Kristi Noem has repeatedly affirmed that yes, she actually did murder her 14-month-old dog — but that doesn’t mean the South Dakota governor’s upcoming memoir, No Going Back, isn’t full of easily disprovable lies.
According to The Dakota Scout, which obtained a copy of the book, Noem claims that as a member of Congress, she met with elusive North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
“Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders,” Noem wrote.
According to The Dakota Scout, which obtained a copy of the book, Noem claims that as a member of Congress, she met with elusive North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
“Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders,” Noem wrote.
- 5/3/2024
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Don’t miss another riveting lineup on “60 Minutes,” airing from 7:00 to 8:00 Pm Et/Pt on the CBS Television Network. This week, the show delves into crucial topics that are making headlines and shaping our world.
142 Days in Gaza
For nearly five months, Israeli forces have been heavily bombing and conducting ground operations in Gaza, leading to the destruction of cities and the displacement of over a million people, as a reaction to Hamas’s terror attacks on October 7. The conflict has resulted in the death of more than 29,000 Palestinians. Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, delves into the ongoing conflict and the critical state of Gaza’s humanitarian aid and healthcare system, through footage captured by CBS and stories from an American doctor and aid worker in Gaza, providing a glimpse into the grave circumstances that are difficult for international journalists to independently report from the 25-mile-long area.
142 Days in Gaza
For nearly five months, Israeli forces have been heavily bombing and conducting ground operations in Gaza, leading to the destruction of cities and the displacement of over a million people, as a reaction to Hamas’s terror attacks on October 7. The conflict has resulted in the death of more than 29,000 Palestinians. Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, delves into the ongoing conflict and the critical state of Gaza’s humanitarian aid and healthcare system, through footage captured by CBS and stories from an American doctor and aid worker in Gaza, providing a glimpse into the grave circumstances that are difficult for international journalists to independently report from the 25-mile-long area.
- 2/23/2024
- by Alex Matthews
- TV Regular
The last time Tim Commerford stood in front of a large audience, Rage Against the Machine were wrapping up their truncated 2022 reunion tour with a five-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In the 18 months since that show, the Rage bassist has gone off the grid, and we mean that in a very literal sense. He now lives in a dirt road, mountaintop California house (he doesn’t want us to specify the location) that is removed from the electric grid. He powers everything via solar panels, and...
- 2/22/2024
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
A golden era of Chinese cinema was brought to a halt by Xi Jinping’s regime, but now, thousands of miles away, a rich world of banned documentaries and dramas is being studied and celebrated
On the wall of an unassuming second- floor room in Newcastle University sits a map, Blu-Tacked, unframed. At first glance it looks like any other map of China. But on closer inspection, the cities labelled on the map are not just the major urban centres. They are the places that have hosted important film festivals over the years, the details of which are annotated in colour-coded text.
Covering the final years of the so-called golden era of the scene, the map shows dozens of film festivals that used to be active across China. There was the China Independent Film Festival (Ciff) in Nanjing, the Beijing Independent Film Festival (Biff), and the Yunnan Multiculture Visual Festival (Yunfest), among others.
On the wall of an unassuming second- floor room in Newcastle University sits a map, Blu-Tacked, unframed. At first glance it looks like any other map of China. But on closer inspection, the cities labelled on the map are not just the major urban centres. They are the places that have hosted important film festivals over the years, the details of which are annotated in colour-coded text.
Covering the final years of the so-called golden era of the scene, the map shows dozens of film festivals that used to be active across China. There was the China Independent Film Festival (Ciff) in Nanjing, the Beijing Independent Film Festival (Biff), and the Yunnan Multiculture Visual Festival (Yunfest), among others.
- 2/20/2024
- by Amy Hawkins
- The Guardian - Film News
Nicole Kidman caused a stir when she came to Hong Kong mid-pandemic to shoot the Amazon-backed drama series “Expats.” But, awkwardly, the completed series is not available in the city where it is set.
The show, which includes Kidman’s Blossom Films as producer, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was uploaded to Prime Video on Friday last week. In Hong Kong, Prime Video subscribers seeking it out get the message “this video is currently unavailable to watch in your location.”
It remains unclear whether the city’s government has stepped in to prevent “Expats” from screening or whether Prime Video has given in to self-censorship. Both explanations point to an increasingly difficult environment for media and entertainment in the territory, which sometimes brands itself as “Asia’s World City.”
Contacted by Variety, Prime Video offered no comment. A Hong Kong government spokesman said in an emailed statement,...
The show, which includes Kidman’s Blossom Films as producer, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was uploaded to Prime Video on Friday last week. In Hong Kong, Prime Video subscribers seeking it out get the message “this video is currently unavailable to watch in your location.”
It remains unclear whether the city’s government has stepped in to prevent “Expats” from screening or whether Prime Video has given in to self-censorship. Both explanations point to an increasingly difficult environment for media and entertainment in the territory, which sometimes brands itself as “Asia’s World City.”
Contacted by Variety, Prime Video offered no comment. A Hong Kong government spokesman said in an emailed statement,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwan’s transformation from an authoritarian state to a flourishing democracy determined to decide its own future is charted in the engrossing and highly informative documentary “Invisible Nation.” Centered on President Tsai Ing-wen as she promotes her country’s case for ongoing autonomy in the face of mounting political isolation, as well as China’s claim that Taiwan is part of its territory and must unite with the mainland, Vanessa Hope’s skilfully assembled film delivers a compelling picture of Taiwan’s increasingly precarious position in the region and on the world stage.
Currently enjoying a substantial festival run, “Invisible Nation” has gained an extra note of urgency and its visibility should only increase in the wake of Taiwan’s elections on January 13, 2024. After becoming Taiwan’s first female president in 2016, Tsai will formally complete the two terms permitted under Taiwanese law on May 20. Voters have elected her Democratic Progressive...
Currently enjoying a substantial festival run, “Invisible Nation” has gained an extra note of urgency and its visibility should only increase in the wake of Taiwan’s elections on January 13, 2024. After becoming Taiwan’s first female president in 2016, Tsai will formally complete the two terms permitted under Taiwanese law on May 20. Voters have elected her Democratic Progressive...
- 1/21/2024
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
As former Un Ambassador Nikki Haley took the stage at CNN’s town hall in New Hampshire, her chief rival in the state’s primary took to another interview on Fox News.
It was yet another bit of counter-programming on the part of Trump, as well as Fox News, which billed Sean Hannity’s interview as the former president’s first since his victory in the Iowa caucuses. Last week, as Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participated in CNN’s pre-Iowa debate, Fox News did a town hall with Trump.
Shortly after Haley took the stage, host Jake Tapper asked Haley about Trump’s dog whistle attacks on her, including advancing a conspiracy theory that questioned her eligibility to be president as the child of Indian immigrants. Trump also referred to her as “Nimrada,” misspelling her given first name, Nimarata, clearly reviving birtherism and the “otherness” of his opponents.
It was yet another bit of counter-programming on the part of Trump, as well as Fox News, which billed Sean Hannity’s interview as the former president’s first since his victory in the Iowa caucuses. Last week, as Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participated in CNN’s pre-Iowa debate, Fox News did a town hall with Trump.
