Latest news with #Dahl
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ollie Madden Exiting Film4/Channel 4 To Join Netflix As Director Of UK Film; Farhana Bhula & Gwawr Lloyd Upped At UK Broadcaster
Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, is leaving the broadcaster after an eight-year stint to join Netflix as Director Of UK Film. The news was relayed to Channel 4 staff this morning via a memo, which you can read below. Madden is leaving in October. More from Deadline Nicole Clemens Joins Amazon To Head Up International Originals Channel 4 Boss Alex Mahon Hits Back At 'Excitable' Wayne Garvie's Criticism Of In-House Plan Netflix EMEA Chief Puts 'Mr Bates' Debate To Bed: "We Absolutely Would Have Commissioned It In The UK" Madden, who will report to Anne Mensah, VP Content at Netflix, will lead Netflix's UK film slate and act as the primary UK contact for films on Dan Lin's slate where the IP, talent, and production are based in the UK (with the exception of family films for US and Canada, including Narnia and Dahl, which will continue to be overseen by Racheline Benveniste). He will also develop a handful of filmmaker-led series. Teresa Moneo, the Netflix vet who served as Director, International Original Film, and had assumed the head of UK film role since last year, quietly left the streamer earlier this year but will continue to work with them on Peaky Blinders. Back at Film4/C4, Farhana Bhula, Film4's Head of Creative and Deputy Director, will take over as interim Director of Film4 effective from 1st July. Gwawr Lloyd, Commissioning Editor, Drama, will become Interim Head of Drama reporting to Ian Katz and will join his HoDs from 1st July. We've asked whether there will be any formal interview process for other candidates but have not heard back so it sounds like (and reading between lines of the memo below) that barring any setbacks the plan is for Bhula and Lloyd to continue in these roles longer term. Per the memo below, Madden will continue to oversee the delivery of projects until October. Bhula and Lloyd will oversee their respective teams alone but will work together to maximise talent relationships and will co-exec Molly Manning-Walker's new show with A24, which we announced yesterday. It's a time of flux and challenge at Film4/C4. Madden's exit comes just one month after news that Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon would also be stepping down after eight years at the helm. Channel 4's content chief Ian Katz admitted to his team at the end of April that his own future was uncertain. In recent years the broadcaster has had to contend with more than 250 layoffs, further moves to digital and the channels' relocation out of London. More recently, plans to grow an in-house production business have ruffled feathers, while latest annual results showed a decline in content spend but a surge in executive pay. Madden's combined film and TV role was an unusual one in the business. Bhula and Lloyd now return to a more traditional structure. It has been a meteoric rise for the former in particular. Bhula worked in development and production at UK indies between 2012-2019 but has scaled the ranks in six years since then to assume one of Europe's top film industry posts. Madden continued Film4's impressive history of awards contenders and critical hits. His slate included Oscar-winning films Poor Things, The Zone of Interest and The Favourite. His series commissions were just starting to really ramp up and include work from writers such as Russell T Davies, Jack Thorne, Daisy Haggard, Roy Williams, Caroline O'Donoghue and James Graham. The drama division had been relatively quiet for a period but suddenly found its stride in the past year with a string of buzzy commissions that will now mostly air under new leadership. Internal message to C4 and Film4 staff from this morning Hello everyone, We are writing to let you know that after a remarkable eight years at the channel Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, will be leaving us in October. Under Ollie's leadership Film4 has backed a string of critical and commercial hits from many of the most exciting directors working today. He has overseen scores of award-winning films including 9 Oscar wins for The Favourite, The Father, Poor Things and The Zone of Interest, and 24 BAFTA wins for Beast, The Favourite, The Father, Rocks, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest and Earth Mama. Ollie's commitment, passion and reputation for nurturing talent has seen Film4 not only work with some of the best-known writers and directors in the UK and Ireland but also cement our industry reputation as a huge champion of new talent, backing over 27 debut films and five series by debut writers throughout his Film4 tenure, including Molly Manning-Walker's How to Have Sex and Rose Glass' Saint Maud. We are thrilled that Farhana Bhula, Film4's Head of Creative and Deputy Director, will take over as interim Director of Film4 effective from July 1. Farhana has worked alongside Ollie to create a culture of ambition, collaboration and artistic excellence, enhancing Film4's reputation as one of the most pioneering and dynamic teams in the business. With a current slate that epitomises everything Film4 stands for, the team will go from strength to strength under Farhana's leadership. Since taking on Channel 4 Drama early in 2024, Ollie and the team have commissioned one of the strongest drama slates in Channel 4's history, making good on our promise to offer viewers brilliant original drama every month from the start of next year. Stories from each