Disneyland visitors ringing in the first day of spooky season may have been lucky enough to get a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious surprise. A viral Instagram reel shows Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke atop a balcony in New Orleans Square inside the park. The beloved star is best known in the Disney pantheon for his role as Bert, the chimney sweep, in the 1964 musical “Mary Poppins.”

“I would have lost my collective spoon full of sugar if I saw the absolute legend there,” user @jedi_master_alex wrote in the comments.

“I was there, and I just cried!! An iconic legend….,” another user @acwfoster wrote.

Van Dyke is no stranger to making guest appearances at Disneyland. In Dec. 2015, the star spent his 90th birthday in the park and was spotted on the same balcony where guests sang him “Happy Birthday.” In 2012, he also spent his birthday at Disneyland as the celebrity guest for a holiday tradition: the annual Candlelight Ceremony.

Van Dyke has spent much of his life as a celebrity figurehead for Disneyland after appearing in several Disney films. In “Mary Poppins,” he played not only Bert but Mr. Dawes Sr., the director of the bank. He also starred in the 1966 film “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.” And in 2001, Van Dyke narrated “Walt: The Man Behind the Myth,” a documentary about the life of Walt Disney. 

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Harvey Evans in 2017

Walter McBride/Getty Images

Harvey Evans, an actor, singer and dancer who had a knack for landing roles in the original Broadway productions of such classics as West Side Story, Follies, Hello, Dolly! and Gypsy, has died. He was 80.

Evans died Christmas Eve at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, said Lawrence Leritz, a friend and Broadway actor, dancer, singer, producer and director. “He was dearly loved by the Broadway community. Very kind, embracing, funny and always had a smile on his face. I can never remember not being hugged by this loving man,” Leritz said.

Evans was rarely cast in leading Broadway roles but found a place in timeless shows. He starred opposite Angela Lansbury in Anyone Can Whistle and played Barnaby in Hello, Dolly! opposite Carol Channing, then Betty Grable and then Eve Arden.

“When I look back,” Evans told Playbill in 2007, “I think I’ve had some kind of angel on my shoulder, leading me toward the best shows of Broadway’s golden years. I didn’t pick and choose them — they just came around that way.”

Evans, who was born Harvey Hohnecker, grew up in Cincinnati and fell in love with musical theater after seeing a touring production of “Song of Norway.” “My entire childhood was spent waiting to graduate from high school so I could go to New York and be in a Broadway show,” he told Playbill.

Evans made it to New York in 1955 and would become friendly with choreographers Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins. Evans’ first musical as a dancer on Broadway was New Girl in Town, which starred Gwen Verdon and was choreographed by Fosse.

He changed his name while filming a small role in 1962’s Experiment in Terror directed by Blake Edwards and starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remick. He and fellow actress Taffy Paul decided to remake themselves — he became Evans and she became Stefanie Powers.

Evans also was cast by Fosse for Redhead, with Verdon, and the movie of The Pajama Game. Other highlights were starring on Broadway with Henry Fonda and Margaret Hamilton in a revival of Our Town in 1969 and being a standby for Jim Dale in Barnum in the early 1980s. He was a chimney sweep when Julie Andrews immortalized Mary Poppins on film in 1964.

“I’ve had my name above the title and I’ve had it way down low,” he told Playbill. “It doesn’t matter to me. It’s just wonderful to be part of this community.”

His later Broadway credits include the mid-1990s revival of Sunset Boulevard, The Scarlet Pimpernel and as an understudy in Oklahoma! in 2002. He also snagged a cameo in the film Enchanted with Amy Adams in 2007. He was on Broadway in the original West Side Story and later in the 1961 film version.

“Really hard to put into words what Harvey Evans meant to me,” said Tony Yazbeck on Twitter. “He was kindness personified. So funny and supportive. He came to every show I ever did and inspired me to keep going! A true triple threat who’s heart was as big as his incredible career.”

Bebe Neuwirth added: “One of the kindest, most delightful, loveliest gentlemen I’ve ever had the blessing to know.” Betty Buckley also sent her regards: “With so much love.”

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When Earl Witron landed a job as a waiter at the Thompson, a new luxury hotel from World of Hyatt, in the summer of 2021, he was “excited,” he said, “to be a part of something big in Hollywood.”

He made just $17.50 an hour at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, the Terrace, which offers its well-heeled guests stunning views of the Hollywood Hills. But, he said, managers promised that he and his colleagues would contribute a 5% service fee that would be applied to each check “in support of the health benefits to our employees,” according to the bill’s statement is called.

Still, the 40-year-old said he’s never seen that money reflected in his compensation. When he questioned management about how the 5% service fee was allocated, he received confusing answers or was simply dismissed.

“I lived paycheck to paycheck,” said Witron, 40, who now works as a runner at the Beverly Hilton. “I’m financially behind. I still haven’t recovered.”

This 5 percent service charge associated with customers’ restaurant bills is the focus of an investigation by the City of Los Angeles Attorney’s Office and affects some of the city’s most famous restaurants in the adjacent Thompson Hotel, Tommie Hotel and Citizen News building: Mother Wolf, Ka ‘teen, mes amis, bar lis and the terrace.

The city attorney is looking into whether Ten Five Hospitality – the group that operated the five restaurants at the time of the allegations – violated an ordinance that allegedly withheld the entire 5% service fee charged by customers instead of redistributing it to workers a letter from the Deputy City Attorney dated April 6. Joshua L Crowell.

City officials asked Ten Five Hospitality, the hotels and restaurants, for a response and numerous documents, including any evidence that would show the workers were benefiting from the fee. City prosecutors are also investigating allegations that at least two workers at the Terrace were fired after speaking out about the service charge.

Ten Five Hospitality executives were not available for comment. A spokesman issued a prepared statement that read: “The wellness fee, which is clearly explained on all customer invoices, allows the company to offer a better-than-market employee package, including a robust health, dental and vision insurance program, 401 (k) Benefits and better working conditions for all employees.”

The spokesman did not want to answer any further questions about the allegations in the letter from the city.

The dining room at Mother Wolf, one of the liveliest restaurants in Los Angeles. Mother Wolf is in the Citizen News building next to the Thompson Hotel.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Please investigate

Tipping and service charges are becoming a focal point in the food service and hospitality industry. Fees for health-related services began to appear on guest bills over the past decade, but became ubiquitous after the COVID-19 lockdowns. The additional fees came amid an outpouring of empathy and gratitude toward service staff at a time when the restaurants’ future seemed in doubt.

But for guests, the fees have become a source of confusion, leading some to tip less, feeling like the extra fee goes straight to their waiters. Workers who prepare and serve food and beverages at bus tables typically rely on tips as part of their net pay.

Where these service fees actually end up is unclear.

In California, courts have long held that compulsory dues do not qualify as benefits under labor law. That changed in 2019 when the law on service fees in the San Francisco case of O’Grady vs. Merchant Exchange Productions Inc. became clearer. In that case, a state appeals court ruled that under California law, service fees are due to employees if customers could reasonably believe the allegations were tips. The verdict applies to all catering establishments.

That ruling was not reviewed until April 19, when a San Francisco judge ruled in a trial without a jury that a Marriott hotel in downtown San Francisco must pay approximately $9 million in withheld service fees to staff serving served food and drinks at banquets.

The case revolved around the question of whether such fees are reasonably considered tips by customers. In April 2017, the San Francisco hotel began specifically notifying banquet guests that the fees incurred are not tips, thereby freeing itself from future liability.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, the plaintiff’s attorney in the Marriott case, said the ruling was the first on the matter in California. “I expect this will now lead to extensive enforcement action and employees are now acknowledging their rights,” she said.

Liss-Riordan, also the plaintiff’s attorney in the 2019 San Francisco case that set a precedent in California, has won similar cases in Hawaii and Massachusetts. Lawsuits are pending against other hotels in San Francisco and elsewhere in California.

In LA, city prosecutors appear to be focusing their investigations on additional service fees for restaurants at hotels, where current tipping laws are clearer. The definition of “hotel” in the LA Regulations includes restaurants that are contracted or leased premises affiliated with or operated by hotels, such as: B. the Terrace or Mother Wolf.

LA regulation states that service fees cannot be withheld by a hotel employer, but must be paid in full to the hotel employee who provides services to the customers from whom the service fees are collected. The regulation also stipulates that no part of these amounts may be paid to supervisors or officers and that the service charge must be paid fairly to hotel employees.

Steve Garrett, Jae Redlich and Jazelle Merritt, all former waiters at the Terrace, said that when they brought up the disagreements and asked questions about the 5% service charge in staff meetings, management gave them answers that didn’t make sense. A human resources representative told them it would offset the cost of the health insurance premium for full-time employees, the workers said. Dan Daley, director of Ten Five Hospitality, told them the service fee is intended to offset losses at the restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daley did not respond to requests for comment.

Garrett, Redlich and Merritt subsequently filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that management either fired them or forced them to resign after raising questions about the application of service fees. An indictment is a request for the government agency to investigate and decide whether the evidence is sufficient to institute proceedings against the employer.

