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The Age
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Bicycles, ice baths and 4 million bricks: Behind the scenes of Lego Masters
Every day while filming Lego Masters, Hamish Blake and Ryan 'Brickman' McNaught, host and judge of the Logie-award-wining show, ride bicycles together to get to work. 'Yeah, probably don't tell production that I ride my bike because I'm a 50/50 chance of not making it,' Blake says, laughing. 'City drivers don't love seeing a cyclist. I mean, the anger is palpable.' McNaught grimaces with a smile. 'Dicing with death daily,' he says. 'Lucky we're not angry on this show.' Indeed, Lego Masters Australia, returning for its seventh season with Grandmasters of the Galaxy, a global battle of 10 teams from Australia and overseas, is a bastion of family-friendly encouragement and kinship. 'We're definitely the light side,' Blake says, laughing. 'We're Jedis, always trying to really harness that Jedi feeling.' This season, 20 players from seven countries – a mix of homegrown and international winners and finalists from Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Sweden, the US and New Zealand – will tackle extraordinary challenges. This includes seeing if Lego can fly, building a car with a dash of 'movie magic', creating lifelike objects for a Chinese restaurant, and creating a monster from ancient civilisations. There's also the introduction of the 'magic brick' – a coveted large, glowing block that teams battle for to gain immunity from elimination in the next challenge. And TV personality Sophie Monk will return as special guest in four episodes. Returning Australian builders include fan favourite and season-five winner Owen, teamed up with Gabby, who came fourth in season three; season-one runners-up David and Gerhard (known as 'G'); Henry and Cade, champions of season one; and Trent and Alex, who have come close to victory more than once. Loading The overseas teams include Dai and Jiayuan, from Lego Masters China; Oskari and Aura from Finland; New Zealand runners-up Emily and Sarah; and sibling duo Paul and Nealita from the US. There are also best friends and Lego Masters Sweden alumni Vidar and Albin; and Nick and Stacey, the first Canadians to win Lego Masters USA, who did so in their Lego bow-tie and hair bow respectively. 'These are all the best of the best,' says Blake, who won the 2022 Gold Logie for most popular personality on television. 'Not only has everyone built on the show before, the only people that haven't won are people that are back here because they just missed out. They're the elite.' On the day I visit the studio, which is housed in a hangar-style building at Disney Studios in Sydney's Moore Park, teams of production staff are sorting used bricks on an upper level while, below, a large bank of multiple screens shows 25 camera angles of the contestants, all metres away, constructing against the clock at their workbenches. The set, a red and gold Chinese restaurant, complete with tables and chairs, fills the end of the room. The teams are hunched over, building intently, and the sound of murmuring and clicking bricks fills the air. Every so often, someone will sprint to choose from 4 million bricks in the Brick Pit. Blake and McNaught hover between the tables, quietly observing between chats, jokes and advice with teams off- and on-camera. For all the fun of Lego Masters, the pair know how their presence can affect contestants. 'You have to be cognisant of how much pressure they're always under,' Blake says. 'They want to put their best foot forward, the clock is always ticking and there's a real skill to what everyone's doing on the show, I never want to be flippant about that. 'But I still believe it helps people be at their best if you can keep a slight amount of cheerfulness in adversity. It keeps a pep in their step.' As one of the world's leading Lego brick artists, and the only Lego certified professional in the southern hemisphere, McNaught understands his influence. Loading 'My job, obviously, is to be a judge, but also I want them to be the best possible Lego builders they can be,' he says. 'In some instances there's still 90 minutes on the clock, they've done 95 per cent, they've got capacity to finesse, make it that little bit better. 'In other instances, it's 'hang on a minute, we've just gotta get you over the line'. So you have to juggle both of these.' After seven seasons, Blake says one of the challenges of Lego Masters is coming up with new build quests. 'I think we will have done close to 100 challenges by now,' he says. 'Everything's new. You have to keep getting more and more creative to keep it novel, and that becomes the challenge. But that's all right. That's what happens with any creative process that's seven years in.' In the past week, McNaught has already banked four ideas for future seasons. 'Once you've got your Lego brain on, it's all, 'What about this wild thing?'' he says. There's no doubt McNaught has a Lego brain. But what about Lego fingers? Does building trigger injuries? 'Absolutely yes,' he says. '[Just] working with your fingers for eight hours here is really hard. For instance, Gabby isn't used to operating with the big bricks she's using today, so her hands are throbbing. But it doesn't take long to get match-fit.' McNaught himself has some 'pretty gnarly arthritis' in his hands after manoeuvring Lego for years. 'At the end of a long day my knuckles swell,' he says. 'No different to a bricklayer or a chippy.' Brickman's tips for Lego enthusiasts with aching digits? Learn to use both hands, rest them alternately and have a long break afterwards. What about mini ice baths? 'That's what I do,' McNaught says. Blake is excited. 'Yeah – 'Bricks down, guys!'' he says, jokingly. ''Come to the centre now. I want your hands in the ice baths!''