Shortly after Haley took the stage, host Jake Tapper asked Haley about Trump’s dog whistle attacks on her, including advancing a conspiracy theory that questioned her eligibility to be president as the child of Indian immigrants. Trump also referred to her as “Nimrada,” misspelling her given first name, Nimarata, clearly reviving birtherism and the “otherness” of his opponents.
- 1/19/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Donald Trump spoke at Whittemore Center Arena on the campus of University of New Hampshire in Durham on Saturday. He slammed his opponents, taking swipes at Republican presidential primary nominees Nikki Haley and Chris Christie — whom Trump, not a poster child of fitness himself, called “a fat pig.” But Trump reserved most of his ire for President Joe Biden, who beat him four years ago in an election Trump refuses to accept was legitimate.
The former president also echoed the words of Adolf Hitler during his anti-immigrant ranting at the rally.
The former president also echoed the words of Adolf Hitler during his anti-immigrant ranting at the rally.
- 12/16/2023
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023, beating out Xi Jinping, Hollywood strikers, Trump prosecutors and even Barbie.
“The person chosen has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power…very often a politician or a titan of industry,” writes Time‘s editor-inchief Sam Jacobs writes, “And yet the person whose singular influence was revealed throughout 2023 has held none of these roles—or anything remotely similar…Taylor Swift found a way to transcend borders and be a source of light…Swift is the rare person who is both the writer and hero of her own story.”
Jacobs revealed the magazine’s choice on NBC’s Today this morning, acknowledging, “Picking one person who represents the eight billion people on the planet is no easy task. We picked a choice that represents joy.” Watch the segment above.
In the magazine, which comes in three different Swift covers,...
“The person chosen has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power…very often a politician or a titan of industry,” writes Time‘s editor-inchief Sam Jacobs writes, “And yet the person whose singular influence was revealed throughout 2023 has held none of these roles—or anything remotely similar…Taylor Swift found a way to transcend borders and be a source of light…Swift is the rare person who is both the writer and hero of her own story.”
Jacobs revealed the magazine’s choice on NBC’s Today this morning, acknowledging, “Picking one person who represents the eight billion people on the planet is no easy task. We picked a choice that represents joy.” Watch the segment above.
In the magazine, which comes in three different Swift covers,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Taylor Swift era continues.
The superstar singer-songwriter has been named Time‘s 2023 Person of the Year, the first time that an entertainer has received the honor from the long-running publication.
Time announced the Person of the Year on Wednesday morning.
“The selections over the years have tended to follow certain patterns. The person chosen has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power. He — and yes, usually it has been a ‘he’ — is very often a politician or a titan of industry. Fourteen U.S. presidents, five leaders of Russia or the Soviet Union and three Popes have all been recognized,” the magazine’s editor Sam Jacobs wrote about naming Swift.
“And yet the person whose singular influence was revealed throughout 2023 has held none of these roles — or anything remotely similar,” he added. “Every year contains light and dark; 2023 was a year with significant shares of darkness. In a divided world,...
The superstar singer-songwriter has been named Time‘s 2023 Person of the Year, the first time that an entertainer has received the honor from the long-running publication.
Time announced the Person of the Year on Wednesday morning.
“The selections over the years have tended to follow certain patterns. The person chosen has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power. He — and yes, usually it has been a ‘he’ — is very often a politician or a titan of industry. Fourteen U.S. presidents, five leaders of Russia or the Soviet Union and three Popes have all been recognized,” the magazine’s editor Sam Jacobs wrote about naming Swift.
“And yet the person whose singular influence was revealed throughout 2023 has held none of these roles — or anything remotely similar,” he added. “Every year contains light and dark; 2023 was a year with significant shares of darkness. In a divided world,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taylor Swift, Barbie and Hollywood strikers are among the nine contenders for Time’s 2023 Person of the Year, the magazine announced today.
Also up for the designation, in addition to various world figures, is Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
The annual selection chooses the individual, group, or concept that has had the most influence on the world throughout the previous 12 months. The 2023 Person of the Year will be announced on Wednesday.
The nine candidates were announced on NBC’s Today show this morning. See the full list below.
In considering the striking Hollywood writers and actors, Time said the workers displayed “a rare show of the power of both labor and the entertainment industry.”
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, Time said, “made clear the possibility for theatrical success remains even in a streaming world,” while Swift was noted for the re-release of her albums and “the highest-grossing global tour of all time.
Also up for the designation, in addition to various world figures, is Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
The annual selection chooses the individual, group, or concept that has had the most influence on the world throughout the previous 12 months. The 2023 Person of the Year will be announced on Wednesday.
The nine candidates were announced on NBC’s Today show this morning. See the full list below.
In considering the striking Hollywood writers and actors, Time said the workers displayed “a rare show of the power of both labor and the entertainment industry.”
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, Time said, “made clear the possibility for theatrical success remains even in a streaming world,” while Swift was noted for the re-release of her albums and “the highest-grossing global tour of all time.
- 12/4/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Hollywood has a strong presence on the shortlist for Time‘s 2023 Person of the Year.
The magazine and global media brand announced the finalists for its annual Person of the Year Monday morning. The 2023 honoree will be officially announced Wednesday morning.
Among the finalists this year are the Hollywood strikers at the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, Barbie and Taylor Swift.
Time notes that the Person of the Year is the “individual, group, or concept that has had the most influence on the world throughout the previous 12 months,” and is not necessarily about someone who is good, bad or powerful, but rather a reflection of influence.
But its hard to argue with any of those choices, given Swift’s emergence as a global musical icon, selling out stadiums around the world; the success of the Barbie movie and its transformative take on the classic toy, or the impact that Hollywood’s labor...
The magazine and global media brand announced the finalists for its annual Person of the Year Monday morning. The 2023 honoree will be officially announced Wednesday morning.
Among the finalists this year are the Hollywood strikers at the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, Barbie and Taylor Swift.
Time notes that the Person of the Year is the “individual, group, or concept that has had the most influence on the world throughout the previous 12 months,” and is not necessarily about someone who is good, bad or powerful, but rather a reflection of influence.
But its hard to argue with any of those choices, given Swift’s emergence as a global musical icon, selling out stadiums around the world; the success of the Barbie movie and its transformative take on the classic toy, or the impact that Hollywood’s labor...
- 12/4/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
President Joe Biden faced tough competition for media attention when giant panda Tian Tian joined his press conference during Saturday Night Live’s cold open for this weekend’s Jason Momoa-hosted episode.
SNL kicked off its latest installment with a sketch poking fun at Biden’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that included discussion of China’s plan to send more pandas to the U.S. as three are currently making their way back to the Asian nation after having resided in Washington’s National Zoo. Castmember Bowen Yang played one of those pandas, Tian Tian, and he successfully upstaged Mikey Day’s Biden.
“This meeting was a total win,” Day said as Biden. “Sure, we made agreements about communications, fentanyl, climate change — but most importantly, we got the thing America really needs right now: more pandas.”
Yang gave insight into Tian Tian’s daily routine: “I just want to eat bamboo,...
