightest stars from film, television, music, and even a number of fashion models. Congratulations to all of the nominees, and the big winners!
LILY COLLINS
Never mind that the her father is one of the most legendary and greatest voices in the history of pop music–Phil Collins, because Lily Collins is now one of Hollywood’s new reigning queens–young, beautiful, and talented, as seen below on the red carpet for the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
EMILY RATAJKOWSKI
The sexy Emily Ratajkowski walks the red carpet at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards (pictured below) and proves that a girl really doesn’t have to smile for the camera to get a lot of photos taken of her or published as long as she’s a model!
Claire Foy
The lovely and talented Claire Foy appears backstage at the 74th Annual Golden Globes for her win for Best Performance by an Actress TV Series Drama for her performance in ‘The Crown.”
THE STALLONE GIRLS
Sistine, Sophia and Scarlet Stallone (daughters of Sylvester Stallone) attended earlier this week the Miss Golden Globe Media Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: Magnus Sundholm for the HFPA
This content is copyright 2017, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
An amazing singer and songwriter who burst on to the music scene in the early 80’s, George Michael began with the dancy, poppy hits from his band WHAM! WHAM! broke barriers as a pop band, namely, by not only having infectiously catchy, whimsical pop songs that no one could forget, but also, by being openly flamboyant and later, openly gay. Women loved Wham! and straight kids that were anti-gay made fun of them–yet still couldn’t help but know the melodies and words. The world embraced them, including of course–MTV which, along with American Bandstand, the radio, and later VH1, helped launch their career.
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25th, 1963, in East Finchley, London. He attended Bushey Meads School, where he meets future band mate Andrew Ridgely, who he started the legendary 80’s pop group with–WHAM!
It was June 16th, 1982, when Wham!’s first single, “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)” was released. It later peaked at #8 on the UK singles chart. A cute, rebellious, lighthearted pop-rap hit, the song actually carried a profound message, telling the world–“Don’t do work that you are not happy doing. Find what you love, and then only do that which makes you happy.”
Two years later, May 14th, 1984, WHAM! reached superstar status with their #1 Hit “Wake Me Up (Before you Go Go) that gave the world yet another cute, highly danceable, and utterly unforgettable song. During the height of the abortion rights debates, George Michael pushed politics with the hit video, wearing a snow white t-shirt with the words emblazoned “CHOOSE LIFE” on the front and back of it, as well as worn by his band mates. Shedding any attempt at machismo, George embraced portraying himself however he felt; political, flirty, cute, and before he publicly declared it–gay.
When WHAM! stopped making music together, lead singer George Michael soon later burst back on to the scene with dark, brooding, soulful songs that hit the top of the charts, and gained even more fans around the world. Those that loved WHAM! were hooked, and even those that didn’t now had a new appreciation for a man who proved to have even greater talent, soul, and passion than the world realized.
Shattering any idea that he was simply a one hit wonder with nothing deep to say after “Wake me Up,” George Michael released a searing, melancholic, solo ballad, yet still under The Wham! title. Just two months later in July 24th, 1984, “Careless Whispers–” like “Wake me Up,” dominated the charts, and brilliantly made George Michael a certified star, worthy of respect.
Handsome, charming, and with a voice like silk, George Michael was here to stay. Yet far from merely a lighthearted pop star with a brooding ballad, George’s music was filled with a dark side, dealing with subjects including lost love, rebellion, disappointing ones parents, religion, sex, and death.
On June 1st In 1987, “I Want Your Sex”, the first single from George’s debut solo album, Faith, was released. Despite being banned by the BBC, the song hits #3 on the UK charts and #2 in the U.S. Ending with the slogan “Explore Monogamy.” George’s hit song “I want Your Sex” proved daring not only due to the provocative subject matter of the song, but also pushing inter-racial sex relations, with a pretty Chinese woman he tries to seduce in the video.
A stellar singer and songwriter, George Michael was also a great model, who loved fashion and was embraced by the fashion world. On October 30th, 1990, George Michael’s hit song “Freedom! ’90” single was released–directed by David Fincher–reaching the top 10 on the U.S. charts. The video features supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz and Christy Turlington, showing his love for fashion and supermodels, and their love for George.
Performing with many stars of his time including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Elton John among more, George Michael was recognized by his peers as a true great–a star who deserved it.
Up as a nominee for the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, the award should certainly be awarded to George Michael, which is an accolade that recognizes the work and contributions of composers and lyricists who create great music around the world. George has been nominated as a performer/songwriter for his extensive catalog of songwriting credits including chart-toppers including the beautiful “Careless Whisper,” the romantic “Father Figure,” and the timeless “Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go.” The voted winner will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Annual Awards & Induction Gala on June 15, 2017.
George Michael was busy putting the finishing touches to his special documentary film “Freedom” before he passed on. He had discovered some incredible, unseen archive footage and was busy shooting additional interviews for the project, with the film planned to air in March 2017. To coincide with the film’s broadcast, George and Sony Music had decided to move the reissue of the Listen Without Prejudice album to the same time.
On Christmas Day, December 25th, 2106, George Michael passed on. He never had the chance to get old, and like his wish–stayed forever young. George Michael was a truly great artist, an AMAZING and beautiful spririt, who will be missed, and remembered always.
For the last 40 years, I’ve roamed the polar regions of our world. I started as a child, growing up in an Inuit community on Baffin Island, Canada, where I learned from the Inuit people not just to survive in our environment — but to thrive in and love the Arctic for all it had to offer.
Later, as a scientist, I tried using data to make the case for conservation. But it wasn’t until I became a polar photographer for Sea Legacy and National Geographic magazine that I finally found a way to convey the urgency of protecting this fragile ecosystem for the good of all humanity.
Photo by Paul Nicklen
As a scientist, what I know about the Arctic is terrifying. Currently, it’s warming twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet. As a photographer, I can observe and document these effects first-hand: receding glaciers, struggling wildlife populations, and cities impacted by rising sea levels.
And as the landscape changes, driven by climate change, I am watching the Arctic region become increasingly vulnerable. In particular, we should see the rapid disappearance of sea ice here for what it is: a sign of imminent and catastrophic change. The danger of an oil spill would deliver a fatal blow to this pristine and critically important ecosystem.
This week, President Obama designated vast portions of the United States’ Arctic Ocean as indefinitely off limits for future oil and gas leasing.
The new withdrawal — which encompasses the entire U.S. Chukchi Sea and the vast majority of the U.S. Beaufort Sea — will provide critical protection for the unique and vibrant Arctic ecosystem, which is home to marine mammals and other vital ecological resources and marine species, and upon which many Alaska Native communities depend. With this action, we’ve now protected nearly 125 million acres in the Arctic from future oil and gas activity since 2015.
Photo by Paul Nicklen
This action also comes in conjunction with Canada’s announcement that it will freeze offshore oil and gas leasing in its Arctic waters, to be reviewed every five years through a climate and marine science-based assessment.
My career as a scientist, photojournalist, and co-founder of SeaLegacy.org has taught me that merely telling people the ice is melting doesn’t work. Temperatures are rising. Animals are struggling, starving and drowning. Water levels are gradually immersing cities. We can no longer just talk about this. We need to show the world how urgent it is with images and stories and, more importantly, with urgent action.
At this pace the Arctic will be void of ice by 2050. It’s a message that’s hard to hear but easy to understand when you see the damage at the poles of this great Earth. Species whose survival is at serious risk, like the Pacific walrus, polar bear, bowhead whale, fin whale, spectacled eider, and Steller’s eider will benefit from these protections, and so will the communities that rely on the Arctic ecosystem for their way of life.
–Paul Nicklen
Scientist, Wildlife Photojournalist
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada
This content (partially abridged), is copyright 2016, The White House, all world rights reserved. The Hollywood Sentinel.
A heart warming moment in the public ceremony as seen here below at Standing Rock, as American Veterans ask the Sioux Tribe leader and their people for forgiveness for the genocide committed against their people by the U.S. government for hundreds of years.
This content is copyright, 2016, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved. Video is copyright, 2016, Sioux Tribe, Mirrors–all world rights reserved.
A great day of victory was had yesterday Sunday for the Sioux tribe at Standing Rock, with the Army Corps. backing down and no longer defending DAPL to build the pipeline across territory that the Sioux tribe states is sacred land housing their ancestors, which they state that even though they sold–they had written rights concerning what could be done with the land. It is reported that the pipeline will now be rerouted away from the disputed Sioux territory.
And remember, this land was theirs first! Victory indeed! Shame on those who abused the Native Americans and the protestors. Congratulations to the Sioux and all the brave freedom fighters defending their rights!
–The Hollywood Sentinel
A Message From the Chairman of the Sioux Tribe
Yesterday we were notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not grant the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the Dakota Access pipeline. Instead, they will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement regarding alternative routes for the pipeline. This action strongly vindicates what the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has been saying all along – that we all have a responsibility to protect our waters for future generations.
This is an historic moment. For centuries, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and tribes across the country, have faced fundamental injustice at the hands of the federal government – which time and again took our lands and tried to destroy our way of life. Our Treaties and our human rights were ignored, our interests in protecting lands and waters were considered unimportant, and our voices were not heard.
It was this shared history that led Tribes to come together as never before to seek the protection of our waters against the threat of the Dakota Access pipeline. With peace and prayer, indigenous people from hundreds of Tribes said: our future is too important. We can no longer be ignored. The goal was to protect these sacred waters, and to do so in the name of our children.
And, with yesterday’s decision, it is clear that our voices have at long last been heard.
Yesterday’s decision demonstrates that, despite all the challenges that Tribes face and all of the terrible wrongs the federal government has committed in dealing with us over the years, justice for Indian people still remains possible. My thanks to the Obama Administration, and particularly to Assistant Secretary Darcy, for upholding the law and doing the right thing.
Yesterday’s decision belongs in large measure to the thousands of courageous people who put their lives on hold to stand with Standing Rock in support of a basic principle — that water is life. At Standing Rock, our youth played an important role in spreading our message and I am so proud of what they have been able to accomplish.
But Standing Rock could not have come this far alone. Hundreds of tribes came together in a display of tribal unity not seen in hundreds of years. And many thousands of indigenous people from around the world have prayed with us and made us stronger. I am grateful to each of you. And, as we turn a page with yesterday’s decision, I look forward to working with many of you as you return to your home communities to protect your lands and waters, and the sovereignty of your tribes.
My thanks to all of our allies, here and around the world, each of whom contributed to this effort. I want to give a special mention to the veterans who have come to Standing Rock in recent days. I am sure that the strength of your message in support of Standing Rock, and the rights of the Water Protectors, had a powerful impact as the Army made its decision. I appreciate all you have done.
While today is a great day, there is still much that needs to be done to protect Tribal rights and ensure justice for indigenous people everywhere. Using peace and prayer as our guideposts, and with the teachings of our elders and with inspiration from our youth, I believe there is much we can accomplish for the future.
