Latest news with #Melody
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Making of ‘Out of My Mind': Inside the groundbreaking Disney+ film redefining disability representation on screen
The team behind the Disney+ film Out of My Mind — producer Peter Saraf, director Amber Sealey, writer Daniel Stiepleman, and star Phoebe-Rae Taylor — joined together for a special Gold Derby "Making Of" panel to share how they adapted Sharon Draper's beloved novel into a film that's both deeply personal while also delivering a powerful message about inclusion and identity. 'Watching the film and taking home the lessons in it will make the world a better place,' says Sealey. For Saraf, the project began at home. 'I read the book because my daughter told me to read it,' he shares. 'She read it as many students do in school.' It didn't take long for Saraf to recognize the novel's cinematic potential — not just because of Draper's powerful storytelling, but also because of her lived experience. 'Sharon Draper … was a teacher, a mom of a child with cerebral palsy, and she's a wonderful writer. So all of that combines to create this incredible story that we knew should be a great movie.' More from GoldDerby 'Wicked: For Good' trailer teases more monkeys, a wedding, and Dorothy Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood: The debunked 'White Lotus' feud explained Justine Lupe on the unexpected chemistries that power Netflix's 'Nobody Wants This' Recognizing its potential, Saraf brought the book to screenwriter Stiepleman. For him, it was a meaningful opportunity to revisit his own past. 'In my previous life, before I was a writer, I was a teacher,' Stiepleman explains. 'And so I have obviously never been Melody [the main character played by Taylor], but I had been Mr. Dimming. And sometimes I did that job well, and sometimes I didn't.' Seeing the story through Melody's eyes became a moment of reflection and empathy. 'I went back to Peter and said, 'You have to let me write this movie.'' A pivotal step in the adaptation process was casting Melody, a nonverbal girl with cerebral palsy. 'We knew that we had to find a girl that right age, a girl with CP and a girl who could act,' says Saraf. 'We did a search all over the world.' Among the many auditions, one stood out: Phoebe-Rae Taylor. 'Phoebe-Rae was just the absolute perfect person to play the part,' he said. Sealey wholeheartedly agreed. 'As soon as we found her, we were like, it's her. ... Even Sharon, the book's author, said, 'Cast that girl before she gets too old.'' Disney+ For Taylor, discovering the character of Melody as a child was a transformative experience. 'When I was about 7 or 8, I read the book in school and I loved it,' she recalls. 'I've never seen a character like me before. ... I remember I came home that day and I screamed to my parents, 'My God, guess what, I found a character like me.'' Years later, that early connection became a life-changing opportunity. 'Even now I have no words for it … this has been the most unreal three years of my life and the best three years of my life,' she shared. 'I've learnt so much ... and now I've got a confidence that I'm really grateful for.' One of the most unique creative challenges was translating Melody's inner monologue — so vital in the novel — into a cinematic language. 'What is the voice of a character who has never heard their own voice?' Saraf asks. The unexpected answer came from Phoebe herself: Jennifer Aniston. 'Jennifer Aniston has always been and always will be my favorite actor,' Phoebe says. 'To have her know I exist is enough, because I really am obsessed with her.' Aniston ultimately agreed to lend her voice to Melody's thoughts, adding a personal and emotional layer to the film. The film also stars Rosemarie DeWitt and Luke Kirby as Melody's parents and Judith Light as a family friend. According to Sealey, the production itself was a rare kind of collaborative harmony. 'This film has been the gift that keeps on giving,' she says. 'We all had the same mission ... wanting the set to be completely inclusive.' She also credits Taylor with setting the tone for that inclusive environment through her courage and performance. 'She just blew me away — how willing she was to really go there.' The film's heartfelt impact has been met with critical acclaim, garnering a Peabody Award, Critics Choice Awards nominations for Best Limited/Movie Actress for Taylor, and Best TV Movie, a Directors Guild Award win for Sealey, and a Writers Guild Award nomination for Stiepleman. But for Sealey, no recognition compares to the impact the film has had on its audience. 'Almost daily I get messages from kids on Instagram who have cerebral palsy or are disabled in a different way. They send a message saying, 'Thank you for making this movie. It touched me. That's me up there.'' This article and video are presented by Disney. Best of GoldDerby Chloë Sevigny on Kitty Menendez and 'Monsters' fascination: 'People are endlessly curious about those who have privilege and abuse it' Jason Isaacs relives filming 'The White Lotus' piña colada scene: 'It was one of the reasons I was worried about taking the job' Kaitlyn Dever on playing 'horrible' characters in 'Last of Us', 'Apple Cider Vinegar': 'I just don't see any other option but to give 100 percent' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
