MUMBAI : Are you a horror film fanatic? Do you enjoy the suspense and thrills that come from watching scary movies? Then continue reading to discover the terrifying thrillers and add them to your watch list. You will also learn to bypass geo-restrictions and stream your favorites with a smart TV.
Before we get to the list, let’s see how helpful a VPN is.
Streaming on your smart TV while protected by a VPN is possible.
A smart TV allows you to enjoy streamed entertainment from the comfort of your sofa without having to huddle around a computer or deal with many wires. But there is always that nagging disappointment when you can’t watch a new release or get over the fear of missing out on some thriller because of your location. Well, there is a solution for that, a VPN!
With a virtual private network (VPN), you may encrypt all of your internet traffic and route it through a server in the country of your liking. A VPN changes your IP address to a different location, making your traffic look like it is coming from another place instead of your own. It is entirely safe, and using a VPN for your smart TV will allow you to enjoy Amazon Prime Video, Netflix America, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer. Additionally, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) cannot know your online activity because of the encryptor feature. That means they will not throttle your connection.
There is a theory that VPNs don’t work with smart TVs. While there is some truth in this theory, there are ways to go around it. Most smart TVs do not support VPNs, but you can use your router, PC, or desktop to overcome this challenge. Create a secure wifi hotspot with your device, or link your VPN to your router.
How to Choose a VPN
For streaming, you will need a reliable, secure, and super-fast VPN service that can access a wide variety of streaming sites. There are, of course, the reputable VPN companies, but this is what to look out for
The VPN is compatible with your wireless router.
The VPN is super-fast and allows for buffer-free streaming at high download speeds.
The VPN is compatible with Netflix, BBC, AmazonPrime, and other top movie sites.
The VPN maintains a vast network of servers.
The VPN’s security is top-notch.
The company has excellent client service.
The VPN company adheres to a no-logging policy.
The Scariest Horror Movies
His House (2020)
His House has the highest rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Netflix horror movie bases its horror on refugees, narrating the experience of a couple who make a traumatic escape from war-torn Sudan and make their way to England. But then they struggle to adjust to their new home in a town in England where terrible evil lingers. Remi Weekes is the writer and director of the film, which has genuine chills.
Host (2020)
During an online séance, six pals unintentionally attract the attention of a demonic spirit and begin experiencing strange events in their houses. The production of Host took place during lockdowns caused by Covid 19 pandemic. It’s about an hour long, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best modern horror flicks.
The Invisible Man (2020)
This film tends to stick to your head after watching it. It gives the famous classic Universal monster a reboot. After faking his death, a deranged scientist stalks and terrorizes his ex-girlfriend using his invisibility powers. The girlfriend reports the matter to the police, who brushes it off. The girl results in crazy ideas about dealing with the issue in exchange.
Midsummer (2019)
The director of Hereditary directed Midsommar. Fans were waiting to see if the film would be as thrilling as Hereditary. Ari Aster did not disappoint. The film is about a couple who travel to Sweden for the mid-summer festivals with friends to bring back the spark in their relationship. Unfortunately, they find themselves trapped by an occultic Scandinavian group.
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is a disturbing movie that revolves around the dark ancestry(witchcraft) of the kids and grandchildren, which they discover after their grandmother passes on.
The above, Halloween (2018, 1978), The Conjuring (2013), and Sinister (2012) were highly rated.
Others include:
Sinister (2017)
Insidious (2020)
IT (2017)
Don’t Breath (2016)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Tragedy Girls (2017)
Green Room (2016)
Hush (2016)
The Light House (2019)
The Ritual (2017)
The Ring (2002)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
The Witch (2016)
Exorcists (1973)
Ready or not (2019) and
V/H/S (2012)
Final Submission
Enjoying your horror movie watch list from geographically restricted zones is now possible with a VPN and smart TV.
We would love to thank the author of this write-up for this awesome content
Most Scared Thriller in the Past Year
MUMBAI : Are you a horror film fanatic? Do you enjoy the suspense and thrills that come from watching scary movies? Then continue reading to discover the terrifying thrillers and add them to your watch list. You will also learn to bypass geo-restrictions and stream your favorites with a smart TV.
Before we get to the list, let’s see how helpful a VPN is.
Streaming on your smart TV while protected by a VPN is possible.
A smart TV allows you to enjoy streamed entertainment from the comfort of your sofa without having to huddle around a computer or deal with many wires. But there is always that nagging disappointment when you can’t watch a new release or get over the fear of missing out on some thriller because of your location. Well, there is a solution for that, a VPN!
With a virtual private network (VPN), you may encrypt all of your internet traffic and route it through a server in the country of your liking. A VPN changes your IP address to a different location, making your traffic look like it is coming from another place instead of your own. It is entirely safe, and using a VPN for your smart TV will allow you to enjoy Amazon Prime Video, Netflix America, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer. Additionally, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) cannot know your online activity because of the encryptor feature. That means they will not throttle your connection.
There is a theory that VPNs don’t work with smart TVs. While there is some truth in this theory, there are ways to go around it. Most smart TVs do not support VPNs, but you can use your router, PC, or desktop to overcome this challenge. Create a secure wifi hotspot with your device, or link your VPN to your router.
How to Choose a VPN
For streaming, you will need a reliable, secure, and super-fast VPN service that can access a wide variety of streaming sites. There are, of course, the reputable VPN companies, but this is what to look out for
The VPN is compatible with your wireless router.
The VPN is super-fast and allows for buffer-free streaming at high download speeds.
The VPN is compatible with Netflix, BBC, AmazonPrime, and other top movie sites.
The VPN maintains a vast network of servers.
The VPN’s security is top-notch.
The company has excellent client service.
The VPN company adheres to a no-logging policy.
The Scariest Horror Movies
His House (2020)
His House has the highest rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Netflix horror movie bases its horror on refugees, narrating the experience of a couple who make a traumatic escape from war-torn Sudan and make their way to England. But then they struggle to adjust to their new home in a town in England where terrible evil lingers. Remi Weekes is the writer and director of the film, which has genuine chills.
Host (2020)
During an online séance, six pals unintentionally attract the attention of a demonic spirit and begin experiencing strange events in their houses. The production of Host took place during lockdowns caused by Covid 19 pandemic. It’s about an hour long, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best modern horror flicks.
The Invisible Man (2020)
This film tends to stick to your head after watching it. It gives the famous classic Universal monster a reboot. After faking his death, a deranged scientist stalks and terrorizes his ex-girlfriend using his invisibility powers. The girlfriend reports the matter to the police, who brushes it off. The girl results in crazy ideas about dealing with the issue in exchange.
Midsummer (2019)
The director of Hereditary directed Midsommar. Fans were waiting to see if the film would be as thrilling as Hereditary. Ari Aster did not disappoint. The film is about a couple who travel to Sweden for the mid-summer festivals with friends to bring back the spark in their relationship. Unfortunately, they find themselves trapped by an occultic Scandinavian group.
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is a disturbing movie that revolves around the dark ancestry(witchcraft) of the kids and grandchildren, which they discover after their grandmother passes on.
The above, Halloween (2018, 1978), The Conjuring (2013), and Sinister (2012) were highly rated.
Others include:
Sinister (2017)
Insidious (2020)
IT (2017)
Don’t Breath (2016)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
Tragedy Girls (2017)
Green Room (2016)
Hush (2016)
The Light House (2019)
The Ritual (2017)
The Ring (2002)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
The Witch (2016)
Exorcists (1973)
Ready or not (2019) and
V/H/S (2012)
Final Submission
Enjoying your horror movie watch list from geographically restricted zones is now possible with a VPN and smart TV.