Sincerely,
Dave Archambault, II, Chairman
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
The information below is our former report on Standing Rock before the Army Corps Reportedly Settled
Chill E.B. Fights for Sioux Tribe at Standing Rock
Legendary political rapper Chill E.B. has just released a new protest anthem– “They Don’t Care About Us” in tribute to the brave Native American tribes fighting for their sacred land, at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
“This song echoes the sentiment of the Lakota Sioux community,” Chill E.B. explains, who attended the recent protest in defense of Standing Rock in San Francisco. A veteran rap artist from Northern California, Chill E.B. has received numerous awards and accolades including The California Peace Award, among more. The mayor of his hometown, Jacksonville, North Carolina proclaimed October 14th as ‘Chill E.B. Day’. In 2012 he received the international Human Rights Award presented by The Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights.
Chill E.B. has opened for other major stars including Dr. Dre, NWA, M.C. Hammer, Naughty By Nature and many more. He has also performed in concert with the California Symphony, and shared the stage with Grammy winning jazz legends Stanley Clark and Chick Corea, among others. On December 3rd, 2016 Chill E.B. will embark on a one month Asian tour performing in Japan and Taiwan. He has been on an international humanitarian tour since 2010 which has taken him to 25 countries.
About Standing Rock
According to the Standing Rock council’s website, “The Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation is home to Dakota and Lakota people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Since time immemorial, they have lived and governed a vast territory throughout North and South Dakota, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. Currently, the Tribe is located in central North and South Dakota.
Despite strong objections from the Tribe from the first time they heard of the project on July 25, 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) granted authorization to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross Lake Oahe as part of the construction of a 1,100-mile pipeline that is proposed to carry over a half-million barrels of Bakken crude oil to Illinois and across four states. The current route of construction takes the pipeline less than one half mile from the Tribe’s reservation border, and thus the Tribe maintains a sovereign interest in protecting its cultural resources that remain with the land.
All along the route of the pipeline are sites of religious and cultural significance to the Sioux people, including burial sites of their ancestors. The pipeline would cross the Tribe’s traditional and ancestral lands and the construction of the pipeline jeopardizes many sacred places. While federal law requires meaningful consultation with the Tribe on these matters, that has not happened here. The Tribe opposes DAPL because the U.S. government must–by law–honor the Tribes religious liberty which includes the land of their ancestors, and protect their sacred sites and precious waters.”
According to Opponents of the DAPL:
1, White Invaders Stole America from the Native Americans–now they are trying to do it again.
a, The U.S. Government has given back a tiny portion of the land to Native Tribes, a tiny token of what they deserve and can never be repaid for the theft, rape, pillage, and massacre
b, The government again began buying / stealing these token land grants back, and leaving Native Americans with only tiny areas called reservations–that itself is not acceptable
c, The government is now attempting to infringe on the rights of these Native American Reservations
2, The path of DAPL is through sovereign land
3, The land of the Native Americans is sacred, and houses their ancestors–all a part of their religious worship and religious freedom
4, DAPL is dirty fuel, that will contribute to the destruction of the environment of many
5, DAPL backers are killing cattle owned by the Native Americans
6, Police are violating the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters, firing at them and journalists with rubber bullets, and illegally removing peaceful protesters from tribal lands
7, At least one city near the reservations did not want the pipeline near them, and the DAPL reportedly took heed, but–the tribes argue, are not giving the same respect to the tribes
8, DAPL got away with EPA oversight and regulation, by covertly treating the pipeline build as numerous small construction projects, rather than the massive one it really is
9, Water contamination is a valid risk, as the pipeline could reportedly leak and threaten the water supply of the tribes
10, The Army Core of Engineers, a civilian and military branch of the U.S. army was reportedly accused in 2011 of accepting “cost projections from land developer KBR, in a no-bid, noncompetitive, contract.” After high ranking Army Core member “Bunny” Greenhouse complained about this act, she was reportedly demoted from her Senior Executive Service position, stripped of her top secret security clearance, and-according to Greenhouse, had her office booby-trapped with a trip-wire from which she sustained a knee injury. A U.S. District court reportedly awarded Greenhouse $970,000 in full restitution of lost wages, compensatory damages, and attorney fees, according to Wikipedia. Possible corruption is occurring with the Army Core related to DAPL, protesters argue.
Defenders of the DAPL state:
1, Crude oil reportedly accounts for just 6% disasters within pipeline issues
2, The tribes sold the land to to the government that they want to lay pipes on–years ago, for over 5 million dollars, and have no rights to the land anymore (tribes argue they still have a legal say in the land per earlier agreements)
3, America needs to get off reliance on foreign oil, and this will help America
4, DAPL offered the tribes millions of dollars for some of their land, but they refused, so they said they bought land near them instead
5, protesters have been trespassing on land now bought and owned by DAPL, and damaging their equipment and committing acts of vandalism
6, America needs energy to survive, and function as a country
7, Army Core made amends, and does a lot of good for the environment, are following the law, and doing their job
8, The CEO of DAPL has put money towards conservation, cares for the environment, and is not violating rights or the law
9, America needs the pipeline to make fuel more plentiful for energy, and less expensive for Americans
The CEO of DAPL formerly said he will not re-route the pipeline. He donated over $100,000 to the Trump Campaign, and Trump has reportedly invested over 1 million dollars in to DAPL. President Obama recently signed an order temporarily halting construction of the pipeline near the Sioux tribes.
Breaking News: President Elect Trump recently met today with Al Gore regarding climate change, which Trump now acknowledges may have some connectivity to human activity. Some of Trump’s new cabinet are also reportedly desiring to privatize tribal land, making it no longer federal. Mr. Trump has reportedly not himself commented on this idea as of this press time.
For more information from the Sioux tribe regarding their position on Standing Rock, visit:
For more information on Chill E.B., visit his official website at: www.ChillEB.com
This content is copyright 2016, Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved. This content may be reproduced in full (with no additions or omissions), for no profit, provided that this link is included to this site of www.HollywoodSentinel.com. Contact: 310-226-7176. The Hollywood Sentinel assumes no liability for any advertisers within its pages or linked to any content herein.
President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, delivers a statement regarding the U.S. election results, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 9, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel!The Hollywood Sentinel is the only free online entertainment publication that reports only the good news, and is read by some of the biggest stars of our time. As our Presidential Issue is now winding down and rolling over in to this–our special Human Rights Issue, we invite you to explore all of the pages each day, as daily new content is added, through the table of contents tab to the left on your desktop, or above–on your smart phone.
Feel free to contact us via the contact form and let us know what you think of the issue, what else you would like to see, or with any questions or comments. The Hollywood Sentinel is published weekly, generally every Monday, with at times daily new content. During special editions, select pages will be held over for a full 30 days. All former content can be read by scrolling down, or by visiting the Archives version of the site at The Hollywood Sentinel dot com. Enjoy!
President Obama gave a speech the day after the election this month, which confirmed two things;
1, That Trump won, and Obama was acknowledging this
2, That there would be a smooth transition of power
The following is a transcription of that speech.
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Yesterday, before votes were tallied, I shot a video that some of you may have seen in which I said to the American people: Regardless of which side you were on in the election, regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, the sun would come up in the morning.
And that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The sun is up. And I know everybody had a long night. I did, as well. I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night — about 3:30 in the morning, I think it was — to congratulate him on winning the election. And I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies.
Now, it is no secret that the President-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush’s team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running. And one thing you realize quickly in this job is that the presidency, and the vice presidency, is bigger than any of us.
So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush’s team set eight years ago, and work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful transition for the President-elect — because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. And over the next few months, we are going to show that to the world.
I also had a chance last night to speak with Secretary Clinton, and I just had a chance to hear her remarks. I could not be prouder of her. She has lived an extraordinary life of public service. She was a great First Lady. She was an outstanding senator for the state of New York. And she could not have been a better Secretary of State. I’m proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her. Her candidacy and nomination was historic and sends a message to our daughters all across the country that they can achieve at the highest levels of politics. And I am absolutely confident that she and President Clinton will continue to do great work for people here in the United States and all around the world.
Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election. But the day after, we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country. That’s what I heard in Mr. Trump’s remarks last night. That’s what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that. That’s what the country needs — a sense of unity; a sense of inclusion,; a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law; and a respect for each other. I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition, and I certainly hope that’s how his presidency has a chance to begin.
I also told my team today to keep their heads up, because the remarkable work that they have done day in, day out — often without a lot of fanfare, often without a lot of attention — work in agencies, work in obscure areas of policy that make government run better and make it more responsive, and make it more efficient, and make it more service-friendly so that it’s actually helping more people — that remarkable work has left the next President with a stronger, better country than the one that existed eight years ago.
So win or lose in this election, that was always our mission. That was our mission from day one. And everyone on my team should be extraordinarily proud of everything that they have done, and so should all the Americans that I’ve had a chance to meet all across this country who do the hard work of building on that progress every single day. Teachers in schools, doctors in the ER clinic, small businesses putting their all into starting something up, making sure they’re treating their employees well. All the important work that’s done by moms and dads and families and congregations in every state. The work of perfecting this union.
So this was a long and hard-fought campaign. A lot of our fellow Americans are exultant today. A lot of Americans are less so. But that’s the nature of campaigns. That’s the nature of democracy. It is hard, and sometimes contentious and noisy, and it’s not always inspiring.
But to the young people who got into politics for the first time, and may be disappointed by the results, I just want you to know, you have to stay encouraged. Don’t get cynical. Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. As Secretary Clinton said this morning, fighting for what is right is worth it.
Sometimes you lose an argument. Sometimes you lose an election. The path that this country has taken has never been a straight line. We zig and zag, and sometimes we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving back. And that’s okay. I’ve lost elections before. Joe hasn’t. (Laughter.) But you know.
(The Vice President blesses himself.) (Laughter.)
So I’ve been sort of —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Remember, you beat me badly. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s the way politics works sometimes. We try really hard to persuade people that we’re right. And then people vote. And then if we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena. We go at it. We try even harder the next time.
The point, though, is, is that we all go forward, with a presumption of good faith in our fellow citizens — because that presumption of good faith is essential to a vibrant and functioning democracy. That’s how this country has moved forward for 240 years. It’s how we’ve pushed boundaries and promoted freedom around the world. That’s how we’ve expanded the rights of our founding to reach all of our citizens. It’s how we have come this far.
And that’s why I’m confident that this incredible journey that we’re on as Americans will go on. And I am looking forward to doing everything that I can to make sure that the next President is successful in that. I have said before, I think of this job as being a relay runner — you take the baton, you run your best race, and hopefully, by the time you hand it off you’re a little further ahead, you’ve made a little progress. And I can say that we’ve done that, and I want to make sure that handoff is well-executed, because ultimately we’re all on the same team.
All right? Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)
This content is copyright, POTUS, The White House, 2016, and The Hollywood Sentinel, 2016, all world rights reserved. The Hollywood Sentinel makes no claims regarding any businesses, banners or links herein.