nation of the UK written by diverse talent – both established and new – will be coming to screens soon. Major new shows from Russell T Davies, Daisy Haggard, Jack Thorne, Molly Manning-Walker and Roy Williams, with more to be announced soon, demonstrate Channel 4 at its best, supporting great artists and great work. With our longstanding reputation as a champion of the most original writers and directors and a slate of shows that will play out through 2026 and 2027, Channel 4 Drama is brilliantly placed for success in the years ahead. Gwawr Lloyd, Commissioning Editor, Drama, has been working closely with Ollie this past year and has been with the channel for over five years, overseeing acclaimed shows including The Gathering and Somewhere Boy. We are delighted that Gwawr will become Interim Head of Drama reporting to Ian Katz and will join his HoDs from July 1. Gwawr is passionate about our mandate to take risks and has a clear vision of how Channel 4 Drama will continue to work with the very best British talent as we roll out our new drama slate. Ollie will continue to oversee the delivery of projects until October, working alongside Farhana and the Film4 team and Gwawr and the Channel 4 Drama team. While Farhana and Gwawr will oversee their respective teams alone, they will continue working closely together to maximise the synergy between talent relationshipson both sides and will co-exec Molly Manning-Walker's new show, which we announced only yesterday. Ollie has been an inspiring creative force, great colleague, and a champion and friend to countless filmmakers. We're incredibly grateful for his exceptional contribution and wish him all the best for the future, and congratulate Farhana and Gwawr as they build on this remarkable body of work. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Northern Lights continue to be visible across northern New England to start the week
Monday and Tuesday night Aurora Forecast will extend the view line into Northern New England. Boston Globe The current geomagnetic storm was designated a level 4 out of 5 categories, making it one of the strongest space storms of the year. Advertisement The large field of solar particles and magnetically charged plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), has weakened since its arrival yesterday but is still forecast to bring a 'strong' storm Monday evening. 'Although the current storm has weakened, its magnetic field has been persistent and quite slow to decrease before the CME leaves Earth behind,' said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. This means a 'large disturbance in Earth's magnetic field that varies in intensity,' the center said. This level of storm typically brings the viewing line to Central and Northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. After Tuesday night, 'nothing significant after the current CME has impacted the longer range forecast just yet,' Dahl said. What are coronal mass ejections? Coronal mass ejections are immense clouds of solar material blasted into space by the sun at more than 1 million miles per hour, often following a solar flare. CMEs expand as they sweep through space, often measuring millions of miles across. Advertisement As CMEs pass Earth, they create a geomagnetic storm — when plasma particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen ions in our upper atmosphere — resulting in the shimmering ribbons of color we call the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The collision of the charged particles and atoms in the Earth's atmosphere releases energy, creating visible light. BOSTON GLOBE The peak of Solar Cycle 25 The sun has been the most active we have seen in more than 20 years, dating back to May 2024 when a massive display of the Northern Lights could be seen as far south as Hawaii. This is because we're now experiencing what's known as solar max, the height of an 11-year solar cycle. The solar cycle is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which the sun's magnetic poles switch, causing changes in the sun's magnetic fields that create disruptions on its surface. Peak activity is expected to continue into 2026. You can see the observed and forecast solar activity in the current cycle below. The sun continues to see peak solar activity in the current cycle. NOAA The best strategy to catch the lights With mostly clear skies expected on Monday and Tuesday, there's a chance that you may catch the lights. Here are a few tips to maximize your chances of seeing the display. Make sure to get away from light pollution and look towards the north. Every smartphone has a compass app that can point you in the right direction. The best viewing window is typically during the darkest hours at night, currently from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Head to higher ground. If there is any way to get to higher elevation, your point of view becomes larger, increasing your chances. Break out the cellphone camera. The aurora is not always visible to the naked eye but your cellphone can pick up the wavelengths and capture what you can't see. 'Aim it up toward the sky and take a shot. You may be surprised when you check your phone later to find some beautiful shots,' said Brent Gordon, a scientist with the space weather center. Professional photographers also suggest enabling night mode on your cellphone so it automatically adjusts your camera settings for low-light conditions. In addition, adjust the exposure time to maximize the potential of your shot and make sure that the 'live' setting is off. Advertisement Ken Mahan can be reached at