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bicycles, ice baths and 4 million bricks: Behind the scenes of Lego Masters
Every day while filming Lego Masters, Hamish Blake and Ryan 'Brickman' McNaught, host and judge of the Logie-award-wining show, ride bicycles together to get to work. 'Yeah, probably don't tell production that I ride my bike because I'm a 50/50 chance of not making it,' Blake says, laughing. 'City drivers don't love seeing a cyclist. I mean, the anger is palpable.' McNaught grimaces with a smile. 'Dicing with death daily,' he says. 'Lucky we're not angry on this show.' Indeed, Lego Masters Australia, returning for its seventh season with Grandmasters of the Galaxy, a global battle of 10 teams from Australia and overseas, is a bastion of family-friendly encouragement and kinship. 'We're definitely the light side,' Blake says, laughing. 'We're Jedis, always trying to really harness that Jedi feeling.' This season, 20 players from seven countries – a mix of homegrown and international winners and finalists from Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Sweden, the US and New Zealand – will tackle extraordinary challenges. This includes seeing if Lego can fly, building a car with a dash of 'movie magic', creating lifelike objects for a Chinese restaurant, and creating a monster from ancient civilisations. There's also the introduction of the 'magic brick' – a coveted large, glowing block that teams battle for to gain immunity from elimination in the next challenge. And TV personality Sophie Monk will return as special guest in four episodes. Returning Australian builders include fan favourite and season-five winner Owen, teamed up with Gabby, who came fourth in season three; season-one runners-up David and Gerhard (known as 'G'); Henry and Cade, champions of season one; and Trent and Alex, who have come close to victory more than once. Loading The overseas teams include Dai and Jiayuan, from Lego Masters China; Oskari and Aura from Finland; New Zealand runners-up Emily and Sarah; and sibling duo Paul and Nealita from the US. There are also best friends and Lego Masters Sweden alumni Vidar and Albin; and Nick and Stacey, the first Canadians to win Lego Masters USA, who did so in their Lego bow-tie and hair bow respectively. 'These are all the best of the best,' says Blake, who won the 2022 Gold Logie for most popular personality on television. 'Not only has everyone built on the show before, the only people that haven't won are people that are back here because they just missed out. They're the elite.' On the day I visit the studio, which is housed in a hangar-style building at Disney Studios in Sydney's Moore Park, teams of production staff are sorting used bricks on an upper level while, below, a large bank of multiple screens shows 25 camera angles of the contestants, all metres away, constructing against the clock at their workbenches. The set, a red and gold Chinese restaurant, complete with tables and chairs, fills the end of the room. The teams are hunched over, building intently, and the sound of murmuring and clicking bricks fills the air. Every so often, someone will sprint to choose from 4 million bricks in the Brick Pit. Blake and McNaught hover between the tables, quietly observing between chats, jokes and advice with teams off- and on-camera. For all the fun of Lego Masters, the pair know how their presence can affect contestants. 'You have to be cognisant of how much pressure they're always under,' Blake says. 'They want to put their best foot forward, the clock is always ticking and there's a real skill to what everyone's doing on the show, I never want to be flippant about that. 'But I still believe it helps people be at their best if you can keep a slight amount of cheerfulness in adversity. It keeps a pep in their step.' As one of the world's leading Lego brick artists, and the only Lego certified professional in the southern hemisphere, McNaught understands his influence. Loading 'My job, obviously, is to be a judge, but also I want them to be the best possible Lego builders they can be,' he says. 'In some instances there's still 90 minutes on the clock, they've done 95 per cent, they've got capacity to finesse, make it that little bit better. 'In other instances, it's 'hang on a minute, we've just gotta get you over the line'. So you have to juggle both of these.' After seven seasons, Blake says one of the challenges of Lego Masters is coming up with new build quests. 'I think we will have done close to 100 challenges by now,' he says. 'Everything's new. You have to keep getting more and more creative to keep it novel, and that becomes the challenge. But that's all right. That's what happens with any creative process that's seven years in.' In the past week, McNaught has already banked four ideas for future seasons. 'Once you've got your Lego brain on, it's all, 'What about this wild thing?'' he says. There's no doubt McNaught has a Lego brain. But what about Lego fingers? Does building trigger injuries? 'Absolutely yes,' he says. '[Just] working with your fingers for eight hours here is really hard. For instance, Gabby isn't used to operating with the big bricks she's using today, so her hands are throbbing. But it doesn't take long to get match-fit.' McNaught himself has some 'pretty gnarly arthritis' in his hands after manoeuvring Lego for years. 'At the end of a long day my knuckles swell,' he says. 'No different to a bricklayer or a chippy.' Brickman's tips for Lego enthusiasts with aching digits? Learn to use both hands, rest them alternately and have a long break afterwards. What about mini ice baths? 'That's what I do,' McNaught says. Blake is excited. 'Yeah – 'Bricks down, guys!'' he says, jokingly. ''Come to the centre now. I want your hands in the ice baths!''
