Latest news with #Razzie
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump walks back his idea for film tariffs amid mass confusion
The White House already appears to be walking back Donald Trump's plan to place 100% tariffs on films made outside the United States. The president, who received a Razzie award for his role in the widely panned 1990 rom-com 'Ghosts Can't Do It,' isn't known for high-minded musings on the state of cinema. But in a rant posted to his social media account on Sunday, Trump declared that the tariffs would be necessary to save the country's film industry. The announcement was met with a mix of confusion and concern, and a White House official said Monday that it's not a done deal. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said: 'Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump's directive to safeguard our country's national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.' Along with that, Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that 'we're going to meet with the industry' to discuss the plan and 'make sure they're happy with it, because we're all about jobs.' In a separate report, The Hollywood Reporter highlighted several unanswered questions — such as whether the tariffs would be applied retroactively to films that have already been produced; whether they would be applied to streaming platforms that produce series, like Netflix; whether and how foreign nations might retaliate; and whether tariffs would actually bring more film production back to the U.S. On that last point, The Hollywood Reporter seems to think it's unlikely: The main reason the studios and independents go abroad to shoot is money. Making a film in the U.S., which lacks federal tax incentives of the sort found in the U.K., Europe or Australia, can be 30 to 40 percent more expensive. Add to that the cost of U.S. crews, which are pricier than their international counterparts — thanks in part to the strength of American film and TV unions — and it's unclear whether a tariff would be enough to bring production back home. To bring film production back to the U.S., encouraging Congress to pass a law with federal incentives for film studios seems like a far less disruptive and destructive option, especially considering that such tariffs aren't guaranteed to bring production stateside. All of this raises the question of whether Trump is merely floating tariffs on the film industry to force its executives to plead with him for tariff exemptions — much like executives in other industries have done. This article was originally published on
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Signs as Types of Exes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ghosted
Breakups are like movie endings—some are Oscar-worthy, others deserve a Razzie. Each zodiac sign leaves a breakup trail that could either be a poetic montage or a scene from a true crime docuseries. Aries – The "Burn-the-Bridge" Ex. Gone in a blaze of drama, and probably broke a phone in the process. Closure? That's for soft genres. This ex leaves like it's the series finale. Taurus – The "Stuck-in-a-Time-Loop" Ex. Still remembers anniversaries, favorite pizza toppings, and exact arguments from 2017. Will never move on until Netflix reboots the relationship. Gemini – The "Texting at 2 AM" Ex. One day it's 'Let's talk,' the next it's 'Who is this?' Feels like dating someone who's also auditioning for three different roles in a rom-com. Cancer – The "Love-Letter Hoarder" Ex. Probably still cries to Adele. Keeps the breakup box labeled, scented, and alphabetized. Might knit a scarf from old memories. Leo – The "Annoyingly Thriving" Ex. Breaks up and suddenly glows up. Instagram model energy. Inspires rage and awe. Breakup served as character development—just not for the other person. Virgo – The "Constructive Criticism" Ex. Left a detailed list on what went wrong and how to improve. Gave relationship feedback like it was a performance review. No typos. Libra – The "Still Friends?" Ex. Wants to be civil, co-host birthday parties, and maybe even brunch. Probably uses 'No hard feelings' as a pickup line. Scorpio – The "Lifetime Suspicion" Ex. Never forgets. Never forgives. Might have a folder labeled 'evidence' in the cloud. If this ex forgives, it's probably a trap. Sagittarius – The "Peace-Out" Ex. Vanished faster than a Tinder match in retrograde. No explanations, just a plane ticket and a vague Instagram caption about 'finding oneself.' Capricorn – The "Corporate Goodbye" Ex. Polite, prepared, and exits like a resignation letter. Might offer a LinkedIn endorsement. Feelings were processed through Excel sheets. Aquarius – The "Unreachable Philosopher" Ex. Ghosted for philosophical reasons. Sent a breakup haiku and disappeared into the digital void. Probably joined a commune. Pisces – The "Forever Feels" Ex. Still writes poetry. Still cries during Disney movies. Still believes in soulmates, especially the last three. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Laurence Fishburne Felt ‘Really Dejected' After Doing '40 Takes' of an ‘Apocalypse Now' Scene Talking About Sex at Age 14