SNL kicked off its latest installment with a sketch poking fun at Biden’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that included discussion of China’s plan to send more pandas to the U.S. as three are currently making their way back to the Asian nation after having resided in Washington’s National Zoo. Castmember Bowen Yang played one of those pandas, Tian Tian, and he successfully upstaged Mikey Day’s Biden.
“This meeting was a total win,” Day said as Biden. “Sure, we made agreements about communications, fentanyl, climate change — but most importantly, we got the thing America really needs right now: more pandas.”
Yang gave insight into Tian Tian’s daily routine: “I just want to eat bamboo,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was a busy week for Colin Jost and Michael Che as they joked on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” about everything in politics and pop culture.
The big news right now is media and tech companies pulling their ad dollars from X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, after advertisements started appearing next to anti-semitic posts.
“Which is a huge relief because I was definitely worried about where this was going to end up,” Jost quipped.
An image of Jost making a thumbs-up appeared on-screen with the SNL “Weekend Update” anchor smiling gleefully.
Colin Jost on ‘SNL’
Later on in the segment, Jost took on the news that Rupert Murdoch was stepping down as CEO of Fox News parent Fox and News Corp, joking that he passed “the position to his son, Darth Murdoch.” Jost made a reference to the villain Darth Vader of Star Wars.
The big news right now is media and tech companies pulling their ad dollars from X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, after advertisements started appearing next to anti-semitic posts.
“Which is a huge relief because I was definitely worried about where this was going to end up,” Jost quipped.
An image of Jost making a thumbs-up appeared on-screen with the SNL “Weekend Update” anchor smiling gleefully.
Colin Jost on ‘SNL’
Later on in the segment, Jost took on the news that Rupert Murdoch was stepping down as CEO of Fox News parent Fox and News Corp, joking that he passed “the position to his son, Darth Murdoch.” Jost made a reference to the villain Darth Vader of Star Wars.
- 11/19/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Saturday Night Live opened with President Joe Biden (Mikey Day) welcoming “Chinese dignitary” Tian Tian (Bowen Yang), one of the three pandas that were transported from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. to China earlier this month.
“I’m honored to be here, but am I the only one that was surprised that the presidents of the two biggest economies in the world met, and everyone’s just like, ‘What’s up with the pandas?'” Yang said behind the presidential seal. “I mean, I get it. I’m hot,...
“I’m honored to be here, but am I the only one that was surprised that the presidents of the two biggest economies in the world met, and everyone’s just like, ‘What’s up with the pandas?'” Yang said behind the presidential seal. “I mean, I get it. I’m hot,...
- 11/19/2023
- by William Vaillancourt
- Rollingstone.com
Bowen Yang starred as Tian Tian, a giant panda from China who interrupted an awkward Joe Biden press conference, in the “Saturday Night Live” cold open.
As Mikey Day’s Biden was getting grilled at a press conference about his recent meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping, response to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the border crisis, Tian Tian jumped in to save the day. In a friendly gesture toward U.S.-Chinese relations, Jinping had suggested this week that giant pandas may return to California zoos.
Yang’s Tian Tian first wanted to clear up the “giant” part of his panda species, clarifying that he likes to be called “slim thick.” He also said that he’s going to miss the free marijuana — and only that — of his time in the U.S. before he goes back to China. Jealous of the panda’s spotlight, Day’s Biden attempted to field a question,...
As Mikey Day’s Biden was getting grilled at a press conference about his recent meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping, response to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the border crisis, Tian Tian jumped in to save the day. In a friendly gesture toward U.S.-Chinese relations, Jinping had suggested this week that giant pandas may return to California zoos.
Yang’s Tian Tian first wanted to clear up the “giant” part of his panda species, clarifying that he likes to be called “slim thick.” He also said that he’s going to miss the free marijuana — and only that — of his time in the U.S. before he goes back to China. Jealous of the panda’s spotlight, Day’s Biden attempted to field a question,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
“Was I the only one who was surprised that the presidents of the two biggest economies in the world met, and everyone’s just like ‘what’s up with the pandas?” asked the Bowen Lang portrayed Tian Tian the panda in tonight’s Saturday Night Live cold open. “There have to be bigger issues, right?”
It was a far question, and maybe the highlight of the first few minutes of the show.
Kicking off with another uneven Joe Biden press conference, with Mikey Day as the aged Commander-in-chief, this was not one of the sharper or more cutting cold opens that the NBC late night show has had since its Season 49 premiere on October 14.
Certainly, as geopolitical tensions seem to be well past the boiling point, Potus’s mini-summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco this past week was realpolitik in action. Even more so, now that the...
It was a far question, and maybe the highlight of the first few minutes of the show.
Kicking off with another uneven Joe Biden press conference, with Mikey Day as the aged Commander-in-chief, this was not one of the sharper or more cutting cold opens that the NBC late night show has had since its Season 49 premiere on October 14.
Certainly, as geopolitical tensions seem to be well past the boiling point, Potus’s mini-summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco this past week was realpolitik in action. Even more so, now that the...
- 11/19/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The cold open on the latest “SNL” surprisingly had President Joe Biden’s back. Not only making the point repeatedly that the American media is focused on trivial matters at the expense of reporting on the substance of election issues, but also letting Tian Tian the Panda run interference for super awkward press questions.
Of course, the fact that Tian Tian was played by Bowen Yang was a major asset to the sketch, which of course also featured Mikey Day as Biden.
Watch some of it below now:
Tian Tian the Panda joins President Biden for a press conference pic.twitter.com/vWfl5y5kbO
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 19, 2023
The sketch was inspired by the meeting Biden had this with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and started with Day’s Biden holding a White House press conference, where he declared that the “President Xi meeting was a total win.
Of course, the fact that Tian Tian was played by Bowen Yang was a major asset to the sketch, which of course also featured Mikey Day as Biden.
Watch some of it below now:
Tian Tian the Panda joins President Biden for a press conference pic.twitter.com/vWfl5y5kbO
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 19, 2023
The sketch was inspired by the meeting Biden had this with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and started with Day’s Biden holding a White House press conference, where he declared that the “President Xi meeting was a total win.
- 11/19/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Disney is poised to be the top entertainment industry beneficiary of a potential improvement in U.S.-China relations, according to a veteran Wall Street analyst.
On the occasion of talks in California this week between China’s Xi Jinping and President Biden, Tim Nollen of Macquarie singled out Disney, ad tech firm The Trade Desk and video game software maker Unity as having the most to gain from the diplomacy. China recently has become more isolationist and less democratic, by most measures, and the Biden Administration has made it a priority to mend relations after predecessor Donald Trump waged a trade war against China and engaged in other saber-rattling.
Disney’s “long history” of doing business in China makes it “a truly global brand relative to other traditional U.S. media companies,” Nollen wrote in a note to clients. Disney originally started licensing its products and characters for use...
On the occasion of talks in California this week between China’s Xi Jinping and President Biden, Tim Nollen of Macquarie singled out Disney, ad tech firm The Trade Desk and video game software maker Unity as having the most to gain from the diplomacy. China recently has become more isolationist and less democratic, by most measures, and the Biden Administration has made it a priority to mend relations after predecessor Donald Trump waged a trade war against China and engaged in other saber-rattling.