We would love to thank the author of this write-up for this awesome content
Most Scared Thriller in the Past Year
Journal Reference:
- Emil Andersen, Christian R Juhl, Emma T Kjøller, Julie R Lundgren, Charlotte Janus, Yasmin Dehestani, Marte Saupstad, Lars R Ingerslev, Olivia M Duun, Simon B K Jensen, Jens J Holst, Bente M Stallknecht, Sten Madsbad, Signe S Torekov, Romain Barrès. Sperm count is increased by diet-induced weight loss and maintained by exercise or GLP-1 analogue treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Human Reproduction, 2022; DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac096
Now, however, there may be good news for some of the men who are experiencing problems.
In a new clinical study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Hvidovre Hospital show that men with obesity improve their semen quality if they lose weight — and maintain the weight loss.
“It was surprising to us that such a big improvement can be shown in the semen quality in connection with a weight loss. And as 18 percent of Danes have obesity, this new knowledge may actually make a difference,” says Professor Signe Torekov who headed the study together with Professor Romain Barres at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research.
The new findings may be good news for the fertility, as a link between higher sperm count and faster achievement of pregnancy has previously been shown.
The study has been published in the recognised journal Human Reproduction which enjoys one of the highest rankings in the field of fertility. A total of 56 men with obesity participated, aged 18-65 years and with a body mass index between 32 and 43.
Sustained weight loss necessary
Signe Torekov explains that it has long been known that obesity is associated with reduced semen quality. Previous studies have also suggested a link between weight loss and increased semen quality, but these studies have had so few participants or such modest weight loss that it has been difficult to draw conclusions from them, she explains.
“But now we are ready to do just that. This is the first long-term randomised study, where we have shown that semen quality in men with obesity improve with a sustained weight loss,” says Signe Torekov at the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
“The men lost an average of 16.5 kg which increased the sperm concentration by 50 percent and the sperm count by 40 percent eight weeks since the weight loss. During the 52 weeks, the trial lasted following the weight loss, the men maintained the improved semen quality. But only the men who maintained the weight loss: after a year, these men had twice as many sperm cells as before their weight loss. The men who regained weight, lost the improvements in semen quality,” she explains.
Part of a larger study
The study is a sub study of a major publication on weight loss, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2021. A total of 215 Danes with obesity participated in the larger study. It was among these participants that 56 of the men also provided semen samples to investigate whether semen quality and weight loss could be related.
In the trial, all participants first followed an eight-week regimen with a low-calorie diet, resulting in a weight loss. Then the participants were randomly divided into four groups.
Two of the groups received placebo medication, while the other two groups received obesity medication. Among the two placebo groups, one group had to follow an exercise programme where each week, they had to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical training or 75 minutes of hard training — or a combination.
The other group did not change their usual level of physical activity. The two groups that received obesity medication were divided in the same way, into a group with and a group without an exercise programme.
After a year, it was shown that the group that only exercised and did not receive medication, as well as the group that only received obesity medication and did not exercise, maintained the weight loss of 13 kg.. The group that both received obesity medication and exercised lost additional weight and improved health. The placebo group — those who thought they were given medication, but did not exercise — had regained half of the weight loss with aggravation of many of the risk factors related to development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
We want to give thanks to the author of this short article for this outstanding material
Men with obesity can double their sperm count
Journal Reference:
- Emil Andersen, Christian R Juhl, Emma T Kjøller, Julie R Lundgren, Charlotte Janus, Yasmin Dehestani, Marte Saupstad, Lars R Ingerslev, Olivia M Duun, Simon B K Jensen, Jens J Holst, Bente M Stallknecht, Sten Madsbad, Signe S Torekov, Romain Barrès. Sperm count is increased by diet-induced weight loss and maintained by exercise or GLP-1 analogue treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Human Reproduction, 2022; DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac096
Now, however, there may be good news for some of the men who are experiencing problems.
In a new clinical study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Hvidovre Hospital show that men with obesity improve their semen quality if they lose weight — and maintain the weight loss.
“It was surprising to us that such a big improvement can be shown in the semen quality in connection with a weight loss. And as 18 percent of Danes have obesity, this new knowledge may actually make a difference,” says Professor Signe Torekov who headed the study together with Professor Romain Barres at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research.
The new findings may be good news for the fertility, as a link between higher sperm count and faster achievement of pregnancy has previously been shown.
The study has been published in the recognised journal Human Reproduction which enjoys one of the highest rankings in the field of fertility. A total of 56 men with obesity participated, aged 18-65 years and with a body mass index between 32 and 43.
Sustained weight loss necessary
Signe Torekov explains that it has long been known that obesity is associated with reduced semen quality. Previous studies have also suggested a link between weight loss and increased semen quality, but these studies have had so few participants or such modest weight loss that it has been difficult to draw conclusions from them, she explains.
“But now we are ready to do just that. This is the first long-term randomised study, where we have shown that semen quality in men with obesity improve with a sustained weight loss,” says Signe Torekov at the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
“The men lost an average of 16.5 kg which increased the sperm concentration by 50 percent and the sperm count by 40 percent eight weeks since the weight loss. During the 52 weeks, the trial lasted following the weight loss, the men maintained the improved semen quality. But only the men who maintained the weight loss: after a year, these men had twice as many sperm cells as before their weight loss. The men who regained weight, lost the improvements in semen quality,” she explains.
Part of a larger study
The study is a sub study of a major publication on weight loss, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2021. A total of 215 Danes with obesity participated in the larger study. It was among these participants that 56 of the men also provided semen samples to investigate whether semen quality and weight loss could be related.
In the trial, all participants first followed an eight-week regimen with a low-calorie diet, resulting in a weight loss. Then the participants were randomly divided into four groups.
Two of the groups received placebo medication, while the other two groups received obesity medication. Among the two placebo groups, one group had to follow an exercise programme where each week, they had to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical training or 75 minutes of hard training — or a combination.
The other group did not change their usual level of physical activity. The two groups that received obesity medication were divided in the same way, into a group with and a group without an exercise programme.
After a year, it was shown that the group that only exercised and did not receive medication, as well as the group that only received obesity medication and did not exercise, maintained the weight loss of 13 kg.. The group that both received obesity medication and exercised lost additional weight and improved health. The placebo group — those who thought they were given medication, but did not exercise — had regained half of the weight loss with aggravation of many of the risk factors related to development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
We want to give thanks to the author of this short article for this outstanding material
Men with obesity can double their sperm count
David Otunga and Jennifer Hudson were able to keep their relationship afloat for an impressive amount of time considering the life of most celebrity relationships. But unfortunately this couple recently separated and things got ugly for a moment in the midst of a child custody situation.
Jennifer Hudson claimed Otunga got very angry during an argument in November where he grabbed her by the hand and shoved her out of their bedroom. But TMZ now reports the case is closed after a police investigation by the Burr Ridge Illinois police department and Otunga will not be charged.
This is a very good turn of events for David Otunga because if this investigation had discovered he was guilty then his employment with WWE could have been in jeopardy.
Although Otunga might be cleared of these charges it sadly won’t help the couple’s marriage as they are still separated with no sign of reconciliation in sight. Hudson had filed a temporary restraining order against Otunga during this incident as David’s attorneys noted this was all a ploy to gain leverage in a child custody case.
Through it all, David Otunga maintained his innocence and it looks like the police have decided he was correct in this claim as well. The former NEXUS member was also granted custody of the couple’s 8-year-old son David Otunga, Jr in November in the middle of this situation.
We really hope the best for these two and it would be nice if they would be able to work it out. But in the end, the best interest of their son needs to be taken into consideration first and foremost. After all, he is having to deal with his parents’ break up too.
Otunga was pulled from his gig as part of the kickoff panels before pay-per-views due to this situation, therefore who knows if being cleared of these charges will see him back in that spot? After all, the Royal Rumble is coming up fast so it would be interesting to see if WWE put Otunga right back in his former spot now that this unfortunate situation seems to be past him.
We would like to give thanks to the writer of this post for this awesome content
David Otunga Cleared Of Domestic Abuse Charges Against Jennifer Hudson
David Otunga and Jennifer Hudson were able to keep their relationship afloat for an impressive amount of time considering the life of most celebrity relationships. But unfortunately this couple recently separated and things got ugly for a moment in the midst of a child custody situation.