Laurence Fishburne is recalling just how 'disappointed' Francis Ford Coppola was in part of his 'Apocalypse Now' performance. Fishburne, who later reunited with Coppola for 'Rumble Fish,' 'The Cotton Club,' 'Gardens of Stone,' and 2024's Razzie winner 'Megalopolis,' said during the Apple TV+ documentary 'Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood' that while filming 1979's 'Apocalypse Now,' his own lack of real-life 'sexual experience' impacted his acting ability. More from IndieWire 'Bring Her Back' Trailer: Sally Hawkins Is a Nightmare Foster Mom in the Latest Horror from the Directors of 'Talk to Me' The Beatles Biopic Cast Revealed: Paul Mescal as Paul, Joseph Quinn as George, Barry Keoghan as Ringo, and Harris Dickinson as John Fishburne was age 14 when he was cast in the film; a scene cut from the original theatrical release (and later re-added in Coppola's 2001 redux cut) included Fishburne's soldier character detailing sex. However, Coppola did not find Fishburne convincing. A source close to production told IndieWire that Fishburne misrepresented his age in his audition to land the role. IndieWire has reached out to Fishburne's representatives for additional comment. 'There's a scene in 'Apocalypse Now' that got cut from the original film, and then it's been put back in the redux,' Fishburne said, from The Hollywood Reporter. 'I was 14, 15, whatever, trying to do this scene talking about sex and I had no sexual experience. Like, none.' He added that Coppola 'couldn't figure out how to get me to be any more experienced than I am' and kept 'asking me to do it over and over again.' 'I did something like 40 takes. It was really bad,' Fishburne said. 'And I could tell that he was disappointed. So I was feeling really, really down, really dejected.' It was Fishburne's co-star Martin Sheen who helped him overcome the scene. 'I heard Martin whisper in my ear, he said, 'Did anyone ever tell you you were a really good actor?'' Fishburne said. 'And I said, 'No.' He said, 'You're a really good actor.'' According to Fishburne, Sheen 'saved [his] life,' saying of Sheen, 'That's what being No. 1 on a call sheet is about for me.' The acclaimed 'Apocalypse Now' was, at the time of its release, deemed by many to be a commerical failure, despite tying for the Palme d'Or at Cannes and receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Coppola reflected on the film's legacy during an anniversary event in 2019. 'The avant-garde of yesterday is the wallpaper design of today,' Coppola said about negative reviews. 'Some of the greatest artists of their day, we may have never heard of them. But the 'failures' like Van Gogh or Rousseau, who had to take his paintings around in a wheelbarrow — you'd give your eyeteeth now to have those paintings. The things you get fired for when you're young are the same things you get Lifetime Achievements for when you're old.' Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Disregard for transparency': Utah Legislature's public records laws earn it a ‘Black Hole' award
The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured at dusk on the last night of the legislative session, Friday, March 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex Goodlett for Utah News Dispatch) The Utah Legislature won an award for the past few years of work, culminating in the 2025 General Session, although it's not something most lawmakers will likely be proud of. On Friday, the Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Utah Legislature its annual Black Hole award for passing a pair of laws that revamp the way public records requests are appealed in the state. The announcement comes at the end of Sunshine Week, set aside each year to highlight the importance of public records and open government. Given out each year by the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation's oldest journalism organization, the Black Hole Award highlights 'the most heinous violations of the public's right to know.' That includes governments repealing or curtailing open-records laws, or officials or agencies that go to 'egregious' lengths to hide information. The award's criteria states that Black Hole award should go toward a policy or action that impacts the public at large. It's kind of like winning a Razzie, the annual parody award given out to the worst movie of the year. The 2025 Razzie award went to Francis Ford Coppala's 'Megalopolis' — the 2025 Black Hole award went to the Utah Legislature. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The two bills in question are SB277, which eliminates the State Records Committee, replacing it with an attorney who will review appeals to records requests that have been denied — and HB69, which makes it difficult for people who challenge the government over public records denials to recoup their attorney fees. The bills have not yet been signed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; however, on Thursday he said he intends to give them both a green light. 'I think it's best for the state, I think it's best for state government, I think it's best for the people,' Cox said during his monthly news conference with PBS Utah. The laws come on the heels of several other policies from the Legislature to curtail transparency that the Society of Professional Journalists said factored into the award. That includes a 2022 law that prevents the release of Garrity statements — compelled testimony from public employees used in an internal investigation, but not intended for criminal proceedings. And in 2023, the Legislature passed a law that makes the digital calendar of a public official a protected record, which coincided with attempts from KSL-TV investigators to request the schedule of former Attorney General Sean Reyes, who faced criticism over his friendship with embattled anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard. 