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June 22 (Reuters) - Movie director and submersible maker James Cameron said on Thursday he wishes he had sounded the alarm earlier about the submersible Titan that imploded on an expedition to the Titanic wreckage, saying he had found the hull design risky. He is part of the small and close-knit submersible community, or Manned Underwater Vehicle (MUV) industry. I wish I'd spoken up, but I assumed somebody was smarter than me, you know, because I never experimented with that technology, but it just sounded bad on its face," Cameron told Reuters in a Zoom interview. The sub imploded," Cameron said. The five who died mark the first deep-sea fatalities for the industry, Cameron said.

Persons: James Cameron, Cameron, Oscar, OceanGate, We've, Rollo Ross, Daniel Trotta, Leslie Adler Organizations: Triton Submarines, Vehicle, Reuters, American Bureau of Shipping, U.S . Coast Guard, Navy, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: U.S

But some experts had worried about its safety, with a former employee and members of a trade group both expressing concerns about the design of the Titan vessel during its development. Lochridge countersued in August 2018, denying that and claiming that OceanGate's lawsuit was an effort to discourage "whistleblowers from coming forth with quality control issues and safety concerns that threaten the safety of innocent passengers." In the letter, Kohnen expressed what he said were widespread concerns about the Titan sub. Kohnen asked the MTS board in 2018 to officially send the letter on behalf of the entire society to Stockton. Stockton was sent a draft of the letter and discussed its contents in a 2018 phone call with Kohnen, in which the men "agreed to disagree" about the safety concerns raised, Kohnen said.

Persons: David Lochridge, OceanGate, Lochridge, Lochridge countersued, Will Kohnen, Kohnen, Stockton, Daniel Trotta, Brad Brooks, Rollo Ross, Donna Bryson, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: OceanGate, Lochridge, Marine Technology, Stockton Rush, Reuters, MTS, DNV GL, DNV, Thomson Locations: Everett , Washington, Stockton

"He's vulnerable and kind of finding his way in this," Jackson told Reuters about his character, the protagonist with the eye patch in the TV action series "Secret Invasion." It follows Nick Fury as he and his allies fight to stop the shapeshifting reptilian humanoids known as the Skrulls from committing international terrorist attacks and eventually invading Earth. The cast includes Ben Mendelsohn as Talos, a Skrull ally of Nick Fury, Emilia Clarke as G'iah, Talos' daughter, and Olivia Colman as agent Sonya Falsworth. While the series, directed by Ali Selim, is based on other projects from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it takes a different direction from previous Marvel shows. "It happens in a very organic kind of way, to know that we're inside something that doesn't have a superhero solution," Jackson said.

Persons: Samuel L, Jackson, Marvel, Nick Fury, Ben Mendelsohn, Emilia Clarke, Talos, Olivia Colman, Sonya Falsworth, Ali Selim, Clarke, they're, They're, Danielle Broadway, Rollo Ross, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Disney, Marvel, Strategic, Intervention, Logistics, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

☆ New 'Black Mirror' season begins by tackling actors' anxiety about AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Reuters) - In the new season of Netflix Inc's (NFLX.O) sci-fi show "Black Mirror," an office manager finds that a streaming service is replaying her life using an avatar of Salma Hayek. Hayek, in the episode released on Thursday, has sold her digital image to Hollywood for use in programming created with artificial intelligence (AI). The story highlights real-world concerns of actors and writers, said "Schitt's Creek" star Annie Murphy, who plays the office manager. Murphy said she and Hayek discussed the issue during filming of "Black Mirror." "Her image has been used in so many terrible and disrespectful ways, so we did have conversations about that," Murphy said.

Persons: Salma Hayek, Hayek, Annie Murphy, Murphy, It’s, Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Rollo Ross, Lisa Richwine, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Netflix, Guild of America, WGA, Actors, SAG, Hollywood, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

Miller portrays Barry Allen who, as superhero the Flash, uses his superspeed to travel back through time to try to prevent his mother’s death. Miller plays both The Flash and his younger self throughout the film. The Flash gets stuck in the past with Supergirl portrayed by Sasha Calle and Batman played by the original cinematic Batman, Michael Keaton. "Really it's a beautiful moment for me," Miller told Warner Bros at the premiere. Ben Affleck, who portrays Batman in some scenes, told Warner Bros it was "nice" to play a wiser character with something to impart on younger characters.