Disney’s “long history” of doing business in China makes it “a truly global brand relative to other traditional U.S. media companies,” Nollen wrote in a note to clients. Disney originally started licensing its products and characters for use...
- 11/17/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Jimmy Fallon is happy that President Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping went well, both from a geopolitical angle and a personal one.
“Both men met for over four hours and by all accounts they really hit it off,” the “Tonight Show” host said Thursday night. “That’s great news for Biden, because usually when something lasts for over four hours he has to immediately call a doctor.”
Fallon then used his opening monologue to play footage from President Xi’s press conference following the meeting. True to form, the late-night host’s take on the conference was a bit sillier than what really happened.
“I had a productive meeting with President Biden. The U.S. and China have the world’s more important bilateral relationship,” a subtitled version of President Xi said in the clip. “Well, second most important, after Travis and Tay Tay.”
The rest of...
“Both men met for over four hours and by all accounts they really hit it off,” the “Tonight Show” host said Thursday night. “That’s great news for Biden, because usually when something lasts for over four hours he has to immediately call a doctor.”
Fallon then used his opening monologue to play footage from President Xi’s press conference following the meeting. True to form, the late-night host’s take on the conference was a bit sillier than what really happened.
“I had a productive meeting with President Biden. The U.S. and China have the world’s more important bilateral relationship,” a subtitled version of President Xi said in the clip. “Well, second most important, after Travis and Tay Tay.”
The rest of...
- 11/17/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Stephen Colbert Says ‘Apple Has Canceled Jon Stewart Again’ After Telling Chinese Labor Joke (Video)
Stephen Colbert poked fun at his former “Daily Show” bud and late night peer Jon Stewart on Wednesday night, cracking a joke about the recent cancellation of the comedian’s Apple TV+ show.
During the opening monologue for “The Late Show,” Colbert discussed President Joe Biden’s meeting on Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the New York Times, China’s economy has been struggling in part due to “anemic consumer spending and high youth unemployment.”
“It’s gotten so bad that second graders can’t get a job at the iPhone factory,” Colbert quipped. “And I’m being told that in response to that joke, Apple has canceled Jon Stewart again.”
In October, “The Problem with Jon Stewart” was canceled after two seasons. The shuttering reportedly came down to creative differences that had to do with the series’ coverage of artificial intelligence and China. The controversial topics...
During the opening monologue for “The Late Show,” Colbert discussed President Joe Biden’s meeting on Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the New York Times, China’s economy has been struggling in part due to “anemic consumer spending and high youth unemployment.”
“It’s gotten so bad that second graders can’t get a job at the iPhone factory,” Colbert quipped. “And I’m being told that in response to that joke, Apple has canceled Jon Stewart again.”
In October, “The Problem with Jon Stewart” was canceled after two seasons. The shuttering reportedly came down to creative differences that had to do with the series’ coverage of artificial intelligence and China. The controversial topics...
- 11/16/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
President Joe Biden gave a rare formal press conference following his meeting today with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but most of the questions had to do with the Israel/Hamas war.
In an opening statement, Biden said that the U.S. and China were “reassuming military-to-military direct contacts,” which have been cutoff. “We are back to open, clear, direct communications,” Biden said, adding that “a vital miscalculation on either side can cause real trouble with a country like China or any other major country.”
China also agreed to work with the U.S. to stem the flow of fentanyl, Biden said.
Biden was asked whether he trusted Xi, and he told reporters, “Trust but verify as the old saying goes. That’s where I am. We’re in a competitive relationship — China and the United States. But my responsibility is to make this rational and manageable, so it doesn’t result in conflict.
In an opening statement, Biden said that the U.S. and China were “reassuming military-to-military direct contacts,” which have been cutoff. “We are back to open, clear, direct communications,” Biden said, adding that “a vital miscalculation on either side can cause real trouble with a country like China or any other major country.”
China also agreed to work with the U.S. to stem the flow of fentanyl, Biden said.
Biden was asked whether he trusted Xi, and he told reporters, “Trust but verify as the old saying goes. That’s where I am. We’re in a competitive relationship — China and the United States. But my responsibility is to make this rational and manageable, so it doesn’t result in conflict.
- 11/16/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The streets of San Francisco were reportedly cleaned up before President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived for the current Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but not entirely, it seems, as on Monday a public television news crew was reportedly robbed at gunpoint.
Reporter Bohumil Vostal and a crew from Czech outlet ČT24 were doing a standup in front of legendary Beat-era hub City Lights bookstore when, according to a local Fox affiliate citing police, “a vehicle stopped on the street, and three armed men with firearms exited the car and approached the group. The suspects demanded their production equipment, and the victims complied.”
The assailants sped off, and the Czech crew was unharmed and, it seems, undeterred.
“Thank you very much for the support we received in ČT news,” Vostal wrote on X. “We’ll keep shooting. We are here for the US President’s summit with the Chinese leader.
Reporter Bohumil Vostal and a crew from Czech outlet ČT24 were doing a standup in front of legendary Beat-era hub City Lights bookstore when, according to a local Fox affiliate citing police, “a vehicle stopped on the street, and three armed men with firearms exited the car and approached the group. The suspects demanded their production equipment, and the victims complied.”
The assailants sped off, and the Czech crew was unharmed and, it seems, undeterred.
“Thank you very much for the support we received in ČT news,” Vostal wrote on X. “We’ll keep shooting. We are here for the US President’s summit with the Chinese leader.
- 11/15/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
In any big 2023 “Year in Film” summary, there are likely to be some very obvious entries. The cultural phenomenon that was Barbenheimer will no doubt play a lead role, as will the writers and actors strikes. Then there are major hits, such as The Super Mario Bros Movie, and the Oscars-dominating Everything Everywhere All at Once.
But any half-decent write-up should also mention a micro-budget British slasher.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey — made for considerably less than $100,000 — sparked international headlines when it was released in February, largely due to a childhood-bludgeoning premise about a rampaging, murderous Pooh (and Piglet), having already been on lists of the most anticipated movies of the year. It would earn almost $6 million internationally, an incredible sum for a film that had been initially destined for the straight-to-digital dungeons (and putting it high on the list of features with the best budget-to-box-office ratios). The film’s spell...
But any half-decent write-up should also mention a micro-budget British slasher.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey — made for considerably less than $100,000 — sparked international headlines when it was released in February, largely due to a childhood-bludgeoning premise about a rampaging, murderous Pooh (and Piglet), having already been on lists of the most anticipated movies of the year. It would earn almost $6 million internationally, an incredible sum for a film that had been initially destined for the straight-to-digital dungeons (and putting it high on the list of features with the best budget-to-box-office ratios). The film’s spell...
- 11/3/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tommy Tuberville’s Republican colleagues had finally had it with him.
For months, the Alabama senator and former college football coach has blocked the confirmation of hundreds of senior military officers because he’s mad about a Pentagon policy that ensures soldiers have abortion access.
The group of anti-abortion Republicans had worked with him since February to try to find a solution. They’d flattered his ego. They’d mostly defended him in public as his game of chicken stretched nine months, punishing hundreds of senior service members who have...