Welcome to the new issue of The Hollywood Sentinel!The Hollywood Sentinel is the only free online entertainment publication that reports only the good news, and is read by some of the biggest stars of our time. Our Presidential Issue is now winding down and rolling over in to this–our special Human Rights Issue, we invite you to explore all of the pages each day, as daily new content is added, through the table of contents tab to the left on your desktop, or above–on your smart phone.
Feel free to contact us via the contact form and let us know what you think of the issue, what else you would like to see, or with any questions or comments. The Hollywood Sentinel is published weekly, generally every Monday, with at times daily new content. During special editions, select pages will be held over for a full 30 days. All old content can be read by scrolling down, or by visiting the Archives version of the site at The Hollywood Sentinel dot com. Enjoy!
YOU MUST LIVE IN THE PRESENT, LAUNCH YOUR SELF ON EVERY WAVE, FIND YOUR ETERNITY IN EVERY MOMENT.” –Henry David Thoreau
It has been two weeks now, since Trump has won Presidency of the United States of America. Many feel that it is now the end of the world. Hillary and countless other politicians argued that Trump would start World War III. Others said he would crash the economy. Days after his announcement, after a small dip, the stock market actually saw a gain larger than it has in many years.
Many Democrats broke in to tears with pain, anger, and fear. Many people across the country who voted for Hillary–or at least those that didn’t vote for Trump, felt that their life was over–that freedom as we know it was over. Gays, blacks, Muslims, Mexicans, women, and others felt that their freedoms would be coming to an end. Thousands across the country in major cities took to the streets–protesting. Some protests turned violent. In L.A. last week for example–150 were arrested. Hate crimes spiked, with news reports of actions against minorities on the rise in the name of the new President Elect.
Meanwhile, Trump condemned the violence and bigotry, Obama and Hillary seemed to encourage people to keep protesting, and Trump’s main media supporter Brietbart, and even Fox News suggested that many of the protesters were being professionally organized and funded by filmmaker Michael Moore, Jesse Jackson, and everyone’s favorite–George Soros. While most protesters (if any) received no money to protest and were not professional, we do know that the above three men have funded and organized some protest actions. Concurrently, Trump back-stepped on some of his election debate rhetoric, with his newly forming administration indicating that they were:
1, Not going to create a deportation force for illegal immigrants, but prevent new illegal immigration
2, Not focus on peaceful illegals first, and then only in a humane manner
3, Not mess with gay marriage
4, Not going to pursue criminal actions against Clinton (which he could not do anyway, as he had no authority to do so), yet even going so far as to now call the Clinton’s “good people.”
Still, anti-Trump citizens do not trust the new President elect. And they do not forgive him for all of the rhetoric they feel has been against them or the freedoms they hold dear. Trump still claims he is going to fight Roe V Wade with the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice that agrees with his belief that abortion is wrong. Trump states if the federal right is reversed, it would merely go back to the states, and women would have to travel to a state where it was legal–the sound of which has many women furious. As such, marches by women in this regard will reportedly be held next week on Washington, and around the world. Trump also states when he would do this, it would he said–probably take at least several years to pass as law. Environmental issues are also of concern, with reportedly over one million dollars worth of Trump’s money invested in the DAPL pipeline.
Obama sat down and met with Trump last week, and stated that he has a good meeting, feeling more hopeful about things after the meeting. Trump stated that he would be taking advice on a regular basis from Obama, calling him a very smart, good man. Growing tensions with Russia have now been smoothed over, since Trump won.
Many more have joined the side of Trump now–or are at least meeting him, who formerly, were among his fiercest opponents, including Mitt Romney. Pence, who was vocally attacked at a play he paid several hundred dollars to see with his wife last week in New York, graciously stated he was not offended, and praised the play. New appointees by Trump are being called racists–which they are firmly denying. Despite all of the chaos, upset, and insanity in America these past couple of weeks, what we can see and learn from all of this is the following;
1, Most of America is not protesting in the streets
2, Most protests have been peaceful
3, Most people in America respect women and minorities, and most are not committing hate crimes
4, Most of America is safe, and we still have our freedoms
5, One man can not bring down America or its freedom
6, For the most part–both Democrats and Republicans want our nation to succeed
7, Mainstream media has been revealed to many for its arrogance, bias, and mistakes, which it will hopefully soon correct
8, We live in a modern digital age where politicians can not so easily lie, and when they do, they have to face the consequences of those actions quickly
9, Racism, sexism, and bigotry is wrong, and must not be tolerated. Civil Rights and Human Rights are crucial to freedom, and can not be reversed. If any administration would try to reverse our human rights that America has fought for and won this past decade and beyond–American’s would not tolerate it!
10, America is functioning, and people are back to work after the election and choosing to be hopeful–which is the key to survival and success
11, America will continue to function, and people will continue to live and be successful after Trump takes office
12, Love, Peace, and Progress is the answer!
You may not have gotten who you wanted in the White House, but we can all agree– this is the beginning of a new day–and we are all fine right now. Being afraid, angry, or depressed is no way to function in life. If you work for someone, the boss does not want a scared, depressed, or angry employee. If you own your own business, your customers do not want to hear anger, fear, or pain. Society wants to be happy–despite their inclination often times not to be–because being happy is the only way that a society can properly function.
So–look around you. Find things that you can be happy about. Find things you can appreciate. Notice things that you accept–that are OK just they way they are. Notice people getting along, that accept each other of different races or backgrounds. Notice how others accept you, and feel that connection. Society works, and functions, because most people are basically good, and most of this country is safe and successful.
The politicians and media’s spin will die down a bit. Lets recognize it all for what it was–a show. Now that Washington’s show is over, it is time focus on what really matters. You–your family, friends, life, career, loved ones–pets if you have any–being happy, and being successful. I don’t really think its the end of the world. I think it is an exciting time to be alive–when passion for freedom has been rekindled, personalities are shining through, and anything is possible. Lets celebrate life, and make a massive history together–like only America can.
Peace.
“THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR LOVE, BUT TO LOVE MORE.” –Henry David Thoreau
This content is copyright, 2016, The Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved.
The Hollywood Sentinel does not endorse any advertising that may appear within its pages or on any videos herein.
A great day of victory was had today for the Sioux tribe at Standing Rock, with the Army backing down and no longer defending DAPL to build the pipeline across territory that the Sioux tribe states is sacred land housing their ancestors, which they state that even though they sold–they had written right concerning what could be done with the land. It is reported that the pipeline will now be rerouted away from the disputed Sioux territory.
And remember, this land was theirs first! Victory indeed! Shame on those who abused the Native Americans and the protestors. Congratulations to the Sioux and all the brave freedom fighters defending their rights!
–The Hollywood Sentinel
Chill E.B. Fights for Sioux Tribe at Standing Rock
About Chill E.B.
Legendary political rapper Chill E.B. has just released a new protest anthem– “They Don’t Care About Us” in tribute to the brave Native American tribes fighting for their sacred land, at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
“This song echoes the sentiment of the Lakota Sioux community,” Chill E.B. explains, who attended the recent protest in defense of Standing Rock in San Francisco. A veteran rap artist from Northern California, Chill E.B. has received numerous awards and accolades including The California Peace Award, among more. The mayor of his hometown, Jacksonville, North Carolina proclaimed October 14th as ‘Chill E.B. Day’. In 2012 he received the international Human Rights Award presented by The Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights.
Chill E.B. has opened for other major stars including Dr. Dre, NWA, M.C. Hammer, Naughty By Nature and many more. He has also performed in concert with the California Symphony, and shared the stage with Grammy winning jazz legends Stanley Clark and Chick Corea, among others. On December 3rd, 2016 Chill E.B. will embark on a one month Asian tour performing in Japan and Taiwan. He has been on an international humanitarian tour since 2010 which has taken him to 25 countries.
About Standing Rock
According to the Standing Rock council’s website, “The Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation is home to Dakota and Lakota people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Since time immemorial, they have lived and governed a vast territory throughout North and South Dakota, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. Currently, the Tribe is located in central North and South Dakota.
Despite strong objections from the Tribe from the first time they heard of the project on July 25, 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) granted authorization to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross Lake Oahe as part of the construction of a 1,100-mile pipeline that is proposed to carry over a half-million barrels of Bakken crude oil to Illinois and across four states. The current route of construction takes the pipeline less than one half mile from the Tribe’s reservation border, and thus the Tribe maintains a sovereign interest in protecting its cultural resources that remain with the land.
All along the route of the pipeline are sites of religious and cultural significance to the Sioux people, including burial sites of their ancestors. The pipeline would cross the Tribe’s traditional and ancestral lands and the construction of the pipeline jeopardizes many sacred places. While federal law requires meaningful consultation with the Tribe on these matters, that has not happened here. The Tribe opposes DAPL because the U.S. government must–by law–honor the Tribes religious liberty which includes the land of their ancestors, and protect their sacred sites and precious waters.”
According to Opponents of the DAPL:
1, White Invaders Stole America from the Native Americans–now they are trying to do it again.
a, The U.S. Government has given back a tiny portion of the land to Native Tribes, a tiny token of what they deserve and can never be repaid for the theft, rape, pillage, and massacre
b, The government again began buying / stealing these token land grants back, and leaving Native Americans with only tiny areas called reservations–that itself is not acceptable
c, The government is now attempting to infringe on the rights of these Native American Reservations
2, The path of DAPL is through sovereign land
3, The land of the Native Americans is sacred, and houses their ancestors–all a part of their religious worship and religious freedom
4, DAPL is dirty fuel, that will contribute to the destruction of the environment of many
5, DAPL backers are killing cattle owned by the Native Americans
6, Police are violating the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters, firing at them and journalists with rubber bullets, and illegally removing peaceful protesters from tribal lands
7, At least one city near the reservations did not want the pipeline near them, and the DAPL reportedly took heed, but–the tribes argue, are not giving the same respect to the tribes
8, DAPL got away with EPA oversight and regulation, by covertly treating the pipeline build as numerous small construction projects, rather than the massive one it really is
9, Water contamination is a valid risk, as the pipeline could reportedly leak and threaten the water supply of the tribes
10, The Army Core of Engineers, a civilian and military branch of the U.S. army was reportedly accused in 2011 of accepting “cost projections from land developer KBR, in a no-bid, noncompetitive, contract.” After high ranking Army Core member “Bunny” Greenhouse complained about this act, she was reportedly demoted from her Senior Executive Service position, stripped of her top secret security clearance, and-according to Greenhouse, had her office booby-trapped with a trip-wire from which she sustained a knee injury. A U.S. District court reportedly awarded Greenhouse $970,000 in full restitution of lost wages, compensatory damages, and attorney fees, according to Wikipedia. Possible corruption is occurring with the Army Core related to DAPL, protesters argue.