Jennifer Hudson claimed Otunga got very angry during an argument in November where he grabbed her by the hand and shoved her out of their bedroom. But TMZ now reports the case is closed after a police investigation by the Burr Ridge Illinois police department and Otunga will not be charged.
This is a very good turn of events for David Otunga because if this investigation had discovered he was guilty then his employment with WWE could have been in jeopardy.
Although Otunga might be cleared of these charges it sadly won’t help the couple’s marriage as they are still separated with no sign of reconciliation in sight. Hudson had filed a temporary restraining order against Otunga during this incident as David’s attorneys noted this was all a ploy to gain leverage in a child custody case.
Through it all, David Otunga maintained his innocence and it looks like the police have decided he was correct in this claim as well. The former NEXUS member was also granted custody of the couple’s 8-year-old son David Otunga, Jr in November in the middle of this situation.
We really hope the best for these two and it would be nice if they would be able to work it out. But in the end, the best interest of their son needs to be taken into consideration first and foremost. After all, he is having to deal with his parents’ break up too.
Otunga was pulled from his gig as part of the kickoff panels before pay-per-views due to this situation, therefore who knows if being cleared of these charges will see him back in that spot? After all, the Royal Rumble is coming up fast so it would be interesting to see if WWE put Otunga right back in his former spot now that this unfortunate situation seems to be past him.
We would like to give thanks to the writer of this post for this awesome content
David Otunga Cleared Of Domestic Abuse Charges Against Jennifer Hudson
New potatoes require an active approach. They are only available between now and August and you can, what am I saying, you can’t keep them. The only form of storage these pipits tolerate is in the field, under the protective layer of soil in which they have grown. Once they are taken away from Mother Earth, they must be sold and consumed quickly. You can keep them at home for a week or so at most. That is also the reason why you will not find good ‘new’ chips in the supermarket. It is specialist work, for the wholesalers that is too much effort.
Koopadvies
These fries cost me 1.80 euros per kilo! That is a lot. For storage potatoes you pay a lot less at the farmer, not a euro, sometimes only half a euro, although we will have to see that this year with all those crises in the world and that dry spring?
I wasn’t there, nor had I asked for small chips. So it turned out that the farmer’s wife mainly sold me large potatoes. Look, farmers have to live too. But if you get the chance, take small.
Adult food with solanine
New potatoes, you have to enjoy them for what they are. Removing the thin sheet is a pleasure, you scratch a little and there goes the sandy outside. What is underneath is a fairly pale tuber, sometimes even light green, they are that young. You should avoid real green potatoes. It will not bother a sturdy adult, but the color betrays the presence of solanine, the poison of the nightshades. Children can suffer from it, stomachaches and such, but small children are therefore not a size to base gastronomy on. This is grown up food!
Children can suffer from it, stomachaches and such, but small children are therefore not a size to base gastronomy on. This is grown up food!
You can boil these new potatoes in water, which reduces the solanine content. However, the cooking time is slightly longer than that of storage potatoes. To experiment, I put one large fries in the oven in a jacket of aluminum foil. That also took longer than usual. The result is never as smooth as with an ‘old’ potato, but it is worth tasting. New potatoes are always a bit crispier, a bit more youthful. Pureeing new potatoes is therefore not a good idea.
Baked in malt
And then there’s baking. Obviously don’t cook first! You start with raw potatoes. Preferably small ones, which you then let smothered in the malt in its entirety. There are people who only buy malt once a year, just to fry new potatoes in it. You let them color raw in the pork fat – if necessary with some bacon on the side, on a carefully low temperature, under a lid, until they are soft inside. Poke it with an awl to check. Actually, nothing more is needed. It’s a spring meal in itself.
Finally, I must also mention the Denderlanders, this tribe from the region between Geraardsbergen and Dendermonde, who immediately think of stew when they think of new potatoes. A strange idea in my Brussels brain, I associate stew with winter. But Olshteneirs and Ninovieters are formal: new potatoes, that’s stew time. I may come back to it again, I know a few of them. Tasty.
We want to give thanks to the writer of this write-up for this incredible content
Buy new potatoes – Fairly pale tubers, sometimes even light green – Foodlog
New potatoes require an active approach. They are only available between now and August and you can, what am I saying, you can’t keep them. The only form of storage these pipits tolerate is in the field, under the protective layer of soil in which they have grown. Once they are taken away from Mother Earth, they must be sold and consumed quickly. You can keep them at home for a week or so at most. That is also the reason why you will not find good ‘new’ chips in the supermarket. It is specialist work, for the wholesalers that is too much effort.
Koopadvies
These fries cost me 1.80 euros per kilo! That is a lot. For storage potatoes you pay a lot less at the farmer, not a euro, sometimes only half a euro, although we will have to see that this year with all those crises in the world and that dry spring?
I wasn’t there, nor had I asked for small chips. So it turned out that the farmer’s wife mainly sold me large potatoes. Look, farmers have to live too. But if you get the chance, take small.
Adult food with solanine
New potatoes, you have to enjoy them for what they are. Removing the thin sheet is a pleasure, you scratch a little and there goes the sandy outside. What is underneath is a fairly pale tuber, sometimes even light green, they are that young. You should avoid real green potatoes. It will not bother a sturdy adult, but the color betrays the presence of solanine, the poison of the nightshades. Children can suffer from it, stomachaches and such, but small children are therefore not a size to base gastronomy on. This is grown up food!
Children can suffer from it, stomachaches and such, but small children are therefore not a size to base gastronomy on. This is grown up food!
You can boil these new potatoes in water, which reduces the solanine content. However, the cooking time is slightly longer than that of storage potatoes. To experiment, I put one large fries in the oven in a jacket of aluminum foil. That also took longer than usual. The result is never as smooth as with an ‘old’ potato, but it is worth tasting. New potatoes are always a bit crispier, a bit more youthful. Pureeing new potatoes is therefore not a good idea.
Baked in malt
And then there’s baking. Obviously don’t cook first! You start with raw potatoes. Preferably small ones, which you then let smothered in the malt in its entirety. There are people who only buy malt once a year, just to fry new potatoes in it. You let them color raw in the pork fat – if necessary with some bacon on the side, on a carefully low temperature, under a lid, until they are soft inside. Poke it with an awl to check. Actually, nothing more is needed. It’s a spring meal in itself.
Finally, I must also mention the Denderlanders, this tribe from the region between Geraardsbergen and Dendermonde, who immediately think of stew when they think of new potatoes. A strange idea in my Brussels brain, I associate stew with winter. But Olshteneirs and Ninovieters are formal: new potatoes, that’s stew time. I may come back to it again, I know a few of them. Tasty.
We want to give thanks to the writer of this write-up for this incredible content
Buy new potatoes – Fairly pale tubers, sometimes even light green – Foodlog
Independent Entertainment have boarded M. Cahill’s “Porcupine” and will launch international sales at the Cannes Marche.
Vertical Entertainment have the North American rights and have set a summer 2022 release for the film, which was written and directed by Cahill.
Featuring Jena Malone (Hunger Games franchise) and Robert Hunger-Bühler (“Vacuum”), “Porcupine” is based on a true story about “a woman’s longing to belong.”
In the offbeat feature, Malone plays Audrey, a woman who is estranged from her family and struggles to hold down a job, having been fired seven times in two years. Afflicted by the unspoken pandemic of loneliness, she finds solace in going down YouTube rabbit holes. One day that changes when she stumbles across a video about adult adoption and decides to try it out for herself.
Audrey soon gets herself adopted by a family as dysfunctional as she is but finds an unlikely companionship in its patriarch Otto (Hunger-Bühler). Like Audrey, he is “rough around the edges” and struggles to maintain relationships. The two soon discover that “sometimes the best kind of family is the one we choose.”
“Porcupine” has won awards for excellence in storytelling and best performance (for Malone) at the SCAD Film Featival, director’s choice award at the Portland Film Festival, audience choice award at the Woodstock Film Festival and ‘best of fest’ at the Ashland International Film Festival.
