Latest news with #RobertRodriguez
New York Post
28-07-2025
- New York Post
NYPD scuba squad schools youngsters on how beach can turn deadly as temps soar in Big Apple
Escaping the scorching summer heat can land you in troubled waters — but New York's Finest are making sure it's just another day at the beach. The NYPD scuba team schooled youngsters on water safety at Rockaway Beach on Monday, teaching teens hands-on how to stay above water when the going gets tough in the surf. 'The idea is that if we can humble them, and say, 'Can you swim? Or, 'If you can't swim this is what you have to think about,'' NYPD Detective Robert Rodriguez told a class of about 75 'students' at the popular Queens waterfront park. 'Then hopefully that sinks in. Advertisement 5 The NYPD scuba team schooled more than 70 youngsters on summer water safety on Rockaway Beach on Monday. James Messerschmidt 5 NYPD scuba team members lets Big Apple teens try on their gear during a water safety session in Queens. James Messerschmidt 'Even if you're a good swimmer, even the best of swimmers can get in trouble out here,' said Rodriguez, a 20-year member of the department's diving team. 'Rip currents don't care if you're Michael Phelps or if you're a 5-year old. The power of a rip current can drown you just the same.' Advertisement The session included a presentation of some of the elite police team's equipment, including an underwater scooter, a water-friendly 'Jaws of Life' device — and some hands-on training. Cops schooled the crowd — which also included more than a dozen local residents — about rip tides, and warned that panic is one of your worst enemies if you get in trouble in the surf. 5 The NYPD scuba team puts on a demonstration during a water safety class at Rockaway Beach on Monday. James Messerschmidt 5 About 75 youngsters and 15 locals residents were on hand for an NYPD scuba team water safety presentation. James Messerschmidt Advertisement 'The number one thing is that you gotta swim with a lifeguard,' scuba team Detective Christopher Johnson said. 'You never know what can happen. It's not always your inability to swim that can cause you to drown. You could have a medical emergency.' And it's not just the beach — the city has seen several drowning tragedies in the waterways around the Big Apple in recent weeks, including two separate East River incidents earlier this month. In April, filmmaker Sebastian Lasasosa Rogers drowned while surfing at Jacob Riis Park. For many at Rockaway Beach on Monday, the lessons sunk in. Advertisement 'It was really fun, very educational and I think it could help a lot of people,' said 15-year-old Brooklyn resident Kenzo Othoniel. 'The technology was so cool.' 5 Local resident gets a first-hand look at the cumbersome gear worn by the NYPD elite scuba team on Monday. James Messerschmidt Lesly Yepez, 18, of the Bronx also took the training to heart — with good reason. 'Last year when I was with my friend I actually almost drowned because the waves got way too rough,' said Yepez. 'I'll definitely try to learn how to swim. My fears aren't gonna take over, because I love it.' One teen said she also once had a near-drowning experience and had to be saved by her brother and a bystander — an experience she'll never forget. 'I'm not really scared of it anymore because if I go in the water now I'll be safe,' said 18-year-old Treasure Taylor of Brooklyn. 'After that experience, I've learned. So, I don't think it'd ever be doing anything crazy. I think I'll be cautious.'
