Latest news with #Pascal
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Pedro Pascal and Norwegian animated musical Spermageddon headline Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Internet boyfriend Pedrol Pascal and a Norwegian animated sex musical about sperm are two of the disparate array of treats in store for moviegoers at this year's Revelation Perth International Film Festival. WA's peak festival for indie filmmaking is renowned for alternative fare, but the event has outdone itself this year, boasting more than 45 features and documentaries and more than 100 short films. Among the highlights from this year's program is the aforementioned Pascal project, Eddington, a contemporary Western that doubles as a black comedy, which has sprung from the mind of horror auteur Ari Aster. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film's star-studded cast also includes Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Austin Butler. As for that risque animated film, colourfully titled Spermageddon, it will surely appeal to fans of South Park and Seth Rogen's Sausage Party. For those who prefer their cinema a little more high-brow, Rev will also screen the British biographical drama Mr Burton, about the early life of Welsh acting legend Richard Burton. Rev can always be counted on for thought-provoking docos, and this year is no different, with Eno, a film about enigmatic music icon Brian Eno. Other notable documentaries include the fascinatingly meta examination of the true crime genre, Zodiac Killer Project, and Chain Reactions, a film that explores the cultural impact of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Rev's commitment to the local screen industry is set to continue, with the return of Westralia Day, Get Your Shorts On! and the City of Vincent Film Project, three events focused on celebrating West Aussie content. While a dedicated First Nations showcase will honour Indigenous storytelling traditions and contemporary experiences. Revelation Perth International Film Festival runs July 2-13 at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and the Backlot, and the full program is now available on the festival's website.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Nvidia's slowing sales growth a warning for the AI trade?
Nvidia's (NVDA) sales growth has slowed, down sharply from over 250% a year ago. Yahoo Finance Markets and Data Editor Jared Blikre, who also hosts Yahoo Finance's Stocks In Translation podcast, breaks down what Nvidia's cooling momentum could mean for the broader artificial intelligence (AI) trade ahead of the company's earnings. Twice a week, Stocks In Translation cuts through the market mayhem, noisy numbers and hyperbole to give you the information you need to make the right trade for your portfolio. You can find more episodes here, or watch on your favorite streaming service. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. Nvidia sales growth, it is cooling fast down from, uh, down to 80% from over 250% just a year ago. Now, Nvidia is a poster child for the AI fueled bull market. So ahead of Wednesday's big earnings announcement, investors are asking, is this slowdown? Is it a warning sign for the entire AI trade? Let's take a look now at how Nvidia got to this point. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks and Translation. So, in green bars behind me, you're going to see Nvidia's quarterly revenue in billions of dollars scaled on the right access. The white line is year-over-year sales growth as a percentage scaled on the left. And this chart goes all the way back to 1999, that's when they IPOed. Now, early on, Nvidia benefited from the first ever graphics chips, but growth cratered during the dotcom bust going negative by 2002. In 2006, Nvidia found new life with its parallel computing platform, CUDA, boosting sales growth back into positive territory until the global financial crisis hit, dragging sales deeply negative, negative again by 2009. But another growth spike came in 2016 to 18 with the Pascal chip launch and crypto mining boom. This pushed growth over 50%, but by early 2019, the crypto hangover hit hard with sales falling by as much as 31% year over year. Then came the pandemic, boosting sales growth back into double-digit territory once again by 2020 as gaming and data centers surge. But nothing compares to Nvidia's AI supercycle in 23 and 24. Early growth, or yearly growth spiked to record levels, peaking at an incredible 265% in April of last year, and this is as quarterly revenue hit $26 billion. So now the question is whether the recent drop to only 80% growth, does that signal the beginning of the end for this AI fueled run or does it accelerate once again? So, let's take a different look now at how Nvidia's market cap has grown since the end of the last century. Now market cap is simply the current stock price multiplied by all the shares outstanding. And another note, the chart is in log scale, meaning that the numbers increase quickly as you go up. Each identified level to the left is 10 times more than the prior number, so from $1 billion to $10 billion to $100 billion, then finally $1 trillion on the left. Now, starting after an initial, excuse me, after an initial surge during the dotcom boom, Nvidia hit $10 billion in market cap in December of 2001. And this is a level that acted like a magnet kind of, uh, holding the stock roughly in place for over a decade. But it wasn't until 2016, the launch of Pascal and that first big AI bet that the stock finally broke out, becoming a 10 bagger, multiplying in value 10 times in less than three years. But big drops hit again, getting cut in half in the 2018 crypto crash and 65% from 2022 from AI export controls and slowing demand. Then, finally, in May 23, one massive AI driven earnings beat added nearly a quarter trillion dollars in a single day, making Nvidia the first chip maker to join the trillion dollar club. By early 24, the company had hit $2 trillion again on another blowout earnings report. And in June 24, it peaked at $3 trillion, finally topping King Apple as the most valuable company in the world. And currently, that title is held by Microsoft. So, with Nvidia earnings right on investors' doorstep, Wall Street will see if the chipmaker's growth is simply cooling and set to accelerate again or if the AI boom is beginning to fade. Either way, it's not just Nvidia on the line. It might be the entire AI trade. Tune into Stocks and Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finance's website or wherever you find your podcast.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
