Latest news with #LA-based
Japan Today
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
'The Matrix is everywhere': Cinema bets on immersion
The LA-based Cosm theater has worked to create an environment in which the viewer feels like they are inside the film By Paula RAMON In a Los Angeles theater, a trench coat-wearing Neo bends backwards to dodge bullets that spiral over the viewer's head, as the sound of gunfire erupts from everywhere. This new immersive experience is designed to be a red pill moment that will get film fans off their couches at a time when the movie industry is desperate to bring back audiences. Cosm, which has venues in Los Angeles and Dallas, is launching its dome-style screen and 3D sets in June with a "shared reality" version of "The Matrix," the cult 1999 film starring Keanu Reeves as a man who suddenly learns his world is a fiction. "We believe the future will be more immersive and more experiential," said Cosm president Jeb Terry at a recent preview screening. "It's trying to create an additive, a new experience, ideally non-cannibalistic, so that the industry can continue to thrive across all formats." Cinema audiences were already dwindling when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, shuttering theaters at a time when streaming was exploding. With ever bigger and better TVs available for the home, the challenge for theater owners is to offer something that movie buffs cannot get in their living room. Prestige projects like Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning" or Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer" increasingly opt for the huge screens and superior film quality of IMAX. But Cosm and other projects like it want to go one step further, collaborating with designers who have worked with Cirque du Soleil to create an environment in which the viewer feels like they are inside the film. For filmmakers, it's all about how you place the cameras and where you capture the sound, said Jay Rinsky, founder of Little Cinema, a creative studio specializing in immersive experiences. "We create sets like the Parisian opera, let the movie be the singer, follow the tone, highlight the emotions... through light, through production design, through 3D environments," he said. The approach, he said, felt particularly well suited to "The Matrix," which he called "a masterpiece of cinema, but done as a rectangle." For the uninitiated: Reeves's Neo is a computer hacker who starts poking around in a life that doesn't quite seem to fit. A mysterious Laurence Fishburne offers him a blue pill that will leave him where he is, or a red pill that will show him he is a slave whose body is being farmed by AI machines while his conscious lives in a computer simulation. There follows much gunfire, lots of martial arts and some mysticism, along with a romance between Neo and Trinity, played by the leather-clad Carrie-Anne Moss. "The Matrix" in shared reality kicks off with a choice of cocktails -- blue or red, of course -- which are consumed as the audience sits surrounded by high-definition screens. Shifting perspectives place the viewer inside Neo's office cubicle, or seemingly in peril. "They're sometimes inside the character's head," said Rinsky. "The world changes as you look up and down for trucks coming at you." The result impressed those who were at the preview screening. "It just did feel like an experience," influencer Vince Rossi told AFP. "It felt like you're at a theme park for a movie almost." © 2025 AFP
CNBC
21 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- CNBC
Office dress codes are more confusing than ever—etiquette experts and stylish dressers offer their best advice
The question of "what do I wear to work?" has never been this hard to answer. The pandemic made it normal to wear pajamas and sweats while working from home, and casual dress followed workers as they returned to offices over the years. Naturally, corners of the internet have since lit up in debate over the appropriateness of crop tops, shorts and office sirens in the workplace. Social media, the internet and everyone you talk to will have a different idea of what appropriate workwear is. Your personal work style will also depend on the type of job you have, the company you work for, your general industry and what city you live in. To give some general rules of thumb, CNBC Make It spoke with etiquette experts and stylish office workers for their best advice on how to figure out what to wear to the office right now: If you're new to a workplace and not sure what to wear, observe how your colleagues dress, or straight out ask them for advice on what to wear, says Carla Shellis, 55, an etiquette expert in Dallas. Ask if there are exceptions to certain standards, like whether it's OK to wear athleisure on casual Fridays, or when to opt for a suit when clients are in for meetings. You might also have to tailor your wardrobe based on the actual temperature of the office. Dominique Bird, 31, works a sales job in Austin and documents her "corporate goth" outfits on social media. (She credits LA-based content creator Mars Chasolen, known as online, as inspiration.) Bird says it's important to wear light layers to get through the Texas heat. She sticks to classic silhouettes of dress shirts, long skirts and trousers but swaps out heavier fabrics for cotton and linen for summer. Then, in the air-conditioned