Cahill produces the Blackbird Film production alongside Lawrence Inglee (“Swiss Army Man”) and Joanna Colbert (“Standing Up, Falling Down”). Malone exec produces alongside Britt Ehringer, Sonya Lunsford, Scott Foley, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cassandra Del Viscio and Alexandra Brodsky.
“A few years ago, I met someone named Jenna MacFarlane and heard her story,” said Cahill. “Here was this adult woman who made the remarkable decision to put herself up for adoption with a new family. The more time we spent together, the more I felt that hers was a story that needed to be shared. We’re all grateful for the way in which the film and its themes have resonated with Vertical and Independent. We couldn’t hope for better partners.”
In a statement, Independent Entertainment said: “We fell in love with ‘Porcupine’ from the moment we saw it. M. Cahill has crafted a funny, frank and timely tale of generational angst, and with its wonderful star turn from Jena Malone, we have no doubt our buyers will fall for this gem too.”
Tony Piantedosi, Vertical Entertainment’s SVP of acquisitions, added: “We are thrilled to have secured ‘Porcupine’ ahead of Cannes. It is a unique story that M. Cahill has brought to life from paper to the big screen highlighted by exceptional performances from Jena and Robert. We are excited to bring it to audiences later this year.”
Sarah Lebutsch, MD of international sales, will handle international sales for Independent Entertainment. The North American deal was negotiated by Vertical Entertainment’s Tony Piantedosi and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
Jena Malone is repped by represented by Gersh, Management 360 and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman LLP.
We want to give thanks to the author of this post for this remarkable material
Independent Entertainment Launch Sales on M. Cahill’s ‘Porcupine,’ Vertical Entertainment Take U.S. Rights (EXCLUSIVE)
Independent Entertainment have boarded M. Cahill’s “Porcupine” and will launch international sales at the Cannes Marche.
Vertical Entertainment have the North American rights and have set a summer 2022 release for the film, which was written and directed by Cahill.
Featuring Jena Malone (Hunger Games franchise) and Robert Hunger-Bühler (“Vacuum”), “Porcupine” is based on a true story about “a woman’s longing to belong.”
In the offbeat feature, Malone plays Audrey, a woman who is estranged from her family and struggles to hold down a job, having been fired seven times in two years. Afflicted by the unspoken pandemic of loneliness, she finds solace in going down YouTube rabbit holes. One day that changes when she stumbles across a video about adult adoption and decides to try it out for herself.
Audrey soon gets herself adopted by a family as dysfunctional as she is but finds an unlikely companionship in its patriarch Otto (Hunger-Bühler). Like Audrey, he is “rough around the edges” and struggles to maintain relationships. The two soon discover that “sometimes the best kind of family is the one we choose.”
“Porcupine” has won awards for excellence in storytelling and best performance (for Malone) at the SCAD Film Featival, director’s choice award at the Portland Film Festival, audience choice award at the Woodstock Film Festival and ‘best of fest’ at the Ashland International Film Festival.
Cahill produces the Blackbird Film production alongside Lawrence Inglee (“Swiss Army Man”) and Joanna Colbert (“Standing Up, Falling Down”). Malone exec produces alongside Britt Ehringer, Sonya Lunsford, Scott Foley, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cassandra Del Viscio and Alexandra Brodsky.
“A few years ago, I met someone named Jenna MacFarlane and heard her story,” said Cahill. “Here was this adult woman who made the remarkable decision to put herself up for adoption with a new family. The more time we spent together, the more I felt that hers was a story that needed to be shared. We’re all grateful for the way in which the film and its themes have resonated with Vertical and Independent. We couldn’t hope for better partners.”
In a statement, Independent Entertainment said: “We fell in love with ‘Porcupine’ from the moment we saw it. M. Cahill has crafted a funny, frank and timely tale of generational angst, and with its wonderful star turn from Jena Malone, we have no doubt our buyers will fall for this gem too.”
Tony Piantedosi, Vertical Entertainment’s SVP of acquisitions, added: “We are thrilled to have secured ‘Porcupine’ ahead of Cannes. It is a unique story that M. Cahill has brought to life from paper to the big screen highlighted by exceptional performances from Jena and Robert. We are excited to bring it to audiences later this year.”
Sarah Lebutsch, MD of international sales, will handle international sales for Independent Entertainment. The North American deal was negotiated by Vertical Entertainment’s Tony Piantedosi and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
Jena Malone is repped by represented by Gersh, Management 360 and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman LLP.
We want to give thanks to the author of this post for this remarkable material
Independent Entertainment Launch Sales on M. Cahill’s ‘Porcupine,’ Vertical Entertainment Take U.S. Rights (EXCLUSIVE)
In August 2019, popular Bollywood director Anis Bajmi announced that she is making a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. From that time onwards, comparisons were being made between Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhul Bhulaiya’ and the new film. Among them was the comparison of Karthik with Akshay. However, beyond those controversies, Karthik’s picture has surpassed 100 crores and is now in a club of 150 crores. Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Bhul Bhulaiya’ had a budget of Rs 32 crore. At that time, Akshay had to pay at least five crore rupees. After the success of this film, Akshay increased his salary to 20-25 crores. This time Karthik walked on the path of immortality. After Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Earlier, Kartik Aryan was dropped from Karan Johar’s film Dostana 2 for raising his salary. For so many days Kartik’s salary (Kartik Aaryan Fees) was 15-20 crores. However, after the success of this film, Karthik’s fee doubled in one fell swoop. Sources say that at the moment, Karthik is taking 35-40 crore rupees per picture.
Kartik Aaryan’s Doosra made at half cost of Akshay Kumar’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa! How much money did Anees Bazmee get?
Bhool Bhulaiya 3: Second Picture Superhit! Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is coming, Kabir Singh is coming
It cost about 26 crore rupees to forget Priyadarshan’s mistake. After so many years, Anis has spent Rs 75 crore to make a sequel. From this he had to pay 15 crore rupees to Kartik Aryan. Kiara and Tabu have taken a salary of Rs 2 crore. Everything had to be spent from that 75 crore rupees. In today’s world the cost of making a film has gone up a lot. Judging from that, Anis got half the money of Priyadarshan for making the film.
We want to give thanks to the author of this post for this outstanding content
After the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, how much money is Kartik Aryan suddenly asking for?
In August 2019, popular Bollywood director Anis Bajmi announced that she is making a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. From that time onwards, comparisons were being made between Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhul Bhulaiya’ and the new film. Among them was the comparison of Karthik with Akshay. However, beyond those controversies, Karthik’s picture has surpassed 100 crores and is now in a club of 150 crores. Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Bhul Bhulaiya’ had a budget of Rs 32 crore. At that time, Akshay had to pay at least five crore rupees. After the success of this film, Akshay increased his salary to 20-25 crores. This time Karthik walked on the path of immortality. After Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Earlier, Kartik Aryan was dropped from Karan Johar’s film Dostana 2 for raising his salary. For so many days Kartik’s salary (Kartik Aaryan Fees) was 15-20 crores. However, after the success of this film, Karthik’s fee doubled in one fell swoop. Sources say that at the moment, Karthik is taking 35-40 crore rupees per picture.
Kartik Aaryan’s Doosra made at half cost of Akshay Kumar’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa! How much money did Anees Bazmee get?Bhool Bhulaiya 3: Second Picture Superhit! Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is coming, Kabir Singh is coming
It cost about 26 crore rupees to forget Priyadarshan’s mistake. After so many years, Anis has spent Rs 75 crore to make a sequel. From this he had to pay 15 crore rupees to Kartik Aryan. Kiara and Tabu have taken a salary of Rs 2 crore. Everything had to be spent from that 75 crore rupees. In today’s world the cost of making a film has gone up a lot. Judging from that, Anis got half the money of Priyadarshan for making the film.
We want to give thanks to the author of this post for this outstanding content
After the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, how much money is Kartik Aryan suddenly asking for?