For months, the Alabama senator and former college football coach has blocked the confirmation of hundreds of senior military officers because he’s mad about a Pentagon policy that ensures soldiers have abortion access.
The group of anti-abortion Republicans had worked with him since February to try to find a solution. They’d flattered his ego. They’d mostly defended him in public as his game of chicken stretched nine months, punishing hundreds of senior service members who have...
- 11/3/2023
- by Cameron Joseph
- Rollingstone.com
The latest conspiracy theory bouncing around Fox News is that California Gov. Gavin Newsom secretly is running for president, even though he has pledged not to run against President Joe Biden.
“He is running a shadow presidential campaign,”former Donald Trump disciple Kayleigh McEnany told Fox host Jesse Watters on his show Thursday.
The “overwhelming” evidence McEnany and Watters provided was the fact that Newsom met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week to talk about trade and economic policies and how to combat climate change.
So apparently the leader of the fifth-largest economy meeting with the leader of China, the second-largest economy, is cause for suspicion and points to conspiracy.
Watters played a recent Newsom interview, in which the Democratic governor said he wants to work with China on trade and environmental protection.
“We need China, and China needs us. Climate change … knows no boundaries, no jurisdiction,” Newsom said.
“He is running a shadow presidential campaign,”former Donald Trump disciple Kayleigh McEnany told Fox host Jesse Watters on his show Thursday.
The “overwhelming” evidence McEnany and Watters provided was the fact that Newsom met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week to talk about trade and economic policies and how to combat climate change.
So apparently the leader of the fifth-largest economy meeting with the leader of China, the second-largest economy, is cause for suspicion and points to conspiracy.
Watters played a recent Newsom interview, in which the Democratic governor said he wants to work with China on trade and environmental protection.
“We need China, and China needs us. Climate change … knows no boundaries, no jurisdiction,” Newsom said.
- 10/26/2023
- by Tina Daunt
- The Wrap
The Economist announced today that it is launching Economist Podcasts+, a new subscription to build on the success of its award-winning shows and support future growth. A subscription will include exclusive access to Boss Class, a new limited series on management; The Weekend Intelligence, a new Saturday edition of The Economist’s popular show on world news; as well as The Economist’s entire collection of weekly podcasts on business, science and technology, China and American politics.
“With our podcast audience doubling in the past three years to 5m monthly unique listeners, audio has become our fastest-growing platform and has proven to be an important way to bring our journalism to new and diverse audiences,” said Bob Cohn, president, The Economist. “We think the new shows and features that are part of Economist Podcasts+ are a great addition to our strong portfolio.”
“The Economist has always been known for its global reporting and in-depth analysis,...
“With our podcast audience doubling in the past three years to 5m monthly unique listeners, audio has become our fastest-growing platform and has proven to be an important way to bring our journalism to new and diverse audiences,” said Bob Cohn, president, The Economist. “We think the new shows and features that are part of Economist Podcasts+ are a great addition to our strong portfolio.”
“The Economist has always been known for its global reporting and in-depth analysis,...
- 9/15/2023
- Podnews.net
Taipei, Aug 28 (Ians) iPhone maker Foxconn’s founder Terry Gou on Monday announced an independent bid for the Taiwan presidential election in January 2024.
The 72-year-old tech billionaire is now the fourth candidate for the top position, reports Nikkei Asia.
He is pitted against Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (Dpp), Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the China-friendly Kuomintang (Kmt).
Gou said at a press conference he will “make Taiwan overtake Singapore within 20 years” and have the highest Gdp per capita in Asia.
“If Singapore can do it, so can Taiwan. We need to pull the country back to the path of peace and prosperity through this election. Only by doing so can hundreds of industries safely develop and can people live and work in peace and contentment,” Gou was quoted as saying.
“Taiwan should absolutely not become Ukraine.
The 72-year-old tech billionaire is now the fourth candidate for the top position, reports Nikkei Asia.
He is pitted against Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (Dpp), Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the China-friendly Kuomintang (Kmt).
Gou said at a press conference he will “make Taiwan overtake Singapore within 20 years” and have the highest Gdp per capita in Asia.
“If Singapore can do it, so can Taiwan. We need to pull the country back to the path of peace and prosperity through this election. Only by doing so can hundreds of industries safely develop and can people live and work in peace and contentment,” Gou was quoted as saying.
“Taiwan should absolutely not become Ukraine.
- 8/28/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Hours after announcing that the Justice Department officially informed him that he was the subject of yet another criminal probe, former President Donald Trump joined Fox News’ Sean Hannity for a town hall recorded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
On Tuesday, Trump revealed via Truth Social that the DOJ had served him a target letter, notifying him that he was the subject of a criminal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The letter could be a sign that Special Counsel Jack Smith may be nearing a second indictment against the former president.
On Tuesday, Trump revealed via Truth Social that the DOJ had served him a target letter, notifying him that he was the subject of a criminal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The letter could be a sign that Special Counsel Jack Smith may be nearing a second indictment against the former president.
- 7/19/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
One of the finest films to emerge from China in recent memory is finally set to hit North American movie screens. Chinese writer-director Li Ruijun’s lyrical realist drama Return to Dust, which premiered to acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2022, will begin rolling out in select cities July 21 courtesy of Film Movement.
A moving portrait of China’s disappearing rural way of life, Return to Dust, like much of Li’s work, is a triumph of indie filmmaking. The movie was shot on a shoestring in Gaotai, one of the poorest and most remote parts of China, where the director grew up. Many of those involved in the production were his relatives and other village locals — the male lead, Wu Renlin, is his uncle, a lifelong farmer — lending this social realist elegy a depth of authenticity that would be impossible to fake.
The film follows two middle-aged peasants,...
A moving portrait of China’s disappearing rural way of life, Return to Dust, like much of Li’s work, is a triumph of indie filmmaking. The movie was shot on a shoestring in Gaotai, one of the poorest and most remote parts of China, where the director grew up. Many of those involved in the production were his relatives and other village locals — the male lead, Wu Renlin, is his uncle, a lifelong farmer — lending this social realist elegy a depth of authenticity that would be impossible to fake.
The film follows two middle-aged peasants,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Margaret Brennan recently was among a small number of reporters who traveled with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China, a trip designed to turn down the temperature on simmering tensions with Beijing.
That was reflected in what it took for the Face the Nation moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent to secure a visa for the trip, “Until I had that in hand, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get on the Secretary of State’s plane,” she said, adding that she had permission to be in the country just seven days.
“That’s all we could get, and that is something we consider ourselves fortunate to get, because the Chinese government hasn’t been allowing in, at least for long-term visa access, journalists who weren’t already living in the country,” she said. The network does have a cameraman who has...
That was reflected in what it took for the Face the Nation moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent to secure a visa for the trip, “Until I had that in hand, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get on the Secretary of State’s plane,” she said, adding that she had permission to be in the country just seven days.
“That’s all we could get, and that is something we consider ourselves fortunate to get, because the Chinese government hasn’t been allowing in, at least for long-term visa access, journalists who weren’t already living in the country,” she said. The network does have a cameraman who has...