New York Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- New York Post
Northern Lights will be visible across most of US thanks to a ‘severe' geomagnetic storm
The northern lights are expected to put on a breathtaking show over parts of the U.S. Sunday night due to a powerful geomagnetic storm hitting Earth. The storm reached 'severe' strength early Sunday morning, strong enough to push the glowing aurora borealis further south than usual — possibly lighting up skies from Michigan and Washington State, down to Northern California and even Alabama, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. 'This is going to be a great night to view the lights where skies are clear,' Shawn Dahl, a coordinator at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, told the New York Times. According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, a geomagnetic storm may brew and lead to a rare display of the Northern Lights. den-belitsky – Clear skies are expected across much of the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, the Midwest, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley, making them prime viewing spots. Star-gazers in the Big Apple, however, shouldn't count on seeing much due to cloudy skies forcast basically all night. 'New York City isn't looking great,' Peter Mullinax of the National Weather Service told the outlet. The aurora is triggered when a burst of material from the sun, called a 'coronal mass ejection,' smashes into Earth's magnetic field. This specific storm is hitting hard enough to reach G4 levels, one notch below the most extreme level, experts said. Usually, the lights are only visible if you take a trek to Iceland or Greenland. A photo of the sun on Saturday by GOES-19 SUVI Composite 195 Angstroms. Space Weather Prediction Center For your best shot at catching the lights, head outside the city, get away from light pollution, and face north, Dahl explained. Even if you can't see the lights with your own eyes, smartphone cameras may be able to pick up the light show. 'As soon as it gets dark enough, people should be on the lookout to the north, outside of city lights,' Dahl said. Though a full moon can diminish the visibility of the lights, 'The moon is very young, so that's not going to be a problem,' he said. The sweet spot for viewing will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to forecasters. The sprawl of the lights will also be able to be tracked by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued for June, May Threaten Infrastructure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A severe geomagnetic storm watch issued by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in effect for June 2, with the agency warning that the powerful solar event could disrupt critical infrastructure. Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "We are already taking measures to notify FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] for their awareness only at this time" so the agency can make "preparation[s] to deal with and manage geomagnetic induced currents that will likely develop in high voltage transmission lines," potentiallyimpacting the nation's power grid. Newsweek has reached out to FEMA's press team for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters Geomagnetic storms are classified by the NOAA on a scale of G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), with G5 being the most powerful and least common. The fluctuations in our planet's magnetic field during a geomagnetic storm create electric fields on the Earth's surface. When these electric fields interact with conductive materials like rock, soil or water, they induce electrical currents in the ground. These currents, coupled with the electric fields in the ground, can lead to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which can travel through power grid systems. These GICs overload transformers and other electrical components, leading to potential damage or large-scale power outages. Aurora borealis, or northern lights, shine in the sky on August 12, 2024, in Mohe, China. Aurora borealis, or northern lights, shine in the sky on August 12, 2024, in Mohe, China. VCG/VCG via AP What To Know On Saturday, NOAA issued a geomagnetic storm watch with a strong (G3) alert for June 1, a severe (G4) alert for June 2 and a moderate (G2) alert for June 4. The warning comes after "a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun" on May 30. It is expected to arrive at Earth on Sunday, June 1. CME is an "eruption of solar material and magnetic fields," according to NOAA. The warning levels are "our best guesses" at the moment, Dahl told Newsweek, adding that "essentially we have to wait until the CME arrives 1 million miles from Earth at the DSCOVR/ACE spacecraft solar wind observatories to know exactly what the CME structure and magnetic strength and orientation actually are." CME arrival at Earth is anticipated and a G4 Watch is now in effect for 2 Jun. CME arrival later on 1 Jun could lead to G3, with G4 potential increased on 2 Jun, and as CME passage weakens, G1-G2 still possible on 3 Jun. Full story at — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 31, 2025 He added that if the magnetic field of the CME is "strong and oriented orientated opposite Earth, we are quite confident in G3-G4 levels being reached," whereas if it is not than the severity becomes less likely. The effects of a geomagnetic storm can be significant, with NOAA's watch stating, "detrimental impacts to some of our critical infrastructure technologies are possible, but mitigation is