Latest news with #Presence
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Elvis Presley's watch and John Lennon's suit fetch big bucks at Goldin auction
Elvis Presley's worn Omega wristwatch, gifted to him by Johnny Cash, sold for $103,700 this week. Goldin, a leading sports and pop culture memorabilia auction house, sold the engraved timepiece as part of its inaugural music memorabilia auction, which closed Wednesday night. Other high-selling items included a D.A. Millings & Son custom suit worn by John Lennon in 1963 ($102,480), a signed copy of Led Zeppelin's album 'Presence' ($19,520) and George Harrison's sunglasses ($47,590). Goldin also set a new sale record for a type 1 photo — or photo developed from an original negative within two years of when the picture was taken— of rapper Tupac Shakur, which sold for $10,370, according to the auction house. Though sports and trading card auctions are Goldin's 'bread and butter,' the company is venturing more into pop culture, said head of revenue Dave Amerman. This transition is documented in Goldin's Netflix show, 'King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,' which premiered in 2023 and was just renewed for a third season. 'We realized that we get so many music items and we build them into our pop culture sales, we just want to separate it and make its own event out of it,' Amerman told The Times. Many of the Beatles items belonged to music promoter Chris Agajanian, who's been building his collection for more than 40 years. Agajanian owns more than 2,000 pieces of Beatles memorabilia and signed letters of provenance for many of the items in the Goldin sale. The music auction also included more than 500 concert posters graded by the Certified Guaranty Company, the leader in comic book grading. Poster subjects ranged from the Grateful Dead and the Beatles to Sonic Youth and Blink-182. In 2020, Goldin sold one of the most expensive albums of all time: a copy of Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'Double Fantasy' that Lennon unwittingly signed for his assassin, Mark David Chapman, just before the Beatle was shot in 1980. It went for $900,000. Additionally, the auction house holds the record for most expensive toy sold at an auction: a 1979 prototype action figure of 'Star Wars' bounty hunter Boba Fett that went for more than $1 million in 2024. Goldin's Hollywood Props & Memorabilia auction, featuring Harrison Ford's 'Indiana Jones' whip, a 'Star Wars' Stormtrooper prototype helmet and George Reeves' 'Superman' suit, is currently live. The auction closes Aug. 6.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
People Who Are Insecure But Pretending To Be Confident Often Say These Things
Ever notice that some people seem to exude confidence, but there's something about them that seems a bit off? Sometimes, what appears to be self-assuredness is just a facade covering insecurity. Whether it's a colleague, a friend, or even yourself, these phrases often hint at a deeper uncertainty. Here are 13 expressions people use when they're insecure but trying hard to appear confident. Read on to find out what they might really be saying beneath the surface. 1. "I Know What I'm Doing." When someone insists, "I know what I'm doing," it's often a defense mechanism to shield their lack of expertise. It attempts to shut down further questions or challenges, creating a barrier that wards off scrutiny. This declaration can mask their fear of being exposed as inexperienced or unsure. In reality, confident people are open to learning and acknowledge when they need guidance. According to Dr. Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist and author of "Presence," genuine confidence often involves being comfortable with vulnerability and mistakes. It's easy to misinterpret this phrase as assertiveness, especially if it's delivered with a firm tone. However, those who are truly secure in their abilities don't feel compelled to convince others repeatedly. They understand that not knowing everything is part of the journey. So next time you hear this, consider that the speaker might be covering up for a lack of certainty or expertise. A little patience and understanding can go a long way in helping them feel more at ease. 2. "I'm Not Worried What People Think." When people claim they don't care about others' opinions, it often reveals the opposite. It's an attempt to project an image of independence and emotional resilience. In reality, this statement can point to a preoccupation with how they're perceived and a desire for acceptance. Those who are genuinely unbothered by external judgments typically don't feel the need to announce it. They simply continue living their lives according to their own values and priorities. This phrase can be a protective mantra against potential criticism or rejection. By vocalizing indifference, people try to convince themselves (and others) that they're unaffected. However, the insistence on this notion may suggest that they're not as immune as they'd like to be. Understanding this can help you approach these interactions with more empathy. Encouraging open conversations about feelings and perceptions can ease the pressure to maintain a confident front. 