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☆ I Direct Music Videos — the Bigger the Artist, the More Stressful the Job
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Courtesy of Neil FavilaMusic video director Hannah Lux Davis grew up watching TRL and always loved music videos. I took out a student loan to pay for my first two official music videos. I always loved music videos and was very passionate about them. I grew up watching MTV's music video show "TRL," and was inspired to be a director by music videos from Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, and Janet Jackson. They assume some artists get more money for a video, so they're comparing their videos to other artists' videos.

☆ Asian Americans are anxious about hate crimes. TikTok ban rhetoric isn’t helping
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

And the Chinese government’s authoritarian approach to numerous other issues clashes with important American values, said many Asian Americans interviewed for this article. Concerns about China have gone mainstream as US national security officials and lawmakers have publicly grappled with state-backed ransomware attacks and other hacking attempts. People rallied during a "Stop Asian Hate" march to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Foley Square in New York, on April 4, 2021. But to Chu, the incident was an example of the way politics surrounding China, technology and national security have fueled anti-Asian sentiment. “Asian American issues are American issues, and all Americans deserve to be treated with respect.

☆ I got my first TV writing job at 55. It was hard being the oldest person in the room — but I'm glad I never gave up.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Writing what he knew and making personal connections ultimately led to his first TV job at age 55. I've been working towards a TV writing job for a few years, but I've always wanted to write for the screen. I got the job sort of out of the blueThe way I got my first writing job was through a 20-year-old relationship. She was really, really complimentary. As we were taking the class, they were going around the room and each person said what scared them the most about being a TV writer.

☆ The history of the swastika: From a sign of luck and fortune to a symbol of evil
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The statue was discovered alongside a range of "phallic objects," suggesting the swastika was used as a good luck symbol to invite fertility. Swastika in EuropeWorshipers of the Norse religion used the swastika symbol as early as 401 AD. US art director Steven Heller, author of "Swastika: Symbol Beyond Redemption?" Co-opted by the NazisSome researchers believe that people of Aryan culture used the symbol as a sign of luck and prosperity. Sheetal Deo and her husband, Sanmeet Deo, hold a Hindu swastika symbol in their home in Syosset, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022.

☆ Drake is going on tour for the first time in 4 years and fans are outraged at the high prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tickets were reportedly on sale for as low as $69, but fans say they witnessed prices starting at $200 for upper-level seating. While ticket prices were advertised starting at $69 on Ticketmaster, fans were quick to share videos showing upper-level seats on sale for $200. Other tweets blamed Ticketmaster for the high prices despite Drake's tickets being released on at least one other ticket outlet. "$200+ for nosebleed drake tickets is criminal…. Like Drake and Beyoncé, fans of Taylor Swift have also expressed outrage at difficulty to obtain tickets and high prices to her 2023 Eras tour.

According to CNBC analysis of state media reports, 7.7 million people took the civil service exam in the 2023 application round, vying for more than 200,000 government jobs at the national and provincial level. Qilai Shen | Corbis Historical | Getty ImagesA record number of people in China took the civil service exam this year, as unemployment among young people soared. According to CNBC analysis of state media reports, 7.7 million people took the civil service exam in the 2023 application round, vying for more than 200,000 government jobs at the national and provincial level. China's National Civil Service Administration could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts by CNBC. However, Xi and other senior leaders did not need to take the civil service exam to gain their current roles.

☆ Themed cruises are more popular than ever and it's leading to ships selling out in record time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Norwegian Cruise Line's themed cruises have been selling out in record time and Holland America plans to grow its partnership with charter companies. The passionate fans help cruise lines fill up ships and are some of the most loyal in the industry. Will ByingtonThese repeat bookings are music to the cruise lines' ears — it's a mutually beneficial operation for both the themed cruise production companies and the cruise lines themselves. To pull off these festivals at sea, themed cruise providers charter full ships from various cruise lines. "I think the themed cruise industry is going to grow even faster [than the general cruise industry]," Hearing said.

☆ The trailer for the new 'BlackBerry' movie is here and former 'CrackBerry' fans are shocked at how entertaining it looks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The "BlackBerry" trailer dropped Wednesday, and it's trending at number 21 on YouTube only 24 hours later. Critics and nostalgic BlackBerry fans alike say they're thrilled by the cast and the chance to revisit the iconic phone. It tells the story of the rise and fall of Canadian tech company Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry. "I'm shocked that BlackBerry actually looks like it might be pretty damn good," Canadian tech editor Patrick O'Rourke tweeted. Although the film might strike the hearts of BlackBerry loyalists or Y2K enthusiasts, the phones most likely won't be back.

☆ How academy president Janet Yang went from 'feeling like an outsider' to becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Janet Yang, the President of the Academy at the 95th Oscar Nominations Announcement held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on January 24, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Janet Yang is one of the most powerful people in Hollywood — but for a long time, she thought a career in entertainment was impossible. On the Universal Studios lot, Yang met two people that would change the course of her career: Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy. Last summer, when the academy announced they were looking for a new president, Yang nominated herself for the job. Outside of the academy, Yang has earned a reputation as a "godmother" to other Asian Americans working in Hollywood and is actively involved in several organizations working to amplify AAPI voices in entertainment.