3-Year-Old Fell 15 Feet into a Waterfall and Then Good Samaritan Stepped in, Mom Says
Kiya Livingston's 3-year-old daughter Melody fell about 15 feet into a waterfall in Arkansas on May 20 Fortunately, a man later pulled Melody out of the water and the child suffered no major injuries 'She was thankfully fully wedged between a rock that held her underwater, held her in place, where he was able to scoop her up," Livingston said A mother credited a good Samaritan for saving her 3-year-old daughter's life after the child fell into an Arkansas waterfall last week. Kiya Livingston and her child Melody were visiting the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista on Tuesday, May 20, to hike and swim, CBS affiliate KFSM and ABC affiliate KHBS reported. "I was sitting on the rocks; she was standing on the bridge with her friends," Livingston told KFSM. "They were throwing in rocks, and we told her not to get too close. Then somehow, she just stuck her foot in there, and she was gone." Melody reportedly fell almost 15 feet into the water. "I saw her purple outfit and I saw a hand in the air, so my first thing was to just get in there," Livingston remembered, per KHBS. "She was over the waterfall, and she flew from the top to the bottom so I had to get out of the water and try to run the best that I could to the bottom to find somewhere to catch her." The mother further told KHBS that several people offered to help in the rescue effort. "We were just trying to find out where we could find her in the water, to pull her out,' Livingston recalled, 'because the current was so strong." When she and her sister made it to the bottom, Livingston found that a good Samaritan had pulled Melody out of the water. "The man that saved her had already jumped in and they said that she didn't end up having to get CPR,' Livingston told KFSM. 'She was thankfully fully wedged between a rock that held her underwater, held her in place, where he was able to scoop her up." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fortunately, Melody did not sustain any serious injuries in the fall, and came away unscathed aside from a few scratches, which her mother described as a miracle. A doctor told Livingston that Melody's small size helped her survive the ordeal. "I couldn't have lost her," Livingston said, per KHBS. "She fought and I keep telling her, thank you for fighting to be with me, because if she wouldn't have fought, she wouldn't have made it." Livingston also thanked the good Samaritan for his heroic actions. "He saved my daughter's life,' the mother told KFSM. 'So anything that we can do, if we can just say, thank you." PEOPLE contacted Livingston and the Bella Vista Police Department for additional information on Monday, May 26. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
3-Year-Old Fell 15 Feet into a Waterfall and Then Good Samaritan Stepped in, Mom Says
Kiya Livingston's 3-year-old daughter Melody fell about 15 feet into a waterfall in Arkansas on May 20 Fortunately, a man later pulled Melody out of the water and the child suffered no major injuries 'She was thankfully fully wedged between a rock that held her underwater, held her in place, where he was able to scoop her up," Livingston said A mother credited a good Samaritan for saving her 3-year-old daughter's life after the child fell into an Arkansas waterfall last week. Kiya Livingston and her child Melody were visiting the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista on Tuesday, May 20, to hike and swim, CBS affiliate KFSM and ABC affiliate KHBS reported. "I was sitting on the rocks; she was standing on the bridge with her friends," Livingston told KFSM. "They were throwing in rocks, and we told her not to get too close. Then somehow, she just stuck her foot in there, and she was gone." Melody reportedly fell almost 15 feet into the water. "I saw her purple outfit and I saw a hand in the air, so my first thing was to just get in there," Livingston remembered, per KHBS. "She was over the waterfall, and she flew from the top to the bottom so I had to get out of the water and try to run the best that I could to the bottom to find somewhere to catch her." The mother further told KHBS that several people offered to help in the rescue effort. "We were just trying to find out where we could find her in the water, to pull her out,' Livingston recalled, 'because the current was so strong." When she and her sister made it to the bottom, Livingston found that a good Samaritan had pulled Melody out of the water. "The man that saved her had already jumped in and they said that she didn't end up having to get CPR,' Livingston told KFSM. 'She was thankfully fully wedged between a rock that held her underwater, held her in place, where he was able to scoop her up." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fortunately, Melody did not sustain any serious injuries in the fall, and came away unscathed aside from a few scratches, which her mother described as a miracle. A doctor told Livingston that Melody's small size helped her survive the ordeal. "I couldn't have lost her," Livingston said, per KHBS. "She fought and I keep telling her, thank you for fighting to be with me, because if she wouldn't have fought, she wouldn't have made it." Livingston also thanked the good Samaritan for his heroic actions. "He saved my daughter's life,' the mother told KFSM. 'So anything that we can do, if we can just say, thank you." PEOPLE contacted Livingston and the Bella Vista Police Department for additional information on Monday, May 26. Read the original article on People