- 6/24/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
With Republicans claiming that the plea deal offered to and accepted by Hunter Biden was “a sweetheart deal,” the hosts of “Morning Joe” are firing back. During Wednesday morning’s episode of the MSNBC talk show, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski ran down a laundry list of actions by the Trump kids that they argued deserved just as much criticism.
After a five-year investigation into his actions — so, yes, beginning during the Trump administration — Hunter Biden will plead guilty to tax evasion and will avoid being charged for unlawful purchase of a firearm. He also won’t face any jail time for his actions. You can read more in-depth about it here, but Republicans aren’t happy, saying Hunter Biden got nothing more than “a slap on the wrist” because he’s the president’s son.
“Just putting it out there, Ivanka and Jared, like, worked in the White House.
After a five-year investigation into his actions — so, yes, beginning during the Trump administration — Hunter Biden will plead guilty to tax evasion and will avoid being charged for unlawful purchase of a firearm. He also won’t face any jail time for his actions. You can read more in-depth about it here, but Republicans aren’t happy, saying Hunter Biden got nothing more than “a slap on the wrist” because he’s the president’s son.
“Just putting it out there, Ivanka and Jared, like, worked in the White House.
- 6/21/2023
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
In a notable diplomatic encounter, Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping expressed admiration for American billionaire and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, hailing him as a “friend.” The meeting between Xi and Gates took place this week in Beijing, where they were joined by Chinese Foreign Secretary Qin Gang and chief Chinese diplomat Wang Yi. […]
The post Xi Jinping Lauds Bill Gates as ‘Friend’ in Beijing Meeting on Pandemic Prevention and Technological Development appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Xi Jinping Lauds Bill Gates as ‘Friend’ in Beijing Meeting on Pandemic Prevention and Technological Development appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/17/2023
- by Grady Owen
- ShockYa
San Francisco, May 27 (Ians) Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has said that the call for open cooperation on technology by Chinese President Xi Jinping “could not be timeliera, echoing Jinping’s message.
Addressing the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing via a live feed, Gates said that China, with its mix of expertise and experience and investment in innovation, would be able to make its contribution to the world by sharing its technology and lessons, reports South China Morning Post.
Gates said that issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other challenges from food security to child welfare, do not stay within national boundaries.
“So we need to commit to working across boundaries to address them,” Gates was quoted as saying.
“We need to mount a comprehensive, broad response (to issues like Covid-19) based on innovation and cooperation,” the Microsoft founder said.
“China is already playing an important role in addressing complex global challenges,...
Addressing the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing via a live feed, Gates said that China, with its mix of expertise and experience and investment in innovation, would be able to make its contribution to the world by sharing its technology and lessons, reports South China Morning Post.
Gates said that issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other challenges from food security to child welfare, do not stay within national boundaries.
“So we need to commit to working across boundaries to address them,” Gates was quoted as saying.
“We need to mount a comprehensive, broad response (to issues like Covid-19) based on innovation and cooperation,” the Microsoft founder said.
“China is already playing an important role in addressing complex global challenges,...
- 5/27/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Donald Trump’s in the UK at his Scotland golf course this week and he took the chance to take swings at Meghan Markle, Joe Biden, China and trans athletes in a wide ranging interview on Gb News.
Questioned on Farage: The Trump Interview by Brexiteer politician-turned-broadcaster Nigel Farage, he twice claimed the Duchess of Sussex Meghan had disrespected the UK’s late Queen Elizabeth. He also commented on Prince Harry’s plan to attend his father King Charles’ Coronation on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a great day and they’ll do a great job. [Charles] really loves the country and he loved his mother and that’s why I thought she was treated so disrespectfully by Meghan,” he said. “There was just no reason to do that. I was actually surprised Harry was invited, to be honest.”
Trump agreed with Farage that the Queen was “the most popular...
Questioned on Farage: The Trump Interview by Brexiteer politician-turned-broadcaster Nigel Farage, he twice claimed the Duchess of Sussex Meghan had disrespected the UK’s late Queen Elizabeth. He also commented on Prince Harry’s plan to attend his father King Charles’ Coronation on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a great day and they’ll do a great job. [Charles] really loves the country and he loved his mother and that’s why I thought she was treated so disrespectfully by Meghan,” he said. “There was just no reason to do that. I was actually surprised Harry was invited, to be honest.”
Trump agreed with Farage that the Queen was “the most popular...
- 5/4/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
During her 70-year reign, the late Queen Elizabeth II got to meet world leaders from numerous countries. Some of those leaders also happened to be controversial figures who were not popular with United Kingdom citizens.
Although the queen never publicly shared her thoughts on the people she met, there is a story of a time when she hid in a bush to avoid talking to a dictator.
Royals are expected to be politically neutral
Queen Elizabeth meets Sturgeon after new push for independence vote https://t.co/TIgyDuoTLx pic.twitter.com/sgdxlH3Kmk
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 29, 2022
Royals used to have a lot of political power, but nowadays, they are merely figureheads. As a result, they are expected to serve their people and remain politically neutral. It is rare to find royals publicly sharing their opinions on political issues and other divisive topics.
According to Metro, there is no law that...
Although the queen never publicly shared her thoughts on the people she met, there is a story of a time when she hid in a bush to avoid talking to a dictator.
Royals are expected to be politically neutral
Queen Elizabeth meets Sturgeon after new push for independence vote https://t.co/TIgyDuoTLx pic.twitter.com/sgdxlH3Kmk
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 29, 2022
Royals used to have a lot of political power, but nowadays, they are merely figureheads. As a result, they are expected to serve their people and remain politically neutral. It is rare to find royals publicly sharing their opinions on political issues and other divisive topics.
According to Metro, there is no law that...
- 4/18/2023
- by Tram Anh Ton Nu
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The past several years have seen several buzzworthy horror films released — but none has been more controversial than the 2023 flick, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.
The slasher retelling of the beloved children’s stories made the rounds on social media well before it was released, drumming up significant fan interest. When the movie was released, it became a surprise hit. It prompted a sequel order and many positive responses from horror fans.
While many are already making plans to see the sequel, citizens of China shouldn’t expect to catch it in theaters. The country banned Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey for a rather interesting reason.
‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ became an unexpected hit
Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey will have a worldwide cinematic release!?? Someone pinch me ? My ugly mug is going to be on cinema screens around the world ?? #WinnieThePooh #BloodAndHoney #WinnieThePoohBloodAndHoney pic.twitter.com/4ZXMKxWf9j
— Amber Doig-Thorne...
The slasher retelling of the beloved children’s stories made the rounds on social media well before it was released, drumming up significant fan interest. When the movie was released, it became a surprise hit. It prompted a sequel order and many positive responses from horror fans.
While many are already making plans to see the sequel, citizens of China shouldn’t expect to catch it in theaters. The country banned Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey for a rather interesting reason.
‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ became an unexpected hit
Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey will have a worldwide cinematic release!?? Someone pinch me ? My ugly mug is going to be on cinema screens around the world ?? #WinnieThePooh #BloodAndHoney #WinnieThePoohBloodAndHoney pic.twitter.com/4ZXMKxWf9j
— Amber Doig-Thorne...