At this time, no lawsuits or charges have been filed; The allegations are still being investigated. Unite Here Local 11 is helping Hollywood workers pursue their case.

It’s unclear if the celebrity chefs most associated with the restaurants named in the city’s letter — including Evan Funke at Mother Wolf, Wes Avila at Ka’teen, and Lincoln Carson, formerly at Mes Amis — understand workers’ concerns were aware of this or were trying to clarify their questions. Funke and Avila, two of LA’s most well-known and admired chefs, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Even before the allegations, the restaurants were locked in a chaotic tug-of-war between Ten Five Hospitality and Relevant, the hotels’ project developer, and the Citizen News building next door, which houses Mother Wolf, known for its Roman-style pasta, one of the most coveted reserves in the city. Both companies once claimed control of the properties, according to a report by Eater LA.

Chef Carson, who left Mes Amis in December, said he was aware of the restaurant’s service charge but believed “the money was properly allocated”.

Carson contracted with Ten Five Hospitality to develop the acclaimed French restaurant and also worked at The Terrace before Mes Amis opened. He said he works as a consultant and isn’t responsible for day-to-day financial accounting for the restaurants.

“I’m disappointed in all the people who put in so much hard work to create something that should be very special,” he told the Times. “It’s disappointing that this is coming out.”

.

Prosecutors declined to discuss Crowell’s letter. The bureau also declined to disclose whether it sent letters to other restaurant groups in the city about the service charges.

The Thompson Hollywood (seen on the left) is next to the Citizen News building where Mother Wolf is located.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In interviews, several former and current Ten Five Hospitality employees said they were in a difficult financial situation. Many workers were not eligible for the company’s medical program because they were not working full-time. And they said that if they qualified, the program would be financially unattainable for them.

Witron, Redlich, Merritt and Garrett said they are still dealing with the aftermath of working at the Terrace. They all described psychological anxiety and financial loss – arrears on bills and rent. Three of the four said they were unlikely to return to the hospitality industry.

“It’s awful. It’s so dehumanizing,” Redlich said. “On the surface, everything has been reduced to a certain appearance. It’s like putting all the dirt in the house, all this clutter, just under the rug. And yes, it looks clean but don’t look under the rug, that’s what it was like working there.”

Ten Five Hospitality faced a May 12 deadline to respond to inquiries in the April letter from the assistant city attorney. Both companies said Monday they were in contact but declined to explain further.

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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/metropolis-investigating-hollywood-eating-places-for-allegedly-protecting-service-charges-stiffing-staff/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/brad-pitt-and-the-charity-mess-thats-left-katrina-victims-stranded-the-hollywood-reporter/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/brad-pitt-and-the-charity-mess-thats-left-katrina-victims-stranded-the-hollywood-reporter/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:49:57 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=29322 Illustration by Carl Burton For the impacted homeowners of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, the August 2022 announcement that they were one step closer to being made whole — with relief coming in the form of a $20.5 million settlement — was long past due. Hurricane Katrina made landfall 17 years earlier, devastating their neighborhood. …

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Illustration by Carl Burton

For the impacted homeowners of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, the August 2022 announcement that they were one step closer to being made whole — with relief coming in the form of a $20.5 million settlement — was long past due.

Hurricane Katrina made landfall 17 years earlier, devastating their neighborhood. But that was just the opening chapter of their misfortune. Their homes had been rebuilt, only to give way to rot, mold and structural defects. Their 2018 class-action lawsuit seeking damages against their original benefactors, the Make It Right Foundation and its leading man, Brad Pitt, languished in Orleans Parish court for years as their properties decayed.

“This has been one long nightmare,” says Albert Matthews, noting that his 91-year-old mother, Marion Bryan, paid the initial deposit on her new house in 2008. He says the residence became so badly compromised that Make It Right built a second one, which also had serious problems. So too, he claims, did a third, constructed by the organization in 2014. Unlike many residents, who were forced to live in substandard conditions, Bryan has stayed with her son. “It’s been very stressful for all of us,” he says. “My mother, she’s never seen the end of the tunnel from Katrina.”

In the summer of 2022, Global Green USA — another charity with Hollywood connections and a track record of helping rebuild in the region — had announced it would step up to pay and administer the $20.5 million, imminently disbursing the funds. “Hopefully this agreement will allow everyone to look ahead to other opportunities to continue to strengthen this proud community in the future,” Pitt told TMZ, as media outlets spread the welcome news.

But The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the deal has since imploded amid recrimination. History has repeated in the Lower Ninth Ward — and yet another well-intentioned and highly publicized plan for these residents has resulted in failure.

According to previously unreported case files, soon after the pact was announced, Global Green attempted to renege, revealing that despite signing on to the court-approved agreement that stipulated all funding would be provided within 10 days, it never had the money to cover its commitment. Furthermore, the nonprofit, which wasn’t required to show the court it was financially sound, asserted it could not effectively fundraise because Pitt’s ex-wife Angelina Jolie had, in unrelated court proceedings, then recently accused the actor of abusing her and their children.

“I’ve never seen a situation like this, where there was a settlement that fell through because it was an insolvent party that proposed it,” marvels Louisiana State University law professor William R. Corbett, an expert in civil procedure.

Pitt’s team rejects any notion that the actor or his reputation are at all to blame for what’s transpired, contending that Global Green is solely responsible for making a promise it didn’t keep. “Brad had supported Global Green many years ago, so when they approached his team stating ‘$20.5M in funding’ had been secured by their ‘generous donors,’ there was interest in considering their proposal,” a Pitt spokesperson at Hiltzik Strategies responded to THR in a written statement. “Global Green represented themselves as having already obtained these funds and planned to use them toward resolving all claims in the ongoing lawsuit for the benefit of the homeowners.” The representative added, “It was incredibly surprising for the plaintiffs, the defendants and their counsel to learn that the funds Global Green claimed multiple times were secured had not in fact been committed or raised. It was equally disappointing to discover payment was not made, though the settlement agreement was specifically negotiated to ensure that litigation would continue without prejudice to any parties if the settlement were to fail.”

For his part, Global Green CEO Bill Bridge, who agreed to reply to THR‘s inquiries by email, portrayed his nonprofit as a pure-of-heart entity having been brought into “the snake pit” by a high-stakes, even higher-pressure settlement process that’s left it with mounting legal fees, under a contempt order and scrambling to obtain a court-ordered surety bond to cover the $20.5 million. (A surety is a guarantee of one party’s debt by another.) “Global Green was willing to make every effort to raise the funds, but when it wasn’t fast enough or to the level those parties required, Global Green became the scapegoat for what essentially has been the failure of the parties to resolve the matter,” he explained.

The plaintiffs’ attorney didn’t respond to requests for comment. Neither did counsel for Make It Right.

THR‘s further scrutiny of Global Green for this coverage points to additional overlooked red flags at the nonprofit, long a centerpiece of the entertainment industry’s philanthropic interest in environmentalism. These include declining financial contributions in recent years and questions concerning its governance protocols.

Matt Petersen, who led Global Green from 1994 to 2013, was a board member until 2017, and oversaw its New Orleans initiatives after Katrina, including work done in tandem with Pitt, is disappointed to hear of what’s occurred in the Make It Right matter. “I simply can’t understand why Global Green would make a hollow commitment to pay the settlement so Make It Right homeowners could repair their homes when Global Green didn’t have the resources to begin with,” says Petersen, who’s now president of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. “That is just reprehensible to leave those homeowners holding the bag and betrays the legacy of Global Green.”

New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward in 2006, post-Hurricane Katrina. Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation was formed to build new homes for impacted residents.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Make It Right, whose initial funding included bequests from the likes of the late film financier Steve Bing ($5 million) as well as American Idol ($10 million), began as the feel-good story of the post-Katrina era. Halo-headlined articles (“Brad Pitt’s Gifts,” “Brad the Builder in New Orleans”) described how the star — who along with his then-wife Jolie had adopted the city as his hometown, purchasing a French Quarter mansion — was leading an ambitious effort to erect a planned 150 environmentally sensitive, design-conscious houses in the stormwater-devastated Lower Ninth Ward, a largely working-class African American neighborhood that was a focus of Spike Lee’s 2006 documentary When the Levees Broke.

“I just saw what needed to be done,” Pitt told Architectural Digest in 2009, two years after Make It Right began, “and I said, ‘Why not?’ ” Pitt, who broke ground on the project alongside former President Bill Clinton, enlisted a roster of Pritzker Prize-winning architects, including Frank Gehry, Shigeru Ban and Thom Mayne.

The Make It Right initiative tapped star architects like Frank Gehry, Shigeru Ban and Thom Mayne to design more than 100 modern and sustainable houses in the Lower Ninth. Many were later beset by problems including structural defects and mold.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

In time, though, Make It Right’s beneficence encountered stark reality, both for the new homeowners — these weren’t gifts; the residents had taken out mortgages — as well as for Pitt. “We went into it incredibly naive,” he explained to New Orleans paper The Times-Picayune in 2015. “Just thinking we can build homes — how hard is that? — and not understanding forgivable loan structures and family financial counseling and getting the rights to lots and HUD grants and so on and so forth. So it’s been a big learning curve.”