Defenders of the DAPL state:
1, Crude oil reportedly accounts for just 6% disasters within pipeline issues
2, The tribes sold the land to to the government that they want to lay pipes on–years ago, for over 5 million dollars, and have no rights to the land anymore (tribes argue they still have a legal say in the land per earlier agreements)
3, America needs to get off reliance on foreign oil, and this will help America
4, DAPL offered the tribes millions of dollars for some of their land, but they refused, so they said they bought land near them instead
5, protesters have been trespassing on land now bought and owned by DAPL, and damaging their equipment and committing acts of vandalism
6, America needs energy to survive, and function as a country
7, Army Core made amends, and does a lot of good for the environment, are following the law, and doing their job
8, The CEO of DAPL has put money towards conservation, cares for the environment, and is not violating rights or the law
9, America needs the pipeline to make fuel more plentiful for energy, and less expensive for Americans
Trump Supports the Pipeline
The CEO of DAPL said he will not re-route the pipeline. He donated over $100,000 to the Trump Campaign, and Trump is predicted to support the pipeline, having reportedly invested over 1 million dollars in to DAPL. President Obama recently signed an order temporarily halting construction of the pipeline near the Sioux tribes.
For more information from the Sioux tribe regarding their position on Standing Rock, visit:
For more information on Chill E.B., visit his official website at: www.ChillEB.com
This content is copyright 2016, Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved. This content may be reproduced in full (with no additions or omissions), for no profit, provided that this link is included to this site of www.HollywoodSentinel.com. Contact: 310-226-7176. The Hollywood Sentinel assumes no liability for any advertisers within its pages or linked to any content herein.
It is official. Trump has now won Presidency of the United States of America.
CLINTON: 218
TRUMP: 276
RNC Wins the House and Senate
Republicans won the House of Representatives, and have also now won the Senate.
In the State of California, potheads will rejoice as the drug is now legal.
At 8pm, the streets of America were quiet, and stores nearly dead, with most people home watching results on TV or online. People outside are glued to the internet on their phones, and democrats are in shock and already in a sense of mourning. Tomorrow will be a new President that will be sworn in during January of 2017, and as we have just found out, that person is now Trump.
Trump Wins
For Trump supporters, many will celebrate. Others will secretly be happy–afraid to tell their friends or wives they secretly supported the man. For some women, they too are pleased. Yet for many Democrats, and especially women, it is a day of sadness. “How could women let us down?” One women asked me. “Did they not turn out to vote?” I can only empathize with women who–living in a historically patriarchal society, has never had a female President–has usually never had equal pay, who have historically been treated as less than a man, and who have historically been viewed as little more than an overly emotional, un-intelligent sex object there merely to please a man. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
Honor and Respect Women
Women are just as qualified as a man to do anything she puts her mind to. Women are just as intelligent, and sometimes more-so, and often times better qualified. And women are not here for the sexual pleasure of a man–unless they themselves want it. They are their own free spirit. Today’s woman is more powerful, more liberated, better educated, and more brave, than ever before–and that is a good thing. As we usher in a new President of the United States–another man, who has been quite guilty of some very terrible comments and actions towards women that any civilized society must condemn, let us all give special regard, care, respect, and love for all women of all ages. Without women–life would not exist. Let us cherish and and honor women, and all races, and all people. As a nation united, we are great, and always have been.
Most people on both sides of the political party in America generally have good intentions–they just differ on how to get the results they want. Most people are basically good. Lets celebrate at least–that this insane drama of an election is over, and that we can all get back to work. And let us also celebrate ourselves, our loved ones, and our commonalities. Let us celebrate women–and tell them we are sorry they had to live through and hear the terrible things said about women in this election, and speak out at any injustice we hear against women or any other minority–and do something about it. America is strong because its people are strong. Lets show the world that as hate filled as this crazy election was, we are a peaceful people, patient, kind, loving, and good. Lets show the world that America is each and every one of us–of all genders, races, nationalities, and sexual orientations–not a man in a White House–but you, and I. We are not perfect, but each day, we can be better than we were before. Lets start today, and be better, and spread the love. –Peace.
–Bruce Edwin
This content is copyright, 2016, The Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
Love him or hate him, the truth can not be denied that President Obama was probably one of the greatest art and music lovers of all U.S. Presidents. We not only heard of many cool concerts he went to, but like the true power player that he is, he brought the party to ‘him.’ With this–our special ‘Presidential Issue’ as America ushers in the next President of the United States, we see In the video above Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stone’s performance at none other than The White House.
What other government or President on Earth has the Rolling Stones play? Only the United States. America–despite it’s challenges, is and always will be the ‘coolest’ land on Earth. From New Orleans to Miami, from Chicago to NYC, and from Los Angeles and Hollywood and beyond, America IS great, not just because some of us are good, or some really awesome, but because we are still the economic, academic, intellectual, and cultural leader of the world. And, we have the coolest people on the planet–period. Farewell Obama.
The Opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture:
By Congressman John Lewis
I’ve been waiting to see this day for 15 years — and in some ways, my whole life.
I’ve loved history ever since I was a little boy. Growing up in the oppressive shadow of Jim Crow, my teachers would ask me to cut out photographs I found in magazines and newspapers of Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, and other marchers for justice. I read about Booker T. Washington, reveled in the sounds of the Jubilee Singers, and prayed for a King to reach the mountaintop.
To me, history is the foundation of a powerful legacy, and it is important to tell the stories of the millions of black men and women, boys and girls, who labored and sacrificed, and continue the struggle, to build this great nation.
When I learned of the decades-long effort to establish a national museum dedicated to preserving that too often untold story, I readily joined the effort. Every session of Congress for 15 years, I introduced a bill to create this national museum.
While the journey has been long, today the history of African Americans will finally take its place on the National Mall next to the monuments to Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson — exactly where it belongs.
It is important that The National Museum of African American History and Culture tells the unvarnished truth of America’s history — a story that speaks to the soul of our nation, but one few Americans know.
It’s a reminder that 400 years of history can’t be buried; its lessons must be learned. By bringing the uncomfortable parts of our past out of the shadows, we can better understand what divides us and seek to heal those problems through our unity.
If we look at the glass-topped casket that displayed the brutalized body of Emmett Till and hear his story, we may better understand the exasperation and anger Americans feel today over the deaths of Trayvon Martin or Tamir Rice.
If we see that an everyday leather wallet is what’s left of Harry T. Moore — a man who fought for the right to vote and died in a bombing meant to silence his activism on Christmas Day in 1951 – perhaps we will see why so many are fighting to protect any encroachment on that most sacred right today.
And as we look at the exhibit dedicated to an African American who now leads the free world from a White House built by black slaves, we can better understand the unshakeable optimism that has defined his belief that — with dedicated work and a little good trouble — we can help create a society that is more fair and more just, which benefits all Americans.
This museum casts a light on some of the most inspiring — and uniquely American — heroes who were denied equal rights but often laid down their lives to defend this nation in every generation. Often they profited least from the struggle they were willing to die for because they believed that the promises of true democracy should belong to us all, equally and without question.
I hope you will join me and President Obama for the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture today.
When you hear about the heroes memorialized in its halls, you may discover the depths of the invincible American spirit. As we learn and confront this history together, we can begin to build one inclusive, and truly democratic family — the American family.
–Rep. John Lewis
VOTE!
November 8th 2016 is the Final Day to Vote. You can actually Vote NOW. It’s Simple, and Free. Register now at the free links below and Vote in what is certainly one of the most important Presidential Elections of all time in the United States.
The Hollywood Sentinel reports only the good news, and is published every Monday, with daily updates on select pages, so do visit often! Explore all of the pages via the table of contents tab to the left of this page. Contact us at the contact page to the left. And please be sure to visit and support our advertisers who help make this free public service news and educational site possible. Enjoy the new issue!
This content is copyright, 2016, The Hollywood Sentinel, and The White House, all world rights reserved. The Hollywood Sentinel is not responsible for any mention of any product, service or claim within any of its pages.
Earlier this year, President Obama stopped by South by Southwest to issue a challenge to creative thinkers, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the country. President Obama stated;
“We are at a moment in history where technology, globalization, our economy are changing so fast. How can we start coming up with new platforms, new ideas, new approaches across disciplines and across skill sets to solve some of the big problems that we’re facing today?”
In Austin, he called on creative thinkers and entrepreneurs from across the country to help tackle our toughest challenges, and to answer the above question. On Monday, October 3rd 2016, fans celebrated that spirit of innovation at South by South Lawn, a White House festival of ideas, art, and action.
At SXSL, many celebrated the inspiring work that many Americans have already accomplished—asking everyone to discover their own way to make a positive difference in our country.
President Obama joined conversation with Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe about the importance of protecting the one planet we’ve got for future generations.
Following the conversation, attendees watched the domestic premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio’s new climate documentary film titled “Before the Flood,” presented by National Geographic in a first-of-its-kind film screening on the South Lawn of the White House.
Whether you love him–or hate his policies, one thing you can’t deny about President Obama–he is one cool cat.
November 8th 2016 is the Final Day to Vote. You can actually Vote NOW. It’s Simple, and Free. Register now at the free links below and Vote in what is certainly one of the most important Presidential Elections of all time in the United States.
The Hollywood Sentinel reports only the good news, and is published every Monday, with daily updates on select pages, so do visit often! Explore all of the pages via the table of contents tab to the left of this page. Contact us at the contact page to the left. And please be sure to visit and support our advertisers who help make this free public service news and educational site possible. Enjoy the new issue!
This content is copyright, 2016, POTUS, The White House, and Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
Public Relations is the art of crafting a specific message about a client, to get them in the news, or to help do what is sometimes called “damage control;” attempting to change the public’s opinion about a client after bad press has already been created. One of my publicist friends once stated that;
“Washington is Hollywood for Ugly People.”
While this is perhaps funny, it is not totally true. To be fair, Obama is–love him or hate him–a handsome fellow. Ronald Reagan was a handsome movie star before becoming Governor of California, and later President of the United States. John F. Kennedy was considered very good looking–enough so that Marilyn Monroe dated him. Even the current two major Presidential nominees that are both perhaps equally hated by each opposing side of their supporters–Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump–both were young and attractive people by Hollywood standards during their early careers. What we can be sure of however, is that Washington D.C, the seat of American political power is at least–full of drama. This years presidential race, which we have all observed, has put even the most crass and crazy reality T.V. shows to shame in terms of vulgarity, and insanity.
This is all merely a reflection of the societal and moral decline in civility, decency, manners, and class that has eroded even more over the years– thanks partly to the advent of immediate worldwide communication known as the internet; where standards of professionalism and decency have eroded in multiple areas; from the news media, to T.V., among more.
While there are advantages to this immediacy in communication and information, we can undoubtedly all see its downside. We live with it every day. The solution –if any, to not put more attention on the negative media than we may deem necessary. And certainly, do not give power over any politician or any else for that matter, to determine and control how you think or feel.