The Colonial Heart: How Arabella Pascal's ‘Zanzibar' Exposes Love's Darkest Paradoxes
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 26, 2025 / Historical romance has long been a refuge for those seeking escapism-a world of grand ballrooms, whispered confessions, and neatly tied happy endings. Arabella Pascal's Zanzibar (2nd Edition) shatters these conventions with the force of a hurricane. This is not a novel that merely entertains; it confronts, challenges, and unsettles. Set against the opulent backdrop of Victorian England and the brutal reality of East Africa's slave trade, Zanzibar forces readers to grapple with romance's most uncomfortable question: Can love truly flourish where power is violently unequal? Pascal's answer is as breathtaking as it is devastating-a story where passion and oppression collide, leaving no heart unscathed. The Architect: Arabella Pascal (née Jerri Levi) Arabella Pascal is no ordinary romance novelist. An art historian by training, she penned Zanzibar while living in Africa, embedding her prose with the precision of an academic and the fire of a storyteller. Comparisons to Diana Gabaldon are inevitable-both authors wield history like a blade-but Pascal's work cuts deeper, exposing the psychological scars of colonization with unflinching clarity. Her protagonist, Charlotte Earnshaw, is no simpering debutante but a woman ensnared-first by Zanzibar's enigmatic Prince Jasim Bin Rashid, then by the gilded cages of her own family's secrets. What sets Pascal apart is her refusal to simplify. Jasim, the so-called villain, is the only character who truly sees Charlotte's humanity, blurring the line between captor and liberator. Meanwhile, her bonus content, "What Charlotte Wore," dissects 19th-century fashion with the rigor of a scholar, drawing parallels between the constriction of corsets and the suffocation of colonial rule. This is historical romance as reclamation-a genre often dismissed as frivolous transformed into a vessel for reckoning. The Real-World Impact: Romance as Reckoning Pascal's novel doesn't just subvert romance tropes; it ignites them like gunpowder. The classic "captive falls for captor" dynamic becomes a moral quagmire, forcing readers to question where desire ends and complicity begins. Even the villainous brother-in-law, Derek, is a mirror for patriarchy's banality-a reminder that oppression often wears a familiar face. Fans of Sandra Brown's taut suspense will find Gabaldon's depth here, but with a twist: Zanzibar demands engagement, not just escapism. The numbers prove its resonance. Dark romance is surging in popularity, but Zanzibar stands apart-62% of Goodreads reviewers call it "unlike anything they've read," a testament to its unflinching blend of passion and politics. Its recognition as a finalist for the Best Long Historical by the Romance Writers of America underscores its duality: a love story that refuses to look away from history's darkest corners. Even the audiobook, narrated by British actor Gary Appleton, has captured 40% of sales, a nod to Pascal's commitment to authenticity. The Future: Can Romance Novels Be Radical? Pascal's next project, a thriller set in the Belgian Congo, signals her unwavering mission: to drag romance into the arena of cultural critique. She's part of a bold new wave of authors challenging the genre to confront its blind spots. Can a "happily ever after" exist when the wounds of history are still raw? Should love stories sidestep oppression for the sake of escapism? These are the questions Zanzibar forces into the light, proving that romance can be both swoon-worthy and revolutionary. Conclusion: The Heart in Chains Zanzibar is more than a novel-it's an indictment. Arabella Pascal wields romance like a scalpel, dissecting the illusions of power and desire with surgical precision. In her hands, the genre becomes a rebellion, petticoats and all. The darkest chains, she reminds us, aren't the ones around the wrists-they're the ones around the heart. PR Toolkit for Evrima Chicago The press hook writes itself: "The Romance Novel That's Too Dangerous for Bridgerton Fans." Target film blogs with its cinematic potential (Outlander meets 12 Years a Slave), pitch academic journals on its revisionist take on history, and let Pascal's own words seal the deal: "Writing Zanzibar felt like solving a puzzle-one where the pieces were stained with blood and rosewater." Purchase links and media contacts stand ready. The only question left is: Are readers prepared for a love story that refuses to let them look away? Purchase Links : Amazon Disclaimer - Evrima ChicagoThis original article was independently researched and published by the Evrima Chicago News Bureau and has not been previously published in any form before today. It is intended for editorial use and syndication on the world wide web as part of our coverage on contemporary literary works and their cultural relevance. Not Endorsed by the AuthorThe views and interpretations expressed herein are those of our editorial team and are not sponsored, commissioned, or officially endorsed by Jerri Levi (Arabella Pascal). Publication StandardsThis piece qualifies as a digital-first publication under recognized W3C web content syndication frameworks and is timestamped for archival and distribution purposes. No Liability for Obsessive ReadersEvrima Chicago disclaims all liability for readers who finish Zanzibar and immediately book flights to Stonehenge or Zanzibar. Historical obsession may occur. Publisher NoteEvrima Chicago is an independent media and research outlet producing editorial content across literature, history, modern culture, AI, accessibility (A11Y), and news media. © 2025 Evrima Chicago. All rights reserved. SOURCE: Evrima Chicago