By 2018, a class-action lawsuit against Make It Right and its heads alleged that many of the houses (109 had been built) were shoddily constructed with substandard materials, prompting rot, mold and structural damage, along with other issues ranging from faulty ventilation and electrical malfunctions to plumbing issues. Pitt asked the judge to absolve him from personal liability — to no avail.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Ron Austin, observed at the time that the nonprofit leaders’ aura of good intentions may have shielded them from more expeditious scrutiny. “I think they were able to get away with it because of who they were, because the residents were very grateful with Make It Right stepping in and showing interest in their community,” he said.

Outside of court, Make It Right essentially no longer exists. Its headquarters have been abandoned, phone numbers disconnected, website gone. The Orleans Parish Sheriff in recent years has reportedly seized multiple Make It Right-owned properties because of unpaid city fees.

Global Green USA — an affiliate of Green Cross International, the charity founded by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 whose worldwide mission framework includes aiding people affected by environmental catastrophes — also actively participated in the area’s hurricane recovery alongside Make It Right. This included developing a small number of its own eco-friendly homes in another part of the Lower Ninth Ward (which have not faced complaints about the quality of their construction), as well as helping to shape the green-energy policy of Louisiana’s public school system, working primarily with the state-run Recovery School District in New Orleans.

Pitt launched the Make It Right Foundation with the “150 Pink Houses” art project, which was meant to symbolize renewal, in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, on Dec. 3, 2007. The architecture firm GRAFT designed the art project, as well as two houses for Make It Right’s efforts.

Brent Stirton/Getty Images

Global Green itself has long cultivated Hollywood, leaning into the intersection of celebrity and sustainability. For years, it threw pre-Oscar fundraising bashes that were must-stops for the likes of Adrian Grenier, Ed Begley Jr. and Moby. The organization also assembled an A-list honorary board, which at various times included Leonardo DiCaprio, Norman Lear, Yoko Ono, Ted Turner and Robert Redford.

Recent years, though, have seen an apparent steady decline in the organization’s support and programming efforts. Gifts, grants and contributions dropped by more than 36 percent between 2017 and 2021, the latest available year of its IRS documentation. The nonprofit, which had previously outlined its accomplishments in detail, has by its own admission narrowed its services “significantly” during the same period. (It pointed to the pandemic’s government shutdowns and global travel restrictions as contributing to the drawdown. Bridge now adds that “there were changes in board leadership, funding, personnel, and a dramatic decrease in government funding during the Trump administration, which required the organization to narrow its work.”)

Three people familiar with Global Green’s operations at this time tell THR that the organization had trouble maintaining its existing donor base and difficulty securing new individual and institutional patrons. They also say that in two instances, private philanthropic foundations, Kresge and JPB, discontinued their relationships with the nonprofit when they discovered that restricted grants had been used for general operating expenses. The JPB Foundation didn’t return a request for comment. The Kresge Foundation said in a statement that its multiyear grant, awarded in 2017, “was terminated after the first year due to concerns about Global Green’s financial viability and governance practices at that time. Kresge awarded a new grant to The Greater New Orleans Foundation, which subsequently supported green-infrastructure education efforts formerly housed at Global Green.”

In 2020 and 2021, the most recent two years of Global Green’s IRS statements, the organization reported that its financials weren’t independently audited. (Its Louisiana-based tax preparer didn’t return a request for comment.) CharityWatch, a nonprofit monitor, considers this a red flag since an outside party hasn’t scrutinized whether its published numbers are accurate and internal controls are effective.

“The lack of an independent audit is not a minor detail,” explains CharityWatch executive director Laurie Styron. “Charities often omit a lot of unflattering information about themselves in their tax filings that can only be discovered by analyzing their audits,” she says. “For example, audits are required to include information about any legal issues a charity is having if they are likely to result in a material financial liability. If an audit doesn’t exist, then a lot of accountability and public disclosure is lost.”

The Make It Right initiative tapped star architects like Frank Gehry, Shigeru Ban and Thom Mayne to design more than 100 modern and sustainable houses in the Lower Ninth. Many were later beset by problems including structural defects and mold.

ROD LAMKEY JR/AFP/Getty Images

In August 2022, after a four-year legal battle, the judge in the class-action suit approved a settlement. The surprise was that Global Green had quietly swooped in to fund the $20.5 million bill. According to court papers, the nonprofit committed to resolving residents’ claims through its Community & Climate Action Center, based in Holy Cross, another hurricane-impacted neighborhood immediately adjoining the Lower Ninth Ward. “Global Green will promptly pay the funds,” Bridge wrote in April to Make It Right’s Board.

Pitt — who along with Make It Right and its insurers would be relieved by the settlement — told TMZ, “I am incredibly grateful for Global Green’s willingness to step up and provide this important support for the Lower Ninth families. We collaborated in the early days post-Katrina and we are very fortunate to have Global Green’s generous continuing commitment to help address the challenges around these homes and others in need.”

Yet the agreement quickly foundered when the judge’s appointed special masters (responsible for identifying potential claimants and discharging the terms of the settlement) observed that none of the promised funds had been transferred within the required 10-day deadline. Soon, Global Green’s attorney circulated a letter, taking issue with the special masters’ fees as well as the timeliness decree. “Given the long-term nature of this project, the reasonable approach would be for funds to be managed in tranches based on a schedule-as-needed,” the letter said, adding that “all concerned must account for reality.”

As it turned out, Global Green didn’t have the money; instead, it revealed it was in the process of attempting to raise it. Furthermore, it cast doubt on that possibility due to what it claimed was the PR fallout from Jolie’s allegations against Pitt of abusive behavior during their marriage, which first became public in August 2022 and which Pitt denies. “Global Green USA’s ability to continue to raise funds from individual donors, the corporate community, and foundations has recently encountered significant limitations given current unfavorable press towards Brad Pitt,” the nonprofit’s lawyer wrote, without explicitly referencing Jolie’s claims. “That unfavorable press is causing some corporate donors and individual supporters to be reluctant to participate.”

Pitt attended a private Global Green dinner held in Beverly Hills with members of its board as well as its donors in September. “It’s sad that Global Green would blame others for their own inability to raise the funds that they had already claimed were obtained,” Pitt’s spokesperson responds to THR, adding: “Global Green’s eagerness to associate with Brad and try to utilize him for their fundraising purposes remained consistent throughout last year — including, an unauthorized auction using Brad’s name announced via THR in early September, and the organization securing over $200k in donations from board members meeting Brad at a non-fundraising dinner in late September.” (Bridge says the funds are being applied to various settlement-related costs.)

In the litigation, Global Green’s counsel wrote that, given the Pitt dilemma, its board was now “working towards bringing on additional ‘brand partners’ (e.g., celebrities/influencers/sports figures) to help balance the public relations and press needed for this endeavor until Brad Pitt is beyond this current negative press.” These outreach efforts included Serena Williams. Her representatives tell THR she passed on the opportunity.

Brad Pitt with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a 2007 press conference before a meeting about the Make It Right home-building initiative.

Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

Bridge approached Pitt’s team in February 2022 with an offer to help. What transpired between that overture and the judge-approved settlement in August is in dispute.

“I’m sure we could get funding and it would allow Pitt to clean up his reputation,” Bridge earlier emailed Mary Rickard, then Global Green’s senior project manager for New Orleans, referring to the tainted legacy of Make It Right and its impact on the star. (Bridge also forwarded Rickard a recently published academic’s analysis of Make It Right’s failures.) “Or — do you think it’s too much of a wild card?” He thought Global Green could turn its building in adjacent Holy Cross into a base of operations. Bridge later circulated a “Project Narrative” document, which outlined a plan to take “a phased approach to rebuilding” in partnership with Pitt “via dedicated press push and media exclusive opportunity.”

Rickard, herself a satisfied owner of one of the sustainable neighborhood dwellings that Global Green built years earlier, tells THR she was skeptical of the complexity and ambition of Bridge’s initiative from the outset, since at the time the water and light bills weren’t paid for the Holy Cross building and its tax bill was in arrears. (Bridge ascribes these issues to, respectively, pandemic-era complications and a clerical mix-up.) “He’s not very disciplined — but he’s always got a good story,” says Rickard, who left her position that April, by her account in frustration, after several months’ tenure.

Pitt’s business associates welcomed the idea of assistance from Global Green, in part because the star had a history of working on New Orleans efforts in tandem with the nonprofit’s previous CEO. In documentation obtained by THR, Bridge also repeatedly stated that he’d lined up support from major corporate partners for philanthropic work in the Lower Ninth Ward, eventually naming Wells Fargo, BlackRock, UBS and the Walmart Foundation in writing as “funders who have committed.” When contacted, none of these institutions affirmed they’d ever pledged money; Wells Fargo noted it hadn’t donated to Global Green since 2018 and “there were no conversations in 2022.”

For his part, Bridge now contends that “at no time did we indicate there was any guarantee or financial commitment at that stage of the conversation and that further due diligence, discussions and actions requiring Mr. Pitt’s involvement would be needed.” He says his nonprofit approached the other parties “in good faith” to “raise funds (over time) in support, but in a realistic and collaborative manner.”