Persons: Ezra Miller, James Gunn, Miller, Barry Allen, Supergirl, Sasha Calle, Batman, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Ezra, David Rooney, Mario, Rollo Ross, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Warner Bros, Flash, Reuters, Rotten, Hollywood Reporter, Thomson Locations: ANGELES

[1/5] Cast members Issa Rae, Lauren Velez, Shameik Moore, Daniel Kaluuya, Jake Johnson and Hailee Steinfeld attend the premiere for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 30, 2023. For their sequel to 2018's "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," they have sought to build new worlds to immerse audiences in a web of animated adventure. The voice cast includes Issa Rae as Spider-Woman, Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099, Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk and Brian Tyree Henry as Miles' father, Jefferson Davis. The pre-pandemic "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" raked in over $35 million during its first three days of release and went on to win the 2019 Oscar for best animated feature film. Despite some concerns that those box-office-busting days are far from returning, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is forecast to open with $95 to $130 million in the U.S. and Canada.

Persons: Issa Rae, Lauren Velez, Shameik Moore, Daniel Kaluuya, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mario, Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, Miller, they've, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli, Gwen, Oscar Isaac, Spider, Brian Tyree Henry, Miles, Jefferson Davis, unapologetically, Rae, Henry, Oscar, Andy Warhol, Stephen Hawking, Owen Gleiberman, Danielle Broadway, Rollo Ross, Jorge Garcia, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Sony, Miles Morales Marvel, Reuters, Rotten, Variety, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, ANGELES, Los Angeles, Canada

☆ How 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' found a sound of its own
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, May 31 (Reuters) - While songwriter Justin Tranter has attained success by penning hit pop anthems like Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Imagine Dragons' "Believer," writing music for the Paramount+ prequel "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" took him in a new direction. "I'm very proud of my pop songs but there isn't the level of storytelling that's required for a musical," Tranter told Reuters. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" is set in 1954, four years before the story of the U.S. high school movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The first season, which ends on Thursday, follows four rebellious students who unite to become the misfits of Rydell High and eventually the "Pink Ladies" clique. "We are waiting to see how an audience receives 30 original songs over 10 episodes.

Persons: Justin Tranter, Justin Bieber's, Tranter, John Travolta, Olivia Newton, John, Rydell, Marisa Davila, Jane Facciano, Rollo Ross, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: ANGELES, Paramount, Reuters, U.S, Thomson

☆ Striking Hollywood writers lament residuals slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The streaming residual check amounted to one-third of the $12,000 Jones received in residuals for writing one episode of the ABC drama "Queens." The writers argue that streaming services, which upended decades of television industry business practices, have significantly undercut their compensation. RESIDUALS WERE 'VERY HEALTHY'Streaming changed the compensation structure and now accounts for the largest share of TV residuals. One studio executive said writers negotiated a 46% increase in residuals for streaming programs, starting in 2022. The latest guild proposal would bump foreign streaming residuals by 200%, a number studio executives noted fails to recognize that subscription fees vary from country to country.

The TV series, an action-comedy-drama combination, is based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang and premieres on Disney+ streaming service on Wednesday. He changed his mind, however, after being reassured by show producer Melvin Mar and series creator, Kevin Yu, and seeing the dedication of the Asian-led cast. The TV series follows high school student Jin Wang, played by Ben Wang, who struggles with his identity as he navigates both school and home life. “American Born Chinese” draws from Chinese folklore and Chinese and Japanese animation that is based on the 6th century Chinese novel “Journey to the West.”Beyond the kung fu action story, the show focuses on the challenges of Jin understanding his Chinese and American identities, while also going through the tribulations of being a teenager. "So, you feel really impotent, really powerless,”Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross Editing by Mary Milliken, Marguerita Choy and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BURBANK, California, May 11 (Reuters) - As striking Hollywood writers protest working conditions, some are seeking more than a new labor contract. Single members of the Writers Guild of America gathered outside the Universal Studios lot this week for a combination of picketing and a dating mixer that later moved to a taco eatery. "Writers love to multitask, so this is perfect for us," said 42-year-old "Feed the Devil" writer Matt Altman. Workers and supporters of the Writers Guild of America protest outside Universal Studios Hollywood after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers, in the Universal City area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. "Love, Victor" writer Van B. Nguyen, 37, said she thought it was a fun idea to combine fighting for change with fighting for love.