Geek Tyrant
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Disney Releases New Trailer, Clip and Movie Poster for Live-Action LILO & STITCH — GeekTyrant
Disney Studios has released a new trailer, as well as a new clip and poster for their live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch . In the film, 'Lilo is a lonely Hawaiian girl who adopts a small ugly 'dog,' whom she names Stitch. Stitch would be the perfect pet if he weren't in reality a genetic experiment who has escaped from an alien planet and crash-landed on Earth. 'Through her love, faith, and unwavering belief in ohana , the Hawaiian concept of family, Lilo helps unlock Stitch's heart and gives him the ability to care for someone else.' The cast includes newcomer Maia Kealoha, who is playing Lilo; Billy Magnussen as the one-eyed alien Pleakley, Sydney Elizabeth Agudong ( NCIS ) as Nani, Lilo's older sister and legal guardian, the original voice of Nani, Tia Carrere, will be portraying a new character named Mrs. Kekoa, while actress Amy Hill, who played Mrs. Hasagawa in the animated movie and series, will play a new character named Tūtū. Zach Galifianakis is also starring and confirmed to be playing Stitch's scientist creator, Jumba. Dean Fleischer Camp ( Marcel the Shell With Shoes On ) is directing the remake, and it crashes into theaters on May 23, 2025. Check out all the new goodies below, and let us know if you're looking forward to this one.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Beyonce is priming daughter Rumi Carter, 7, to follow in 'nepo baby' Blue Ivy's footsteps as a child star
At the tender age of 13, Beyonce 's first born Blue Ivy is already a Grammy-winning artist and performer. And now it looks like the Single Ladies hitmaker is priming her youngest daughter Rumi, seven, to follow in Blue's footsteps. Little Rumi made her stage debut on Monday at the opening night of mom Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The youngster joined Bey on stage for a performance of the Cowboy Carter track Protector, which she's featured as a guest vocalist on. Her twin brother Sir, whom Jay-Z and Beyoncé have kept out of the public eye, did not feature in the performance. Protector peaked at No. 76 on the Hot 100 last year, making Rumi the youngest female artist to ever crack the Billboard singles chart at just six years old. The previous record holder was her big sister Blue, who became the youngest female artist on the Hot 100 in 2019 when she appeared on her mother's song Brown Skin Girl at the age of seven. Rumi is featured at the start of the song, which is the fourth track on Cowboy Carter. The little girl left the singing and rapping to her mother, and she was instead featured in what sounds like a repurposed home recording. 'Mom, can I hear the lullaby please?' Rumi asks haltingly, pronouncing the last word more like 'wullaby.' Rumi looked more than happy to be soaking up the spotlight on Monday. She was spotted waving enthusiastically to the crowd of thousands, and even struck a confident pose at one point. The seven-year-old is clearly being primed to follow big sister Blue, who is already one of the biggest child stars on the planet. Blue, a two-time Guinness World Record holder, might only be 13, but she's already garnered a Grammy Award, MTV VMA Moon Man, NAACP Image Award, Voice Arts Award, and two BET Awards. She previously danced back-up for Beyoncé's songs My Power and Black Parade during her $579.8M-grossing, 56-date Renaissance World Tour last year. The talented teen has also collaborated with her famous parents on a number of hit songs. She made her musical debut on dad Jay-Z's 2012 single Glory, which made Blue the youngest person in history to ever chart on Billboard. In 2019, Blue featured on Beyonce's Lion King single Brown Skin Girl, which reached No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. Last year, Blue made her big screen acting debut by voicing Kiara in Mufasa: The Lion King. 'If I told my younger self that I was in a movie, I'd never believe myself,' Blue said in an interview with Disney Studios. 'It's just a really amazing experience and I feel like everybody that's a part of this is so helpful and supportive,' she continued. 