That April, Bridge signed a letter to representatives for Make It Right and Pitt that Global Green had “secured $20,500,000 in funding from its generous donors” and stood ready to “resolve all claims in the lawsuit.” He tells THR the reason he used such emphatic language is that he was told by Pitt’s team that his previous draft of the letter was not strong enough: “We were presented with a red-lined version of our original letter reflecting more of a ‘guarantee’ related to the funds. We agreed to the red-lined version in blind faith that all parties would support each other to get to the end game.” Bridge now acknowledges the money wasn’t yet in hand, but claims others involved in the incipient discussions knew it: “Global Green repeatedly told Mr. Pitt’s associates that it would be unable to raise those funds as quickly as was being demanded by the defendants and plaintiffs in the settlement agreement, and we were essentially told not to worry about that element, which was just a formality to get the agreement signed so that the fundraising project could move forward.”

As for the judge-approved settlement, Bridge paints himself and his organization again as having walked a plank. “On multiple occasions I was personally reassured, as was our then-board chair, ‘not to worry’ about the terms and conditions of the actual agreement we were signing with the parties involved, and to ‘just sign it’ so we could start the process of raising money,” he says. “We did so reluctantly, but again in good faith with the assurance by the parties involved that we would not have to meet the 10-day condition in the agreement, to which we had objected.”

Pitt’s team flatly denies this. His spokesperson insists, “Counsel for both the plaintiffs and defendants followed up with extensive diligence over several months. A written settlement was created, signed by Global Green and approved by all parties including the Court, which required Global Green to pay the full $20.5 million within 10 business days of the agreement’s execution or otherwise risk being held in contempt of court.”

It’s unclear even to seasoned legal observers why nobody involved in the case — not the plaintiffs’ attorney, nor the defendants’ respective counselors and advisers, nor the judge, Richard Perque — compelled Global Green to show it could uphold its end of the deal at the outset by furnishing proof of funds. (Perque, who holds a temporary position, is fresh to the bench; when the preliminary approval for the settlement was filed with the court clerk, it was his second day on the job.) “It does seem naive,” says professor David Levine, a class action expert at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. “You wouldn’t do it for a $10,000 auto settlement.”

Lower Ninth resident Robert Green and his family outside of their Make It Right home in 2009, soon after construction was completed.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

According to court papers, from the time that Global Green made its pledge, numerous homeowners had been holding off on continuing to fix their properties until they could be inspected under the terms of the agreement, and had also been taking time off work to have affidavits executed so they could be reimbursed for money they’d already spent on repairs over the years. (More than 100 people attended a late-August meeting at which Bridge spoke.) “If Global Green does not fund the settlement, as it is contractually bound to do, these homeowners will suffer immeasurable stress, anxiety and other emotions which will be physically harmful to them,” argued Austin, the plaintiffs’ counsel, in a November filing.

Bridge, in his own direct written plea to the court afterward, claimed Global Green had entered “in good faith” into the agreement — even if “in hindsight, regrettably” this led to the signing of a “very restrictive” 10-day funding provision that was “untenable.” Still, he insisted that his organization had “made it clear from the beginning of its discussions that raising this large sum of money would require adequate time to identify and secure individual and corporate donors.” He added that Global Green’s board chair, Vered Nisim — by his characterization, centrally involved in deal negotiations — had submitted her resignation. Given what he termed her function “as the principal lead in the effort” to secure the agreed funding, it was not possible for the nonprofit to raise it now — especially “in such a short period of time.” (Nisim tells THR her role in the Make It Right settlement process was minimal.)

“Global Green never saw itself as a third party that intended to inherit the entire burden and risks associated with what has been eight years of litigation between the plaintiffs and defendants, but rather to operate as a good faith vehicle using our name, brand, and history in New Orleans to help raise the funds to end the dispute in the best interests of those residents who live, or have lived, in the Make It Right Foundation homes in New Orleans,” Bridge wrote. “That has been our sole objective from the beginning, but sadly we believe we have become the scapegoat of others as a result of miscommunication, misunderstandings, and perhaps admittedly some naivete on our part with all parties involved in this unfortunate matter.” When the judge asked these other parties to propose a solution, Pitt, like his fellow defendants, backed away. “Mr. Pitt lacks sufficient information to suggest a modified funding structure and takes no position on what, if any, modification to the funding structure should be approved at this time,” his attorney responded in December.

The judge soon ordered Global Green to work to secure $10 million in two months toward the settlement, with the court then reevaluating funding for the remaining $10.5 million. The nonprofit was also ordered to report on its funding efforts every 30 days. Per IRS filings, Global Green’s biggest donors in recent years had only given a few hundred thousand dollars.

On March 29, the judge signaled he’d lost confidence in Global Green’s intervention, allowing the homeowners’ class-action litigation against Pitt and Make It Right to again move forward. He also scheduled an Oct. 2 contempt hearing against Global Green.

Austin, the class-action plaintiffs’ attorney, had sent Lower Ninth Ward homeowners a letter earlier in March updating them on the settlement’s status. He observed it was Pitt’s team that vouched for Global Green in the first place and explained that the actor himself testified under oath during a recent case status conference that “he was essentially too busy to participate in any fundraising efforts to help fund the settlement.”

Pitt’s spokesperson — asserting the actor has personally donated more than $6 million to the Make It Right cause since its inception — responds, “Brad was never under any obligation to donate his own money, attend fundraisers or solicit contributions from donors,” and adds, “Brad has dedicated significant time and resources over the past 15 years to supporting residents of the Lower Ninth as they recover from Hurricane Katrina. We are hopeful that Global Green will find a way to honor their commitment before the contempt hearing in October, and that these homeowners can receive the support they need.”

For Linda Santi, owner of a problem-plagued, Gehry-designed Make It Right house, word of this latest fiasco is par for the course: “Am I surprised that it all went south? No. Am I surprised that things got convoluted, like some confederacy-of-dunces sequel? No. Am I disappointed? Yes.”

At press time, Bridge maintains that “the settlement is funded,” insisting an unidentified benefactor with purported “deep family ties” to New Orleans recently pledged to back a surety bond for $20.5 million the court ordered of Global Green in December. “We are in the final underwriting process,” he explains. Bridge adds that his organization plans to launch a GoFundMe campaign on April 22, Earth Day, to support the overall project of repair efforts. “Global Green remains committed to bringing to the table” donors to alleviate the Make It Right homeowner problems, he says, “with or without Mr. Pitt’s involvement.”

As the litigation begins again, with no end in sight, the Make It Right homeowners wait, doing their best to maintain their properties. Says another affected resident, Byron Jackson, “I really am not optimistic. It’s pretty sad that a lot of people have to be on these mortgages and these fucked-up houses.” He pauses a beat, then adds mordantly: “The American Dream, ya know?”

This story first appeared in the April 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/brad-pitt-and-the-charity-mess-thats-left-katrina-victims-stranded-the-hollywood-reporter/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood-2/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood-2/#respond Thu, 16 Mar 2023 19:28:59 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=28011 Although ageism is known to be rampant in Hollywood, there are some actors who continue to book roles even as the number of candles on their birthday cake grows. Screen legends Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren may be 80 and 77, respectively, but they’re currently showing young Hollywood a thing or two about staying power …

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Although ageism is known to be rampant in Hollywood, there are some actors who continue to book roles even as the number of candles on their birthday cake grows.

Screen legends Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren may be 80 and 77, respectively, but they’re currently showing young Hollywood a thing or two about staying power as the stars of the popular Yellowstone spin-off 1923.

Having worked on five projects since 2017 and five more in the pipeline, including this year’s highly anticipated Indiana Jones and Dial of Destiny, Ford isn’t the only star enjoying a long career in Tinseltown. Here are 10 of the oldest working actors in Hollywood.

1. Al Pacino, 82

Al Pacino has portrayed some of cinema’s most iconic characters. Reuters

The New York-born Oscar winner, who has earned a reputation as one of the most influential actors on the planet, still shows no signs of slowing down.

After studying method acting with Lee Strasberg at the famed Actors Studio in New York City, Pacino has impersonated some of cinema’s most enduring roles, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Tony Montana in Scarface, and Vincent Hanna in Heat. and Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon. .

With no fewer than four upcoming projects, including portraying Shakespeare’s King Lear, the actor is just one Grammy away from EGOT.

2. Lily Tomlin, 83

Actress Lily Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comic. Reuters

Six decades after her big break on US variety TV show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, comic actress Lily Tomlin is still a sought-after actress.

The Detroit-born star transformed her beginnings as a stand-up comic into a film career focused on comedy and drama.

She won a legion of fans as the hilarious Violet Newstead in 1980’s 9-5, appearing in The X-Files and The West Wing.

With a Grammy, six Emmys and two Tonys, she is flying the flag for older actresses in Hollywood alongside Jane Fonda, 85, in the Netflix comedy series Frankie and Grace.

3.Ian McKellen, 83

British actor Ian Mckellan was knighted for his services to the performing arts. Getty Images

McKellan, still in his ninth decade, has dabbled in everything from Shakespeare to fantasy and drama to science fiction throughout his career.