Almost nobody is more synonymous with the Marvel Cinematic Universe than Samuel L. Jackson, who’s played the role of Nick Fury since 2008’s Iron Man. By 2023, he’ll have 13 appearances in the long-standing series with his roles in Secret Invasion and The Marvelsalthough his future after those two entries is still unknown.
The last fans saw of Fury was when Talos impersonated him during Spider-Man: Far From Home before the movie’s post-credits scene showed the real Fury in some kind of Skrull research facility. He’s set to return to Earth in Secret Invasion as he and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos try to locate rogue Skrulls that have infiltrated Fury’s home planet – part of that story coming without his classic eye patch as well.
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His role in The Marvels is less clear as he reunites with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, and after that, there are no signs pointing to where the former director of SHIELD will go after next year. Ahead of his first live-action project in four years, however, Jackson teased what fans should expect to see from the longtime Marvel character.
Samuel L. Jackson on His MCU Future
In an interview with Entertainment WeeklyMarvel star Samuel L. Jackson teased what the future holds for Nick Fury in the MCU.
Speaking about his time on Secret InvasionJackson hinted that there will be both an “evolution of his story” along with a “devolution of his story” as he learns more about Fury than he ever has in the past. Specifically, the actor looks forward to tackling “something other than the badass-ery of who Nick Fury is” in his next pair of MCU entries after the Infinity Saga:
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“There are things that even I really didn’t know about Nick Fury that I just found out, that the minds behind what happened during the Blip are fantastic. That’s part of what we’re uncovering when we do this series now. The place that Nick Fury is in, the evolution of his story, or the devolution of his story, as maybe we wind it down or maybe we crank it up. It’s kind of hard to tell. But, giving me an opportunity to explore something other than the badass-ery of who Nick Fury is. I’ve had a good time doing that, and I’m looking forward to people sharing that aspect of who he is when this series does happen.”
The full video can be seen below:
What Will Sam Jackson Tackle in Upcoming MCU Projects?
After such an extended tenure within the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson will play the headlining role for the first time with his work in Secret Invasion. That alone will provide an opportunity to expand on Fury’s backstory, particularly with Jackson noting how it will explore more than the character being simply a badass.
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While he may not get that kind of in-depth storytelling in The Marvels, with the movie focusing on its three leading women, seeing it on Disney+ ahead of this movie will help fans understand him more as he returns to the big screen.
With all that being said, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding Jackson’s hero, who has a longer history than anybody else in franchise history both as an actor and as a character within the MCU. Once he gets closer to returning to the small screen, more of those details will become clearer, especially with his Disney+ show being such a mysterious new outing already.
Samuel L. Jackson will make his way back to the MCU in both next year’s Secret Invasion and The Marvels.
ADVERTISEMENT
We would love to give thanks to the author of this post for this amazing content
Samuel L. Jackson Shares Cryptic Tease About His Marvel Future
Almost nobody is more synonymous with the Marvel Cinematic Universe than Samuel L. Jackson, who’s played the role of Nick Fury since 2008’s Iron Man. By 2023, he’ll have 13 appearances in the long-standing series with his roles in Secret Invasion and The Marvelsalthough his future after those two entries is still unknown.
The last fans saw of Fury was when Talos impersonated him during Spider-Man: Far From Home before the movie’s post-credits scene showed the real Fury in some kind of Skrull research facility. He’s set to return to Earth in Secret Invasion as he and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos try to locate rogue Skrulls that have infiltrated Fury’s home planet – part of that story coming without his classic eye patch as well.
ADVERTISEMENT
His role in The Marvels is less clear as he reunites with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers, and after that, there are no signs pointing to where the former director of SHIELD will go after next year. Ahead of his first live-action project in four years, however, Jackson teased what fans should expect to see from the longtime Marvel character.
Samuel L. Jackson on His MCU Future
In an interview with Entertainment WeeklyMarvel star Samuel L. Jackson teased what the future holds for Nick Fury in the MCU.
Speaking about his time on Secret InvasionJackson hinted that there will be both an “evolution of his story” along with a “devolution of his story” as he learns more about Fury than he ever has in the past. Specifically, the actor looks forward to tackling “something other than the badass-ery of who Nick Fury is” in his next pair of MCU entries after the Infinity Saga:
ADVERTISEMENT
“There are things that even I really didn’t know about Nick Fury that I just found out, that the minds behind what happened during the Blip are fantastic. That’s part of what we’re uncovering when we do this series now. The place that Nick Fury is in, the evolution of his story, or the devolution of his story, as maybe we wind it down or maybe we crank it up. It’s kind of hard to tell. But, giving me an opportunity to explore something other than the badass-ery of who Nick Fury is. I’ve had a good time doing that, and I’m looking forward to people sharing that aspect of who he is when this series does happen.”
The full video can be seen below:
What Will Sam Jackson Tackle in Upcoming MCU Projects?
After such an extended tenure within the MCU, Samuel L. Jackson will play the headlining role for the first time with his work in Secret Invasion. That alone will provide an opportunity to expand on Fury’s backstory, particularly with Jackson noting how it will explore more than the character being simply a badass.
ADVERTISEMENT
While he may not get that kind of in-depth storytelling in The Marvels, with the movie focusing on its three leading women, seeing it on Disney+ ahead of this movie will help fans understand him more as he returns to the big screen.
With all that being said, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding Jackson’s hero, who has a longer history than anybody else in franchise history both as an actor and as a character within the MCU. Once he gets closer to returning to the small screen, more of those details will become clearer, especially with his Disney+ show being such a mysterious new outing already.
Samuel L. Jackson will make his way back to the MCU in both next year’s Secret Invasion and The Marvels.
ADVERTISEMENT
We would love to give thanks to the author of this post for this amazing content
Samuel L. Jackson Shares Cryptic Tease About His Marvel Future
Anyone who is hooked into film and television criticism knows the term whitewashing. Whether it is Scarlett Johansson in The Ghost in the ShellTilda Swinton in Doctor Strangeor even Emma Stone in Alohawhitewashing is a growing issue that is finally getting attention thanks to the ability that the internet grants to discuss hot button topics. The latest film to get caught in the firestorm of whitewashing is the new Hellboy reboot. In this upcoming film, Ed Skrein, known mainly from Game of Thrones and Deadpoolwas cast as Major Ben Daimio, who is a character of Asian descent in the comic books. Many on the internet reacted strongly to this news, as this was just one more example of whitewashing. But recently, something kind of incredible happened. Ed Skrein left the role specifically because of his realization that this was problematic.
In his own words:
Last week it was announced that I would be playing Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming HELLBOY reboot. I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage. There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right. It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts. I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately. Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family. It is our responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity. It is my hope that one day these discussions will become less necessary and that we can help make equal representation in the Arts a reality. I am sad to leave Hellboy but if this decision brings us closer to that day, it is worth it. I hope it makes a difference.
With full disclosure being important in situations like this, it should be known that I am a white male, and not directly affected by whitewashing. But of course, I have immediate thoughts and reactions to this. But instead of starting with my view of things, I decided to reach out to members of the Asian-American community peripheral to the entertainment industry, as the issue of whitewashing affects this group strongly, as evidenced by the outcry within that community toward these casting decisions. What follows is a small sample of reactions from prominent voices.
Shaun Lau: Host of the Film and Social Issues Podcast, No, Totally
While I appreciate what Skrein did, I think the impact of his choice and his letter could have an enormously beneficial impact beyond this one movie and role. It’s been less than a year since film critics were very comfortable dismissing whitewashing claims against Doctor Strange in their reviews, so to get not only acknowledgement of the harm of the practice but an actual casting change means that people on the ground have done the work to be heard. This kind of validation is definitely cause for optimism, but only if the rest of Hollywood takes notice.