office, she always has a sweater, blazer or blanket handy. See dressing for work as "an opportunity, not an obligation," says Daniel Post Senning, 47, etiquette expert of the Emily Post Institute. Putting just a little bit of work to look put together can help you stand out and make people trust and respect you, he says: "People can see your effort and attention." It's OK, and sometimes more fun, to be overdressed. That's the case for Bird, who says many of her colleagues show up to work in cargo pants and flip flops, and joke that she's overdressed for the occasion. "When you show up as yourself, you show up stronger," Bird says. "That's going to help you combat things like imposter syndrome, stand out for the right reasons, and for me personally, take up space in a male-dominated industry." Of course, there are limits to wearing what you want at work: "That self-expression should never come at the expense of your ability to support yourself," Bird says. In other words, don't let your clothes threaten your job security. She doesn't agree with dress codes that focus on prohibiting "distracting" clothes at the office, which tend to police women's bodies more than men's, Bird says. "I think telling women that certain things that they wear is distracting is rooted in sexism," she says. Instead, she prefers think about "appropriateness for the job," she says. For example, if you work in IT and have to crawl under tables to wire equipment, pants might be a better idea than trying to move around in a skirt, Bird says. Ultimately, "there is a way to express yourself without breaking the quote-unquote 'rules,'" she says. Dressing sharply doesn't have to be expensive, says Post Senning, as long as your attire fits your office environment and your body. Regardless of your wardrobe budget or office formality, make an effort to look tidy, whether you're wearing a suit or jeans and sneakers, Shellis says. That means ironing your garments, making sure there aren't any holes or frayed threads, and keeping your shoes clean. "I'm a huge believer that you can have a $2,000 outfit on, but if you have bad shoes, you've just ruined the whole look," Shellis says. If you wouldn't wear something to a family function with grandma and grandpa, don't wear it to the office, says Meghna Bhalla, 26, who works in strategy at a tech company in Toronto and talks about work culture on social media. Another guideline is to consider if you'd feel appropriately dressed if you were suddenly called into a meeting with your manager, she adds. It's better to err on the side of caution and dress more conservatively, at least as you're starting in a new office and still getting a lay of the land. "I hate to say it, but people are going to talk about your outfits if you don't dress the way you should," Bhalla says. Overall, ask yourself about the brand you want to portray in the workplace, Bhalla says. It's not just about how well you do the job, she says, but also how you dress, how you present yourself, how you speak to others and what time you show up to the office. "Do really well," she says, "and let your work speak for you, not your outfit." ,
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
A California city councilmember was blasted on social media over the weekend after sharing a photo of ICE agents on Instagram with the word "Terrorists" written in red on top of the agents. In the photo, which San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera posted to Instagram with the Rage Against The Machine song "Bulls On Parade," immigration agents appear to be in a parking lot wearing helmets and vests and carrying guns. "Look at this photo. This isn't a war zone—it's a neighborhood in our city," Elo-Rivera wrote in the post. "In San Diego, they've targeted parents dropping off their kids at school, people following the law inside courthouses, and workers just doing their jobs at local restaurants. "These are federal agents carrying out raids on under the false pretense of 'safety,'" he added. "This isn't safety. It's state-sponsored terrorism. And anyone who cares about freedom—and true safety—should be fighting back." Dhs Says Massachusetts City Council Member 'Incited Chaos' As Ice Arrested 'Violent Criminal Alien' Prior to the post Friday night, Elo-Rivera, who represents the 9th City Council District, shared a series of Instagram stories criticizing ICE action in the city. Read On The Fox News App "They've targeted parents outside schools in my district," he wrote in one story. "They've targeted people following the law at courthouses. Tonight, they targeted hard working folks in South Park and tomorrow it could be anyone in any neighborhood in San Diego. The only way we put a stop to it is by not looking away and demanding that it end." In subsequent Instagram stories, he called ICE agents "jackbooted thugs," "cowards" and "criminals" and said the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) action was "state-sponsored terrorism." California Home Of Suspect Accused Of Doxxing Ice Agents Raided And Searched After the public rant was shared by LA-based Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin on Saturday afternoon, Elo-Rivera jumped back on social media again to double down on his phrasing. "A Fox 'News' correspondent has called attention to my choice of words… I said what I meant and meant what I said," Elo-Rivera wrote. He