Most recently, the British actor took to the stage as a pantomime as Mother Goose at the Theater Royal Brighton and lamented to the Radio Times: “Aging should come with a health warning.”

Known for his roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings films and its spin-offs, and as Magneto in 2000’s X-Men and its sequels, the star, who has won six Laurence Olivier Awards, was recognized in 1991 for his Achievements in performing arts knighted.

4. Anthony Hopkins, 85

In 2021, Anthony Hopkins became the oldest person to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. AFP

“I’m just grateful that I’m alive and they’re still giving me jobs. Keeps me out of trouble huh?” the Welsh actor told The Guardian last year while promoting his latest film Armageddon Time.

Hopkins won his second Oscar for his role in The Father in 2021 at the age of 83 – making him the oldest-ever Oscar winner for best actor – and has created some memorable characters throughout his career, including the still terrifying Dr . Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.

Refusing to retire, he has three projects ahead of him, including a role as the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.

5. Julie Andrews, 87

Julie Andrews last voiced Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. AFP

Who can’t help but recognize the famously soft tones narrating the action on the Netflix show Bridgerton, and Julie Andrews’ voiceover work as Lady Whistledown has brought the British actress a whole new generation of fans.

The British actress impersonates some of Hollywood’s most famous and popular roles as Mary Poppins in the 1964 film, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries, the British actress has won one Oscar, six Golden Globes and three Grammys boast.

6.Donald Sutherland, 87

US actor Donald Sutherland’s career has spanned six decades. AFP

While younger generations recognize him as the villainous President Snow in the Hunger Games trilogy, it would take older moviegoers more than two hands to count the number of famous roles the Canadian star has shaped.

Mr. Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice”, Matthew Bennell in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and John Baxter in “Don’t Look Now” are just a few highlights in a resume stretched and counted over six decades.

7. Judi Dench, 88

British actress Judi Dench began her career as a Shakespearean actress in London. AFP

The English actress made her professional debut at London’s Old Vic in 1957 and rose to prominence as a respected Shakespearean actress as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.

Dench, who was made a lady in 1998, last starred in the Oscar-winning 2021 Belfast and has been credited with breathing new life into the character M during Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond.

She won the 1998 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love, despite only being on screen for eight minutes.

8.Michael Caine, 89

In recent years, Michael Caine has worked with Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. AFP

Born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on March 14, 1933 in London, the British actor has made his career playing highly quotable characters.

The two-time Academy Award winner has two new films in production, including Now You See Me 3, and has shown his comedic skills as Victor Melling in Miss Congeniality, his villainous side as Lawrence Jamieson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and unleashed his inner lovable villain as Charlie Croker in The Italian Job of 1969.

“He makes it look effortless,” said his The Dark Knight co-star Christian Bale.

9.Rita Moreno, 91

West Side Story star Rita Moreno is a member of the exclusive EGOT club. AFP

Still busy in her 90s, EGOT winner Rita Moreno hasn’t stopped working since her debut in the 1950 film So Young, So Bad.

As the doomed Tuptim in The King and I, it was her turn as Anita in the 1961 classic West Side Story that really cemented her position in Hollywood, a role for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress won.

The Puerto Rican actress recently enjoyed something of a career resurgence and is next set to appear in sports comedy 80 for Brady alongside veterans Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Sally Field.

10. Dick van Dyke, 97

Three years before his 100th birthday, Dick Van Dyke is still making films. Reuters

Known for some of cinema’s most iconic roles, including Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and at 97, the Missouri native is still busy.

Having recently been introduced to a younger generation of movie fans in the films Night at the Museum, his performance as Mr. Dawes Jr. in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns proved to be a “hugely moving” moment for his co-star Emily Blunt, who said : “His eyes and smile are burned into your memory.”

Updated January 12, 2023 7:02 am

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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood-2/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:25:41 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=27965 Although ageism is known to be rampant in Hollywood, there are some actors who continue to book roles even as the number of candles on their birthday cake grows. Screen legends Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren may be 80 and 77, respectively, but they’re currently showing young Hollywood a thing or two about staying power …

The post Harrison Ford, Julie Andrews and the legion of older actors nonetheless working in Hollywood appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

]]>

Although ageism is known to be rampant in Hollywood, there are some actors who continue to book roles even as the number of candles on their birthday cake grows.

Screen legends Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren may be 80 and 77, respectively, but they’re currently showing young Hollywood a thing or two about staying power as the stars of the popular Yellowstone spin-off 1923.

Having worked on five projects since 2017 and five more in the pipeline, including this year’s highly anticipated Indiana Jones and Dial of Destiny, Ford isn’t the only star enjoying a long career in Tinseltown. Here are 10 of the oldest working actors in Hollywood.

1. Al Pacino, 82

Al Pacino has portrayed some of cinema’s most iconic characters. Reuters

The New York-born Oscar winner, who has earned a reputation as one of the most influential actors on the planet, still shows no signs of slowing down.

After studying method acting with Lee Strasberg at the famed Actors Studio in New York City, Pacino has impersonated some of cinema’s most enduring roles, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Tony Montana in Scarface, and Vincent Hanna in Heat. and Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon. .

With no fewer than four upcoming projects, including portraying Shakespeare’s King Lear, the actor is just one Grammy away from EGOT.

2. Lily Tomlin, 83

Actress Lily Tomlin started her career as a stand-up comic. Reuters

Six decades after her big break on US variety TV show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, comic actress Lily Tomlin is still a sought-after actress.

The Detroit-born star transformed her beginnings as a stand-up comic into a film career focused on comedy and drama.

She won a legion of fans as the hilarious Violet Newstead in 1980’s 9-5, appearing in The X-Files and The West Wing.

With a Grammy, six Emmys and two Tonys, she is flying the flag for older actresses in Hollywood alongside Jane Fonda, 85, in the Netflix comedy series Frankie and Grace.

3.Ian McKellen, 83

British actor Ian Mckellan was knighted for his services to the performing arts. Getty Images

McKellan, still in his ninth decade, has dabbled in everything from Shakespeare to fantasy and drama to science fiction throughout his career.

Most recently, the British actor took to the stage as a pantomime as Mother Goose at the Theater Royal Brighton and lamented to the Radio Times: “Aging should come with a health warning.”

Known for his roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings films and its spin-offs, and as Magneto in 2000’s X-Men and its sequels, the star, who has won six Laurence Olivier Awards, was recognized in 1991 for his Achievements in performing arts knighted.

4. Anthony Hopkins, 85

In 2021, Anthony Hopkins became the oldest person to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. AFP

“I’m just grateful that I’m alive and they’re still giving me jobs. Keeps me out of trouble huh?” the Welsh actor told The Guardian last year while promoting his latest film Armageddon Time.

Hopkins won his second Oscar for his role in The Father in 2021 at the age of 83 – making him the oldest-ever Oscar winner for best actor – and has created some memorable characters throughout his career, including the still terrifying Dr . Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.

Refusing to retire, he has three projects ahead of him, including a role as the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.

5. Julie Andrews, 87

Julie Andrews last voiced Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. AFP

Who can’t help but recognize the famously soft tones narrating the action on the Netflix show Bridgerton, and Julie Andrews’ voiceover work as Lady Whistledown has brought the British actress a whole new generation of fans.

The British actress impersonates some of Hollywood’s most famous and popular roles as Mary Poppins in the 1964 film, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries, the British actress has won one Oscar, six Golden Globes and three Grammys boast.

6.Donald Sutherland, 87

US actor Donald Sutherland’s career has spanned six decades. AFP

While younger generations recognize him as the villainous President Snow in the Hunger Games trilogy, it would take older moviegoers more than two hands to count the number of famous roles the Canadian star has shaped.

Mr. Bennet of “Pride and Prejudice”, Matthew Bennell in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and John Baxter in “Don’t Look Now” are just a few highlights in a resume stretched and counted over six decades.

7. Judi Dench, 88

British actress Judi Dench began her career as a Shakespearean actress in London. AFP

The English actress made her professional debut at London’s Old Vic in 1957 and rose to prominence as a respected Shakespearean actress as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.

Dench, who was made a lady in 1998, last starred in the Oscar-winning 2021 Belfast and has been credited with breathing new life into the character M during Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond.

She won the 1998 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love, despite only being on screen for eight minutes.

8.Michael Caine, 89

In recent years, Michael Caine has worked with Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. AFP

Born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on March 14, 1933 in London, the British actor has made his career playing highly quotable characters.

The two-time Academy Award winner has two new films in production, including Now You See Me 3, and has shown his comedic skills as Victor Melling in Miss Congeniality, his villainous side as Lawrence Jamieson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and unleashed his inner lovable villain as Charlie Croker in The Italian Job of 1969.

“He makes it look effortless,” said his The Dark Knight co-star Christian Bale.

9.Rita Moreno, 91

West Side Story star Rita Moreno is a member of the exclusive EGOT club. AFP

Still busy in her 90s, EGOT winner Rita Moreno hasn’t stopped working since her debut in the 1950 film So Young, So Bad.

As the doomed Tuptim in The King and I, it was her turn as Anita in the 1961 classic West Side Story that really cemented her position in Hollywood, a role for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress won.

