Latest news with #StanleyKubrick
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vienna calling: Strauss's 'The Blue Danube' to waltz into outer space
Austrian composer Johann Strauss II's "The Blue Danube" has, for many people, been synonymous with space travel since it was used in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi film classic "2001: A Space Odyssey". But the world famous waltz will truly travel among the stars on Saturday, when the European Space Agency's (ESA) antenna will broadcast a live performance of it into space to celebrate the composer's 200th birthday. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra will play a concert in the Austrian capital from 1930 GMT, Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director general, told AFP. The concert will be broadcast live on the internet and also be shown at a public screening in Vienna, in New York at Bryant Park, and near the antenna in Spain. "The digitised sound will be transmitted to the large 35-metre satellite dish at ESA's Cebreros ground station in Spain," Aschbacher said. And from there, the waltz will be "transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves", the Austrian astronomer explained. - 'Typical of space' - Like no other waltz by Strauss junior, "The Blue Danube" evokes the elegance of 19th-century imperial Vienna, which lives on in the city's roaring ball season. For Norbert Kettner, director of the Vienna tourist board, the Danube waltz is a "true unofficial space anthem" because of Kubrick. The timeless waltz is the "typical sound of space", Kettner said, with the tunes being played "during various docking manoeuvres of the International Space Station (ISS)". When the waltz is performed on Saturday, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will make sure to underline the waltz's airiness as if it were floating through space, its director Jan Nast said. According to Nast, who put together the programme for Saturday's hour-long "interstellar concert", music is a language "which touches many people" and has "the universal power to convey hope and joy". - Filling a gap - Once transmitted via Spain's satellite dish, the signal will travel at the speed of light to eventually reach NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft -- the most distant man-made object in the universe -- in approximately 23 hours and 3 minutes. After surpassing Voyager 1, it will continue its interstellar journey. By catching up with the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, Austria also seeks to right a perceived wrong. Both Voyagers carry "Golden Records" -- 12-inch, gold-plated copper disks intended to convey the story of our world to extraterrestrials. The record holds 115 images of life on Earth, recorded in analogue form, and a variety of sounds and snatches of music. While "The Magic Flute" by Austria's composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was included among the selection of 27 music pieces, Strauss's famous waltz was not. bg/kym/jza/phz
Time Magazine
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The 10 Scariest Movies of All Time According to AI
This article is published by a partner of TIME. There's something irresistible about a good scary movie. The thrill of fear, the pulse-pounding suspense, and the sheer adrenaline rush make horror films a favorite for audiences worldwide. Whether it's the unsettling quiet before the scare, the psychological torment, or the grotesque imagery, scary movies have the power to keep us on the edge of our seats and haunt our dreams long after the credits roll. The best horror films are not just about jump scares—they tap into our deepest fears, from the fear of the unknown to the terror of losing control. They weave compelling stories, feature unforgettable characters, and create an atmosphere so tense that viewers feel like they're part of the nightmare. These movies stand out because they not only scare us but also stay with us, making us think about what fear truly means. This article showcases the 10 scariest movies of all time, using research assistance from ChatGPT. These films have defined the horror genre, terrified audiences, and left an indelible mark on pop culture. From supernatural hauntings to visceral psychological horror, these movies represent the pinnacle of fear-inducing cinema. 1. The Exorcist (1973) 'The Exorcist' is a story about a young girl possessed by a demonic entity and the lengths her family goes to for her salvation. The film's chilling depiction of possession, combined with groundbreaking special effects and an unforgettable soundtrack, solidified its place as one of the scariest movies ever made. Its psychological and spiritual terror resonates with audiences to this day. 2. Hereditary (2018) Ari Aster's 'Hereditary' is a modern masterpiece of psychological horror, exploring grief, family secrets, and supernatural terror. The film builds an overwhelming sense of dread, culminating in a shocking and unforgettable finale. Toni Collette's haunting performance elevates this tale of familial disintegration. 