- 4/15/2023
- by Christina Nunn
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Twice-impeached and now-indicted former president Donald Trump made a point to compliment a female employee of Chinese president Xi Jingping during his interview with Tucker Carlson this week, and on Wednesday night, CBS late night host James Corden was simply exhausted by it.
In the interview on Tuesday, Trump spent a fair bit of time complimenting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, calling him “a brilliant man” and saying no one could ever capture his “look, the brain, the whole thing.” Trump then complimented Jinping’s translator for some reason.
“He had an incredible — I’m not allowed to say it because it’s very impolite and very politically incorrect — a beautiful female interpreter,” Trump said.
In watching the clip on Wednesday night’s show, Corden simply hung his head in his hand in exasperation.
Also Read:
Corden Blames Biden for Massive Military Intel Leak: Probably ‘Clicked on One of Those Fake...
In the interview on Tuesday, Trump spent a fair bit of time complimenting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, calling him “a brilliant man” and saying no one could ever capture his “look, the brain, the whole thing.” Trump then complimented Jinping’s translator for some reason.
“He had an incredible — I’m not allowed to say it because it’s very impolite and very politically incorrect — a beautiful female interpreter,” Trump said.
In watching the clip on Wednesday night’s show, Corden simply hung his head in his hand in exasperation.
Also Read:
Corden Blames Biden for Massive Military Intel Leak: Probably ‘Clicked on One of Those Fake...
- 4/13/2023
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
In his first public interview since being arraigned on federal charges of falsification of business records, Donald Trump sat down with Tucker Carlson for an interview where the Fox host was more set prop than one of the biggest names in cable news.
None of the bravado Carlson displayed when texting coworkers that he hated Trump “passionately” and believed he was a “demonic force” was present in the interview aired Tuesday. The Fox host deferred to the former president at every turn and simply folded as Trump hijacked the post-arraignment...
None of the bravado Carlson displayed when texting coworkers that he hated Trump “passionately” and believed he was a “demonic force” was present in the interview aired Tuesday. The Fox host deferred to the former president at every turn and simply folded as Trump hijacked the post-arraignment...
- 4/12/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
French president Emmanuel Macron is set to kick off a three-day trip to Beijing this week, a high-stakes diplomatic mission that will be a delicate balancing act between urging Chinese leader Xi Jinping to alter his stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and maintaining France’s trade priorities. The French delegation accompanying Macron will include dozens of people spread across two jetliners touching down in Beijing on Wednesday — and the French film industry will be among the constituencies represented in the group.
Veteran filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud will travel with Macron and attend various official functions, including the China-France state dinner hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday evening. During the trip, Annaud will also be promoting his most recent film, the 2022 disaster epic Notre-Dame on Fire, which is getting a nationwide China release on Friday. It will be the first French film...
Veteran filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud will travel with Macron and attend various official functions, including the China-France state dinner hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday evening. During the trip, Annaud will also be promoting his most recent film, the 2022 disaster epic Notre-Dame on Fire, which is getting a nationwide China release on Friday. It will be the first French film...
- 4/4/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Oh, bother. What has Winnie-the-Pooh gotten himself into this time? Something quite a bit more troubling than the usual travails of Hundred Acre Wood, it turns out.
First, the lovable children’s character was transformed into the murderous protagonist of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a micro-budget U.K. slasher film that went viral and scored theatrical distribution across the globe. Then, when the film landed in Hong Kong, Pooh — or the new, cannibalistic horror flick version of him — became the surprise source of a censorship controversy involving none less than Chinese president Xi Jinping. And the impact of this surreal character arc, according to insiders, could have real-world implications for the fabled Hong Kong film industry’s rapidly dwindling creative freedoms.
From prolific Brit horror banner Jagged Edge Productions, known for its gleefully exploitative and childhood-ruining shlock (it’s currently working on a slasher version of Bambi), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey...
First, the lovable children’s character was transformed into the murderous protagonist of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a micro-budget U.K. slasher film that went viral and scored theatrical distribution across the globe. Then, when the film landed in Hong Kong, Pooh — or the new, cannibalistic horror flick version of him — became the surprise source of a censorship controversy involving none less than Chinese president Xi Jinping. And the impact of this surreal character arc, according to insiders, could have real-world implications for the fabled Hong Kong film industry’s rapidly dwindling creative freedoms.
From prolific Brit horror banner Jagged Edge Productions, known for its gleefully exploitative and childhood-ruining shlock (it’s currently working on a slasher version of Bambi), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey...
- 3/24/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski and Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, the new horror film based on A. A. Milne’s beloved bear, was pulled by cinemas in Hong Kong and Macau abruptly on Tuesday, just a day before the film’s official premiere there.
While there’s clear reason for the cancellation — and uncertainty as to who actually made the decision — many in the West are speculating whether it has to do with the film’s titular character, who has a complicated association with China’s president, Xi Jinping. In the 2010s, after memes of then-President Barack Obama and President Xi went viral, China censored key images of the character. Yet, Winnie the Pooh is not “banned” in the country: while there is still targeted censorship of certain portrayals, the bear appears on merchandise shelves and even has rides at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.
According to a statement from Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’s distributor,...
While there’s clear reason for the cancellation — and uncertainty as to who actually made the decision — many in the West are speculating whether it has to do with the film’s titular character, who has a complicated association with China’s president, Xi Jinping. In the 2010s, after memes of then-President Barack Obama and President Xi went viral, China censored key images of the character. Yet, Winnie the Pooh is not “banned” in the country: while there is still targeted censorship of certain portrayals, the bear appears on merchandise shelves and even has rides at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.
According to a statement from Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’s distributor,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Film News
No reason given for last-minute withdrawal but is understood to have fallen foul of censors.
Horror film Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey will not be released in Hong Kong or Macau, according to distributor VII Pillars Entertainment.
On its Facebook page, the Hong Kong-based distributor said it was with “great regret” that the low-budget slasher would not meet its planned theatrical release date in both territories on Thursday (March 23). No reason was given for the last-minute withdrawal from 32 screens.
Hong Kong censor The Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (Ofnaa) had issued a certificate of approval for the film at the beginning of March,...
Horror film Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey will not be released in Hong Kong or Macau, according to distributor VII Pillars Entertainment.
On its Facebook page, the Hong Kong-based distributor said it was with “great regret” that the low-budget slasher would not meet its planned theatrical release date in both territories on Thursday (March 23). No reason was given for the last-minute withdrawal from 32 screens.
Hong Kong censor The Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (Ofnaa) had issued a certificate of approval for the film at the beginning of March,...
- 3/21/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
No reason given for last-minute withdrawal but is understood to have fallen foul of censors.
The Hong Kong release of viral horror hit Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey has been cancelled, according to distributor VII Pillars Entertainment.
On its Facebook page, the Hong Kong-based distributor said it was with “great regret” that the low-budget slasher would not meet its planned theatrical release date on Thursday (March 23) and would also not be screened in Macau.
No reason was given for the last-minute withdrawal from more than 30 screens but it is understood to have fallen foul of Chinese censors, which have previously targeted...