As a person who studies and uses media, I’ll admit–I have found the presidential debate highly entertaining. With millions of Americans and even those outside of the United States frantically feeling as though one man or one woman holds the power of the fate of their lives and the world in their hands, and that one day–election day here in the U.S. will determine that fate or Earthly salvation, I can not help but be amused.
I know that whatever force of good that created this world and all universes is far more powerful than any one “President” of the United States. And I really don’t believe that either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will be able to end humanity as we know it–without the direct influence and will of the creator of the planet. As such, I’m really not at all worried about the results of who wins.
Certainly, I have read and studied about both Trump and Clinton–as have many, and have my opinions as everyone does– but really, why worry? We will all still be human beings, we will all still keep doing the things we do every day, and for those of who strive to be the creator of our own lives–rather than the effect of someone else, we will still be in charge of ourselves.
No matter what happens, and who wins, the entertainment will continue. People will keep fighting over who they think which side is right or wrong, and one will finally win. We live in exciting times. Lets embrace the energy and excitement, accept what we cannot control as being nothing to worry about–since worrying about what we can not control does not good, and lets control what we can–ourselves, and influence for good those around us and in our sphere that we reach.
Life will go on no matter who wins. It will be entertaining, and it will be historic. And during the media chaos and insanity that is being created around the world out of Washington, let us remember that fitting quote by Henry David Thoreau;
“That Government is Best which Governs Least.”
Enjoy the new issue!
With the exception of the above quote, this content is copyright, 2016, The Hollywood Sentinel, Bruce Edwin, all world rights reserved.
In Hollywood, there is generally always someone out there trying to destroy you. Whether it is an actor that tries to ruin your chance of getting the part you both want, an agent or director that ripped you off, or simply the raging lunatic– the anonymous stalker online, slandering and lying about you. In Hollywood, if you expect to survive and thrive for any length of time, you can be sure that eventually, you will most likely encounter an enemy.
While most people out there in the world ‘are’ basically good, in Hollywood, it may be fair to say that the ‘most’ in that statement is at least a little bit ‘less’ by some percent. Like America, Hollywood is a melting pot of the world, where reportedly a hundred thousand or more people from all over the world travel to each year to try make it in, whatever they think that ‘it’ is.
For most, that ‘it’ is the ever elusive ‘FAME AND FORTUNE.’ Most of them fail, running back home with their “tail between their legs” (as my acting coach friend likes to say), having failed miserably, and then the next wave gets off the bus. Fresh meat–as Hollywood calls them. After a few years, if the ‘fresh meat’ lasted that long, they have generally suffered a few battle scars, and are a little more wiser– if not totally jaded.
So what do you do when you–that nice kid from Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, or wherever, gets your first taste of Tinseltown’s ugly side, and you get screwed over in one way or another? What do you do? Do you fight back? Go ballistic online? Sue? Knock their lights out? Or do you try to let it ride, try forgive, forget, and move on?
Turn the Other Cheek or Destroy?
This question is essentially a moral dilemma of sorts. Because if you are a good, happy, honest person that just so happened to be the victim of an evil jerk, you may feel your spirit polluted to some degree if you get down in the trenches and confront them. Do you fight back? Walk away and be quiet? Or what?
How we respond to bad treatment from people should depend on various things;
1, Did the person deliberately hurt you? 2, Have they done this to other people or to you before? 3, Do you think they will do it again? 4, Did they apologize? 5, Do you consider they are basically good or bad?
6, Are they willing to communicate with you about it or are they hiding from you and thus avoiding responsibility? 7, To what degree have they hurt you? 8, How quickly did you or can you recover from the hurt? 9, Is your philosophy one of forgiveness, or of revenge? 10, If you choose revenge, or what some prefer to consider ‘retribution’, how, when, and where will the fighting stop? Or will it stop?!
These are some of the many serious questions we should ask ourselves if, or when someone does us wrong. It is one thing to get accidentally screwed over, but it is quite another to have someone do it on purpose. And, how we interpret and respond to the act of perceived wrongdoing can effect us for better or worse, for the rest of our lives.
As a result, it is imperative;
1, Do not overreact to perceived insults or even provably known actual insults or injuries.
2, Put things into perspective. Give your words and actions a self-imposed delay switch of at least 24 to 48 hours before you make a serious decision as to attack back. I will tell you from experience– while not the easiest in the short-term, forgiveness is usually the best option. If you go around trying to get ‘even’ with ‘every’ person you think did you wrong, you will most likely spend your whole life trying to get even, never catch up, and never have time for anything else–including any happiness in life. It is no fun being angry all the time and having many enemies. It may be fun and entertaining for a while, but it gets old–fast. And, for every action, there is a reaction. If you try to fight back against someone you think did you wrong, then you run the risk of them once again committing another abusive act against you, which could be worse than the first. It is no fun having to watch your back or be paranoid. Mainstream media attempts to induce this fear enough already.
3, If you do have to fight back to defend yourself in some way, don’t let the fight consume you. Don’t become obsessed with your ‘enemy.’ In fact, don’t even give them the power of being ‘your’ enemy. Don’t honor them with such a lofty title. Many of our so-called enemies actually ‘seek’ to be our enemy, and are proud and most happy when they are. Sometimes, one of the most radical acts we can do is to forgive our enemies!
Sometimes, an enemy hits us so hard that it really hurts, and they will keep on doing damage if we don’t fight back. This is similar to the thug on the street that attacks someone and starts beating them up. One should run away fast–yes, but if they have the person in a choke-hold and are trying to choke them to death for example, then they better take some action to fight back, and fast–if they don’t want to end up badly hurt, or worse–dead. Sometimes, we need to fight back–and hard. This is never pleasant, but in Hollywood, where the competition is fierce, and psychotic jerks abound that will sometimes crawl out of the gutter and attack, sometimes it is necessary.
When you decide that you have fight back– if it is not a physical attack, try to set aside one hour or so on one specific day per week to handle it, until it is dealt with. The rest of the time during your life, give it no attention, and give them no thought. Do not allow an enemy to infect your mind and ruin your peace within your soul or your happiness. This is exactly what the spiritual or human enemy wants–they want to steal your peace and your happiness. Do not let them.
Great men have fallen by small attacks from weak enemies, simply because they gave them too much power over their emotions. They let the enemy steal their peace, their joy, and thus, their success in life. Many great men have allowed the infection of hatred to poison their body to the point where their health suffers to such a degree, they end up dead. It is true, that stress, and anger can kill. It is a brutal, yet silent and covert enemy actually covered up within an enemies own attack! But like a silent bomb, stress and hate concerning an enemy can covertly kill if one lets it. Do NOT give an enemy that power over you! This is exactly what they want!
The enemy wants you stressed, upset, angry, and sick! Instead, rule your own mind, your heart, and your soul. Let your spirit be filled with love and happiness. Forgive as much as you can, give amnesty to all you can reason to, and put yourself in your enemy’s position. Be a man or woman of logic, of grace, and of peace.
If you believe in ‘God,’ you surely want God to be forgiving toward you. We are certainly not perfect human beings. If you don’t believe in God, or care about God’s forgiveness, then you at least want your friends and loved ones to forgive you when you accidentally do wrong. Right? Wouldn’t it be terrible if–every time we made a mistake or did wrong, everyone shunned us, and left us forever, or attacked us back and then left? That would be awful! And so, what harm is it to try to forgive a stranger, when we would at least try to extend the same courtesy to a loved one in order to keep them in our life, and we would like them to forgive us?
When we treat a stranger as an enemy by not forgiving them, we can not expect a stranger to forgive us the next time we harm them. Life is–whether you realize it or not, like a wheel of karma. When we treat someone wrong, they will want to treat us wrong. Or if they don’t, then someone else will–sooner or later. The golden rule of “Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated” is of vital importance. It is not only a wise moral decision, it is in fact, a key to success in life, and yes–to Hollywood.
The Art of War for Hollywood
The Art of War for Hollywood then, is not so much a war with others, but rather, it is a war within yourself. That is, it is a battle within your own mind and soul to rise above your ego, to your higher self. To forgive others as you yourself would like to be forgiven by God–if you will, or by your loved ones, or by strangers yourself when you harm another. War is never good, it is never a solution to strive for. An eye for an eye, as the saying goes, leaves everyone blind. Granted, sometimes we must strike back, to stop an abuser and preserve our life or the life of our loved ones or our business. But if and when you can, forgive. Or if you can not forgive, then at least grant amnesty, grant them grace, grace to go on in peace, hoping they learned. Grant yourself the grace to live in peace, and hold love above all, as your highest virtue. Hatred literally leads to death, and love is life. Give love, and spread the word. This is the Art of War for Hollywood. Peace. –Bruce Edwin
The Hollywood Sentinel makes no claims regarding any product or service herewith, and assumes no liability thereof. This content and title are copyright (c). 2016, Bruce Edwin, all rights reserved.
Jack Reacher Debuts in Theaters on October 21st, 2016
I’ve been watching a lot of older, great films lately. One thing that I am reminded about, when viewing motion picture, is something that I learned in one of my screenwriting classes, and that is that every well developed character in a film needs a backstory. What that means is this…take Will Smith’s character in “The Pursuit of Happyness” for example; We see that he is trying to get a good paying job, and make good money. But why? We quickly learn it is to take care of his young boy. But so what? Why is that? We learn it is because his characters father was not around for him, and he promises himself that he will never do that to his child. He will be there for ‘his’ boy. Now ‘that’ is a compelling motivation. His motivation for success runs deep–beyond the ordinary man. He ‘must’ succeed in order to not only care for himself, but to care for his boy, and to help break the cycle of abuse and abandonment that his spirit carries.
The Backstory of a Character
When a film has no backstory, that is, when the character’s motivation is not clearly established, we generally feel nothing for them. Why do they do what they do? What are they running from or towards? Are they compelled by love, fear, jealousy, hate, or what? In order to have a powerful character in a film we care about, we generally need to see or understand some of the inner compulsion of the character. Without backstory, without the reason ‘why’ they are doing what they do, we generally have no emotional development, and thus–no care for the character.
The greatest films, fueled by the greatest screenplays, have greatly developed characters that we ‘feel’ for. That we either greatly hate, or most often generally love, or can relate to. Without knowing something deep and personal about the character, we typically feel that the character is empty, shallow, and void of depth or meaning. We don’t care about them, and therefore, do not relate strongly to the film. A great character of depth helps create in cinema what we call the ‘suspension of disbelief,’ whereby our conscious mind momentarily forgets the outside world, and relates wholly to the character on screen, considering their pain–our pain, their truth–our truth, and their victory–our victory.
The Force Within Us
When Luke Skywalker conquers the evil Darth Vadar, it is not just Luke we are cheering for, it is for the universal good in us all. “Star Wars” creator George Lucas tapped in to what Joseph Campbell referred to in his book and video “The Power of Myth,” as the classical archetype, which extends across all time, space, lands, and generations. It is the inborn spirit in humanity that years for truth, for love, and for the greater good. Without archetype, without ‘reason’ in our characters, our stories are often flawed, and our sense of wonderment, awe, and compassion is either lost, or worse still–never there to begin with.