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Olympian Circus debuts in Coimbatore, treating people to traditional and modern acts
There is less than 30 minutes to go for the Olympian Circus' evening show, but the artistes are relaxed backstage at their tents. Melody is walking with her baby on her hip while her friend and co-artiste Malemnganbi busies herself with making faces at the little one. In the tent next door, Leishem Khaidem and his team of gymnasts are lounging on plastic chairs. The artistes are all from Manipur, and are part of the 60-member circus company that was formed just a year ago. But they know their parts like clockwork and will transform into the entertainers they are trained to be as soon as the bell goes off. This is Olympian Circus' first time in Coimbatore, and the company has pitched the big top at Sasthri Grounds after successful runs at Pune and Bengaluru. 'We have tried to keep up with the times by introducing new concepts,' explains manager V Devaraj. He adds that their acts are set to peppy music, with strobe lights and a disco ball adding a modern edge to the traditional circus stage. Most of the artistes are from Manipur, and joining them is a team of young performers from Mexico. While the essence of the traditional circus still lingers, many acts feel new. The stage too, devoid of the tangle of ropes, cables, and nets that define a circus, appears modern, with a disco ball spilling stars all around. There is no live band with trembling crash cymbals announcing the entry of the star performers with a flourish; no clowns with painted faces and silly antics. But the Olympian Circus manages to entertain in its own way. The show kicks off with the nerve-wracking Ring of Death. A circus staple, this makes way for a line-up that is a mix of the old and the new. Think stuntmen swallowing knives, lithe women with hula hoops, and smiling gymnasts arranging themselves into a pyramid. A favourite among the young and the old is a show of bubbles in which an artiste sends mammoth bubbles into the air with a range of equipment. The children squeal as people dressed as Masha and her Bear do a little jiggle; their excitement knows no bounds when Bumblebee, the yellow robot from the Transformers series struts into the centre of the stage. A rather intriguing Spring Dance follows, which can only be described as a gigantic spring writhing its way across the stage, much like a gigantic silver worm. What sets the show apart is the energy of the young team, many of them eager to impress with skills they have only recently mastered. Leishem, for instance, used to practice gymnastics for fun in his village of Khurkhul in Imphal West district in Manipur. 'I then met a few like-minded friends online who were also into gymnastics,' says the 28-year-old. Soon, they formed a team, and spent all their free time training. When an opportunity to join the circus came calling, they embraced it with open arms. The men are fluid and confident, and enthrall us with their performance which is coordinated to the T. What's a circus without the Globe Of Death stunt? At Olympian, Manoj Kumar from Calicut is the star biker who zips across a metal mesh sphere in top speed. Off the bike, the 45-year-old is an ordinary bloke who also helps run the show backstage. But once he dons his helmet, he is someone else. 'I train my mind to focus on nothing but the sound of the engine,' he says. This is crucial, for it tells him that he is maintaining the necessary speed. 'I take the bike to a maximum speed of 60 kmph,' he explains, adding that it has been 25 years since he started riding inside a closed sphere. 'I've broken my arms and legs many times,' he chuckles. The risky stunt is not for everyone. 'I trained under Amar, who used to be in the military. He used to perform stunts with Jeeps,' he says. Manoj has worked with 22 circus companies and has performed at every State in India. Even today, he does feel the jitters when he enters the sphere. Says Manoj: 'But I send a quick prayer, and rev up the engine till I hear nothing else but its sound. I cannot afford to give in to fear.' The Olympian Circus is on till May 25 at Sasthri Grounds, RS Puram. Shows are on at 4.30pm and 7.30pm on weekdays, and on weekends, there is an extra one at 1.30pm. Tickets, starting from ₹200, on Bookmyshow.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Eurovision needs an 18+ rating now!' Disgruntled fans say contest is no longer 'family-friendly' after raunchy performances from the likes of Finland and Malta (and they were the toned-down versions!)