3. The Shining (1980) Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel is a chilling exploration of madness and isolation. Set in the eerie Overlook Hotel, 'The Shining' follows Jack Torrance's descent into insanity as supernatural forces take hold. Its iconic imagery and unforgettable performances make it a horror classic. Director: Stanley Kubrick Key Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd Notable Scenes: 'Here's Johnny!' and the blood-filled elevator Box Office: $47 million worldwide (original release) Awards: Now considered a masterpiece, though snubbed during its release Legacy: Influenced countless horror films and pop culture references 4. Halloween (1978) John Carpenter's 'Halloween' introduced the world to Michael Myers, the masked killer who stalks babysitters on Halloween night. With its simple yet terrifying premise, the film popularized the slasher genre and became a cultural phenomenon. Its eerie score remains one of the most recognizable in cinema. Director: John Carpenter Key Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nick Castle Notable Scenes: Michael's slow stalking and the final confrontation Box Office: $70 million worldwide (on a $300,000 budget) Awards: Received critical acclaim for its direction and tension Legacy: Inspired countless sequels and the slasher subgenre 5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) Tobe Hooper's low-budget horror film shocked audiences with its raw, visceral depiction of terror. Following a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals, 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' is an unrelenting and disturbing experience. Its documentary-style realism adds to the horror. Director: Tobe Hooper Key Stars: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal Notable Scenes: Leatherface's first appearance and the dinner scene Box Office: Over $30 million worldwide Awards: Cult status despite initial controversy Legacy: Established Leatherface as a horror icon 6. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' is a psychological thriller that redefined horror with its shocking twists and groundbreaking approach to suspense. The story follows Marion Crane, who meets her untimely fate at the infamous Bates Motel. The film's shower scene is one of the most famous moments in cinematic history. Director: Alfred Hitchcock Key Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles Notable Scenes: The shower scene and the final revelation about Norman Bates Box Office: $50 million worldwide Awards: 4 Academy Award nominations Legacy: Considered the blueprint for modern horror films 7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Wes Craven's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' introduced Freddy Krueger, a supernatural killer who stalks his victims in their dreams. Combining slasher horror with surreal imagery, the film is both terrifying and inventive. Freddy's burned visage and razor glove are iconic. Director: Wes Craven Key Stars: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp Notable Scenes: Freddy's first kill and the ending twist Box Office: $57 million worldwide Awards: Launched a highly successful franchise Legacy: Cemented Freddy Krueger as a horror legend 8. The Ring (2002) Gore Verbinski's remake of the Japanese horror film 'Ringu' brought the haunting tale of a cursed videotape to Western audiences. The film's eerie atmosphere and shocking imagery, particularly Samara crawling out of the television, terrified viewers worldwide. Director: Gore Verbinski Key Stars: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman Notable Scenes: The videotape sequences and Samara's well Box Office: $249 million worldwide Awards: Critical acclaim for its atmosphere and cinematography Legacy: Sparked a wave of Japanese horror remakes 9. The Blair Witch Project (1999) 'The Blair Witch Project' popularized the found-footage genre with its terrifying story of three filmmakers lost in the woods. The movie's minimalist approach and suggestion of unseen horrors created an unparalleled sense of dread. Directors: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez Key Stars: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard Notable Scenes: The final scene in the house and the tent attack Box Office: $248 million worldwide on a $60,000 budget Awards: Praised for its innovation and marketing Legacy: Reinvented the horror genre with its realism 10. It (2017) The modern adaptation of Stephen King's 'It' brought Pennywise the Clown back to terrify a new generation. With a mix of psychological horror, jump scares, and emotional depth, 'It' became a critical and commercial success. Bill Skarsgård's portrayal of Pennywise is as terrifying as it is unforgettable. Director: Andy Muschietti Key Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis Notable Scenes: The sewer introduction and the projector scene Box Office: $701 million worldwide Awards: Nominated for multiple critics' awards Legacy: One of the highest-grossing horror films of all time Conclusion on Scary Movies Scary movies are more than just entertainment—they're an art form that taps into our primal fears and emotions. The films on this list showcase the creativity and brilliance of filmmakers who have mastered the craft of horror. Whether it's through psychological tension, supernatural terror, or outright gore, these movies have left an indelible mark on the genre and our collective psyche. From the timeless suspense of Psycho to the modern psychological dread of Hereditary, these films prove that fear is universal and endlessly captivating. As horror continues to evolve, these classics will remain benchmarks, reminding us of the enduring power of a good scare. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the genre, these movies are essential viewing for anyone brave enough to experience them. Related Articles: About the Authors: Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn. Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies, Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Stanley Kubrick's former $13.5 million estate home hits market