'These actions convey a clear disregard for transparency and pave the way for unchecked government actions,' said Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, who chairs the Society of Professional Journalists' Freedom of Information Committee. Notably, this is the second time the Utah Legislature has been saddled with the Black Hole Award. It received the inaugural award in 2011, along with then-Gov. Gary Herbert, for dismantling the state's Government Records Access and Management Act, or GRAMA. After loud public outcry, the bill was repealed in a special session. Sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, SB277 will replace the State Records Committee — the body that decides which government records should be released to the public — with a paid, governor-appointed attorney. The bill was opposed by most Democrats and a handful of Republicans, passing the Senate with a 21-8 vote and the House with a 44-23 vote. Now, if a records request, and subsequent appeal, is denied, any further appeals would go before the director of the Utah Government Records Office, created under the bill. The director would serve a four-year term, and could be removed by the governor but only for cause, which means they would have to violate a stated policy. McKell, the Senate's majority assistant whip, said the bill will make the appeal process more efficient, eliminating the backlog of requests. Cox echoed that sentiment on Thursday. 'We have about a four- to six-month backlog, often, when it comes to these issues going before the board. What we're doing is we're putting in an administrative law judge, someone who understands the law and can rule very quickly on these issues. That's going to help all of you not have to wait for these decisions,' he told reporters on Thursday. 'We're always trying to make sure we have the right balance in government and I think these bills do that.' McKell also claimed the records committee sometimes makes decisions that go beyond their legal expertise. 'They are tasked with quasi-judicial decisions,' McKell said during the legislative session, 'not one is required to have a legal background or law degree.' Opposition to the bill spanned the political spectrum, with representatives from the Eagle Forum to Mormon Women for Ethical Government to the Utah League of Women Voters speaking against it. Critics worry that it could lead to less transparency, while consolidating too much power under the governor. 'Utah's seven-member State Records Committee, representing diverse experience and perspectives, was ideally suited to look out for the public interest in free information. Replacing that committee with a governor's appointee can only reduce accountability and undermine public confidence in government,' said Howard Goldberg, a retired Associated Press bureau chief, in a statement. Goldberg also sits on the SPJ's Freedom of Information Committee. Sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, HB69 started out as a bill to protect voting information — it classifies records related to the return of ballots as protected, and prohibits a government official from accessing or using government records that are outside of that official's duties, including how someone voted. The bill initially sailed through the House and Senate with little controversy. However, on final passage in the Senate, it was amended to include a new provision related to attorney fees. By then, the bill had already passed both Senate and House committees, which is when the public is given a chance to comment on the bill. So, essentially, the amendment received little debate among lawmakers and no public comment. Now, if someone challenges the denial of public records in court, and wins, they can only recoup their attorney fees if they can prove the government acted in bad faith when the records were initially denied. That's a very high bar, critics warn, which will have a chilling effect on private citizens who seek to appeal the denial of a records request. Unless the records request comes from an organization or individual with deep pockets, it will be financially difficult for most people to take a government to court over a denial. 'Together with SB277, this makes it harder for individuals and organizations with limited resources to access withheld records,' the Society of Professional Journalists said in a news release Friday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
7 Highlights From Lady Gaga's Jam-Packed Saturday Night Live Episode