then posted a screenshot from Cornell Law School's website, which notes there is no universal definition for terrorism, and checked off a bullet-pointed list of "common elements that characterize it" before calling Instagram users "fascists." Sanctuary City Lawyers Plot To Help Illegal Migrants Evade Ice In Exposed Group Email Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and a homeland security advisor, took to X to respond to Elo-Rivera's posts, writing, "We are living in the age of leftwing domestic terrorism. They are openly encouraging violence against law enforcement to aid and abet the invasion of America." Elo-Rivera responded by calling Miller "one of the most dishonest and worst people in America," noting "nothing makes me more confident in my position than knowing he hates it." The Instagram posts came just hours after Patricia Hyde, the head of ICE Boston, told Fox News sanctuary jurisdictions are beginning to escalate against ICE. Reported incidents include a group of activists trying to free a suspected illegal immigrant who was handcuffed by ICE and a crowd blowing ICE's cover outside an alleged illegal immigrant murderer's home. "I think the lack of cooperation is getting worse and worse, and it's putting law enforcement lives in danger," Hyde said. "Elected officials comparing ICE law enforcement agents to terrorists is SICKENING," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong. "ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults. ICE is working day and night to remove murders, pedophiles, and gang members from American communities." Cornell University, Cornell Law School and San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this article source: San Diego official faces backlash after labeling ICE agents 'terrorists'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Victoria Beckham 'struggling' as Brooklyn's marriage row 'threatens to rupture'
EXCLUSIVE: Victoria Beckham is said to be "struggling" as the rumoured feud between her, David and their son Brooklyn rumbles on, with the family reportedly being torn apart As the rumoured feud within the Beckham clan continues to rumble on, eldest son Brooklyn is thought to be feeling an 'emotional burden' as he's torn between his wife and family. Speculation of tension between Victoria and David and their son and his wife was initially sparked by an incident over a wedding dress and, three years on, LA-based Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz have now reportedly cut contact altogether. A source claims to New magazine that Victoria is struggling with the situation because 26-year-old Brooklyn is 'always going to be her bab y '. 'He's her first-born and they've always had a wonderful relationship, she feels like Nicola has taken over and it's really tough to deal with as a mother,' they said. READ MORE: What does Elf buying Rhode mean for us in the UK? A beauty editor takes a deep dive 'David is frustrated with Brooklyn's behaviour and is telling Victoria it's unacceptable, but she's just upset to feel like she's losing her first baby. She's very family-oriented so it's a worry that Brooklyn and Nicola will start their own family and Victoria won't have contact with her first grandchild – it's a devastating thought.' But a friend of the couple exclusively told the Mirror: 'Nicola and Brooklyn didn't cut contact - if anything, David and Victoria seem to have wanted the distancing since Nicola has made plenty of positive gestures like wearing Victoria's clothes over the years, but somehow she and Brooklyn get all the criticism in the relationship. It's understandable that there would be some natural distancing after years and years of being on the receiving end of unnecessary attacks and untruths.' Psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur tells new that as the eldest of the four Beckham children, she believes Brooklyn's choice of partner has a 'ripple effect' on the whole family, and if it isn't perceived as a good choice, could rupture the family unit. 'The eldest child often carries a very unique emotional burden within the family, and particularly those that are tightly bound into the family unit, or in a family that are publicly scrutinised in the way that the Beckhams or the royals are, for example,' she tells us. 'The role of the eldest, and most people can probably relate, comes with lots of unspoken expectations, and one of those is to lead by example. Whether that's leading by example in their career, their social life or their relationship, it almost becomes a template for the younger siblings. 'So when that eldest child begins to separate, or they begin to have a bit of an identity of their own, which they will when they get older and they enter a relationship, it can create a ripple effect. Not just because they're moving on but because they're shifting the family dynamic. So in close families, especially those in the spotlight, it can feel like a rupture rather than a natural evolution.' The speculation about a potential family fallout was low key until David's recent 50th birthday bashes. While A-listers were out in force, Brooklyn and Nicola, 30, were absent. The drama seemed to spill over onto social media last week when youngest son Cruz posted what many saw as a direct clap back to an earlier post by Brooklyn. The aspiring racing driver posted a video of himself and his wife on a motorcycle, and wrote in the caption: 'My whole world x I will love you forever x I always choose you baby x you're the most amazing person i know xx me and you forever baby.' Many of his followers interpreted the post as a direct dig at his family – and laid the blame squarely at Nicola's door, with one writing: 'Real love doesn't make you choose', and another adding: 'Any loving wife should never make her husband choose between her and her husband's family.' Shortly after the post, 20-year-old Cruz shared a family photograph from happier times – which included Brooklyn – to his own Instagram stories, accompanied by a message of support for his mum and dad. 