Stanley Kubrick's former UK home has just hit the market for a blockbuster price: nearly $US9 million ($A13.9 million). The eight-bedroom Hertfordshire estate, known as Abbots Mead, is located on Barnet Lane in Elstree, just outside London. It's being marketed by Savills, the New York Post reports. And for serious film buffs, this isn't just any country manor — it's a shrine to cinematic history. The late 'The Shining' director, born in New York, bought the property in 1965 and spent 14 intensely productive years there. He died in 1999. Due to its close proximity to Elstree Studios, the reclusive auteur was able to manage everything from production and editing to pioneering special effects — all without leaving his leafy 2-acre compound. Dad blocks son's $177m amid public spat 'We're very fortunate to have the privilege of selling many great houses that have a rich and varied history,' Steven Spencer, head of office at Savills Rickmansworth, said in a statement. 'However, it's rare for somewhere to have such a direct link to filmmaking unless it's been used as a location for shoots.' Mr Spencer added, 'The close proximity to Elstree Studios made it the perfect base for Kubrick and his family, but he also worked a lot from home — carefully managing all aspects of four films from his extraordinary body of work from within its four walls.' Nestled behind wrought iron gates and marked with a commemorative blue plaque, the manor exudes stately charm and old-school opulence. It features ornate cornices, soaring ceilings, marble fireplaces, a carved staircase and a drawing room that opens to a sun-drenched conservatory. The main suite comes complete with a bay window, a dressing room, and his-and-hers bathrooms. There are also five more bedrooms on the top floor, plus a studio for any film buffs hoping to follow in Kubrick's footsteps. But the estate doesn't end there: a detached lodge with its own four bedrooms and private garden sits on the grounds, along with a two-bedroom apartment perched above a separate garage. Outside, manicured gardens give way to a wisteria-covered pergola, a pool, a pool house with a sauna and even a small orchard. 'Quite apart from its history, Abbots Mead is a handsome period house in its own right,' said Mr Spencer. 'Well-proportioned rooms provide generous family space with a sense of grandeur, while mature trees at the garden boundaries ensure plenty of privacy and are the perfect backdrop to a beautiful setting.' And while it may feel like a world away, the property is a quick commute to London thanks to nearby Elstree and Borehamwood Station.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Inside Google's plan to have Hollywood make AI look less doomsday
For decades, Hollywood directors including Stanley Kubrick, James Cameron and Alex Garland have cast artificial intelligence as a villain that can turn into a killing machine. Even Steven Spielberg's relatively hopeful "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence" had a pessimistic edge to its vision of the future. Now Google - a leading developer in AI technology - wants to move the cultural conversations away from the technology as seen in "The Terminator," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Ex Machina." To do so, the tech giant is funding short films about AI that portray the technology in a less nightmarish light. The Google initiative, called "AI on Screen," is a partnership with Santa Monica, California-based Range Media Partners, a talent management and production company that represents a wide variety of entertainment clients, including actors and writers. Range is producing the films. So far, two short films have been greenlit through the project: One, titled "Sweetwater," tells the story of a man who visits his childhood home and discovers a hologram of his dead celebrity mother. Michael Keaton will direct and appear in the film, which was written by his son, Sean Douglas. It is the first project they are working on together. The other, "Lucid," examines a couple who want to escape their suffocating reality and risk everything on a device that allows them to share the same dream. "They were looking for stories that were not doomsday tales about AI, which I was fine with, because I think we've seen so many of those," Douglas told The Los Angeles Times. "It's nice to see the more - not overly positive - but sort of middle-ground stories." The effort comes at a time when many Americans have mixed feelings about AI. A 2024 survey from Bentley University and Gallup showed that 56% of Americans see AI as doing "equal amounts of harm and good," while 31% believe AI does "more harm than good." Shifting the way AI is depicted in popular culture could help shift those perceptions, or at least that's what some techies and AI enthusiasts hope. Google has much riding on convincing consumers that AI can be a force for good, or at least not evil. The hot space is increasingly crowded with startups and established players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Apple and Facebook parent company Meta. The Google-funded shorts, which are 15 to 20 minutes long, aren't commercials for AI, per se. Rather, Google is looking to fund films that explore the intersection of humanity and technology, said Mira Lane, vice president of technology and society at Google. Google is not pushing their products in the movies, and the films are not made with AI, she added. "Narratives about technology in films are overwhelmingly characterized by a dystopian perspective," Lane said. "When we think about AI, there's so much nuance to consider, which is what this program is about. How might we tell more deeply human stories? What does it look like to coexist? What are some of those dilemmas that are going to come up?" Google did not disclose how much they are investing in the films. The company said it wants to fund many more movies, but it does not have a target number. Some of the shorts could eventually become full-length features, Google said. Creators who work with Google are given access to tech experts at the company who can share more information about the technology. Does the technology in the script already exist, for example? How would it work in real life? "We're living with this technology and AI - the questions arise include: How does it affect us and how can we emotionally connect via this type of technology?" said Rachel Douglas, a partner at Range, who is married to Sean Douglas. AI has been a controversial topic in