Life Imitates Art
I want to ask you to think for some time about your life as a movie script. How many strangers do you see each day that are not developed in your mind? In other words, how many people out there do you encounter that you know nothing about? That you have no backstory for? The reality is, we ‘all’ have a story. We all have a backstory–a reason for why we do what we do–right or wrong. We all have something we are running from, or towards. We all have hopes, dreams, fears, weaknesses, hates, loves, motivations, and things that inspire and compel us. Yet how can we ‘feel’ any care, compassion, or sympathy, let alone any empathy, for those characters in our lives–those ‘strangers,’ when we have no emotional bond compelling us to see them as anything more than just a blip on the screen of our life? What concern will we feel when that stranger is just as another flat, boring, irrelevant character on the screen, that we know nothing about?
I want to remind you that ‘you’ are an undeveloped character to someone, to a stranger–just as I am to many. Those that become ‘famous’ have a two dimensional view of them ‘known’ by many, but even this is not ‘knowing.’ How can you know a person? Just as we know a character. We know where they came from, we know where they are going, we know a bit of their soul and what drives them; their passions, their weaknesses, their loves, their fears, their hopes, and their obsessions.
Strangers–The Undeveloped Characters of Our Life
Unlike the movies, the undeveloped characters–those ‘strangers’ in our life really are developed, they really are deep–we just haven’t heard, seen, or read their stories. And yet how many times do we pass by a stranger, giving not a thought nor care to their life, to their feelings, to their humanity? How many hundreds of thousands of homeless on the streets in Los Angeles and every major city throughout the world have a story–a purpose they are not fulfilling, a dream they yearn to see come true?
We are all human, we all have a spirit, a purpose– a soul. I want to remind you as I also remind myself, that while we can shut off the characters on T.V, or in the movies who we don’t feel anything for, we should think twice before shutting off our feelings, compassion, or interest for those we know nothing about in the real world. Everyone has feelings. People matter, whether you know them well or not, they were once an innocent, helpless child, they were once full of life and hope–they had dreams, and yes, somewhere deep inside, beyond all the unknowing, beyond all the fear, regret, pain, remorse, or hate, beyond all their goals not yet achieved–they still may dream of something magical and magnificent. We all have feelings–we all have a passion, a purpose, yearning to break free.
I dare you today, to go out into the world during your day, and help someone in need. Help someone get their hope back that may have lost it, or their faith in the decency of humanity. It is good to get what we want, to have our goals, and achieve them; there is nothing wrong with that, that is healthy, and necessary. But as we do better and better each day, it is also our responsibility to remember others–to help when we can, to do more. Let’s build better characters not only on the big screen, but in our own lives. And together, we can all watch a life–our life as it unfolds–that we are proud of.
–Bruce Edwin
Copyright, 2016, Bruce Edwin, The Hollywood Sentinel, all rights reserved.
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK
Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) returns with his particular brand of justice in the highly anticipated sequel JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK. Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) is the Army Major who heads Reacher’s old investigative unit. She is arrested for Treason and knowing that she is innocent, Reacher must break her out of prison and uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear their names and save their lives. On the run as fugitives from the law, Jack Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever. Based upon JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK, author Lee Child’s 18th novel in the best-selling Jack Reacher series, that has seen 100 million books sold worldwide.
Jack Reacher text, and image are used with permission with courtesy of Paramount Pictures, copyright 2016, Paramount Pictures, all rights reserved. The Hollywood Sentinel, 2016.
The end of spring 2016 in the U.S. has been challenging for some to say the least, particularly for some in Florida. For even those who attempt to ignore the media, it is difficult to avoid the reality of the recent terrible events that occurred in Orlando; first with the singer from the Voice, and then with the victims in the nightclub. I recently traveled earlier this year to Daytona and Orlando, and the cities are both wide open, bright, prosperous, and clean.
The sick and evil persons who committed both of these atrocities are also gone. Politicians have used these evil events to try push their agenda of gun control or immigration control. Both sides blame the other, as each stirs up animosities among each sides supporters.
While most of the millions of Muslims in the world are good, peaceful people, the tiny percent of those that call themselves such, follow the extreme, literal, interpretation of the religions text, and are committing barbaric, evil acts. Some argue that this rise in extremism is fueled, if not at least partly, by the West’s gradual invasion and war against their people over the past nearly 20 years. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. Evil has no justification, and killing the innocent, whether they be Muslim’s, Palestinian’s, Jews, Christians, Pagans, atheists, or anyone is always wrong.
Karma is real, and if reincarnation or an eternal life of the spirit is real, then those who commit unfathomable, evil acts out of hatred, and of a warped ideology, will surely find not the salvation they cling to, but a hell of the lowest order.
Christina Grimmie Remembered
Christina Grimmie was a young, beautiful, incredibly talented and kind woman, whose stellar voice was a gift to the world. Her loss of life is a tragedy that is angering and sad. She will be deeply missed.
Nightclub Victims Remembered
The 49 club goers in Florida will also be greatly missed. Nothing will replace their lives. Their spirit should serve as a reminder that who one chooses to love or be with is a human right, whether one agrees with it or not. Most of these people–we imagine, were good, kind, loving, people.
Most People are Basically Good
The thing that we must also remember in all of this is that most people are basically good. Most people try to do better. Most people want to stop evil, and want to be kind. Good is more powerful than evil. Love is stronger than hate. There are more people on the planet that want peace, than there are those who want to kill. There are more acts of kindness and good news every single day around the world, than there are acts of violence, or bad news. We simply are only exposed to a warped majority of bad news, because the majority of the media and most politicians often operate and try to rule from a paradigm based on fear and hate, rather than on hope and love.
We need not have fear. This is a benevolent universe. We are spiritual beings, having a human experience, and we are here to learn and grow. One of the purposes of life is to bring love and happiness to ourselves, and to others. It is not wrong to do things that make us happy, so long as we do not violate the rights of others. We should also seek to make happy those around us, and do things that lift up, and enlighten and benefit the world.
An Age of Hope
We need not deny reality, or the problems that we as a nation and world face. Yet we also need not succumb to the daily bombardment of fear, pain, death, disaster and hate that is constantly programmed to us through the mass media. There is a very small group of people on the planet that are very evil, that wants war, that wants to create evil, panic, fear, and dread, in order to kill and control. We do not need to give them any more power. We were made from the same source of a loving power. We deserve to be happy, and we deserve a life unencumbered from the evil that a small percent of people from any ethnicity or religious ideology do. Do yourself a favor, at least for a few days, and ignore the drumbeat of death and fear in the media. Focus on the life around you, and make it better. Go out today and tomorrow with your full life force, with a bravery that knows no bounds, to do good, be happy, help others along the way, and follow your passion. Be bold, and thankful for this gift of life we have all been given. Focus on the good–it is not difficult to find. We are all very blessed, if we simply choose to be. We CAN be heroes. Be brave, and be a hero to the world–now is your time.
This content is copyright, 2016, Bruce Edwin, The Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
The biggest living music star of our time, Madonna has influenced music and generations of fans for decades. From her initial training as a dancer in New York City, Madonna later reportedly joined a band called The Breakfast Club as drummer. When their singer was reportedly sick one day, she took over on vocals, and the rest is history. Dancer, Singer, Actress, and Producer, Madonna pushed music and society farther than any artist of our time. From breaking stereotypes of race, gender, ethnicity, and beyond, Madonna is one of the few true ICONS of the ages. There has never been any other like her, and there never will be. She is indeed, one of music’s truly greatest.
Anyone that knows or who has studied Madonna, can attest to her work ethic. To be great, one has to work hard and pursue their goals and dreams “as if your life depended on it.”
How to succeed as a singer is a long process that requires years of dedication, training, and execution of goals.
When reading this list, it is also very important to know that if and when you get a great A-list agent or manager, they will or should help you work on all of these things, or least tell you at each stage what is needed next.
It’s very important as an artist to NOT get so much information or data on things you don’t know how to do, that you get overwhelmed. When one gets overwhelmed, then one retreats from that activity and does nothing due to confusion.
Aside from steps 1 through 3 below, your primary and number one responsibility is to be a great singer, or be a great musician. If you have that down, plus 1 through 3, and are really great, then you will eventually find help with the rest if you persist enough and get the right team. If you’re like me, then you also like to know how everything works and where you fit into the game. So here you go…
The following is what I look for as a talent manager, and what any label will generally want, when signing a new artist.
1, Professionalism. Do what you say you are going to do. Be kind, courteous, and professional. Act quickly. If an A-list agent, manager or record label calls or email you, you should respond as fast as possible. If they ask you to make a phone call for 15 minutes on a certain day, unless you have a funeral or wedding to go to, you should generally put them first and do the call, don’t try to negotiate the time or day. If you have a job you have to work at that time, take a break. You’re entitled to a break, so take it, and do the phone call. Do whatever it takes, but show that your music career is your priority–not just your hobby. Take it seriously and take seriously those who have the power to help you.
Don’t take those who can help you for granted. If they ask to see your next gig, or invite you or your band to lunch to get to know you as an artist or group, jump at the opportunity. If they ask to be friends on social media, do it and treat them like gold.
We are looking to find out who you are, what motivates you, what your lifestyle is like, how professional you are, how dedicated to music you are, and do you have what it takes to be signed and be developed into a star? Are you someone we can put our name behind and pitch to our highly valued clients that can make you famous overnight? Or, are you a diva with an attitude who hasn’t paid your dues, doesn’t “get it,” and does not deserve any further help? I’ll explain this part more below.
The number one people fail to succeed as a band or singer is because they are unprofessional. This includes not being on time, being late, or being flaky.
2, Don’t be Crazy. Don’t hang around crazy people, or you yourself be crazy. When I say crazy, I mean–a dangerous liability. Do you have a good team around you? Do you have a psycho significant other who will try to sabotage you if you start to succeed? Do you hang around with scary, dangerous people? Or do you have winners in your circle? What company do you keep?
The number two reason people fail is because they have people around them either overtly or covertly wanting to and trying to make them fail.
3, Be Manageable. Are you too egotistical? Do you think that you are doing a top agent, manager, or label a favor by talking to them? Unless you’re already famous, you generally are not. World famous record labels and A-list agents and managers don’t need to sign unknown artists in order to be rich. They already are rich. The label and A-list agent or manager is doing you–the artist a favor if you are not yet famous–not the other way around. If you don’t get this, then that’s what I mean about you don’t “get it.” You need to understand your place on the food chain and level of power–or lack thereof.
One generally does not get power in Hollywood by being rude or having an attitude with those in power. One generally gets power by being cordial, polite, professional, humble, and gracious.
Those who are not yet rich, famous or powerful who don’t show respect to those in power, and who on the contrary, show disrespect, often find themselves blacklisted in the industry if they are too crazy or abusive.