The Hong Kong release of viral horror hit Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood And Honey has been cancelled, according to distributor VII Pillars Entertainment.
On its Facebook page, the Hong Kong-based distributor said it was with “great regret” that the low-budget slasher would not meet its planned theatrical release date on Thursday (March 23) and would also not be screened in Macau.
No reason was given for the last-minute withdrawal from more than 30 screens but it is understood to have fallen foul of Chinese censors, which have previously targeted...
- 3/21/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The theatrical release of low-budget slasher movie “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” in Hong Kong has been abruptly canceled just two days before its scheduled outing.
No explanation has been offered, but suspicions that the film may have crossed one of Hong Kong’s increasingly complicated political red lines are certain to be raised.
That is because the Winnie the Pooh character is unflatteringly perceived to have a physical resemblance to China’s president, Xi Jinping. Online search for Winnie the Pooh is heavily censored within mainland China and Winnie the Pooh products are not distributed. China did not permit the import and release of Disney’s 2018 Winnie the Pooh film “Christopher Robin.”
“Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” was produced by the U.K.’s Jagged Edge Productions and written, directed and produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield. It draws on the beloved children’s characters created originally by A. A. Milne...
No explanation has been offered, but suspicions that the film may have crossed one of Hong Kong’s increasingly complicated political red lines are certain to be raised.
That is because the Winnie the Pooh character is unflatteringly perceived to have a physical resemblance to China’s president, Xi Jinping. Online search for Winnie the Pooh is heavily censored within mainland China and Winnie the Pooh products are not distributed. China did not permit the import and release of Disney’s 2018 Winnie the Pooh film “Christopher Robin.”
“Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” was produced by the U.K.’s Jagged Edge Productions and written, directed and produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield. It draws on the beloved children’s characters created originally by A. A. Milne...
- 3/21/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Cinemagoers in Hong Kong looking to have their childhoods potentially ruined by viral slasher hit Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey may have been left disappointed this week, with the film having been quietly pulled from theaters, a move that has fueled speculation about censorship over an apparent likeness between the children’s character and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The Hollywood Reporter understands that the microbudget British film — in which Winnie and his sidekick Piglet go on a cannibalistic rampage through Hundred Acre Wood — was due to land in more than 30 cinemas in the city this Thursday, but has now been removed from schedules. The film has also reportedly been pulled from release in Macau.
Moviematic, which had organized a pre-release screening of the film in Hong Kong planned for Tuesday, said on social media that its event had been canceled because of unspecified “technical reasons.” Several cinema chains have since removed the film from their websites.
The Hollywood Reporter understands that the microbudget British film — in which Winnie and his sidekick Piglet go on a cannibalistic rampage through Hundred Acre Wood — was due to land in more than 30 cinemas in the city this Thursday, but has now been removed from schedules. The film has also reportedly been pulled from release in Macau.
Moviematic, which had organized a pre-release screening of the film in Hong Kong planned for Tuesday, said on social media that its event had been canceled because of unspecified “technical reasons.” Several cinema chains have since removed the film from their websites.
- 3/21/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
78 years after its publication, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is more relevant than ever. The satiric fairy tale in which the four-legged denizens of an ineptly run farm expel their alcoholic human minder from his estate and install a utopian society where "all animals are created equal," only to watch their every lofty ideal be corrupted by greed and a wanton thirst for power, was initially written as a response to the Stalinist system that darkly blossomed out of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in the Soviet Union.
In today's authoritarian societies, there's nary a pretense of equality. Oligarchies are all the rage, and these venal strongmen prop themselves up by catering to the vilest prejudices of their citizenry. They target the powerless in the hopes that their hateful, poorly educated supporters never suspect that they are the author of their misery.
The common denominator is, of course, the axiom that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In today's authoritarian societies, there's nary a pretense of equality. Oligarchies are all the rage, and these venal strongmen prop themselves up by catering to the vilest prejudices of their citizenry. They target the powerless in the hopes that their hateful, poorly educated supporters never suspect that they are the author of their misery.
The common denominator is, of course, the axiom that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- 3/20/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Documentary filmmaker Jialing Zhang, who was nominated for an Emmy for “One Child Nation,” spoke to Variety about her latest film, “Total Trust,” which is running in the main competition at Cph:dox, the Copenhagen Intl. Documentary Festival.
It tells the chilling story of three women and their families fighting for their human rights in China, where state control is ubiquitous thanks to high technology surveillance, such as facial recognition, big data analysis and points systems that mean citizens gain or lose points depending on their behavior.
Zhang’s intimate footage offers unprecedented access to the impact of this all-controlling system on the protagonists’ everyday lives.
“We didn’t just want to do a film about surveillance but about the people living in this kind of society. We wanted to reach a certain emotional depth and complexity – to try to grasp the anger, the horror, but also the hope, through the...
It tells the chilling story of three women and their families fighting for their human rights in China, where state control is ubiquitous thanks to high technology surveillance, such as facial recognition, big data analysis and points systems that mean citizens gain or lose points depending on their behavior.
Zhang’s intimate footage offers unprecedented access to the impact of this all-controlling system on the protagonists’ everyday lives.
“We didn’t just want to do a film about surveillance but about the people living in this kind of society. We wanted to reach a certain emotional depth and complexity – to try to grasp the anger, the horror, but also the hope, through the...
- 3/17/2023
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Conservative Congressman and Senate hopeful Jim Banks is taking the fight against the Chinese Communist Party to a new level with his proposed bill, the “Stop Ccp Fentanyl Act.” The Indiana representative’s legislation would allow families of fentanyl victims to sue Ccp leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Banks argues that China is the largest […]
The post Newly Proposed Bill Would Allow Families of Fentanyl Victims to Sue Chinese Communist Party Leaders appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Newly Proposed Bill Would Allow Families of Fentanyl Victims to Sue Chinese Communist Party Leaders appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/2/2023
- by Grady Owen
- ShockYa
The Berlin International Film Festival’s jury press conference, headed by Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, concluded on Thursday, but remarks made by legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To at the event are still reverberating a world away.
When the festival juror were asked by a journalist in the crowd to share their views on why cinema remains important in today’s world, To, considered on the greatest filmmakers Hong Kong has produced, responded: “For me, cinema has always been in the vanguard. When totalitarian rule emerges, when people lose their freedoms, cinema is the first to take the hit. In most cases, cultural production will be forcefully suspended, since the cinema speaks directly to the audience. That’s why dictators always target the cinema. I think Hong Kong… No, sorry. I think all the countries and peoples fighting for freedom across the globe should support the cinema. Because the cinema...
When the festival juror were asked by a journalist in the crowd to share their views on why cinema remains important in today’s world, To, considered on the greatest filmmakers Hong Kong has produced, responded: “For me, cinema has always been in the vanguard. When totalitarian rule emerges, when people lose their freedoms, cinema is the first to take the hit. In most cases, cultural production will be forcefully suspended, since the cinema speaks directly to the audience. That’s why dictators always target the cinema. I think Hong Kong… No, sorry. I think all the countries and peoples fighting for freedom across the globe should support the cinema. Because the cinema...
- 2/19/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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