The Eurovision Song Contest, known for its flamboyance and pushing performance boundaries, may have gone too far for some viewers this year. As a host of contestants turned up the heat in a number of flesh-flashing ensembles and raunchy dances during this years song contest in Basel, Switzerland. Social media lit up with complaints after Finland, Malta and Spain after they delivered performances that many described as too sexy. Finland led the way, with Erika Vikman in a revealing black latex outfit and a provocative stage backdrop but it was her risque song title that got everyone talking. Meanwhile Malta's performance by Miriana Conte left viewers stunned with racy displays during the widely-discussed show. As the performance started, BBC commentator Rylan Clark warned viewers at home that she would be 'pushing the boundaries'. Elsewhere Spain's Melody left nothing to the imagination in a sizzling leotard and provocative dance moves. Here are this years Eurovision Song Contests most raunchy performances... Finland Erika Vikman, 32, won Finland's national selection in February with her song Ich Komme (I'm Coming), a pop track featuring cheeky lyrics, provocative choreography, and a bold, skin-baring outfit. The song was performed primarily in Finnish, but the chorus was in German, with the repeated phrase Ich komme - which translates to I'm coming in English - raising eyebrows over its suggestive double meaning. The singer wowed in a racy plunging leather leotard and thigh high leather boots as she delivered some provocative choreography on stage. Fans rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their disappointment with the racy acts. One person wrote: 'Sorry Finland, it's a no. The outfit just doesn't work for me, off-putting. xTx' Another said: 'Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers?' While someone else simply wrote: 'Finland with the dominatrix outfit.' However it wasn't just the fans who were turned off the performance, Finland's own president said he would snub his country's Eurovision effort in favour of Sweden's performed by KAJ, a comedy music trio who are actually Finnish. Alexander Stubb was asked who he wanted to win during a school visit and he said: 'If KAJ wins Eurovision, in the end it is Finland and Vora that win.' Stubb was referring to the hometown of the Finnish band who are performing for Sweden. After Vikman got wind of the president's comments she revealed she was disappointed. She said: 'It would definitely be nice to see one day that the greats of the nation stand behind women like me.' Meanwhile Vikman later revealed the bizarre request that organisers made after they deemed her performance too raunchy for the competition. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reportedly demanded changes to her act, requesting that she make her spicy performance less explicit. Speaking to Finnish media, Vikman confirmed that organisers had asked her to tone down her routine, particularly calling for her to 'cover her backside' and adjust her movements on stage. 'It's not just one thing, it's everything. My clothes, what the song is about, how I move on stage. The EBU has said it's a bit too sexual. They want to cover my butt,' she told Swedish newspaper, Expressen. Her original hot-blooded performance featured a fetish-inspired black corset, revealing chaps, and a pole-dance-style routine using her microphone stand, all set to pulsating electronic beats and provocative lyrics. The singer explained: 'I'm wild, I have more to give. I'm sexual on stage – and after two years of tango, I wanted to be a pop diva'. She went on to state that people in Finland are conservative and tend to steer away from expressing themselves, leaving her feeling 'difficult for them' to handle at first. 