The third main reason people fail to succeed in Hollywood is that they have an inflated sense of their own talent or position of power and are therefore un-manageable.
This also means that if you are not yet a star, you should follow the direction of your agent, manager, or label completely. And if you will not listen to them and do what they say, then you should get a team whose advice you WILL follow. And if you won’t follow the directions of anyone, then you are what we call un-manageable. In which case, you should manage yourself and put out your own music. Good luck with that! You’ll need it.
4, Have Talent. In addition to items one through three above; being professional, not having an ego and following direction, and being a good person with good people around you, the other thing we are obviously looking for next is TALENT. Now, most people don’t even get an appointment with an A-list agent or manager because they fail on one through three above. But if you have the above three handled, then you must actually have the talent to justify even being in the game.
If you have a great look, that’s going to give you an edge. We will listen to anyone, but if you look like Natalie Portman or Will Smith, then you are going to be higher on the radar and get more instant value in Hollywood. And if you are a teenager, you will get even more attention. Why? One: There is theoretically more years left for you to work, and Two: More young people listen to more music and see more movies than older people. And more younger people like to listen to other younger people.
Now, Susan Boyle from American Idol certainly did not look like a star when she walked out on to that stage and changed the face of the music industry in a big way. She was portly, awkward, and the audience laughed at her. But when the crowd and the world heard her sing–WOW! Those laughs of ridicule turned to tears as people were touched to their very core and sprit at how great she was. And most everyone felt shame for judging this woman on her looks. Everyone was floored. Including Simon. And this woman single-handedly changed the music industry in a BIG way from that day forward. So, looks are important, yes, but whereas 15 years ago we would say you could never make it as a star if you didn’t look like a fashion model, those days are OVER. And that’s a good thing. With that said, you need to use everything you have got that you can, ethically to your advantage, which includes your looks. If you are sexy–flaunt it if you are comfortable doing so. Have you seen the Grammy’s lately? With that said, I don’t believe in an artist selling themselves out as objects of sexual adoration, UNLESSS that’s who they are and what they really want.
So you should know you are. Find out who you are, what you represent artistically, aesthetically, musically, ethically, and morally, and then let the world know that. Be true to yourself. And don’t cross any lines of morality that are against your soul.
5, Handle criticism and rejection. Sometimes agents and managers will test clients we are interested in signing to see how they handle criticism or rejection. I politely kind of rejected an actress one time years ago who I was interested in signing, but I suspected she had a bad temper and big ego. When I lightly rejected her, I thought she was going to hit me! She threw papers, stomped around, and began shouting and swearing. When I told her I was testing to see how well she handled rejection, but was afraid she had a bad temper, she nearly lost her mind. From that day forward, I never rejected anyone in person. It’s too dangerous!
If anyone rejects you, it means nothing. So what? There are enough people on planet Earth to give you EVERYTHING you need and want. If one of us says no, that means you are just one step closer to getting someone who says yes. Your job should be to get countless no’s, UNTIL you get everything you want. It’s like sales. And one thing I learned in sales as a kid when I was 15 is, it’s a numbers game. It’s not a matter if IF, but WHEN you will get the person that says YES.
If you get rejected, thank the person. Ask them what would make them change their mind and say yes? Make a joke about it. Tell them if you ask them tomorrow or next week would they say yes? And by all means, get their permission to keep in contact with them and then stay in contact. Cultivate relationships of power and be devoted to those persons as an individual yourself who is worthy of trust, and respect.
6, We want your voice ON PITCH. Most singers who are amateur may stay on key, but they are off pitch, which is painful for any person with a trained ear to hear. When I hear someone sing, act, or speak off pitch, it greatly disturbs me. Now, if the music is MEANT to be off key or off pitch, such as in a punk rock song, that’s a different story. But if you are off pitch due to technical incompetence, then that is unacceptable, and may be a reason we may reject you. For this reason, it is important to have people around you who are honest with you, and you need to be willing to take direction and follow your agent or managers advise. In which case, vocal lessons are required. When I work with a singer, I only work with the best vocal coaches on the planet who have trained stars. Nothing less is acceptable.
7, If you write your own songs, then we need a proper song. That means, we want an actual intro, a pre-chorus, a bridge, a chorus, a refrain, an outro, and ideally what is called an “earworm” or a HOOK where the melody gets stuck in the listeners head hours, days, and weeks later. We are also looking for a tone and mood, giving us as the listener a range of emotion. In other words, your song should make us FEEL something.
8, Vibe. If you write your own music, in terms of instrumentation, then all of the above in number seven is pertinent, and we need strong BEATS, RYTHMS, or VIBES. Again, we need to FEEL it.
9, Quality Mix. Your voice should not be buried in the mix. We need to hear your voice and hear the words. If you are using Autotune, you sure had better know how to sing, and be using it as an artistic device, and not as an attempted masque to cover up an un-trained voice.
10, The Right Length. Your songs itself should be between 3 and 3 and half minutes long when you are starting out and looking to get signed. Not shorter, and not much longer.
If you are shopping out a cover, you had better make sure that the cover is unique and BETTER than the original. Don’t try covering a singer out of your vocal range, or you will fail.
11, 3 Cuts Radio Ready. You need 3 cuts, radio ready for us, mixed and mastered final cuts, ready to be pitched to the labels.
12, Split Sheets. If you co-write with someone or you are working with other musicians, a producer, or a pro mixer or pro masterer, you need to have your splits solid. This means a usual one sheet contract (split sheet) detailing who did what, who owns what part of the track, and what percent is owned. Signed, dated, and ideally notarized.
The team on your splits can make or break your deal too. If there are a bunch of jerks or even one loser you worked with who is a total jerk to deal with, it can turn a label, agent, or manager off of dealing with you, or at least turn them off of repping any songs that person is on.
13, ASCAP and Copyright. Join ASCAP or BMI if you have not already, and always register your tracks before you send them out of make them live anywhere. Copyright your lyrics AND your mechanical rights (the music itself).
14, EPK (Electronic Press Kit). You next have to have your EPK. In your EPK is your biography, your press clippings, and your glossy. Your glossy is your 8X10 color headshot, which these days should still be hard copy for those old school who want the solid version, and you also need the hi-res digital. Your press clippings are your valid reviews from major and respectable music or national press who have reviewed you favorably.
You should also have your 3 tracks pressed on CD, and there is a very particular way that this and the entire EPK needs presented or it may get thrown in the trash.
You also need your songs on SPOTIFY and YOU TUBE. Don’t expect us to download links or sign up for anything. We won’t. We all use You Tube and Spotify. You can also add them on BandCamp and Reverb Nation.
Have a website. Your artist website should be comparable to that of other top music stars.
Have a stage name that you brand, and market.
There are MANY more things on all of these topics here above, and below that we help clients with that you MUST know, and MUST do correctly.
15, Live Gig! Ultimately the label and any great agent or manager is going to want to see and hear you LIVE. That means, you need to be a great performer. So you should be seeing a lot of concerts, support other musicians and get to know them, have gigged plenty, build your fan base, and know what you are doing on stage and off.
You need an artist contract for you when you play out, that includes your backline, stage plot, musicians list, and more. We help clients with all of this.
Remember, when performing, You are not just there to sing your songs in a technical manner and leave. You are there to invoke emotional power. To make us smile, laugh, cry, shout, scream, or celebrate. You are an artist, and your job is to entertain. So, entertain us. Give it your all, and show us what you’ve got.
And remember again, if you get rejected, never give up. If this is TRULY what you want and what you are put on this Earth to do, then you CAN find a way to make it happen.
I hope this has helped many of you. IF it has, send us an email telling us how it has helped you. We just MIGHT publish your comments.
A special shout out to SAXOPHONE GIRL, ACTIVIST GIRL, and PHILLY GIRL.
–Peace.
Feel free to let Bruce Edwin know of any specific questions you have by email to StarpowerManagementLLC@gmail.com or Tel: 310-226-7176 Or via Quora for Bruce Edwin. Your questions and answer just MIGHT be published here for the world to hear or read.
Artist Question: With me not being a songwriter yet would I still be responsible for putting together the 3 tracks to shop? I do believe I could get help from writers, producers and engineers I know. If not let me know.
Answer: To be considered by most management that are willing to do “development,” which means, help you get ready to be considered by the labels, you don’t need three radio ready tracks, or even one track to be considered by them. I can tell if I am interested in signing someone after hearing them for about 10 seconds. But I do like to hear them do a complete song, so I can determine their overall vocal delivery.
To be considered by a label, you generally DO need 3 tracks radio ready, unless you happen to create just one song that’s a major banger and goes viral.
Most agents and managers will not pay for you to produce your three tracks. That will be up to you generally.
You should also never pay to have songs created UNTIL you get a great agent or manager and follow THEIR direction as to what songs to actually produce.
I often have had artists coming to me who have spent a ridiculous amount of money on producing a song and even a music video for that song when I won’t even touch the song, and will NOT send it to the labels. So save your money UNTIL you get an A-list rep you trust who can guide you as to what songs to use, and who to work with. Otherwise, you could be wasting not only your time, but your hard earned money.
Many artists–especially pretty young women will find plenty of guys willing to “hook them up” with free this or free that. In Hollywood, most no one does anything for free without expecting something in return either now or later. So, keep in mind what I mentioned above about the split sheet, and your morals.
You need to not only be careful with your money and your creative rights, but also your body.
In some cases, if an artist’s music, songs, or voice is great enough, “radio ready” doesn’t even matter, and you could be recording it in your shower on a 4 track or your smart phone. Everything is relative, and depends totally on how great is your talent. The greater your talent in more areas, the more you can get away with during the shopping phase. The lesser your talent, the more you have to go for perfection in every other area expected.
One of the most important things we need to know in life in addition to “how to sell,” is “how to network.” In this article, I am not going to cover either of those topics, which will be covered in our upcoming seminars, but what I am going to cover is something equally vital to know as a producer, writer, actor, model, or anyone else in Hollywood looking to contact an agent, manager, studio, production company, producer, or financier. And that is; “How to contact a production company, studio, agency, or management company in the right manner.
If everyone knew how to write, network, and close a sale, then the majority of the people in the world would be wealthy, or at least would never have to worry about being poor. Unfortunately, these skills are mastered by only a small number of persons, and all mastered together—by even fewer still.
1, Research
Know your target prospect. One of the first biggest mistakes I see writers, producers, musicians, bands, models, actors and more in Hollywood make is seeing them waste their valuable energy and time by going to the effort of trying to pitch themselves in an email, but not doing their research and using the person’s name. Would you cold call someone without using the name of the person you are trying to sell? Or would you go into a meeting with someone you are pitching without using their name? Of course not. So why would you send an introductory email or text message to someone you want to do business with, without using the same courtesy? Whenever I get a mass email pitch, or a pitch without my name used, it goes straight into the trash. In addition to the persons name, the company name is equally vital. And you have to spell it all correctly. If for example you are pitching a producer at Warner Bros., and you state in the heading line “Warner Brother,” you can guess that you might not get too far.