Jenn Fang: Founder/Editor of Reappropriate
Although those truly responsible for miscasting the Japanese American character of Major Ben Daimio are the producers and casting directors of HellboySkrein should be commended for taking bold action in the face of injustice and backing away from the role. Furthermore, Skrein’s decision to withdraw through a public letter offers context for his decisions, and I applaud his acknowledgement of the problems that arise thanks to Hollywood whitewashing. We also now know that Skrein stepped aside under the expectation that a more appropriate actor be cast, and we can now look to Hellboy filmmakers to follow Skrein’s lead in doing the right thing. As Skrein also alluded, we all hope for a day when whitewashing of characters of color no longer occurs. We hope for a day when actors and characters of color are not underrepresented, and producers wouldn’t think twice about casting non-white actors in non-white roles. That day has yet to come, but when those in the industry take a strong stand against whitewashing, they bring us one step closer towards realizing a better future.
Clara Mae: Pop Culture Writer and Junior Film Editor for Women Write About Comics
I honestly surprised myself by getting emotional over Skrein’s decision to step down. Plenty of studies out of USC and UCLA have shown us that actors of color have less opportunities than white actors, and yet we still have difficulty openly discussing that. So often it feels like it’s only marginalized people who are the ones advocating for their own inclusion, and that can get really disheartening sometimes. So Skrein speaking up as an ally and publicly acknowledging Hollywood’s issues is a huge, and much appreciated, gesture. Skrein stepping down from the whitewashed role is meaningful for the same reason casting a person of color as a white character is: it’s an attempt to rectify Hollywood’s lack of diversity.
Is it enough? No. Skrein did the right thing, but there’s an entire system that allowed this to happen. We still need to advocate for more diversity, especially from the top down, because these kinds of backwards decisions are coming from the heads of the studios and the producers, and they’re clearly making decisions that are out of touch with modern audiences.
And I truly feel bad for Skrein; nobody on the production team told him the character was Asian, so not only did the brunt of the criticism fall on him when the news first hit, the onus also fell on him to apologize for the production itself. Skein showed himself to be the bigger man by stepping down, but we need to start asking why this role wasn’t written as specifically Asian to begin with.
Laura Sirikul: Entertainment Writer
When it was first announced that Ed Skrein was dropping the project, I quickly read his statement and felt really happy. Not only because Skrein did the noble thing of leaving the project and declaring the importance of diversity, but because this shows Hollywood that actors do have a choice. Skrein is not a household name. This would had been another big moment for his career, but he knew it was wrong and left it anyway. It just felt like it would take a white actor to step up and become an example of what to do in this situation because we’ve been through this situation many, many times. They never listen to us, but the guy playing the role did. Not only did he leave the role but also supported that it would go to an Asian actor. It’s hard to gauge where we go from here because it just happened and they haven’t recast the role yet. Hopefully, they’ll stay true to their word and hire an Asian, mainly Japanese American actor. But, this is a step. So many actors could have stepped down but they didn’t and Ed is an example of what should happen. Hopefully, other white actors will take note and follow in his footsteps. We still have a long way, but it’s a good step towards allyship and showing Hollywood and white actors what they should do.
Atsuko Okatsuka: Actress, Comedian, Filmmaker, Founder of Dis/orient/ed Comedy
When I first saw the headlines of Ed Skrein dropping out of ‘Hellboy,’ I immediately jumped on reading. I wanted to know what happened and was a bit weary because the headlines seemed to insinuate that he was somewhat left with no choice but to do it due to ‘criticism.’ However, it’s not until I got to reading Ed Skrein’s actual statement that I felt a sense of humanity around his decision to drop out. He began by saying he understands how important representation is to marginalized communities, and moreover, acknowledged that to neglect this responsibility would continue this trend of keeping these communities in the dark. His action is essentially what makes a person an ally: Someone of a privileged position, extending a branch and checking themselves, as well as setting an example for his colleagues and even more, to people who have more power than him. I appreciated this conscientious act. I felt a sense of relief that we were being heard and not forgotten.
Ultimately, what it did was also show that it was possible. That there aren’t some crazy secrets to Hollywood. We know it’s not easy to say no to a big studio or production, we know that the intention behind every film, every big casting decision is money. But what we did not know, was that an actor, essentially an employee of the studios, can step up and say no and the big guys, and their career not be completely destroyed from it. In fact, what he did forced Lionsgate to have to look into the mirror and issue a statement themselves. So now the ball is back in the Studio’s court to re-cast, and for now, I’m taking a quick breather. But when I get back, they better not have fucked it up.
And now for my thoughts. Most of the individuals I spoke with saw this decision as a reason for hope. Additionally, they lauded Mr. Skrein for his bold decision, as well as his reasoning. I cannot help but agree. This is a small, but infinitely important step. It should be noted that Ed Skrein is perhaps not a considered big-name actor (yet, but here’s to hoping). It can be argued that he needs this role and it could be a stepping stone for bigger projects. Instead, he made the moral decision. More importantly, he listened to the outcry instead of writing people off as social justice warriors. This is a positive step that I hope will set a precedent for other actors. They do have choices in which roles they choose. It is possible to do the right thing and stand up for people struggling for decent representation. I also want this to teach a lesson to actors so they actually research the roles before immediately saying yes. I get it, it’s a paycheck, especially in the big money comic book movie industry, but it would not have taken much effort to realize that this character was of Asian descent. My major concern is something that was mentioned in these excerpts, as well. The bottom up strategy only goes so far. In general, actors are a cog in this large system and are not in a place to change things. That responsibility lies with people with much greater power. I sincerely hope that the producers and executives see not only the original reaction to his casting, but also the kind, thankful reaction from Asians inside and outside of the Hollywood system. Ed Skrein made a difficult choice, the right choice, and he absolutely should be commended. But if this is not followed up by harder choices by those with the greatest privilege, then I fear that this stand will not matter in the long run. Ed Skrein gives us hope to latch on to, but this fight is nowhere close to being over. Will this be one of the first steps towards a better system where representation is the rule and not the exception? We shall see, but like Ed Skrein, I hope it makes a difference.
Featured Image: The Transporter Refueled; EuropaCorp
We want to give thanks to the writer of this write-up for this incredible web content
Ed Skrein: Representation’s Ally
Anyone who is hooked into film and television criticism knows the term whitewashing. Whether it is Scarlett Johansson in The Ghost in the ShellTilda Swinton in Doctor Strangeor even Emma Stone in Alohawhitewashing is a growing issue that is finally getting attention thanks to the ability that the internet grants to discuss hot button topics. The latest film to get caught in the firestorm of whitewashing is the new Hellboy reboot. In this upcoming film, Ed Skrein, known mainly from Game of Thrones and Deadpoolwas cast as Major Ben Daimio, who is a character of Asian descent in the comic books. Many on the internet reacted strongly to this news, as this was just one more example of whitewashing. But recently, something kind of incredible happened. Ed Skrein left the role specifically because of his realization that this was problematic.
In his own words:
Last week it was announced that I would be playing Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming HELLBOY reboot. I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage. There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right. It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts. I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately. Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family. It is our responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity. It is my hope that one day these discussions will become less necessary and that we can help make equal representation in the Arts a reality. I am sad to leave Hellboy but if this decision brings us closer to that day, it is worth it. I hope it makes a difference.
With full disclosure being important in situations like this, it should be known that I am a white male, and not directly affected by whitewashing. But of course, I have immediate thoughts and reactions to this. But instead of starting with my view of things, I decided to reach out to members of the Asian-American community peripheral to the entertainment industry, as the issue of whitewashing affects this group strongly, as evidenced by the outcry within that community toward these casting decisions. What follows is a small sample of reactions from prominent voices.
Shaun Lau: Host of the Film and Social Issues Podcast, No, Totally
While I appreciate what Skrein did, I think the impact of his choice and his letter could have an enormously beneficial impact beyond this one movie and role. It’s been less than a year since film critics were very comfortable dismissing whitewashing claims against Doctor Strange in their reviews, so to get not only acknowledgement of the harm of the practice but an actual casting change means that people on the ground have done the work to be heard. This kind of validation is definitely cause for optimism, but only if the rest of Hollywood takes notice.