Hollywood, playing a major part in the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes. Actors fear their likenesses and voices being replicated and manipulated without permission or payment. Writers worry their work is being used without their permission to create AI-generated scripts and story outlines. Animation and special effects jobs could be gutted. Publishers and record labels have sued to protect their intellectual property. Negative public perceptions about AI could put tech companies at a disadvantage when such cases go before juries of laypeople. That's one reason why firms are motivated to makeover AI's reputation. "There's an incredible amount of skepticism in the public world about what AI is and what AI will do in the future," said Sean Pak, an intellectual property lawyer at Quinn Emanuel, on a conference panel. "We, as an industry, have to do a better job of communicating the public benefits and explaining in simple, clear language what it is that we're doing and what it is that we're not doing." AI companies, including OpenAI, Google and Meta, have demoed or shared their tools with movie and TV studios and directors. Meta has partnered with horror studio Blumhouse and Cameron's venture Lightstorm Vision on AI-related initiatives. On Tuesday, Google announced a partnership with "The Whale" director Darren Aronofsky's venture Primordial Soup, which will work with three filmmakers on short films and give them access to Google's AI video generator Veo. Proponents say the tech can make filmmaking cheaper and give artists more flexibility at a time when the movie business is struggling. "If we want to continue to see the kinds of movies that I've always loved and that I like to make and that I will go to see ... we got to figure out how to cut the cost of that in half," Cameron said on a podcast last month with Meta's chief technology officer. Cameron sits on the board of startup Stability AI. AI companies are finding other creative ways to make the technology more approachable. In one example, major artificial intelligence firm Anthropic is sponsoring an upcoming exhibit at the Exploratorium, a science and art museum in San Francisco. Eric Dimond, senior director of exhibits, said he hopes the exhibit, called "Adventures in AI," will cause more people to explore the costs and benefits of AI. Anthropic was not involved in the conceptualization of the exhibit, Dimond said, though visitors can interact with its AI model Claude, as well as AI tools from OpenAI and ElevenLabs. As Google and others try to put a softer focus around technology, moviegoers are still getting plenty of stories about the dangers of robots run amok. Recent tales of AI gone wrong include Blumhouse's 2023 horror film "M3GAN," about a robot who becomes so protective of a young girl that she starts wreaking havoc. Last year, another Blumhouse horror film, "Afraid," followed a family terrorized by an AI-powered assistant. This summer, "M3GAN" is getting a sequel, released in theaters by Universal Pictures. It's expected to be a box office hit. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Live performance of famous waltz to be beamed into space
VIENNA – A classical masterpiece with deep ties to spaceflight pop culture will finally reach the stars next week when the European Space Agency beams a live performance of "The Blue Danube" waltz by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra into the universe. Many considered "By the Beautiful Blue Danube" an anthem of space after it was featured in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, when Nasa's Voyager 1 and 2 probes launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 1977, the waltz was not included among the songs on the two Voyager Golden Records. The Vienna Tourist Board partnered with ESA to host the interstellar "Waltz Into Space" event to mark the 200th birthday of the late composer Johann Strauss II and the 50th birthday of the European Space Agency. Nasa Works To Extend Voyager Spacecraft Mission Again: 'Every Day Could Be Our Last' While it's unclear why the Waltz King's most famous piece wasn't included on the Golden Records, the Vienna Tourist Board made a spoof video suggesting that maybe a mission manager "forgot" to give the record back in time to make the launch because they were too busy enjoying the beautiful music. The European initiative is "using modern technology to correct a historical mistake." "This demonstrates that our technology can transmit not only scientific data but also human art over long distances," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said. "This year also marks the 50th anniversary of our global ground station network. This broadcast will be a special moment that will show that music – just like space – connects all of humanity." On Saturday, Wiener Symphoniker (the Vienna Symphony) will play Strauss's waltz live as ESA uses its 35-meter-diameter deep-space dish antenna in Spain to transmit the song into the stars, beyond even NASA's interstellar Voyager spacecraft. Voyager 1 And 2 Continue Offering New Mysteries From Interstellar Space The concert from the MAK Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna will also be broadcast around the world, and there will be an in-person viewing event at Bryant Park in New York City. The live broadcast and event will happen at 2:30 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. local time in Vienna. According to the Symphony, the signal will be sent into space at the speed of light, passing the Moon in over a second, Mars in 4 minutes and the outer limits of our solar system in 17 hours. After 24 hours, the final chords of the Danube Waltz will reach the Voyager 1 spacecraft more than 15 billion miles from Earth. Both Voyager 1 and 2 continue operating in interstellar space more than 47 years after article source: Live performance of famous waltz to be beamed into space