In addition to the basics of knowing your target prospects basic information of name and company name, you need to spend anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes or even up to an hour or more researching vital things about your prospect. I have a rule that the amount of time I invest into researching my target is contingent upon the amount of money I predict we can make each other. Notice that I said make each other. This brings me to another vital point I will address later. During your research, you want to know your prospects strengths, weaknesses, attributes, and what makes them unique. You want to see what you both have in common, and also what you may both differ on, so as not to let that become a point of contention during pitching or later negotiations.
2, Provide Value
After you do your research, you need to discover where and how you can bring value to them immediately. This is the second major mistake most people make when pitching. This is also the quite common mistake of so many actors, models, bands, and singers. They think only in terms of “what’s in it for me?” I once had an aspiring model and actress walk into my office for her scheduled appointment with a t-shirt on that read “What Can You Do For Me?” In big bold black block letters. I laughed when I saw it. She then asked me the same question, and I later told her “nothing.” I would probably be more polite about it these days, but that’s another story.
Similarly, when you approach a company in person, on the phone, by text, or email with the attitude of “this is what I want, now—what can you do for me,” you are not going to help your self or impress anyone. You need to be direct—yes, but you also need to be more diplomatic. Find out first what YOU can do for THEM. Deliver value immediately, and don’t assume that your great masterpiece of a script is going to be that value that they want that you are going to deliver them. Sure, maybe it is, but you need to imagine that they are like that world famous supermodel every guy hits on from a million different angles every day, and you are just the next schmuck who thinks you are going to sweep her off her feet. You need a better angle.
During your research is where you can determine what type of value you might be able to provide. A website alone can tell you a lot about a prospect. If for example their website or their public ad copy is filled with improper English (in the U.S.) or misspelled words, this is a reflection on their professionalism or lack thereof. Their photography they present to the world is also an indicator of their aesthetic sophistication or lack thereof. Perhaps you may discover a weakness on the prospects website where a video is missing they didn’t catch, and you bring it to their attention. This can be a powerful way to bridge communication and get your foot in the door so to speak, by offering help.
Maybe you read that they hate the same politician you do, and you know how to help defeat them in their next election campaign, or maybe you love the same charitable cause. Bring it up. Maybe you read they just bought a new car, and you happen to own the same model, or your friend works at the car company, and you can give them a sneak peek at the new model coming out that no one else has access to. Be creative. Find commonalities that can make them interested in you. In communication in Hollywood, you need to not only be interesting and get attention, but you need to be interested in others, and show them attention. So that’s really the first step.
You want to also specifically ask if there is anything you can do for them, and if you can and it’s ethical and fair, do it if you agree to. An example might be giving them a free ticket to that sold out concert of that singer they love at the concert venue you or your friend works at.
A model gave me a tie once for Christmas. Although it was a top name brand and expensive, I thought that it was one of the ugliest ties I had ever seen, and I never worn it once, yet I was happy at her thoughtfulness. When casting directors would ask me who some of my best clients were that were dependable and easy to work with and who deserved a special part, she was one of the names I always gave when her look fit.
3, Ask—Don’t Tell!
No this isn’t a political statement for the military, it concerns solicitation. Most any company, producer, agent, or manager who can do anything major for you will generally state that they do not accept unsolicited materials. What that means is, do NOT send them scripts, synopsis,’ treatments, taglines, loglines, your budget, top sheet, music, song, artwork, modeling portfolio, or whatever it is you are seeking to pitch. You have to ASK FIRST if you can send it. Then, if and only if you get the OK to send it, do you then send it. Our companies do not accept unsolicited materials, yet we routinely get many unsolicited materials in each week. This is not only aggravating, its potentially a legal liability for a company, especially if the person sending them materials is crazy or likes to sue. So be respectful and do NOT send materials unless you are first given permission to do so.
4, Be Humble
Another major reason people fail in Hollywood is due to their massive arrogance. There is a fine line between having great chutzpa and being a wise guy. If you’ve watched enough classic Hollywood cinema, you know that a wise guy thinks he or she knows it all and is doing the world a favor just to be in their presence. Maybe one day you will be, but remember, no star is too big to fail—especially these days. And no hot up and coming Hollywood player is too talented to ruin their own career by being too big of a jerk.
5, Don’t Flake
Everyone has been flaky at some point. I have a few times, and I can remember each occasion I did, and it still bothers me. But 99% of the time, I have kept my word. If you say you are going to do something, do it. That means, if you tell the person you are contacting that you will call them Monday to follow up, do it. Or if you tell them you will send something by a certain day, do it. There is a great book called “The Four Agreements” by Miguel Ruiz that I highly recommend you read, concerning this topic, and about integrity and life in general.
6, Handle Rejection Well
Another reason many fail in Hollywood, is that their ego is so strongly associated with their identification of who they are, that if they are told no, they feel personally attacked, dehumanized, and worthless. In that situation, many such persons will even seek revenge on the person who told them no. Once in a while, I would evaluate certain actors that I wanted to sign by rejecting them. I knew that if they would handle my rejection with grace and ease, that they would most likely handle the rejection well of casting directors and could manage the pressures of the business fairly well. I didn’t often apply this test, but when I did, it quickly proved my suspicion that the person would go from fake charm to scary maniac with just a few words. These days, I have a friendlier way to determine a person’s character and sanity level without any stress test, but we’ll save that for another time.
The point here is you must handle rejection well and not take anything personally. Of course, it may be personal, but so what? There are enough people on the planet to make you rich and famous. You only need one. Why waste your time getting depressed or angry at one person? Maybe they had a difficult day and just got in a fight with a family member. Maybe you remind them of their ex who broke their heart. Maybe they think you are too beautiful, and they don’t want to fall in love. Who knows? Who cares!
I got brutally rejected by a client I thought for sure I was going to sign for a sales deal once. I was so upset! We both hung up, and then five minutes later after I cooled down, I called him back and closed him for a total of around thirty thousand dollars.
So, if you get rejected by email, phone, text, in person, or whatever, pay it no attention. Just consider it a step in the sales / pitching process and realize you are just getting to know each other. If everyone got everything they wanted the first time they asked for it, there would be more millionaires than poor people. Rejection means NOTHING if you want something GOOD enough. If someone rejects you or your deal, thank them.
I’ve called people months, weeks, even days later after they rejected me and made closes. “Didn’t I just tell you ‘no’ the other day?! One guy asked me once. “You probably did! Yes, I think you’re right!” I replied. People tell me that all the time!” He laughed. I ended up closing him.
I was unemployed once before I became self-employed and desperately wanted a job. But I didn’t want just any job, I wanted a job that I knew I was specifically qualified for that paid far more than any other position of its type with a certain company in a certain luxury high rise building in Chicago. I interviewed with the company and was so frustrated I didn’t hear back. I must have called them literally about one hundred times, leaving countless messages. I had their phone number memorized I called them so much. Finally, the owner called me and asked what had happened to me. “You didn’t leave me a message the other day!” He stated. I got used to hearing from you! I was afraid something happened!” He told me I was the most persistent person he had ever met and felt like he HAD to give me the job. He then hired me as marketing manager which led me to launching my model and talent management company out of the same offices.
Never get offended by rejection. Rejection is your friend. Rejection is merely a stepping-stone to success. Thank the person for their time. Ask them if there is something else they are looking for. Ask them if there is anything with which you can help. Ask them what would make them say yes. Ask them if they would consider giving you a referral to someone who may say yes. Offer them a finder’s fee. Be creative.
7, Stay Connected
Another huge mistake people in Hollywood make often is that after they pitch someone and get rejected, they will never contact that prospect again. Aside from just trying to pitch them again or close a deal, you have to just stay connected to them any way you can. This means, you have, show, and maintain genuine interest in the life and career of your connection. Send them regular and random messages, asking how they are, if they need anything, or congratulating them on that great news you just read about them in the trades or whatever. I know that most people are not doing this, because firstly, they don’t do it with our company, and secondly, when I do these actions with other companies, they are often shocked and happily surprised that I thought of them. “Doesn’t everyone do this?” I asked a top CEO once. “No! They don’t!” They told me. Wow! Show interest. Show concern. Show that you care. Work your network!
8, Be Nice
This is another one of the most important things of all. Be nice. Sure, you don’t have to be. But if it comes down to a company funding a deal from the person who is kind, versus a similar deal from a person who is a jerk or really has no manners, who do you think they will go for? That line about “nice guys finish last” is a lie. Especially these days.
The world has enough cruelty, pain and suffering in it. Be happy in your work, have good vibes, spread good energy, and share the love. Make the world, and Hollywood a better place for you being in it.
This certainly isn’t everything you need to know to effectively network or succeed, but it certainly is a good start. Learning the tools of success and life improvement should be a life-long endeavor. Always be learning. Always be growing. Always be networking. And of course—ALWAYS BE CLOSING!
Bruce Edwin is CEO of Starpower Management, Bruce Edwin Productions, and Hollywood Sentinel Public Relations. He does not accept unsolicited materials. Visit: www.BruceEdwin.com
Adele, Photo credit: Simon Emmett, used with kind courtesy.
Global superstar Adele returns with the release of her brand new single and video “Easy On Me.” “Easy On Me” precedes the November 19th release of Adele’s newest album titled “30,” on Columbia Records. Earlier this week Adele shared the news of her new album release date and inspiration with a personal note to her fans letting them know she was “finally ready to put this album out.” The video for “Easy On Me,” shot last month in Quebec, finds Adele once again collaborating with Cannes Grand Prix winning director Xavier Dolan (Mommy, It’s Only The End Of The World). “I was honestly hoping for this to happen,” noted Dolan. “For me, there’s nothing stronger than artists reconnecting after years apart. I’ve changed. Adele’s changed. And this is an opportunity to celebrate how we’ve both evolved, and how we’ve also both remained faithful to our dearest themes. It’s all the same, but different.” The video begins in the same house the pair used to shoot the video for Adele’s 2015 smash single “Hello.” Listen to “Easy On Me” here and check out the video here.
30 is the first new music from Adele since the release of her third studio album 25 in November 2015. The album is produced with former collaborators Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Shellback and Tobias Jesso Jr as well as new collaborators Inflo and Ludwig Göransson. 30 is available for preorder at all physical and digital retailers globally. In addition, exclusive configurations will be available at select retailers nationwide including a Target deluxe CD featuring three bonus tracks and a Walmart clear exclusive double vinyl. An Amazon white exclusive double vinyl will be available globally. 30 and lead single “Easy On Me” will also be offered on cassette, exclusive to Adele’s D2C store while supplies last. The album will be available on all digital platforms. Pre-order 30 here.
Be who you are, and dare to be great. Greatness comes in many forms, from the greatness of art, the greatness of nature, of beauty, of music, of a film, of a humanitarian, or of an idea.