Lady Gaga has received a wave of praise after serving double duty on Saturday Night Live over the weekend, as both host and musical guest. The Abracadabra singer has appeared on SNL as guest host and musical performer on numerous occasions in the last 15 years (more on that in a second), but Saturday marked her first time occupying both slots, following in the footsteps of Charli XCX and Timothée Chalamet, who also juggled both roles recently. Here's a selection of highlights and other stand-out moments from Gaga's big night at SNL… Talk about doing the most with a limited amount of space. Seriously, the above video is a must-watch for even the most casual of Lady Gaga fans, encompassing everything we love about her as a live performer. Although she was there to promote her new album, Gaga couldn't resist poking fun at the scathing reviews her last film Joker: Folie À Deux received towards the end of last year. 'Apparently, people thought it was awesome,' she quipped, before addressing the fact that she and co-star Joaquin Phoenix had just won the Golden Raspberry Award in the Worst On-Screen Duo category. 'The joke's on them. I love winning things!' Gaga said. 'My Razzie brings me one step closer to an EGORT. It's like an EGOT, but it's hurtful.' She ended the segment by vowing to 'sing', 'dance' and 'not do Joker 3'. While reflecting on her past appearances on SNL, she revealed that last time she hosted, she was joined during one performance by R Kelly, who is currently serving a 31-year combined sentence for multiple charges involving child sexual abuse, trafficking and racketeering. She explained: 'I'm so happy to be back at SNL. The last time I hosted was in 2013. And every aspect of my performance aged amazingly. 'Because there's no need to Google 'SNL 2013 Lady Gaga featuring R Kelly.' I won't bring it up!' Lady Gaga jokes about her 2013 SNL performance with R. Kelly during her opening monologue tonight:'Last time I hosted was in 2013 and every aspect of my performance aged amazingly. So there's no need to Google 'SNL 2013 Lady Gaga featuring R. Kelly'… we all won't.' — Pop Base (@PopBase) March 9, 2025 In 2019, following the release of the documentary Surviving R Kelly, Gaga pulled their duet Do What U Want from streaming services, and apologised for having collaborated with him on the song six years prior. She wrote at the time: 'I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously. 'What I am hearing about the allegations against R Kelly is absolutely horrifying and indefensible. As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the song and video [the latter of which was never released] at a dark time in my life, my intention was to create something extremely defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn't processed the trauma that had occurred in my own life. The song is called Do What U Want (With My Body), I think it's clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was at the time. 'If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self I'd tell her to go through the therapy I have since then, so that I could understand the confused post-traumatic state that I was in or if therapy was not available to me or anyone in my situation – to seek help, and speak as openly and honestly as possible about what we've been through.' She added: 'I can't go back, but I can go forward and continue to support women, men, and people of all sexual identities, and of all races, who are victims of sexual assault. I have demonstrated my stance on this issue and others many times throughout my career.' Gaga concluded: 'I'm sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner.' I stand by anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault: — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) January 10, 2019 'It never runs,' Chloe Fineman said of the fictional mascara, to which Heidi Gardner responded: 'But sometimes, don't you kind of want it to?' 'You know… for the attention,' Gaga then added, in one of the episode's most note-perfect deliveries. The fact that Gaga herself is now a makeup mogul as the founder of Haus Labs just adds to the fun. We can only imagine how excited Gaga superfan and SNL cast member Bowen Yang will have been to get to do this 'performance' with the pop icon. In this skit, the pair played a wealthy couple on a date who perform an impromptu duet of Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight, only for things to take an increasingly chaotic turn as each verse continues. In the latest in SNL's 'Midnight Matinee' movie parodies, Gaga plays a high school student in Pip, about a Stuart Little-esque mouse who tries to win a weight lifting tournament to prove himself to his classmates. Watch till the end, as we promise this is a much more shocking – and, indeed, blood-spattered – ending than whatever you imagined. So, while one of Gaga's performances saw her using her imagination to make the most of an enclosed space, the other took a very different approach. While performing Mayhem cut Killah, Gaga and her dancers kicked things off in the SNL corridors, wandering around the studio and delivering some impressive choreo around the NBC building, before finally making it onto the show's main stage. Gaga has always been known for her 'more is more' approach, and that was certainly the case with this rendition of Killah, which encompasses dancing, a drum solo and even an unexpected costume change. Killah, indeed! Amazing. Lady Gaga's Mayhem Hailed As A 'Return To Form' – Here's What Critics Are Saying Lady Gaga's Old Quotes About Her Own Music Come Back To Haunt Her During Hot Ones Interview There's 1 Hidden Detail Lady Gaga Fans Should Look Out For In Her Abracadabra Music Video