☆ Artists and labels are sliding songs into augmented-reality filters on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram to promote music
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AR effects are on the rise on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, appearing across billions of videos. Artists, labels, and music marketers are finding new ways to promote tracks via these AR filters. "If you do come up with a cool AR filter, it's easier for the regular user to create a TikTok with than to create a dance." "Artists will hire AR creators to make effects for specific pieces of music," Chris Barbour, Meta's AR partnerships director, told Insider. As with any trend on social media, originality is important for helping an AR effect spread, Yoder said.

☆ Ukraine 'Art Weapon' show draws crowds in Berlin
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( James Imam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A person stands in front of a video installation at the Art Weapon Festival, which showcase contemporary Ukrainian culture and various performances, created during the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the "Alte Muenze" in Berlin, Germany February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - In a converted former mint in Berlin on Saturday, crowds danced in a blaze of strobe light as a rapper hollered Ukrainian lyrics to punchy beats. The 'Art Weapon' event - which opened at Berlin's sprawling Alte Muenze complex on Saturday - also featured live painting by Ukrainian artists, Ukrainian-language theatre and the chance to sit for a Ukrainian tattoo artist. He decided to apply for funding through a German organisation supporting cultural initiatives, allowing him to organise "Art Weapon" in Berlin. "The invasion has definitely changed art in Ukraine," he added.

☆ As Jimmy Carter Enters Hospice Care, Former President’s Hometown Reflects on Native Son
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Cameron Mcwhirter | Photographs Nicole Craine For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PLAINS, Ga.—Many in this southwest Georgia hamlet of about 550 people have met its most famous son, Jimmy Carter —at stores, festivals, church or just on the street. “He’d stop and talk to people, didn’t matter who you were,” said Meshia Williams, 54 years old, who has lived in Plains most of her life. “He would sit down with you, play with your baby.”

☆ As Jimmy Carter Begins Hospice Care, Former President’s Hometown Reflects on Native Son
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Cameron Mcwhirter | Photographs Nicole Craine For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ 'All That Breathes' director Shaunak Sen 'overwhelmed' with award nods
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Sarah Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Director Shaunak Sen, whose documentary ''All That Breathes'' is BAFTA and Oscar nominated, poses for a photograph during an interview with Reuters in London, Britain January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Ben MakoriLONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Indian director Shaunak Sen knew he had something special when making BAFTA and Oscar nominated documentary "All That Breathes", but the 35-year-old filmmaker said it "barely... correlates with the scale" of the recognition he is getting. I also feel overwhelmed," he told Reuters of his awards and nominations. "I haven't got my bearings right yet because this means that the coordinates of life have shifted somewhat, I imagine." Sen hopes this "entanglement of human and non-human life" offers a "valuable lesson".

☆ How Budweiser Tackled a Beer-Free World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

In the end, the brewer found a way to navigate the World Cup beer-free and roll with the media attention that the alcohol ban generated. Soccer’s 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar ran from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. World Cup sponsors Kia and Adidas similarly maintained their reputational scores, according to the Morning Consult data. Budweiser doesn’t pay a reported $75 million for the official beer sponsorship of the World Cup just to serve beer at stadiums. But the ban on alcoholic Budweiser undermined the impetus for being at the World Cup, Mr. Marcondes said.

☆ Indonesia to suspend some palm oil export permits - officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Bernadette Christina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Cooking oil prices up ahead of Islamic festivalsPalm oil export quotas linked to domestic salesExporters accumulated export quotas last year - ministerTwo-thirds of existing quotas suspended till May 1 - officialJAKARTA, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia will suspend some palm oil export permits to secure domestic supply amid rising cooking oil prices ahead of upcoming Islamic festivals, senior cabinet minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on his official Instagram account on Monday. Indonesia issues export permits for palm oil companies that have already sold a proportion of their products to the domestic market, under a policy known as "Domestic Market Obligation" (DMO). Sahat Sinaga, chair of the Indonesia Palm Oil Board, said companies have been holding back exports, due to lower global market prices and high export levies. Malaysian benchmark palm oil prices have fallen more than 40% since reaching a peak last year. Rattling global edible oil markets, Indonesia last year banned exports of palm oil used in everything from margarine to cosmetics and fuel for three weeks due to soaring cooking oil prices.

☆ Lebanon hopes UNESCO danger listing could save crumbling modernist fairground
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1962, the collection of structures on the 70-hectare plot is considered one of the key works of 20th century modernism in the Middle East. "It was placed on the World Heritage List exceptionally, quickly and urgently – and on the list of heritage in danger because it's in a critical situation," said Joseph Kreidi, UNESCO's national programme officer for culture in Beirut. "Placing it on the World Heritage Danger List is an appeal to all countries of the world, as if to say: this site needs some care," said Kreidi. Lebanon has five other sites on UNESCO's World Heritage list, most of them citadels and ancient temples. Mira Minkara, a freelance tour guide from Tripoli and a member of the Oscar Niemeyer Foundation's Tripoli chapter, has fond – but rare – memories of the fairground as a child.