3. "No One Can Take A Joke Anymore." The phrase "I'm just joking" is often used to mask insecurities when a comment might have hit too close to home. By framing a statement as a joke, people can test the waters without fully committing to their thoughts. It's a way to shield themselves from potential backlash or ridicule. Dr. Jennifer Aaker, a behavioral psychologist, notes that humor can be an effective tool for defusing tension but can also serve to camouflage true feelings. This dual nature of humor can make it challenging to discern genuine confidence from hidden insecurity. Although it's tempting to brush off such remarks, they can offer insight into what someone might genuinely feel. It's important to consider the context and the person's typical communication style. Are they habitually using humor as a shield? If so, this could be a sign that they're grappling with insecurities. Addressing this pattern can lead to more sincere interactions and help them drop their defenses. 4. "I'm Well-Versed In This." Declaring superiority over others can be a sign of insecurity rather than confidence. People who continuously compare themselves favorably to others might be compensating for their self-doubt. This need to elevate oneself above others often stems from a fear of inadequacy. Instead of focusing on personal growth and achievements, they measure their worth by belittling others. In contrast, genuinely confident people are more concerned with their progress than with others' perceived inferiority. This type of statement usually indicates an underlying need for validation. By presenting themselves as superior, they seek to not only convince others but themselves of their worth. Unfortunately, this attitude often alienates others and prevents genuine connections. Understanding this behavior can help you navigate interactions with more compassion. Encouraging a focus on personal strengths rather than comparisons can foster a more positive and confident outlook. 5. "I'm Fine, Better Than Ever." "I'm fine" is a classic phrase that can mask a range of emotions, typically uttered when someone feels overwhelmed but doesn't want to appear vulnerable. It's a defensive mechanism that aims to close off further inquiry. People often use it when they're not ready to confront their feelings or fear judgment or pity. However, as Brené Brown, a research professor and author, emphasizes, embracing vulnerability is key to building genuine connections and fostering inner strength. Confident people understand that acknowledging their emotions is not a sign of weakness. In contrast, repeating "I'm fine" can create emotional distance and perpetuate feelings of isolation. The next time you hear this, consider what might be left unsaid. Offering a patient ear and a safe space for honest communication can encourage a more open exchange. Encouraging vulnerability can help strengthen relationships and boost genuine self-confidence. 6. "I Don't Need Help, I Got This." Proclaiming independence with "I don't need anyone" often signals a reluctance to admit vulnerability or dependency. It's a defense mechanism to ward off possible disappointment or rejection. Truly confident people recognize the value of help and community. They understand that needing others doesn't diminish their worth; instead, it enriches their experiences. This phrase can indicate a fear of relying on someone else and the potential letdown that may follow. While appearing self-sufficient, this assertion might mask a deep-seated fear of connection. The speaker may have experienced past betrayals or disappointments that make them wary of trusting others. Breaking through this barrier requires patience and empathy. Encouraging small steps toward interdependence can gradually shift this mindset. By demonstrating that seeking assistance is a strength, you can help them embrace a more balanced view of independence. 7. "It's Not My Fault." Blaming external factors with "It's not my fault" can reveal an insecurity about taking responsibility. People use this phrase to protect themselves from potential blame or criticism. Rather than accepting accountability, they deflect it to preserve their self-image. According to Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychologist known for her work on mindset, embracing a growth mindset involves acknowledging mistakes and learning from them, which is a true sign of confidence. Genuinely confident people understand that errors are opportunities for growth. They don't shy away from ownership because they know it doesn't define their entire character. When someone frequently denies fault, it's often because they're afraid of being seen as incompetent. Encouraging a culture of learning and growth can help them shift focus from fault to improvement. It fosters an environment where taking responsibility is celebrated as a step toward personal development. 