'It's still like that, although some are starting to get used to it. Half of Finland hates me, half loves me,' Vikman said. Despite the controversy, Vikman played down the dispute, stating that her performance was already definitively being fine-tuned before the EBU's intervention. In a statement, Vikman said: 'The show is still evolving, and I had already chosen a different costume before hearing any feedback from the EBU.' However, since her comments the Finnish broadcaster YLE's Eurovision Song Contest Executive Producer Anssi Autio, said the EBU did not direct Vikman to change the performance. YLE went on to say: 'Anssi Autio says he cannot comment on Vikman's remarks. However, he confirms that discussions have taken place with the EBU, but no direct demands have been made.' Malta Malta's singer Miriana Conte delivered another showstopping raunchy performance during the competition. As the performance started, BBC commentator Rylan Clark warned viewers at home that she would be 'pushing the boundaries'. She proceeded to rip off her ruffled yellow dress, revealing a racy red leopard print jumpsuit underneath, complete with a black mesh top and feathered sleeves. However it wasn't her outfit that had caused the controversy, the singer was forced to make a drastic change to her song during Thursday's semi-final. The 24-year-old took to the stage to take part in the second semi-final and the crowd went wild as she sung her tune Serving in a black and red leopard print jumpsuit. Miriana pulled out all the stops to try and get into the next round by walking on stage out of some huge lips, and went on to show off her racy dance moves. Her song was originally called Kant, but it sounded too much like the swearword c**t, so the European Broadcasting Union ruled out her singing it during the annual competition back in March. In Maltese, the word kant means singing or song. Miriana spoke to BBC Newsnight about her 'surprise' over the decision back in March. The singer said: 'Honestly, it was a bit surprising and also a little disappointing. 'I had incredible feedback when it comes to my song, it went viral on the first lyric video that was released. 'The original version of the song, as it is as we speak, it is a Maltese word that holds a lot of meaning to us. We never intended to offend anyone. 'Obviously the word K-A-N-T means singing in our language. 'So you can imagine what power it holds. It's unfortunate that the broadcaster would raise such concerns, especially considering Eurovision is a spirit of celebrating culture, diversity and languages. 'That said, we've made the adjustments to ensure the focus remains on the music and the message. I believe and my team believes that Eurovision is about unity. 'We want to make sure that nothing distracts from that basically.' She added: 'There's a lot of funny words that mean different things in different languages since its the Eurovision Song Contest and the main factor of being in this contest is to sing. 'And in our language it means singing. 'So it has a much more deep message then maybe people speaking different languages.' Explaining the meaning of the song, she said: 'To me it means I'm serving singing. 'So if you want to understand it as a double meaning, you can, it means different things to different people. I've had different reactions.' While her lyricism has been slightly stifled by the annual contest rules, she certainly made up for it with some racy staging. Her backdrop appeared to be a mouth and and wide open legs at either side. Meanwhile her backing dancers added even more sex appeal as they danced around the stage in fishnet tights while opening their legs at one point and having the singer straddle them. Taking to X, one person wrote: 'I'm sorry, but how can they ban the word KANT and approve that staging of the lips between the legs.' Another predicted: 'Ofcom complaints incoming.' Spain Spain's Eurovision entry sparked a storm of conversation after singer Melody delivered a sizzling, high-voltage performance of her track Esa Diva during the Grand Final. Starting the performance in a stunning black gown, the singer ripped off the ensemble to reveal a sizzling leotard midway through the performance. She wowed in a silver ensemble which feature fringe detailing and completed her sultry look with knee high boots. The singers provocative choreography and poses left some viewers scratching their heads. However it wasn't Spain's only controversy as broadcasters reportedly defied warnings from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and could now face a huge fine. They displayed a statement ahead of the final, showing a black screen with white text in both Spanish and an English translation. The message read: 'When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine.' The broadcast on RTVE, was also posted on X and the message quickly gained traction by social media users too.