LOS ANGELES, May 9 (Reuters) - The Paramount Pictures “Transformers” film franchise has switched gears in its latest installment by adding more diversity to its lead roles, namely “In the Heights” actor Anthony Ramos and “Swarm” TV series actor Dominique Fishback. "Right, like people around the world can feel somebody in all parts of the world can watch this and go 'Yo, that's me. Problems arise when the two, who barely know one another, are thrown together with the shape-shifting robots. He's (Director, Steven Caple Jr.) like, yo, yo, yo, this is the first time you all are meeting, so it was an exercise to try and detract from our real relationship in real life,” Ramos added. Reporting by Rollo Ross and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Halle Bailey 'honored' to play Ariel in 'Little Mermaid' remake
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Cast member Halle Bailey attends the premiere of the film "The Little Mermaid" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, May 9 (Reuters) - Black American singer Halle Bailey has said she was "honored" to play Ariel in the live action remake of "The Little Mermaid", adding she hoped to inspire children of colour with the new iteration of the beloved Disney animation. "It's so important for little girls to see themselves in things, in movies, in representation," said Awkwafina (Nora Lum), who voices the seagull Scuttle. The film's premiere took place amid a nearly week-long strike by thousands of film and television writers in Hollywood. Reporting by Rollo Ross; Writing by Rollo Ross and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/5] Cast member Chris Pratt attends the premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Pratt had seen one or two short unfinished sequences of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," but at the premiere he took the time to savor the entirety of the swan song in Marvel’s “Guardians” trilogy. “I wanted to be swept away on the journey alongside my friends, my family, all of the fans in the audience, the cast and crew. While that wasn’t the actual moment that Pratt and Gunn had, the two recalled feeling the emotional weight of saying goodbye to the “Guardians” movies together.

☆ On 'Star Wars' day, Carrie Fisher receives posthumous star on Walk of Fame
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A dress featuring actor Carrie Fisher as Star Wars character Princess Leia, is worn by her daughter Billie Lourd as she attends the posthumous unveiling of the star of Carrie Fisher, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniLOS ANGELES, May 4 (Reuters) - May the 4th, the annual unofficial "Star Wars" day, was bittersweet for fans in Hollywood as Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher, who died at age 60 in 2016, received a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame on Thursday. Along with a large group of fans, "Star Wars" droids R2-D2 and C-3PO and a pair of Stormtroopers came to the ceremony, as did actor Mark Hamill, director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. "My mom is a double whammy, a Pez dispenser and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Watching her mother in "Star Wars" as Princess Leia changed Lourd's perception of her.

Production also was halted in Los Angeles for the rest of the week. REUTERS/Aude GuerrucciThe writers are seeking changes in pay and the formulas used to compensate writers when their work is streamed, among other proposals. The last WGA strike in 2007 and 2008 lasted 100 days. Writers say changes from the streaming TV boom have made it difficult for many to earn a living in expensive cities such as New York and Los Angeles. Half of TV series writers now work at minimum salary levels, compared with a third in the 2013-14 season, according to WGA statistics.

LOS ANGELES, May 3 (Reuters) - Hollywood writers have for decades penned sci-fi scripts featuring machines taking over the world. The Writers Guild of America is seeking to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in writing film and television scripts. A spokesperson for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which is negotiating the contract on behalf of the studios, did not comment. The dispute over AI is one of several issues that led Hollywood’s film and TV writers to strike Monday, marking the first work stoppage in 15 years. Screenwriter John August, a member of the WGA negotiating committee, said writers have two concerns regarding AI.

“It was just so original,” she told Reuters, and her co-lead, “Umbrella Academy” actor Ritu Arya, could not agree more. When Lena drops out of art school and quickly gets engaged, Ria and her friends plan a bride-heist of epic proportions. Director Nida Manzoor's first feature film scored a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Critics have praised the quirky martial arts film for its inspiring and unconventional representation of compelling women and girls. “Strong women come from strong women,” Kansara said.