8. "I'm Too Good For This." When someone insists they're "too good" for a particular task or situation, it often reveals a fear of inadequacy rather than genuine superiority. It's a way to deflect potential failure by suggesting the task is beneath them. This attitude can mask the anxiety of not meeting expectations. In contrast, truly confident people are willing to engage with all levels of work, understanding that every experience contributes to their growth. They don't feel the need to elevate themselves by demeaning others or tasks. This phrase can hint at a reluctance to step out of one's comfort zone. It may be a preemptive strike against criticism or a fear of not excelling. By claiming superiority, they're trying to protect their ego from potential failure. Encouraging a mindset that values all experiences, regardless of perceived prestige, can help reshape this outlook. Emphasizing the learning potential in every task can help foster genuine confidence and a willingness to engage fully. 9. "I Tend To Be Right." Insisting on being always right can be a sign of insecurity masked as confidence. People who frequently make this claim may be afraid of admitting mistakes, perceiving it as a weakness. This need to be infallible can stem from a fear of losing authority or respect. Truly confident people are comfortable acknowledging their errors and learning from them. They view feedback as a tool for growth, not as a threat to their self-worth. This phrase can indicate a fragile ego that relies on being perceived as knowledgeable and correct. The insistence on being right often serves as a shield against vulnerability. Genuine confidence involves embracing doubt and the insights that come from others. Encouraging open dialogues and diverse perspectives can help dismantle this defensive stance. By framing mistakes as learning opportunities, you can promote a healthier and more confident approach to personal and professional interactions. 10. "Some People Are So Jealous." When someone accuses others of jealousy, it can signal their own insecurities. This phrase is often used to deflect criticism or negativity by suggesting that others are envious of their perceived success. It can be a way to avoid addressing genuine feedback or concerns. Truly confident people don't feel the need to project others' feelings onto them. They understand that criticism can be constructive and is not necessarily born out of envy. This defensive tactic often arises from a fear that the criticism might be valid. By attributing others' opinions to jealousy, they attempt to preserve their self-esteem. However, this approach can alienate others and prevent meaningful exchanges. Encouraging an open-minded perspective toward feedback can help them move beyond this defensive posture. Understanding that not all criticism is negative can promote a more balanced and confident approach to personal interactions. 11. "I Rarely Make A Mistake." Claiming to be mistake-free often reveals an underlying fear of failure. People who assert this are typically trying to project an image of perfection and competence. However, this mindset can prevent them from taking risks or trying new things. Confident people understand that mistakes are an inevitable part of growth and learning. They embrace them as opportunities for improvement rather than threats to their self-image. This phrase can stem from a pressure to maintain an unblemished reputation or fear of judgment. By denying their fallibility, they miss out on valuable learning experiences. Genuinely confident people don't see mistakes as diminishing their worth but rather as stepping stones to success. Encouraging a culture that celebrates learning from missteps can help shift this perspective. It supports a more resilient and adaptable mindset, fostering genuine confidence over time. 12. "I'm Not Bothered What Others Say." When someone claims, "I'm not bothered," they might be trying to convey indifference to situations that actually affect them. This phrase can be a defense mechanism against admitting vulnerability or emotional disturbance. By asserting detachment, they attempt to protect themselves from appearing sensitive or affected. Genuine confidence involves acknowledging one's feelings and dealing with them constructively. It doesn't require masking emotions to maintain a facade of strength. This statement often hides an inner turmoil or concern about a given situation. The insistence on being unperturbed can indicate a fear of being perceived as weak or overly emotional. Truly confident people recognize that emotions are natural and don't diminish their strength. Encouraging open emotional expression can help them embrace a healthier outlook. It promotes an environment where acknowledging feelings is seen as a powerful and courageous act. 13. "I'm Too Busy For This." Asserting a lack of time can be a tactic to avoid dealing with challenging or uncomfortable situations. People use this phrase to signal their importance and busyness, which can mask insecurities about their ability to handle certain issues. It's a way to avoid facing tasks that might reveal their vulnerabilities or shortcomings. Confident people prioritize effectively and allocate time for things that matter, including addressing challenges head-on. They don't need to declare how busy they are to prove their worth constantly. This phrase might indicate an underlying desire to maintain control and avoid potential failure. By claiming a lack of time, they sidestep situations that could test their abilities or reveal insecurities. Encouraging a more proactive approach to challenges can help them build genuine confidence. By focusing on effective time management and prioritizing tasks, they can address issues directly and constructively. This shift can foster a deeper sense of self-assurance and competence. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Callina Liang Joins Legendary's ‘Street Fighter' Movie As Chun-Li