Jenn Fang: Founder/Editor of Reappropriate
Although those truly responsible for miscasting the Japanese American character of Major Ben Daimio are the producers and casting directors of HellboySkrein should be commended for taking bold action in the face of injustice and backing away from the role. Furthermore, Skrein’s decision to withdraw through a public letter offers context for his decisions, and I applaud his acknowledgement of the problems that arise thanks to Hollywood whitewashing. We also now know that Skrein stepped aside under the expectation that a more appropriate actor be cast, and we can now look to Hellboy filmmakers to follow Skrein’s lead in doing the right thing. As Skrein also alluded, we all hope for a day when whitewashing of characters of color no longer occurs. We hope for a day when actors and characters of color are not underrepresented, and producers wouldn’t think twice about casting non-white actors in non-white roles. That day has yet to come, but when those in the industry take a strong stand against whitewashing, they bring us one step closer towards realizing a better future.
Clara Mae: Pop Culture Writer and Junior Film Editor for Women Write About Comics
I honestly surprised myself by getting emotional over Skrein’s decision to step down. Plenty of studies out of USC and UCLA have shown us that actors of color have less opportunities than white actors, and yet we still have difficulty openly discussing that. So often it feels like it’s only marginalized people who are the ones advocating for their own inclusion, and that can get really disheartening sometimes. So Skrein speaking up as an ally and publicly acknowledging Hollywood’s issues is a huge, and much appreciated, gesture. Skrein stepping down from the whitewashed role is meaningful for the same reason casting a person of color as a white character is: it’s an attempt to rectify Hollywood’s lack of diversity.
Is it enough? No. Skrein did the right thing, but there’s an entire system that allowed this to happen. We still need to advocate for more diversity, especially from the top down, because these kinds of backwards decisions are coming from the heads of the studios and the producers, and they’re clearly making decisions that are out of touch with modern audiences.
And I truly feel bad for Skrein; nobody on the production team told him the character was Asian, so not only did the brunt of the criticism fall on him when the news first hit, the onus also fell on him to apologize for the production itself. Skein showed himself to be the bigger man by stepping down, but we need to start asking why this role wasn’t written as specifically Asian to begin with.
Laura Sirikul: Entertainment Writer
When it was first announced that Ed Skrein was dropping the project, I quickly read his statement and felt really happy. Not only because Skrein did the noble thing of leaving the project and declaring the importance of diversity, but because this shows Hollywood that actors do have a choice. Skrein is not a household name. This would had been another big moment for his career, but he knew it was wrong and left it anyway. It just felt like it would take a white actor to step up and become an example of what to do in this situation because we’ve been through this situation many, many times. They never listen to us, but the guy playing the role did. Not only did he leave the role but also supported that it would go to an Asian actor. It’s hard to gauge where we go from here because it just happened and they haven’t recast the role yet. Hopefully, they’ll stay true to their word and hire an Asian, mainly Japanese American actor. But, this is a step. So many actors could have stepped down but they didn’t and Ed is an example of what should happen. Hopefully, other white actors will take note and follow in his footsteps. We still have a long way, but it’s a good step towards allyship and showing Hollywood and white actors what they should do.
Atsuko Okatsuka: Actress, Comedian, Filmmaker, Founder of Dis/orient/ed Comedy
When I first saw the headlines of Ed Skrein dropping out of ‘Hellboy,’ I immediately jumped on reading. I wanted to know what happened and was a bit weary because the headlines seemed to insinuate that he was somewhat left with no choice but to do it due to ‘criticism.’ However, it’s not until I got to reading Ed Skrein’s actual statement that I felt a sense of humanity around his decision to drop out. He began by saying he understands how important representation is to marginalized communities, and moreover, acknowledged that to neglect this responsibility would continue this trend of keeping these communities in the dark. His action is essentially what makes a person an ally: Someone of a privileged position, extending a branch and checking themselves, as well as setting an example for his colleagues and even more, to people who have more power than him. I appreciated this conscientious act. I felt a sense of relief that we were being heard and not forgotten.
Ultimately, what it did was also show that it was possible. That there aren’t some crazy secrets to Hollywood. We know it’s not easy to say no to a big studio or production, we know that the intention behind every film, every big casting decision is money. But what we did not know, was that an actor, essentially an employee of the studios, can step up and say no and the big guys, and their career not be completely destroyed from it. In fact, what he did forced Lionsgate to have to look into the mirror and issue a statement themselves. So now the ball is back in the Studio’s court to re-cast, and for now, I’m taking a quick breather. But when I get back, they better not have fucked it up.
And now for my thoughts. Most of the individuals I spoke with saw this decision as a reason for hope. Additionally, they lauded Mr. Skrein for his bold decision, as well as his reasoning. I cannot help but agree. This is a small, but infinitely important step. It should be noted that Ed Skrein is perhaps not a considered big-name actor (yet, but here’s to hoping). It can be argued that he needs this role and it could be a stepping stone for bigger projects. Instead, he made the moral decision. More importantly, he listened to the outcry instead of writing people off as social justice warriors. This is a positive step that I hope will set a precedent for other actors. They do have choices in which roles they choose. It is possible to do the right thing and stand up for people struggling for decent representation. I also want this to teach a lesson to actors so they actually research the roles before immediately saying yes. I get it, it’s a paycheck, especially in the big money comic book movie industry, but it would not have taken much effort to realize that this character was of Asian descent. My major concern is something that was mentioned in these excerpts, as well. The bottom up strategy only goes so far. In general, actors are a cog in this large system and are not in a place to change things. That responsibility lies with people with much greater power. I sincerely hope that the producers and executives see not only the original reaction to his casting, but also the kind, thankful reaction from Asians inside and outside of the Hollywood system. Ed Skrein made a difficult choice, the right choice, and he absolutely should be commended. But if this is not followed up by harder choices by those with the greatest privilege, then I fear that this stand will not matter in the long run. Ed Skrein gives us hope to latch on to, but this fight is nowhere close to being over. Will this be one of the first steps towards a better system where representation is the rule and not the exception? We shall see, but like Ed Skrein, I hope it makes a difference.
Featured Image: The Transporter Refueled; EuropaCorp
We want to give thanks to the writer of this write-up for this incredible web content
Ed Skrein: Representation’s Ally
Avengers star Mark Ruffalo is among a number of big-name Hollywood stars who have joined the cast of Bong Joon Ho’s next film, which is based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Ruffalo, Toni Collette (Hereditary), and Naomi Ackie (The End of the F–king World) will join a cast that already includes The Batman star Robert Pattinson, according to a report that dropped on Friday. The film, which is currently untitled, is set up at Warner Bros. Bong will write, direct ,and produce the film, which reteams him with Brad Pitt’s Plan B.
According to Deadlinewho first reported the casting, the novel “follows Mickey7, who is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.”
The report says that Bong became “loosely attached” to the adaptation late last year, and ultimately decided over the holidays that Pattinson was perfect for the lead role. This is Bong’s first project since Parasitewhich hit in 2019 and became a massive critical and commercial hit, becoming the first non-English-language film to earn the Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, along with the International Feature Film award.
Bong is hardly a one-trick pony; he previously made Snowpiercer and The Host. The Warner Bros.-owned TNT airs the Snowpiercer TV adaptation. Warner Bros. Discovery also has a Parasite miniseries set up at HBO from executive producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick.
Ackie, who gained mainstream attention after her role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwas tapped to star as Whitney Houston in th eupcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Collette, a critical darling since Muriel’s Weddingrecently appeared in the HBO Max limited series The Staircase and in Searchlight’s Nightmare Alley. Ruffalo, a Marvel Cinematic Universe regular, last appeared in Netflix’s The Adam Projectand is set to reprise his role as Bruce Banner in the upcoming She-Hulk: Attorney At Law series on Disney+.