The Puerto Rican actress recently enjoyed something of a career resurgence and is next set to appear in sports comedy 80 for Brady alongside veterans Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Sally Field.

10. Dick van Dyke, 97

Three years before his 100th birthday, Dick Van Dyke is still making films. Reuters

Known for some of cinema’s most iconic roles, including Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and at 97, the Missouri native is still busy.

Having recently been introduced to a younger generation of movie fans in the films Night at the Museum, his performance as Mr. Dawes Jr. in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns proved to be a “hugely moving” moment for his co-star Emily Blunt, who said : “His eyes and smile are burned into your memory.”

Updated January 13, 2023 7:02 am

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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/harrison-ford-julie-andrews-and-the-legion-of-older-actors-nonetheless-working-in-hollywood/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/clint-eastwood-carol-burnett-dick-van-dyke-residing-legends-nonetheless-ruling-hollywood-of-their-90s-nationwide/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/clint-eastwood-carol-burnett-dick-van-dyke-residing-legends-nonetheless-ruling-hollywood-of-their-90s-nationwide/#respond Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:04:29 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=27538 Carol Burnett is about to celebrate her 90th birthday this year on April 26 and was recently celebrated by her famous friends, including Julie Andrews. Andrews reunited with her long-time pal for the taping of NBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter and Love,” a two-hour special celebrating the comedy icon.  The event reunited the legends …

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Carol Burnett is about to celebrate her 90th birthday this year on April 26 and was recently celebrated by her famous friends, including Julie Andrews.

Andrews reunited with her long-time pal for the taping of NBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter and Love,” a two-hour special celebrating the comedy icon. 

The event reunited the legends after they did three specials together back in the 1960s and 70s, “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall,” “Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center” and “Julie & Carol: Together Again.”

Other stars in attendance included Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Bob Mackie, who designed the costumes for “The Carol Burnett Show,” Cher and many more. 

BOB MACKIE REFLECTS ON WORKING WITH CAROL BURNETT, CREATING VERY RACY LOOK FOR CHER

Though the special serves as a retrospective of Burnett’s life and career, the soon-to-be 90-year-old has not slowed down her career once over the past seven decades. 

She is not alone as a living legend still ruling Hollywood into her 90s either. Here is what other stars are up to as they enter their ninth, or in one case 10th, decade and why they continue to dominate Hollywood.

Born in 1933 in San Antonio, Burnett made a name for herself in comedy.

She became a breakout success in the 1959 production of “Once Upon A Mattress” before starring in her own sketch series, “The Carol Burnett Show” for 11 seasons.

“The Carol Burnett Show” was an incredible success, earning 25 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, including three for Burnett herself.

After the series ended in 1978, Burnett transitioned to more film roles, most memorably Miss Hannigan in 1982’s “Annie.”

She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1985, was a 2016 Kennedy Center Honoree, and in 2019, the Golden Globes created the Carol Burnett Award for outstanding contributions to television on or off-screen.

CAROL BURNETT RECEIVES TOP US HUMOR PRIZE

The then 85-year-old was the first recipient of the award and in her speech reflected on her career and how things turned out as they were meant to be.

“I catch myself daydreaming about being young again and doing it all over, and then I bring myself up short when I realize how incredibly fortunate I was to be there at the right time,” she shared. “Because what we did then, it couldn’t be done today.”

Though she has earned lifetime achievements and accolades, Burnett has continued a steady stream of work including appearances on “Mad About You,” “Glee,” and most recently AMC’s “Better Call Saul.”

Burnett is also set to appear in the miniseries, “Mrs. American Pie” on Apple TV+, alongside Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney and Laura Dern.

‘ANNIE’ STAR AILEEN QUINN EXPLAINS WHY SHE TOOK A BREAK FROM HOLLYWOOD: ‘IT WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE’

Dick Van Dyke has always been a hard-working entertainer.

Born in West Plains, Missouri in 1925, Van Dyke first made a name for himself on television, playing Rob Petrie on the self-titled “Dick Van Dyke” show in the early 1960s. He also originated the role of Albert Peterson in “Bye Bye Birdie” on Broadway in 1961 and reprised the role on screen in 1963.

He may be best loved for his role as Bert the Chimney Sweep in “Mary Poppins.” 

From there, he appeared in other films like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Dick Tracy” and the “Night at the Museum” movies. He also starred in the long-running series “Diagnosis: Murder.”

CARL REINER, CREATOR OF ‘THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW,’ DEAD AT 98

Over the course of his career, Van Dyke has earned four Emmys, a Tony, and a Grammy, and was an honoree at the 2020 Kennedy Center Honors.

In 2018, he wowed audiences when he appeared in “Mary Poppins Returns,” showcasing his still intact dancing skills as an elderly chairman of a bank. The actor was 93 at the time.

Van Dyke has continued to showcase his unstoppable energy.

Last month, he shocked audiences and the judges on FOX’s “The Masked Singer,” when he was unmasked during the premiere episode.

The now 97-year-old was performing as the Gnome, bringing the crowd to its feet and bringing a tear to the eye of many, including judge Nicole Scherzinger.

Not long after the reveal, the icon spoke with Yahoo! Entertainment, and said “genes” play a role in his longevity, along with his wife, Arlene Silver.

“Having a beautiful young wife half my age to take care of me — that works,” he joked.

DICK VAN DYKE, 97, SAYS ‘HAVING A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WIFE HALF MY AGE’ KEEPS HIM YOUNG

However, he did offer a practical secret to his vigor–exercise. “I advise everybody to do that, because that’s what ages people — it’s just a stiffening up and not exercising their muscles and their lungs,” he said. “Exercise is the answer.”

Van Dyke is not capping his career with the singing competition though. He is slated to appear in an upcoming film titled “Capture the Flag,” about a group of vets competing for the privilege of raising the flag in their neighborhood each morning.

DICK VAN DYKE’S ADVICE TO YOUNG ACTORS

Born in Puerto Rico in 1931, Rita Moreno moved to New York with her mother in 1936 before eventually moving to Hollywood to begin her acting career.

After appearances in films like “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The King and I,” the multi-talented Moreno scored her breakout role as Anita in the big screen adaptation of “West Side Story.”

Her performance earned her an Oscar in the best supporting actress category and set her on the path to become one of the illustrious few to achieve EGOT status, which refers to performers and creators who earn an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. Moreno was the third person to pick up all four awards, and the first Latina woman to do so.

She has also received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2015, a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 and a Peabody Award in 2019.

Her life and career were chronicled in a 2021 documentary for Netflix, aptly titled, “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It.”

RITA MORENO SAYS SHE DATED ELVIS PRESLEY TO MAKE CHEATER MARLON BRANDO JEALOUS: HE ‘WAS SWEET BUT BORING’

Speaking about the documentary to People in 2021, Moreno said, “I’m still active and still working. I worry and stress a lot less now because I’m so grateful,” adding, “I stop and smell the roses.”

She also told the outlet, “I love to be amused and I love to amuse. I love to make people laugh,” she says. “And you have to have a sense of humor about yourself or you’re f—ed!”

That attitude seems to keep Moreno going beyond the awards and retrospectives, as her star continues to shine. 

She appeared in the Oscar-nominated 2021 remake of “West Side Story,” directed by Steven Spielberg in a new role created specifically for her. She also served as an executive producer on the film, providing fresh input on the Puerto Rican characters in the story.

This year, at 91 she has proven herself to still be a box office draw. Along with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Sally Field, she starred in “80 for Brady,” a comedy about four older women who make a journey to see Tom Brady in the 2017 Super Bowl.

WHY ’80 FOR BRADY’ IS THE ULTIMATE NOSTALGIA MOVIE

Moreno said in an interview, “I think what it does that is most unusual is that it enlightens the audience about what it’s like to be an older person, an older woman. You just don’t usually see that.”

Later this year, Moreno is also joining the “Fast and the Furious” franchise in “Fast X,” playing grandmother to Vin Diesel, John Cena and Jordana Brewster’s characters. 

She is also slated to be in a comedy for Netflix, “Family Leave,” alongside Jennifer Garner.

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Canadian-born William Shatner entered the halls of pop culture royalty with his role as Captain James T. Kirk on “Star Trek” in the 1960s, as well as the later film adaptations of the series.

After “Star Trek,” Shatner starred in series like “T.J. Hooker” and hosted shows like “Rescue 911” and “The UnXplained.” He also made appearances in movies like “Miss Congeniality” and made multiple cameos in shows like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Futurama,” nodding to his sci-fi background.

His mid-career role on “The Practice” and its spin-off “Boston Legal” earned him two Emmy Awards.

In total, the actor has 250 credits to his name, along with hosting shows as himself and creating documentaries like “Get A Life!,” which look at the “Star Trek” fandom. 

WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH ‘STAR TREK’ PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS

He has also released 11 albums and even appeared on “The Masked Singer” in 2022.

The actor, born in 1931, has also been awarded a Life Career Award from The Saturn Awards, put on by The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, and a NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor NASA awards to anyone who was not a government employee when the service was performed.