Geek Tyrant
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Kevin Smith Talks Robert Rodriguez Almost Directing SUPERMAN LIVES and Why He'll "F–king Never" Make a Marvel Movie — GeekTyrant
Kevin Smith's long-abandoned Superman Lives script has become the stuff of comic book movie legend. A scrapped '90s Superman reboot once set to star Nicolas Cage, packed with Brainiac, Lex Luthor, and Doomsday. But in a recent chat with Collider, Smith revealed a fascinating 'what if' from that chaotic development era: Spy Kids and Alita: Battle Angel director Robert Rodriguez nearly directed it before Tim Burton jumped on board. Smith recalled: 'There was a moment back in 1996-97 where Robert Rodriguez, who I knew a little bit from the world of indie film, called me up to be like, 'Warner Bros. asked me to direct your Superman script.' And I was like, 'Please do it. Oh my god, do it. You'd be amazing for it.'' Rodriguez was interested. 'He goes, 'I kind of like it. It's fun, man. Walk me through it. Clearly you know more about Superman than I do.'' For about two days, Rodriguez seriously weighed the project, but ultimately passed in favor of The Faculty , his sci-fi horror teen flick for Dimension Films. Smith said: 'Warner Bros. wanted him big-time, and it would have been his biggest budget to date.' Looking back, Smith considers the missed opportunity a major creative 'what if', saying: 'If I could make anything that didn't happen happen, I think it would be that because I didn't have the pressure of directing the movie myself. It would have been in the hands of one of my generation's greatest and absolutely-f***ing-on-point visionary action directors. 'That would have been a wonderful marriage of material. That script — and I ain't saying that's the greatest script — but dialogue was sharp in that f***ing script. And this was pre-Avengers, you know, before that became the norm and stuff.' He also appreciated the idea of having creative distance if the film flopped. 'Even if people were like, 'Oh, I hate that Superman'... then I'm like, 'Yeah, well, blame Robert. He directed it.' So I'd have had the benefit of being involved but not being involved, and I've never really had that.' Later in the interview, Smith turned his attention to Marvel, specifically, why you'll never see him directing an MCU installment. He's been behind the camera for CW shows like The Flash and Supergirl , but don't expect him to take on something with a Marvel logo anytime soon. 'Everyone's like, 'Do you want to make a Marvel movie?' F***ing never. What in my body of work has ever made anyone think, 'He'd be good for that sort of visual spectacle.'' But a cameo? That's another story. 'Marvel if [they] was like, 'We want you to play ... anybody. One scene — a f**ing bad guy, a good guy.' Oh my god, whose d*ck do I got to suck to make that happen? That's what I'd be more interested in. Because that would be fun, and none of the responsibility would be mine.' Smith summed it up saying: 'I'm put on this Earth to make Kevin Smith movies, if anything — and most critics will argue that I'm not even put on this earth to do that. But nobody wants to make Kevin Smith movies except me, so that's my lane and I love staying in it.' He may never direct a superhero tentpole, but there's no denying that Kevin Smith's voice continues to be a unique and passionate part of the geek culture conversation, even when he's just imagining what might've been.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vertikal RMS Launches Hawk-I: AI-Powered Revolution in Certificate of Insurance Compliance Tracking
PLAINVIEW, N.Y., June 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertikal Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a leader in third-party risk management technology, proudly announces the launch of Hawk-I, its proprietary, groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool integrated into its flagship COI tracking platform, CertFocus. This innovation marks a significant advancement in automating and streamlining the traditionally manual and error-prone process of Certificate of Insurance (COI) verification and compliance tracking. "Hawk-I represents a transformative leap forward in third-party risk management. By automating the COI review process, we're empowering organizations to proactively manage risk, ensure compliance, and protect their operations from potential liabilities." - Robert Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer, Vertikal RMS For decades, organizations have grappled with the challenges of manually reviewing and tracking COIs from vendors, contractors, and suppliers—a process often fraught with delays, human error, and inconsistencies. Hawk-I addresses these issues head-on by leveraging advanced AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, to extract and analyze insurance data from both structured and unstructured sections of ACORD Certificates of Insurance. This enables real-time compliance assessments, significantly reducing turnaround times from days to mere seconds. Key Features and Benefits of Hawk-I: Instant COI Data Extraction: Accurately captures policy information from Certificates of Insurance, minimizing errors and manual data entry. Real-Time Compliance Status: Provides immediate feedback on compliance, enabling swift action to address any issues. Cost Efficiency: Reduces administrative burdens and associated costs by automating labor-intensive processes. Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication between compliance officers, procurement teams, and vendors through transparent and responsive processes. Hawk-I's adaptability extends beyond COI management, with capabilities to interpret other business documents and compliance records, making it a versatile asset across various departments and industries. This launch underscores Vertikal's commitment to innovation and excellence in risk management solutions. By integrating Hawk-I into CertFocus, Vertikal continues to provide clients with cutting-edge tools to navigate the complexities of third-party risk and compliance. About Vertikal RMS Vertikal RMS is a premier provider of risk management technology solutions, specializing in Certificate of Insurance tracking and vendor prequalification. With a focus on innovation and customer success, Vertikal delivers scalable, integrated, and customizable platforms designed to mitigate risk and enhance operational efficiency. View source version on Contacts For more information or to schedule a demo of CertFocus, please contact:H. Lee RothCROVertikal RMSPhone: 888-383-4811Email: marketing@ Website: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Vertikal RMS Launches Hawk-I: AI-Powered Revolution in Certificate of Insurance Compliance Tracking
PLAINVIEW, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertikal Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a leader in third-party risk management technology, proudly announces the launch of Hawk-I, its proprietary, groundbreaking artificial intelligence tool integrated into its flagship COI tracking platform, CertFocus. This innovation marks a significant advancement in automating and streamlining the traditionally manual and error-prone process of Certificate of Insurance (COI) verification and compliance tracking. With Hawk-I, Vertikal RMS takes a significant leap toward fully automated insurance compliance tracking, empowering organizations to operate faster, smarter, and with greater confidence. Share "Hawk-I represents a transformative leap forward in third-party risk management. By automating the COI review process, we're empowering organizations to proactively manage risk, ensure compliance, and protect their operations from potential liabilities.' - Robert Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer, Vertikal RMS For decades, organizations have grappled with the challenges of manually reviewing and tracking COIs from vendors, contractors, and suppliers—a process often fraught with delays, human error, and inconsistencies. Hawk-I addresses these issues head-on by leveraging advanced AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, to extract and analyze insurance data from both structured and unstructured sections of ACORD Certificates of Insurance. This enables real-time compliance assessments, significantly reducing turnaround times from days to mere seconds. Key Features and Benefits of Hawk-I: Instant COI Data Extraction: Accurately captures policy information from Certificates of Insurance, minimizing errors and manual data entry. Real-Time Compliance Status: Provides immediate feedback on compliance, enabling swift action to address any issues. Cost Efficiency: Reduces administrative burdens and associated costs by automating labor-intensive processes. Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication between compliance officers, procurement teams, and vendors through transparent and responsive processes. Hawk-I's adaptability extends beyond COI management, with capabilities to interpret other business documents and compliance records, making it a versatile asset across various departments and industries. This launch underscores Vertikal's commitment to innovation and excellence in risk management solutions. By integrating Hawk-I into CertFocus, Vertikal continues to provide clients with cutting-edge tools to navigate the complexities of third-party risk and compliance. About Vertikal RMS Vertikal RMS is a premier provider of risk management technology solutions, specializing in Certificate of Insurance tracking and vendor prequalification. With a focus on innovation and customer success, Vertikal delivers scalable, integrated, and customizable platforms designed to mitigate risk and enhance operational efficiency.
Geek Tyrant
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
VFX Artists React To and Share Insight For SIN CITY, ULTRAMAN ARC, and More — GeekTyrant
The gang at Corridor Crew got together for another VFX Artis React video and they dive in offering insight into the visual effects of films like Sin City , Ultraman Arc , an old Honda ad, and the French movie, Bastion 36 . I remember being completely blown away by Robert Rodiguez's Sin City! That movie blew my mind at the time. I love the style, and I was fascinated by how the filmmaker brought the story to life to give us such a stylized comic book movie. We'd never really seen anything like that before. So, it's fun seeing the Corridor Crew get together to talk about and break down how that movie was made.
