“[Samantha] Barbash alleges her character and likeness have been exploited and is seeking $20m compensation and $20m in punitive damages. Court documents show Barbash is targeting production company STX and Lopez’s own Nuyorican Productions.” – The Guardian
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Smithsonian To Release Series Of Comic Books On American History
“One series will include books for middle-school readers inspired by Time Trials, a set of videos from the National Museum of American History that introduces figures from the past, like the traitor Benedict Arnold and the abolitionist John Brown, and encourages the audience to discuss their actions. Other series will draw upon the cultural and scientific knowledge of the Smithsonian.” The project is a partnership with IDW Publishing, which has already produced graphic memoirs by Congressman John Lewis (about the civil rights movement) and George Takei (about his family’s time in a World War II internment camp). – The New York Times
Buck Henry, Screenwriter, Director, Actor, And Comedy Legend, Dead At 89
“[He] created the satirical spy sitcom Get Smart with Mel Brooks, was a frequent early host of Saturday Night Live and turned plastics into a countercultural catchword with his Oscar-nominated screenplay for The Graduate … A restless entertainer, Mr. Henry dabbled in improvisational comedy as well as theater, television and film. He received an Academy Award nomination for co-directing the 1978 afterlife comedy Heaven Can Wait with star Warren Beatty; wrote scripts for the sex farce Candy (1968), based on the novel by Terry Southern, and the Barbra Streisand screwball comedies The Owl and the Pussycat (1970) and What’s Up, Doc? (1972); and appeared as a droll supporting actor in nearly every film he helped create.” – The Washington Post
Judge Orders Netflix To Take Down Brazilian Gay Jesus Video (Temporarily)
“The film entitled The First Temptation of Christ, by the Brazilian production company Porta dos Fundos, came out on December 3 and drew strong criticism from conservative politicians in the mainly Catholic country, the church itself and from evangelicals. … Judge Benedicto Abicair said Wednesday he was ordering the film yanked for now so as to calm tempers until courts can consider the broader merits of a suit against the movie brought by a Catholic association called the Don Bosco Center for Faith and Culture.” – Yahoo! (AFP)
Where Is Dance Headed In The 2020s? Here Are Seven Predictions
Some of these developments are already underway (dealing with ballet’s ethnic stereotypes, more varied colors in ostensibly skin-tone dancewear, more women running companies, the tap revival), some are always to be hoped for (concentrating on health), but a couple might not be so obvious. – Dance Magazine
How Do You Translate A Standup Comedy Act From Another Language Into English? Ten Comedians Who Do It Explain
“Some grew up functionally bilingual, while others had to learn English from scratch. All overcame linguistic, cultural, and a variety of other hurdles to translate their acts for an English-speaking audience, which can potentially take their act from quiet clubs to packed theaters. They addressed a variety of topics, including the beauty of foreign accents, how American and British audiences are simultaneously more and less approachable, and why Germans aren’t exactly known for their sense of humor.” – Vulture
‘Byzantine Pompeii’ Will Be Moved To Make Room For Thessaloniki’s Subway
In 2013, construction of the new metro system for Greece’s second city uncovered, in an unusually well-preserved state, the major commercial crossroads of the town during the Byzantine era. Ever since, arguments have raged over whether to remove the ancient structures and return them after construction is complete, relocate them entirely, try to build around and through them and incorporate them into a subway station, or (expensively) re-route the entire metro line. Last month, Greece’s Central Archaeological Council made its decision, though opponents aren’t giving up just yet. – Global Voices
A ‘Star Wars’ Movie Unit Director Explains What She Does On A Shoot
“As Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker‘s second unit director, and the first woman to ever hold the megaphone on a Star Wars movie, [Victoria] Mahoney got to experience all of it. Now that the movie is out, Mahoney — who’s been a writer, producer, actor, and director (Grey’s Anatomy, I Am the Night, her indie film Yelling to the Sky) — can finally talk about it.” – Wired
Gibney, New York Dance’s Mini-Empire, To Add New Component: A Contemporary Rep Company
Gina Gibney’s ever-expanding organization already operates two buildings (which include five theaters, 23 studios, a conference room and a media lab), a six-member dance company, and several performance-and-social-justice projects. Now a $2 million grant will support doubling the number of company dancers, forming what Ms. Gibney hopes will become a troupe on the lines of Nederlands Dans Theater and Ballet BC. – The New York Times
Romantic Fiction’s Top Awards Cancelled After Struggle Over Racism Blows Up
“The US’s most prestigious awards for romance writing, the Ritas, have been cancelled after a host of judges and entrants pulled out over an ongoing racism row involving the industry’s largest trade group, the Romance Writers of America.” – The Guardian