possible." The infrastructure can be impacted by overload transformers, potentially causing temporary blackouts of the power grid, or interfering with satellites communications and GPS disruptions, among others. In 1989, a powerful CME caused a geomagnetic storm that knocked out the Hydro-Québec power grid in Canada, leaving millions of people without electricity for hours. What People Are Saying Matthew Cappucci, an atmospheric scientist wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday: "A rare 'G4' geomagnetic watch has been hoisted by the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado – indicating they are unusually confident in direct Earth impacts." My Radar Weather posted on X Saturday: "This is a BIG deal! A 'severe' geomagnetic storm is coming – and LOTS of Americans might get to see the aurora borealis!" Dr. Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist, wrote on X Saturday: "Our Sun finally aims straight for Earth! NASA model predictions show a very fast #solarstorm travelling near 1000 km/s that could hit Earth by midday June 1. A slower storm ahead might cause a slight traffic delay, but G4-levels by June 2 are possible. This means #aurora may be visible deep into mid-latitudes. Considering we expect big flares to continue on Earth's dayside over the next few days, this means both the dayside and nightside radio bands will remain noisy, with periodic disruptions." What Happens Next? Geomagnetic storms can make aurora borealis, or the northern lights, more visible by disrupting the Earth's magnetic fields. NOAA says the aurora may be visible for the northern half of the country, as well as other sites. The SWPC will continue updating information about the solar event throughout the day and leading up to its expected impact.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spokane County, two largest cities agree to share data, coordinate on homelessness response
May 25—The Inland Northwest took a step towards a regional, coordinated response to homelessness this week, although not to the lengths advocates once hoped. Spokane County and the cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley have signed on to an interlocal agreement to work together on the state's housing and homelessness crisis. The agreement ensures coordinated data sharing, award granting, extreme weather responses and development planning. Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley said the collaboration should help the region combat homelessness more efficiently and help people achieve better and lasting outcomes. "Addressing homelessness cannot be tackled alone by any single jurisdiction," Haley said. "This collaboration will allow us to pool our resources to coordinate planning efforts, establish priority interventions to meet the needs of our community, and jointly evaluate the performance of providers to maximize the regional funds dedicated to homelessness." The agreement is the first major step towards the regional approach to homelessness posited by local leaders a few years ago. But it's not the regional authority composed of government officials, service providers, business leaders and subject matter experts explored while former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward was in office, and that appeared to lose steam over the competing interests and personalities involved, and a wave of new leaders put in office during the 2023 election cycle. "By continuing to collaborate, we can make more efficient use of public dollars and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in our communities," Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said in a written statement. State law requires counties in Washington to adopt a five-year homeless housing plan consistent with guidelines laid out by the state Department of Commerce, and to provide regular updates through annual progress reports on those plans. The city of Spokane is also required to adopt a strategy as it administers state and federal housing funds. The Valley administers only a fraction of the funding Spokane and the county do, but is included in the region's Continuum of Care 2025-30 Five-Year Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. George Dahl, Spokane County's housing and community development administrator, said the interlocal agreement is predicated on the five-year plan, ensuring collaboration as each government body works to meet its objectives. Dahl told the commissioners it replaces a 2012 contract between the county and the city of Spokane for homelessness data sharing. "This interlocal really spells out that we will coordinate, collaborate and work well together, whether I'm in the seat three years from now, or if my counterparts of the city or the Valley are there," Dahl said. In addition to sharing data, coordinating inclement weather and emergency shelter responses and having housing and support services staff meet regularly, the three jurisdictions have agreed to coordinate on how they distribute funding for housing and homeless services projects in the region. Spokane Valley City Services Administrator Gloria Mantz said contract requirements and performance measures will also be more consistent between the three when awarding funding. "There are very limited dollars for these purposes, and we can only expect that we're going to see a reduction in the near future with what's happening at the federal level," Mantz said. "So it's very important you know that we pick the best qualified and that they adhere to the contract requirements and that they're meeting those performance measures."