The NASA honor came several years before his historic 2021 journey into space aboard the Blue Origin spacecraft. Shatner was 90 at the time and the oldest person to make the journey into sub-orbital flight.

WILLIAM SHATNER EXPLAINS WHY HIS TRIP TO SPACE ‘FELT LIKE A FUNERAL’: ‘I SAW DEATH AND I SAW LIFE’

In 2021, Fox News Digital spoke with Shatner about his milestone birthday and what keeps him motivated to continue working.

“Everything is a discovery,” he said. “… What’s interesting is to discover not only [things] about yourself, but about the world around you, there’s always continuous discovery.”

The now 91-year-old also has at least three projects in the works this year alone, including a new series titled “The Elevator.”

Clint Eastwood has held his icon status for almost seven decades in Hollywood.

Born in 1930 in San Francisco, Eastwood became a staple of the Western genre first as Rowdy Yates on the TV series “Rawhide,” before cementing his status as an icon with the “Man with No Name” trilogy of films. He later took on the role of Harry Callahan in the “Dirty Harry” films. 

Eastwood also made a name for himself as a director, with films like “Play Misty for Me,” “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and “Bronco Billy.”

The “Every Which Way but Loose” director has been almost constantly working throughout his lifetime, often directing two movies a year, like “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima” in 2006, “Changeling” and “Gran Torino” in 2008, “Jersey Boys” and “American Sniper” in 2014, and most recently 2018’s “The 15:17 to Paris” and “The Mule.”

Though his career never slowed, he did not earn his first Oscar nominations until 1992’s “Unforgiven,” at age 62, in which he starred, directed and produced. “Unforgiven” took home best picture and best director, a feat he would repeat 12 years later with “Million Dollar Baby.”

CLINT EASTWOOD, 90, GRATEFUL FOR HIS LARGE ‘CLOSE’ FAMILY, SAYS INSIDER

His latest project was 2021’s “Cry Macho,” which he again starred, directed and produced. The then 91-year-old became the oldest person ever to act in and direct a film. 

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2021, Eastwood admitted he sometimes wonders about still working at his age, now 92.

“What the hell am I still working for in my 90s?” he said. “Are people going to start throwing tomatoes at you? I’ve gotten to the point where I wondered if that was enough, but not to the point where I decided it was. If you roll out a few turkeys, they’ll tell you soon enough.”

Eastwood also said at the time he did not have any projects lined up, but said, “If something comes along where the story itself, the telling of it, is fun, I’m open to it.”

CLINT EASTWOOD’S DAUGHTER ALISON RECALLS HER ‘MAGICAL’ UPBRINGING AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD: ‘FAMILY CAME FIRST’

If you name a classic sitcom, there is a chance Norman Lear was behind it.

The prolific producer and writer dominated the 1970s and 80s on television with shows like “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times” and “Maude.”

7 THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ‘ALL IN THE FAMILY’

He has also produced classic movies like “Fried Green Tomatoes” and “The Princess Bride.”

Lear also oversaw the reboot of “One Day at a Time” on Netflix, which starred Moreno.

Over his career, Lear has earned six Emmys and has been inducted into the Emmy Hall of Fame in 1984. 

NORMAN LEAR ON TURNING 98: ‘I REALIZE I’M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOING, I JUST DON’T LIKE THE LEAVING’

Lear was also a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017, won a lifetime achievement award from the Peabodys in 1977, and earned the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton in 1999.

Even with an already-storied career lasting decades, Lear, who turned 100 last year, shows zero signs of stopping.

“I’ve never chosen anything to do that I didn’t wish to do,” he told People in 2022. “My awards and accolades mean a great deal to me, but they don’t mean as much as the drive to the studio today. I still explode with joy, excitement, interest and utter delight every time.”

Lear currently has 23 projects in development with Brent Miller, his business partner and president of his production company, Act III. They include a reboot of “Who’s the Boss?” and “Good Times,” among others.

“Bringing joy to people is what it’s all about,” Lear told the outlet. “Laughter and joy add time to one’s life.”

The post Clint Eastwood, Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke: Residing legends nonetheless ruling Hollywood of their 90s | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/clint-eastwood-carol-burnett-dick-van-dyke-residing-legends-nonetheless-ruling-hollywood-of-their-90s-nationwide/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/native-north-hollywood-neighborhood-handyman-honored-in-a-new-musical/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/native-north-hollywood-neighborhood-handyman-honored-in-a-new-musical/#respond Sun, 27 Feb 2022 22:51:03 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=17172 ———- Forwarded message ———From: NewMusicals Inc Date: Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 9:12 PMSubject: a new musical webseries honoring ordinary local heroes – starting with North Hollywood!To: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Guy, Executive DirectorNew Musicals Inc.818-506-8500admin@nmi.org LOCAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HANDYMAN HONORED IN A NEW MUSICAL (Los Angeles, January 26, 2022) Geoff Davis never …

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———- Forwarded message ———
From: NewMusicals Inc
Date: Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 9:12 PM
Subject: a new musical webseries honoring ordinary local heroes – starting with North Hollywood!
To:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Guy, Executive Director
New Musicals Inc.
818-506-8500
admin@nmi.org

LOCAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HANDYMAN HONORED IN A NEW MUSICAL

(Los Angeles, January 26, 2022)

Geoff Davis never thought he would be the subject of a musical. He’s a revered handyman in North Hollywood, California, and adored by everyone on the block.

New Musicals Inc. just created a digital musical about Geoff, as part of a new musical web series honoring “ordinary neighborhood heroes” whose perspective on life is interesting and enlightening.

Sponsored in part by a grant from the North Hollywood North East Neighborhood Council, this episode is part of NMI’s newly launched Neighborhood Heroes Project.

“The Neighborhood Heroes Project puts focus on the ordinary person to show us how much we can learn from each other,” said NMI Executive Director and series producer, Scott Guy. “In these extraordinary times, many of our neighbors have shown astonishing resilience, tenacity, and determination to stay true to their personal pathways.”

When NMI was awarded the grant in early 2020, and began looking for the right subject for the first episode in the series, they realized the perfect subject was working to replace some old lighting ballasts in their own building. “Geoff started telling us how many folks were depending on him, at the height of the pandemic,” says Elise Dewsberry, NMI’s Artistic Director. “He told me he scrounged up so much handyman work that he was employing several OTHER handymen as well. I was so impressed and moved, I began asking him whether we could honor him with a musical.”

The resulting musical, “What Gets Thrown At Us”, tells the true story of Davis’ difficult turbulent past, how he mended his family, built his own business, and is still giving back to his community. It has book by Douglas Haverty (Artistic Director of North Hollywood’s own Group Rep Theatre); music and lyrics by James A Goins; it is directed by John Mitchell, and features performer Jimmer Bolden. The episode can be viewed for free here: https://nmi.org/neighborhood-heroes/

Additional episodes in the project will begin by identifying an “ordinary hero” in a particular neighborhood, and then pair them with a creative team to dramatize and musicalize some aspect of their life, with the final result of a 7-12 minute musical film.

“I loved meeting and experiencing Geoff,” says bookwriter Douglas Haverty. “I am honored to help in the telling of this tale and the helping to illustrate the wonder of this man.”

Composer James Goins says “It has been a high privilege and an honor working on the Neighborhood Heroes Project … to create this musical work about the remarkable, touching, and true life of Mr. Geoff Davis.”

“While we may not all have personal experience, most of us know someone who has been a victim of addiction, seen a close friend or family take a very wrong turn in their lives or been in a situation where hope seemed to be a distant memory says director John Mitchell. “The spirit of this gentleman, the loving nature of who he becomes, is contagious and offers us hope in what has been a very bad few years for most of us. The twist ending took my breath away, and made me wonder how it will all turn out.”

“Geoff Davis’s story really resonated with me because I am drawn to the stories of redemption of everyday people”, says performer Jimmer Bolden. “He could have easily given up on himself and simply faded away, but instead he faced his fears and his past and became a marvelous example for those in despair and a great contributor to his community.”

Ironically and tragically, as this musical was being created and filmed, Geoff Davis was diagnosed with cancer, and doesn’t know how much time he has left. Davis himself, in this episode, says, “Yes, does life continue to overload me with situations to test my ability to survive and endure. Yes, daily. The good thing is I no longer run or nor I will run. I stand up every morning with a face of gratitude and a humble heart and I go and provide a service to strangers to make their life simpler and problem-free.”

The North Hollywood Northeast Neighborhood Council serves one of Los Angeles’ most diverse areas, and is committed to working with families, businesses, organizations to help build a more engaged and exciting community in The Valley. https://www.nhnenc.org/

Their NPGs, or Neighborhood Purpose Grants, are a way for neighborhood councils to partner with and support non-profit organizations and public schools on projects that provide a public benefit to the community. NPG activities build community, enhance the neighborhood, and are open, accessible, and free to the general public.
New Musicals Inc. develops and produces musicals for both live and digital stage. They have a similar web series, “So Proudly We Hailed”, which focuses on the life stories of veterans. There are currently seven episodes available for viewing, with three more to be released over the next three months, and plans for another round by the end of 2022. https://nmi.org/veterans/

“Our little musical films celebrate the life choices someone has made, for better or worse,” says NMI Artistic Director, and series dramaturge, Elise Dewsberry, “and perhaps along the way we learn from someone else’s triumphs and/or failures.”