'I love my family, I love you guys more than anything, mum & dad, you gave us life and cared for us no matter what' he wrote, 'I cannot tell you how blessed we all are to have you in our lives x.' According to psychotherapist Kamalyn, the responsibility to bring the family back together now lies firmly with Victoria and David. Comparing Brooklyn's situation with that of Prince Harry, who is also somewhat estranged from his own family after what many people perceived as him 'choosing' Meghan Markle over them, she says neither man is actually doing anything wrong. 'I don't think they're doing anything they shouldn't be,' she explained. 'Every woman, like Nicola and Meghan, wants to marry a man that prioritises her and doesn't sit there with his mum. That's basic. But because they're in the spotlight and because there's so much pressure for the family to present themselves in a certain way, instead of it being looked at as a natural evolution, it's looked at as something that's negative.' Unless there's been a verbal, physical or emotional altercation, she added, they need to focus on accepting Brooklyn's choices and avoid criticising or judging, because that's what 'drives a child away'. 'Brooklyn's priorities might have changed, and that's totally okay. Also, accept that as parents, they might need time and space to heal from the shift in dynamic. And also, accept that they might need to re-evaluate their expectations of Brooklyn now, and try to establish a new normal.' Given Cruz and Brooklyn's social media posts, they need to be mindful of not letting their dramas poison the relations between their kids as siblings, Kamalyn believes. 'As a parent, it's still your job to protect siblings from anything you're feeling, especially any hostility. You don't ever want your child to feel like they have to choose between a sibling and a parent.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mira Rajput channels CEO princess vibes in an off-shoulder gown at her wellness brand launch
Mira Rajput Kapoor, transitioning from style icon to wellness entrepreneur, stunned at her brand launch. She wore a striking white Simkhai gown, blending vintage romance with modern CEO energy. Accessorized with bold gold jewelry and a sleek wristwatch, Mira's look perfectly embodied her sophisticated and powerful new role, marking a significant milestone. Mira Rajput Kapoor is no longer just the queen of curated skincare shelves and elegant brunch fits, she's now a wellness entrepreneur with a wardrobe to match her new power player status. The stylish wife of actor Shahid Kapoor made a jaw-dropping appearance at the launch of her own wellness brand, turning heads in a show-stopping white gown that radiated modern royalty with a dash of CEO energy. For this career milestone, Mira chose a sculptural off-shoulder maxi dress from LA-based luxury label Simkhai, priced at a cool ₹57,300. But this wasn't just any event look, it was a visual declaration of grace, ambition, and quiet luxury rolled into one silhouette. The ivory-hued dress played on delicate contrasts. With a draped off-shoulder neckline and a soft-ruched bustier detail, the upper half nodded to vintage romance, while the body-skimming ribbed midsection gave it a corseted, Victorian-era structure. The cinched waist and strategic panelling sculpted her frame, offering a masterclass in understated sensuality. Below the waist, the pleated jersey fabric flowed into a dreamy A-line skirt, catching the light and fluttering with each step like a modern-day ballgown. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Channelling a 'Cleopatra-meets-boardroom' aesthetic, Mira paired the gown with bold gold accents, the kind that say, 'Yes, I'm launching a brand and making a style statement.' Long, textured gold earrings framed her face, while a mix of sculptural gold bangles added a playful edge to the ethereal outfit. A sleek gold-toned wristwatch subtly reminded everyone of her newly minted CEO status. Her golden strappy heels peeked out just enough to complete the goddess-gone-corporate vibe. Keeping her glam polished and minimal, Mira embraced her signature soft glow. Dewy skin, warm blush, and a nude pout kept things fresh and radiant. Her eyes were subtly defined with winged eyeliner and fluttery lashes, a gentle nod to old-school glamour. She styled her hair in loose, side-parted waves that framed her face perfectly, adding movement and softness to the structured gown. Mira Rajput's launch look wasn't just another pretty outfit, it was a power move in monochrome. Sophisticated, feminine, and loaded with personality, it was the perfect embodiment of her transition from style muse to business maven. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