We would like to thank the author of this short article for this amazing material
Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Naomi Ackie Join Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho’s New Movie
Avengers star Mark Ruffalo is among a number of big-name Hollywood stars who have joined the cast of Bong Joon Ho’s next film, which is based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Ruffalo, Toni Collette (Hereditary), and Naomi Ackie (The End of the F–king World) will join a cast that already includes The Batman star Robert Pattinson, according to a report that dropped on Friday. The film, which is currently untitled, is set up at Warner Bros. Bong will write, direct ,and produce the film, which reteams him with Brad Pitt’s Plan B.
According to Deadlinewho first reported the casting, the novel “follows Mickey7, who is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.”
The report says that Bong became “loosely attached” to the adaptation late last year, and ultimately decided over the holidays that Pattinson was perfect for the lead role. This is Bong’s first project since Parasitewhich hit in 2019 and became a massive critical and commercial hit, becoming the first non-English-language film to earn the Oscars for Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, along with the International Feature Film award.
Bong is hardly a one-trick pony; he previously made Snowpiercer and The Host. The Warner Bros.-owned TNT airs the Snowpiercer TV adaptation. Warner Bros. Discovery also has a Parasite miniseries set up at HBO from executive producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick.
Ackie, who gained mainstream attention after her role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwas tapped to star as Whitney Houston in th eupcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Collette, a critical darling since Muriel’s Weddingrecently appeared in the HBO Max limited series The Staircase and in Searchlight’s Nightmare Alley. Ruffalo, a Marvel Cinematic Universe regular, last appeared in Netflix’s The Adam Projectand is set to reprise his role as Bruce Banner in the upcoming She-Hulk: Attorney At Law series on Disney+.
We would like to thank the author of this short article for this amazing material
Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Naomi Ackie Join Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho’s New Movie
Actress and singer-songwriter Ella Jay Basco is releasing the video for her new single “Bubble Tea.” The song is a timely new anthem for the Asian American community ahead of May’s AAPI heritage month. The new video is now available globally to stream HERE.
The fun, celebratory video is centered around the younger generation of the AAPI community and uplifts the joy they find in simple pleasures despite the hate still aimed at the group. As we head into the summer, “Bubble Tea” is perfectly poised to become a summer anthem with its themes of comradery, friendship, and finding happiness in the small moments. Featuring a cast of Basco’s peers, the lighthearted video evokes a sense of nostalgia for the simpler times of being young and carefree in the summer.
“Growing up, I’ve always loved singing summer anthems from Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and have so many great memories attached to these songs. As someone who is proud of their Asian heritage, I wanted to find something that spoke directly to me and my peers, but couldn’t find it anywhere so instead I wrote ‘Bubble Tea,'” said Basco. “I hope other Asian kids hear this song and join me in celebrating our joy.”
Written by Basco and produced by Universal Production Music composer and producer Casey “Schpilkas” Dunmore (EIGHTY Bugg, Dunmore & Co., Cha’san TheHotSun, Shangdi, The Basco Bros.), the song is an anthem to encourage Basco’s peers to embrace and be proud of their roots.
Directed by Filipino director and photographer Bianca Catbagan, who worked with Basco on her previous song “Gold,” the video was shot by a primarily Asian and female crew. Utilizing the blissfully sun-soaked Los Angeles landscape, the video matches the song’s nostalgic vibes in cinematography, emulating the home videos seen in the 90’s and 00’s.
The video artwork was shot by Leslie Alejandro. Link to download hi-res art HERE.
ABOUT ELLA JAY BASCO
Though she hasn’t been in the business long, Ella Jay Basco has made a name for herself with her dramatic acting chops, ability to perform, and activism for the AAPI community. In 2021, Ella released the impactful music video for her first AAPI anthem “Gold” in response to the immense hate being directed at the community and bolster pride in the face of the adversity and discrimination AAPI individuals face from all angles – from western beauty standards to racial stereoypes. “Gold” received positive reviews not only from the AAPI community, but critics as well. As an actress, Ella made her big screen debut in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) as DC Comics’ ‘Cassandra Cain’ opposite Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez and Ewan McGregor.
It is for her work in the film that she was nominated for a MTV Movie & TV Award for “Best Fight” and a Saturn Award for “Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film.” Other past acting credits include Veep, Grey’s Anatomy, Teachers, Superior Donuts, HAPPYLAND and the short film Glimpse of Heaven. Ella started her career at six months old in an Old Navy print campaign. Outside of acting, Ella is a trained dancer, singer/songwriter and accomplished musician playing the guitar, piano and ukulele. Since the beginning of 2020, she has released standalone songs, including “The Ballad of Cassandra Cain”, “Screaming in the Rain,””Miss Popularity” and “Nadu,” as well as her first EP, “Middle School.” Ella currently lives in Los Angeles with her family.
We wish to give thanks to the author of this write-up for this awesome material
Ella Jay Basco Drops New Music Video for Asian Empowerment Summer Anthem
Actress and singer-songwriter Ella Jay Basco is releasing the video for her new single “Bubble Tea.” The song is a timely new anthem for the Asian American community ahead of May’s AAPI heritage month. The new video is now available globally to stream HERE.
The fun, celebratory video is centered around the younger generation of the AAPI community and uplifts the joy they find in simple pleasures despite the hate still aimed at the group. As we head into the summer, “Bubble Tea” is perfectly poised to become a summer anthem with its themes of comradery, friendship, and finding happiness in the small moments. Featuring a cast of Basco’s peers, the lighthearted video evokes a sense of nostalgia for the simpler times of being young and carefree in the summer.
“Growing up, I’ve always loved singing summer anthems from Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and have so many great memories attached to these songs. As someone who is proud of their Asian heritage, I wanted to find something that spoke directly to me and my peers, but couldn’t find it anywhere so instead I wrote ‘Bubble Tea,'” said Basco. “I hope other Asian kids hear this song and join me in celebrating our joy.”
Written by Basco and produced by Universal Production Music composer and producer Casey “Schpilkas” Dunmore (EIGHTY Bugg, Dunmore & Co., Cha’san TheHotSun, Shangdi, The Basco Bros.), the song is an anthem to encourage Basco’s peers to embrace and be proud of their roots.
Directed by Filipino director and photographer Bianca Catbagan, who worked with Basco on her previous song “Gold,” the video was shot by a primarily Asian and female crew. Utilizing the blissfully sun-soaked Los Angeles landscape, the video matches the song’s nostalgic vibes in cinematography, emulating the home videos seen in the 90’s and 00’s.
The video artwork was shot by Leslie Alejandro. Link to download hi-res art HERE.
ABOUT ELLA JAY BASCO
Though she hasn’t been in the business long, Ella Jay Basco has made a name for herself with her dramatic acting chops, ability to perform, and activism for the AAPI community. In 2021, Ella released the impactful music video for her first AAPI anthem “Gold” in response to the immense hate being directed at the community and bolster pride in the face of the adversity and discrimination AAPI individuals face from all angles – from western beauty standards to racial stereoypes. “Gold” received positive reviews not only from the AAPI community, but critics as well. As an actress, Ella made her big screen debut in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) as DC Comics’ ‘Cassandra Cain’ opposite Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez and Ewan McGregor.
It is for her work in the film that she was nominated for a MTV Movie & TV Award for “Best Fight” and a Saturn Award for “Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film.” Other past acting credits include Veep, Grey’s Anatomy, Teachers, Superior Donuts, HAPPYLAND and the short film Glimpse of Heaven. Ella started her career at six months old in an Old Navy print campaign. Outside of acting, Ella is a trained dancer, singer/songwriter and accomplished musician playing the guitar, piano and ukulele. Since the beginning of 2020, she has released standalone songs, including “The Ballad of Cassandra Cain”, “Screaming in the Rain,””Miss Popularity” and “Nadu,” as well as her first EP, “Middle School.” Ella currently lives in Los Angeles with her family.
We wish to give thanks to the author of this write-up for this awesome material
Ella Jay Basco Drops New Music Video for Asian Empowerment Summer Anthem