For more information about NMI, visit www.nmi.org/online or email admin@nmi.org

##

New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA, 91601 818-506-8500 admin@nmi.org www.nmi.org

Copyright © 2022 New Musicals Inc., All rights reserved.
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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/native-north-hollywood-neighborhood-handyman-honored-in-a-new-musical/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/hollywood-legend-dick-van-dyke-fingers-out-cash-to-struggling-folks-standing-in-line-for-jobs/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/hollywood-legend-dick-van-dyke-fingers-out-cash-to-struggling-folks-standing-in-line-for-jobs/#respond Sun, 22 Aug 2021 03:25:52 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=10277 Gage Skidmore, CC license He’s perhaps best known for his adorable rooftop dance moves while playing a chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, but Dick Van Dyke hasn’t quietly retired since his breakthrough role in 1964. In fact, the 95-year-old has been caught doing all sorts of good deeds over the years. His newest friendliness? Last …

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]]> Gage Skidmore, CC license

He’s perhaps best known for his adorable rooftop dance moves while playing a chimney sweep in Mary Poppins, but Dick Van Dyke hasn’t quietly retired since his breakthrough role in 1964.

In fact, the 95-year-old has been caught doing all sorts of good deeds over the years.

His newest friendliness? Last week, the actor showed up at the Malibu Community Labor Exchange in Los Angeles – and began handing out money to job seekers queuing outside the nonprofit.

Hats to one of the good guys: Dick Van Dyke, 95, distributes bundles of money to the needy in Malibu https://t.co/ObsWGnXwQq via @MailOnline

– Susan Bernstein (@VelvetBarstool) March 31, 2021

Helping others has been an important part of Van Dyke’s life for decades. He is known for volunteering at The Midnight Mission animal shelter in LA for over 20 years. He was also a spokesperson for the Cell Therapy Foundation and the National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation.

Last time we shared the good news about this Hollywood legend? It was supposed to feature Van Dyke dancing with real wife Arlene Silver in the happiest music video ever for bluegrass group Dustbowl Revival.

Oh, and then there was the time he pampered the guests of a Santa Monica Denny’s with an impromptu performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with his a cappella group Vantastix.

CASH: Yo-Yo Ma gives surprising performance on COVID vaccine site after getting his second jab

The secret to aging gracefully? It seems like it’s just one step out of Van Dyke’s shoes by giving to others and dancing and singing whenever we can.

For proof, just watch this video of Van Dyke dancing in a department store.

Few things are better than 93 year old Dick Van Dyke dancing in a department store ………… pic.twitter.com/Pk5NwBebc3

– Boomsday Device (@BoomsdayDevice) August 19, 2019

The beloved star quipped, “This rule that you have to behave at your age? – I just don’t buy it. “

SHARE the practically perfect good news with friends on social media …

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]]> https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/hollywood-legend-dick-van-dyke-fingers-out-cash-to-struggling-folks-standing-in-line-for-jobs/feed/ 0 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/is-there-a-scarcity-of-originality-in-hollywood-a-spate-of-movie-titles-would-say-sure/ https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/is-there-a-scarcity-of-originality-in-hollywood-a-spate-of-movie-titles-would-say-sure/#respond Fri, 09 Jul 2021 23:29:55 +0000 https://dailysanfranciscobaynews.com/?p=8390 Geht Hollywood der Filmtitel aus oder versucht er nur, alle zu verwirren? Nach einer Flut von Filmen mit ähnlichen Namen in diesem und im nächsten Jahr zu urteilen, scheint die Antwort beides zu sein. Betrachten Sie einige Beispiele: „Der Preis von allem“, „Der Preis des Ruhms“ „Free Solo“, „Solo: Eine Star Wars-Geschichte“ „König der Gesetzlosen“, …

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Geht Hollywood der Filmtitel aus oder versucht er nur, alle zu verwirren? Nach einer Flut von Filmen mit ähnlichen Namen in diesem und im nächsten Jahr zu urteilen, scheint die Antwort beides zu sein. Betrachten Sie einige Beispiele:

„Der Preis von allem“, „Der Preis des Ruhms“

„Free Solo“, „Solo: Eine Star Wars-Geschichte“

„König der Gesetzlosen“, „König der Philosophen“, „Der König“

„Über Bord“, „Overlord“

„American Animals“, „We the Animals“, „Social Animals“, „Animal Crackers“, „Eating Animals“ (alles was fehlt ist eine 40. Jubiläums-Neuveröffentlichung von „National Lampoon’s Animal House“)

„Kalter Krieg“, „Ein Privatkrieg“, „Privatleben“

„Früher Mann“, „Erster Mann“

„Auf der Suche“, „Auf der Suche nach Ingmar Bergman“, „Auf der Suche nach Größe“

„Mary Queen of Scots“, „Mary Poppins Returns“

Bei diesem Tempo kann es schwierig sein, die Dinge in der Oscar-Nacht gerade zu halten. Warren Beatty und Faye Dunaway hatten nichts dazu. Vorbei sind offenbar die Zeiten unverwechselbarer, einprägsamer Filmtitel wie „Casablanca“, „Jaws“, „The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain“ und „Alter, wo ist mein Auto?“

Stattdessen sind wir einer Nachahmerfülle von „Dark“-Filmen ausgesetzt, darunter „Dark Crimes“, „Dark Money“, „Dark River“, „Down a Dark Hall“, „The Dark“, „The Darkest Minds“ und “In der Dunkelheit.”

Leider wird es noch schlimmer. In Kürze werden in einem Kino in Ihrer Nähe noch mehr neue Filme erscheinen, die verdächtig nach bestehenden Filmen klingen.

Als erstes, auf den Fersen von „Black Panther“ und „BlacKkKlansman“ …

„Klansmann der Schwarzen Panther“

Nach der Einnahme eines herzförmigen Krauts entwickelt Donald Trumps erster Kandidat für den afroamerikanischen Obersten Gerichtshof übermenschlichen Originalismus, eine unheimliche Fähigkeit, jeden Fall so zu sehen, als ob er 1789 passierte.

„Es gibt etwas an Mary Poppins, Königin der Schotten“

Roy Rivenburg wirft einen komischen Blick darauf, wie Studios ihre bewährten Metaphern in Zukunft bei der Namensgebung von Filmen vermischen könnten.

(Greg Houston / Für die Zeiten)

Die Geschichte eines magischen, aber rücksichtslosen Kindermädchens, das Elizabeth I. mit Hilfe eines einen Kilt tragenden Schornsteinfegers stürzt. Der dudelsacklastige Soundtrack enthält „A Spoonful of Sugar (Helps the Haggis Go Down)“ und „Supercalifragilistic-Loch-Ness-alidocious“.

„Schöner Junge gelöscht“

Ein Transgender-Teenager wird durch Vorschriften, die besagen, dass das Geschlecht einer Person bei der Geburt durch die Genitalien festgelegt wird, mit denen sie oder sie geboren wurden, als nicht mehr existierend definiert.

„Ein Starship Trooper ist geboren“

In ferner Zukunft ziehen Filmkritiker gegen das 1.000. Remake von „A Star Is Born“ in den Krieg. Mögliche Fortsetzung: “Wirf ‘Mamma Mia’ aus dem Zug.”

“Umrühren verrückte reiche Asiaten”

Ein wohlhabendes junges Paar kehrt von der Hochzeit eines Freundes in Singapur in die USA zurück und wird von Einwanderungsbeamten ins Gefängnis geworfen. Es kommt zur Komödie.

„Ben Hur ist zurück“

In der Preisverleihungssaison herrscht Verwirrung, wenn Filmtitel einander widerspiegeln oder eine überlappende Sprache verwenden. Roy Rivenburg wirft einen komischen Blick darauf, wie Studios ihre bewährten Metaphern in Zukunft bei der Namensgebung von Filmen vermischen könnten.

(Greg Houston / Für die Zeiten)

Julia Roberts spielt eine Vorstadtmutter, deren drogensüchtiger Sohn am Heiligabend nach Hause kommt und halluziniert, dass er ein römischer Wagenrennfahrer ist.

„Das Mädchen in Charlottes Netz“

Ein schwedischer Hacker und eine begnadete Spinne schmieden einen ungewöhnlichen Plan, um prominente #MeToo-Täter zu entlarven.

„Böhmische Rhapsodie in Blau“

Queen singt Gershwin.

„Hunter Killer Tinker Tailor Soldier Spion, der mich abgeladen hat“

Ein russischer Doppelagent flieht mit einem gestohlenen U-Boot aus den USA, nachdem er eine Wahl manipuliert und sich von seiner amerikanischen Freundin getrennt hat. Basierend auf Romanen von John le Carre, James Comey und Stormy Daniels.

„Auf der Suche nach Ingmar Bergman, Bobby Fischer, Sugar Man, Debra Winger, Et Al“

Filmemacher suchen erfolglos nach einem nicht abgedroschenen Filmtitel.

kalender@latimes.com

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