☆ Exclusive: China eyes help for shell-shocked consumers but big stimulus unlikely-sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

That has raised expectations that hefty household stimulus measures could be announced at a parliament meeting in March. Prominent academics have felt emboldened to speak publicly about sizeable demand-side measures such as 1 trillion yuan ($148.28 billion) or more in consumption vouchers. Some analysts say pent-up demand during the pandemic may be enough for consumption to grow with little policy support. Household savings jumped 7.9 trillion yuan last year to 17.8 trillion yuan. Several Chinese cities have already offered about 5 billion yuan in consumption vouchers and subsidies in total since December.

☆ How 'Skinamarink' made $1.5 million on a $15,000 budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this article AMCX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA still promo for the film Skinamarink. Coutesy: Bayview EntertainmentExperimental horror film "Skinamarink" has been all the buzz on social media for months — and now it's a sleeper hit at the box office. Much of these sales come from the most wide-released horror films that had budgets between $16 million and $35 million. Independent horror films are released every week, and it's very difficult to stand out among these releases, he said. Still shot from the film "Skinamarink".

☆ Ketamine is being sold as a depression wonder drug. For some, it's making everything worse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +42 min

The infusions at the ketamine clinic in his West Texas hometown were a Christmas gift from his grandmother. About five years ago, more and more of my friends started using ketamine recreationally. IV ketamine treatment centers charging $400 to $2,000 an infusion popped up all over the country. "Ketamine used as directed in an appropriate clinical setting very rarely leads to any dependence," Mindbloom says on its website. Like Nadia, most of the people I interviewed said when they started using ketamine, they didn't think it was possible to become dependent on it.

☆ Some critically acclaimed films by and about Black people don’t make the Oscars list in a major letdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Michelle Garcia | Michelle Garcia Is The Editorial Director Of Nbcblk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

While the Golden Globes brought several notable nominations and wins for Black performers in television and film, this year’s Oscar nominations look very different. “Till,” starring Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Mobley, chronicles the 14-year-old’s mother during her quest for justice after her child was brutally murdered. The film earned no Academy Award nominations. “Wakanda Forever” also failed to match the best picture nod earned by 2018’s “Black Panther” — the first superhero movie nominated for the top Oscar. Bassett is also the second oldest Black woman ever nominated for an acting Oscar, behind supporting actress nominee Ruby Dee, who appeared in 2007’s “American Gangster.”

☆ MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes on his plans to relaunch the service (for real) and bring back an unlimited option
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Stacy Spikes told Insider he plans to put MoviePass out of beta and make it available for all by the summer. You would think Spikes would want to run as far away as possible from the movie-ticket-subscription startup. Before Stacy Spikes created MoviePass he created the Urbanworld Film Festival. I wanted to put that down because I see so many times people approach me and think MoviePass was my first business. MoviePassThe MoviePass beta version is focused on the credits system, e-ticketing, and fixing bugsWhat have been the biggest challenges in getting this beta version of MoviePass off the ground?

☆ Country Music Star Zach Bryan Is Trying to Break Up With Ticketmaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Anne Steele | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Country star Zach Bryan’s coming concert tour is trying to dodge one major stop: Ticketmaster. The down-home crooner, who has been outspoken about the ticketing giant’s dominance in the music industry, on Thursday announced his first arena headlining tour, which will go through venues that don’t have exclusive ticketing agreements with Ticketmaster. He will play and even headline some music festivals that will be ticketed by Ticketmaster, a setup that Mr. Bryan has described as beyond his control.

The Sundance Film Festival has long been known for premiering some of the most original — and ultimately the most award-winning — indie titles of the year. As the most notable international film festivals increasingly feature queer titles in their lineups, it’s no surprise that much of the exciting content premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival comes from LGBTQ filmmakers or features queer themes. The Premieres sectionAs usual, many of the year’s most high-profile films, including those from queer creators and featuring queer storylines, are coming out of the festival’s Premieres section. Courtesy of Sundance InstituteEnglert’s film will screen in the world cinema dramatic section alongside queer films “Girl,” from U.K. filmmaker Adura Onashile, and “Mamacruz,” from Spanish director Patricia Ortega. The list of LGBTQ creators and titles doesn’t end there, making this perhaps the most significant Sundance Film Festival for queer cinema yet.

☆ China passenger vehicle sales rise in Dec, Tesla sales slump 41% - data
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He predicted that China's passenger vehicle sales were likely to remain largely flat or slightly up in 2023. CPCA said on Tuesday that China's passenger vehicle sales in December rose 2.4% from a year earlier to 2.19 million units. Tesla saw its December sales in China plunge 41% from a year earlier despite offering deep discounts. Most other EV makers in China are still loss making, including Nio (9866.HK), Xpeng (9868.HK) and Li Auto (2015.HK). CPCA expects sales of new energy cars, mainly EVs, to hit 8.5 million units in 2023, accounting for 36% of total new car sales.

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