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Last of Us Renewed for Season 3? Here's what to expect in upcoming season, and what we know about filming and cast
HBO has officially renewed The Last of Us for a third season. The new season will likely focus on Abby's perspective, as seen in the game. No official cast details are confirmed yet, but several familiar characters may return. Season 3 will likely continue from the events of Season 2's finale. The Last of Us is officially back for a long-awaited second season, marking its return after a two-year break since the groundbreaking first season aired in 2023. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Renewal Confirmation What to Expect in Season 3? Filming Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Cast FAQs The Last of Us has been renewed for a third season. The announcement was made before the second season aired. Fans of the show can now look forward to more episodes based on the popular game confirmed Season 3 of The Last of Us on April 9. This happened before the release of Season 2. The early renewal shows the network's confidence in the story and its continued third season will likely focus on Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever . The Season 2 finale showed events from Abby's point of view. This included a flashback to Seattle Day 3. Season 3 will probably cover the same three-day period. However, it will be shown from Abby's side, leading to a key scene in a cinema. This mirrors the structure of the video game The Last of Us Part parts of Season 3 may already be filmed, though this is not confirmed. The production team already has Seattle street sets built. This could help speed up the process. But creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann still have many parts of the story to official cast announcements have been made for Season 3. However, it is likely that Bella Ramsey , Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Young Mazino and Isabela Merced will return. Their characters are still central to the Miller, played by Pedro Pascal , died early in Season 2. Some viewers thought his role had ended. But Pascal returned in Episode 6 through a flashback. Since the game includes many flashbacks, Pascal might appear again in Season 3. However, nothing is confirmed Pascal may return through flashbacks, as the game includes such scenes, but no official cast announcement has been made Season 3 will likely follow Abby's side of events during the same timeline covered in Season 2, as seen in the video game.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal Ducks ‘Scary' Trump Question at Cannes
Internet daddy Pedro Pascal has spoken out against the culture of fear that has descended on the U.S. following the re-election of President Donald Trump. The star of the dystopian hit The Last of Us is in France for the Cannes Film Festival to promote his latest flick, Eddington, a pandemic-era neo-Western directed by indie legend Ari Aster. In Aster's new film, Pascal plays a small-town mayor campaigning against a down-on-his-luck sheriff played by Joaquin Phoenix in a New Mexico town in 2020. The Black Lives Matter protests and the mask policies of the COVID-19 pandemic set the backdrop for simmering racial and political tensions, pitting neighbor against neighbor. Austin Butler and Emma Stone also star in the film, which his set for a July 18 release. Touching upon some of the themes in the movie, a Spanish journalist asked Pascal whether he personally feared for Latin migrants in the U.S. 'It's obviously very scary for an actor who participated in a movie to speak to issues like this,' Pascal said in response. 'It's far too intimidating of a question for me to address. I'm not informed enough.' He did, however, continue. 'I want people to be safe and protected,' Pascal said. 'I want very much to live on the right side of history.' He explained that, as the child of Chilean refugees who fled the military dictatorship of Salvador Allende, he will 'always' stand by the principles of asylum. However, he expressed his fear at going further in criticizing the current U.S. administration. 'I'm too afraid of your question,' he admitted. 'I hardly remember what it was.' Trump's immigration policies, focusing on the mass-deportation of 'illegal' migrants, have been the source of much tension since he returned to power in January. Selena Gomez, an American singer of Mexican heritage, was attacked at the start of the year by Trump's border czar Tom Homan, after she posted a teary video calling for support for migrants facing deportation. 'If they don't like it, then go to Congress and change the law. We're going to do this operation without apology,' Homan told Fox News in January, railing against any celebrity who would dare speak out against his party's policies. 'Fear is the way that they win,' Pascal said in response to a later question at the Cannes panel. 'Keep telling the stories and keep expressing yourself and keep fighting to be who you are.' 'F--- the people that try to make you scared,' said The Mandalorian star. 'Fight back. This is the perfect way to do so, through telling stories. Don't let them win.'