'I'm really happy for girls who look like me all around the world are able to watch this movie and hear and see themselves in it.' She also joined Beyonce on stage at the Cowboy Carter tour on Monday to perform her mother's hit single Deja Vu. The teenager looked like the spitting image of her mother as she strutted her stuff on stage and emulated Beyonce's most iconic moves and mannerisms. The performance drew a strong reaction on social media, with fans gushing that Blue has become a positive example of nepotism in the music industry. 'If Blue Ivy can sing as well as she dances, I'm so sorry but imma have to support the hell out of that nepo baby,' wrote one on X formerly Twitter. 'Most nepo babies have absolutely no talent and no stage presence, but Blue Ivy is very much a star,' added a second. 'I'm so impressed by Blue Ivy. It's giving nepo baby but with talent,' wrote another, while a fourth said, 'Blue Ivy is going to be the most successful nepo baby of her generation i just know it.' Another wrote, 'Blue Ivy, at just 13, is a Grammy award winner, performed at most Renaissance tour dates, the halftime show, and is now making another world tour debut with Cowboy Carter. She is continuing to prove that despite being a nepo baby she has genuine talent.' Beyonce officially kicked off her Cowboy Carter tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday night. From there, the pop superstar will perform across the US and Europe before closing out in Las Vegas on July 26. But when it comes to shifting tickets Beyoncé is struggling compared to her previous stadium tours. There were more than 3,000 seats available at SoFi Stadium last week, with huge numbers still available mere moments before she took the stage on Monday night, according to seat maps on Ticketmaster. Shortly after the Single Ladies singer announced her tour in February, fans quickly complained about the jaw-dropping prices of tickets, which ranged from hundreds to even thousands of dollars. But last week, one fan claimed to have found resale tickets in the nosebleed section of the star's SoFi Stadium show for as low as $20. They then compared it to the cost of one of the limited edition Minecraft Movie Big Mac Meals from McDonald's, which was around the same price point.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
T-Mobile US (NasdaqGS:TMUS) Appoints New CAO as Seasoned Leader Dara Bazzano Retires
T-Mobile US recently announced the appointment of Daniel J. Drobac as the new Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, signaling a focused leadership transition. Over the last quarter, T-Mobile's stock price increased by 22%, a notable movement amid a market that rose 5%. This performance was likely amplified by the company's positive Q4 and full-year 2024 earnings reports, showcasing robust revenue and net income growth. Furthermore, partnerships with Disney Studios and NVIDIA highlighted T-Mobile's advancements in 5G and AI technologies, contributing to investor confidence and complementing broader market trends. You should learn about the 2 weaknesses we've spotted with T-Mobile US. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 20 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. The recent leadership change at T-Mobile US, with Daniel J. Drobac appointed as VP and Chief Accounting Officer, may reinforce the company's 5G and AI initiatives highlighted in recent collaborations with Disney Studios and NVIDIA. Over the past five years, T-Mobile's total shareholder return was an impressive 191.24%, reflecting substantial value creation. In comparison, the company's one-year performance exceeded the US market's 3.6% return but aligned with the 62% return from the US Wireless Telecom industry. This suggests that while T-Mobile has consistently outperformed the broader market, it maintains parity with its industry. The appointment could further influence revenue and earnings forecasts, as strategic leadership transitions often signal renewed focus on growth areas. Analysts predict T-Mobile's earnings to rise from US$11.34 billion to US$15.8 billion by April 2028, driven by expansions in 5G and broadband services. However, the execution risks associated with technological investments and strategic partnerships could pressure these forecasts if not effectively realized. Currently priced at US$246.30, T-Mobile's share price demonstrates a mild discount to the consensus price target of US$260.86, suggesting potential for moderate appreciation if earnings forecasts materialize as expected. Take a closer look at T-Mobile US' potential here in our financial health report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:TMUS. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