EXCLUSIVE: Callina Liang, star of Steven Soderbergh's recent supernatural thriller Presence, has landed the female lead role of Chun-Li in Legendary's live-action Street Fighter movie, based on the video games from Capcom, sources tell Deadline. Reps for Legendary declined to comment, and the film's plot remains under wraps. One of the most iconic characters in the franchise, Chun-Li is a skilled martial artist and Interpol officer who first appeared in Street Fighter II in 1991. Liang joins a cast that includes the previously announced Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns, and Orville Peck. Bad Trip's Kitao Sakurai is the flick's director. More from Deadline 'Street Fighter' Cast: Who's Who In The Live-Action Arcade Film Adaption Cory Michael Smith To Topline Jeremy Saulnier's Halloween-Set Fugitive Thriller 'October' For A24 David Dastmalchian Lands Role Of Villain M. Bison In Legendary's 'Street Fighter' Launched in 1987, Street Fighter is a series of fighting games revolving around intense one-on-one battles between a diverse cast of martial artists. The games often center around a global fighting tournament organized by M. Bison, the leader of the evil organization Shadaloo. Street Fighter has sold over 55 million units worldwide since launch, making it one of the most well-known and highest-grossing video game franchises of all time. Liang stars opposite Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan and more in the critically acclaimed Presence, which released in January via Neon, around a year after its world premiere at Sundance. Previously, the actress has also been seen in the J.C. Lee thriller Bad Genius, as well as Apple TV+'s Foundation. She is repped by UTA, Payne Management in the UK, Authentic Talent and Literary Management, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Men of Steel: Every Actor Who Has Played Superman - Photo Gallery 'Michael' Cast: Who's Who In The Michael Jackson Biopic
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
How do we share space socially? Contemporary Calgary exhibit called Presence invites visitors to think about it
Article content The final pieces that visitors to Contemporary Calgary's new exhibit, Presence, are two tables filled with the photography of Jayce Salloum. Article content The artist is one of seven participating in the exhibit, but his artwork is the first and last pieces visitors will see. One table offers a collection of dozens of colourful photographs of flowers, presumably from around the world. The next one is full of old tanks and other armaments left behind in war zones such as Afghanistan. Most are abandoned, some have been left in pieces. Some look like they are about to be enveloped back into the desert. Article content Article content At first blush, the two series seem to have little in common. Article content Article content 'These are tanks from various zones of conflict that he has been to,' she adds about the second collection. 'It depends on which way you are looking at it. Are they destructive or are they protective? It's the same with the flowers. They last for only so long, so there is a sense of mortality but also beauty.' Article content Salloum did not attend last week's opening of Presence because he is currently in Gaza. But he has provided hundreds of photographs with a wide array of themes that are grouped together on walls throughout the exhibit. They are from his series location/dis-location(s): gleaning spaces/not the way things ought to be. It also includes sculptures and video. Born in British Columbia, Salloum is the grandson of Syrian/Lebanese immigrants. Article content Article content His contribution to Presence comes with a 28-page booklet that names and, in some cases, offers explanations for the sprawling body of work. Article content 'The way I like to read his work is part documentarian, part anthropologist,' says Anand, a senior curator at Contemporary Calgary who first began thinking of the concepts Presence two years ago. 'This work is called location/dis-location and is a project that started during COVID and is an ongoing series.' Article content The different walls have loose themes. One is based on Indigenous history and includes images of residential schools. Another wall covers human habitation, offering images of construction and deconstruction that explore human impact on the environment. Article content The images run the gamut. They are photos of buildings that have crumbled to rubble. They are images of cluttered marketplaces, nature, the burned earth of a freshly cleared forest in Mexico, an emptied fountain in Taiwan, an encampment in Hawaii where the homeless had recently been evicted, a butterfly caught in a spider's web and angry pink bird at Vancouver's Bloedel Conservatory.