LOS ANGELES, April 19 (Reuters) - "Evil Dead," the popular zombie film franchise, is back for a fifth installment with a mother possessed by a parasitic demon that talks, taunts and devours souls. This twist in "Evil Dead Rise," from traditional mute zombies, is something that director Lee Cronin enjoys. The film follows Ellie, played by Alyssa Sutherland, and her three young children in their Los Angeles apartment. In a dark comedic turn, an evil spirit possesses Ellie and turns her against her family. Reporting by Rollo Ross and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

April 5 (Reuters) - When actor Russell Crowe began reading about the history of real-life Catholic priest Father Gabriele Amorth, who claimed to have performed over 50,000 exorcisms, he was intrigued. Crowe’s portrayal of Amorth in Sony’s (6758.T) horror flick “The Pope’s Exorcist” is based on the books the late priest left behind, which chronicled 36 years of exorcisms and other work for the Vatican. However, unlike previous exorcisms, the demon feeds off the exorcist's own guilt and regrets. While he knows this depiction of a religious figure may cause criticism from some, Crowe was determined to stick to Amorth’s accounts. “Everybody is going to have their own opinion, but these are books which are written from first-person experience,” he told Reuters.

REUTERS/Lauren JusticeLOS ANGELES, April 3 (Reuters) - Actor Ben Affleck is hopeful for basketball legend Michael Jordan’s seal of approval after directing the biographical sports film, "Air," which is based on Jordan’s historic deal with the Nike (NKE.N) shoe brand. Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight and “The Woman King” actor Viola Davis portrays Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan. There was one key role that Affleck and Damon decided not to fill, and it was Michael Jordan’s. “The second you put the camera on an actor and say ‘Hey, it’s Michael Jordan’ and it’s not Michael Jordan, you’re going to lose the audience, so we knew. Michael’s just too famous and means too much to people to try to have someone else play him in a movie,” Damon said.

LOS ANGELES, March 24 (Reuters) - When Cassidy Jacobson was 13 years old, she posted a video of herself dancing on the popular app TikTok. Jacobson dreams of using her success on TikTok - an app used by 150 million Americans - to start her own curly hair care line and inspire others to love their natural curls. Last week, TikTok said the Biden administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban. Whether it’s creating all new content for YouTube reels or taking her TikTok content and transferring it over to Instagram, the influencer is making sure to diversify her content. Beyond popularity and fans, TikTok backers believe it provides livelihoods, paths to social change and a sense of community.

Cate Blanchett, best actress nominee for "Tar," wore a draped azure top over a black skirt with a train. Several attendees took advantage of the indoor lights to don shimmery silver dresses or gowns encrusted with reflective materials. Ana de Armas, best actress nominee for "Blonde," wore a silver column dress with a flamenco dancer-like flounce on the bottom. Education activist Malala Yousafzai, executive producer of documentary short film "Stranger At The Gate," wore a shimmery silver hooded gown. Several women opted for gowns with high-cut slits, including Nicole Kidman in a shimmery black gown and Cara Delevingne in a dramatic red dress.

Diverse creators are building incubators, their own production pipelines and venues where they can screen work and receive feedback and support each other. Of the 13,252 Oscar nominees since 1929, 6% are from underrepresented ethnicities, a USC Annenberg Inclusion at the Academy Awards report concludes. Located in Atlanta and Los Angeles, it creates collaborative spaces for diverse talent to support each other. As the most underrepresented group in the industry, Latino talent is also keen to change their narrative. There were 32 years without Latino nominees at the Academy Awards, with the most recent shutout in 2002.

[1/5] A general view of the grand opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 15, 2023. The theme park world is meant to ignite interest from both new and seasoned fans of the Mario games through an immersive experience. It follows in the footsteps of its predecessor in Universal Studios Japan, also owned by the Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) unit. Super Nintendo World will also be added to Universal Studios Florida in 2025. The opening of the park will be followed by the “Super Mario Bros” movie, which arrives in theaters on April 7 and stars “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Chris Pratt, who voices Mario.

[1/4] Director Peyton Reed poses at a premiere for the film "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 6, 2023. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" is the first movie in phase five of Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe. It takes the superhero and his resizing powers into the Quantum realm, a subatomic world where he meets new challenges. Reality melted away and brought her into the fantasy world that many children grew up reading about in the Marvel comic books, she noted. Disney artists assembled new environments, creatures, buildings and an entire internal history and logic to make the Quantum realm come to life.

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