San Francisco Chronicle
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Jurassic World' needed a restart. Steven Spielberg knew who to call
An eyeball, big, yellowish, distinctly inhuman, stares raptly between wooden slats, part of a large crate. The eye darts from side to side quickly, alert as hell. So begins David Koepp's script to 1993's 'Jurassic Park.' Like much of Koepp's writing, it's crisply terse and intensely visual. It doesn't tell the director (in this case Steven Spielberg) where to put the camera, but it nearly does. 'I asked Steven before we started: What are the limitations about what I can write?' Koepp recalls. 'CGI hadn't really been invented yet. He said: 'Only your imagination.'' Yet in the 32 years since penning the adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel, Koepp has established himself as one of Hollywood's top screenwriters not through the boundlessness of his imagination but by his expertise in limiting it. Koepp is the master of the 'bottle' movie, films hemmed in by a single location or condensed timed frame. From David Fincher's 'Panic Room' (2002) to Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence' (2025), he excels at corralling stories into uncluttered, headlong movie narratives. Koepp can write anything — as long as there are parameters. 'The great film scholar and historian David Bordwell and I were talking about that concept once and he said, 'Because the world is too big? ' I said, 'That's it, exactly,'' Koepp recalls. 'The world is too big. If I can put the camera anywhere I want, if anybody on the entire planet can appear in this film, if it can last 130 years, how do I even begin? It makes me want to take a nap. 'So I've always looked for bottles in which to put the delicious wine.' By some measure, the world of ' Jurassic World ' got too big. In the last entry, 2022's not particularly well received ' Jurassic World: Dominion,' the dinosaurs had spread across the planet. 'I don't know where else to go with that,' Koepp says. Koepp, a 62-year-old native of Wisconsin, hadn't written a 'Jurassic' movie since the second one, 1997's 'The Lost World.' Back then, Brian De Palma, whom Koepp worked with on 'Carlito's Way' and 'Mission: Impossible,' took to calling him 'dinosaur boy.' Koepp soon after moved onto other challenges. But when Spielberg called him up a few years ago and asked, 'Do you have one more in you?' Koepp had one request: 'Can we start over?' And so, 'Jurassic World Rebirth' is a fresh start for one of Hollywood's biggest multi-billion-dollar franchises. It's a new cast of characters (Oakland's own Mahershala Ali, Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey co-star), a new director (Gareth Edwards) and a new storyline. But just as they were 32 years ago, the dinosaurs are again Koepp's to play with. 'The first page reassured me,' says Edwards. 'It said: 'Written by David Koepp.'' For 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' Koepp wanted to reorder the franchise. Inspired by Chuck Jones' 'commandments' for the Road Runner cartoons (the Road Runner only says 'meep meep'; all products are from the ACME Corporation, etc.), Koepp put down nine governing principles for the 'Jurassic' franchise. They included things like 'humor is oxygen' and that the dinosaurs are animals, not monsters. A key to 'Rebirth' was geographically herding the dinosaurs. In the new movie, they've clustered around the equator, drawn to the tropical environment. Like 'Jurassic Park,' the action takes place primarily on an island. Going into the project, Edwards was warned about his screenwriter's convictions. 'At the end of my meeting with Spielberg, he just smiled and said, 'That's great. If you think we were difficult, wait until you meet David Koepp,''' says Edwards, laughing. But Edwards and Koepp quickly bonded over similar tastes in movies, like the original 'King Kong,' a poster of which hangs in Koepp's office. On set, Edwards would sometimes find the need for 30 seconds of new dialogue. 'Within like a minute, I'd get this perfectly written 30 second interaction that was on theme, funny, had a reversal in it — perfect,' says Edwards. 'It was like having your own ChatGPT but actually really good at writing.' In the summer, especially, it's common to see a long list of names under the screenplay. Blockbuster-making is, increasingly, done by committee. The stakes are too high, the thinking goes, to leave it to one writer. But 'Jurassic World Rebirth' bears just Koepp's credit. 'There's an old saying: 'No one of us is as dumb as all of us,'' Koepp says. 'When you have eight or 10 people who have significant input into the script, the odds are stacked enormously against you. You're trying to please a lot of different people, and it often doesn't go well.' The only time that worked, in Koepp's experience, was Sam Raimi's 2002 'Spider-Man.' 'I was also hired and fired three times on that movie,' he says, 'so maybe they knew what they were doing.' Koepp, though, prefers to — after research and outlining — let a movie topple out of his mind as rapidly as possible. 'I like to gun it out and clean up the mess later,' he says. But the string of 'Jurassic World Rebirth' may have tested even Koepp's prodigious output. The intense period of writing, which fell before, during and after the writers strike, he says, meant five months without a day off. 'I might have broke something,' he says, shaking his head. Still, the film also shows a veteran screenwriter working in high gear, judiciously meting out details and keeping dinosaurs hurtling forward. Anything like a perfect script — for Koepp, that's 'Rosemary's Baby' or 'Jaws' — remains elusive. But even when you come close, there are always critics. 'After the first 'Jurassic' movie, a fifth-grade class all wrote letters to me, which was very nice,' Koepp recalls. 'Then they wrote, 'P.S., when you do the next one, don't have it take so long to get to the island.' Everyone's got a note!'
