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Calgary Herald
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Made for smartphones, verticals are bringing much needed work to Hollywood North
Article content Actor Nic Westaway's resumé has a notable thread running through it. Article content 'I think I've played 10 billionaires, maybe 12,' he said. Article content Since last year, the Vancouver-based actor has been a sought-after star in the world of verticals, also known as micro-dramas. The Australian transplant, who did four seasons on the hit Australian soap opera Home and Away, has starred in 19 verticals in the last 1½ years. Article content Article content Meant to be watched on your phone, verticals are feature film-length stories typically broken down into 70 to 150 episodes of 60 to 90 seconds each. Article content Article content 'It's this weird mash up. It's like, if Hallmark and telenovela had a throuple with a B movie is how I like to describe it,' said Vancouver actor Alicia Read, who has made 10 verticals to date. Read, along with a few others, has formed the Vertical Film & Short Series Alliance ( to help TV Land film people navigate the exploding world of verticals. Article content The stories are watched using vertically oriented apps such as ReelShort, FlickReels, DramaBox and GoodShort. Each platform usually offers between 10-20 free, cliffhanger-packed, episodes to hook the viewer. After that, it will cost you US$20 to US$40 to continue to view. Article content 'They know when people are clicking. They know how far they go in before they start to lose interest,' said Vancouver casting agent Monika Dalman, who notes she has lost count of the number of verticals projects she has worked on since 2023. Dalman's stopped counting after number 40. 'They know what specific cliffhangers are making people pay for the rest of it.' Article content They also decide via data what the next scripts will be. Article content Article content Article content 'I'm all in on this sector,' said Jimmy Wu, a producer/cinematographer and founder of Vancouver production company Vertical film Vancouver/Section Cinema Inc., which has 20 vertical projects to its credit. Article content An early adopter, Wu produced his first vertical in December 2023. For each project, Wu employs anywhere between 20 and 40 cast members, 95 per cent of whom are local. Article content Article content The way things typically work is a company reaches out to a producer and gives them a script from a previously produced project, most likely from an Asian market. It is then westernized. Article content The plots lean toward revenge or rags-to-riches stories, with a soap opera/telenovela flavour. There are hidden identities, lost loves, unknown fortunes — and sometimes werewolves, vampires, and more billionaires than Mar-a-Lago's membership list. The narratives are big on dramatic gasps and slapping.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teachers Who Are Fed Up With Parents Not Taking Part In Their Child's Education — Tell Us What You Wish They'd Do
As a former high school English teacher, I can list all the ways I thought I'd see parents get involved in their child's education — and all the ways it rarely happened. It's unfortunately not an uncommon experience for educators. So I'm asking teachers (past and present) in our BuzzFeed Community to share ways they wish parents took on a more active role in their child's education. Related: Your Wedding Preferences Will Reveal Your Inner Disney Princess Maybe you, like me, used to teach English literature, and found yourself sending progress reports home regularly for students falling behind. However, no one seemed to respond until report cards hit their mailbox. Then, several parents wanted to know what extra credit opportunities could be made available for their kid who was missing dozens of assignments. TV Land / Related: Most People Can't Ace This US Geography Good Luck! Maybe you're an elementary school teacher, and one of your students keeps getting physical with others. Not only is it flat-out mean, but it's also a distraction in the classroom. You've tried to host guided conversations with the parents about techniques that could curb the behavior at home, but the parents refuse to believe it's happening at all. Or, maybe there's a student in your class who is never IN class. Their parent pulls them out of school for vacations monthly. And while you love that the kid is getting to live their best life, it's very hard to keep them on track, and you wish their parents could at least keep them up to date on their studies while abroad. Whatever the case may be, we want to hear about it. Teachers, tell us how you wish parents got more involved in their child's education in the comments. Or, if you'd like to remain anonymous, use the Google form below. Your response could be featured in an upcoming post. Also in Community: Your McDonald's UK Order Will Reveal The Perfect Summer Activity For You Also in Community: I'm Sorry, But Every American Should Be Able To Pass This Basic-Level US States Quiz Also in Community: Which Disney Princess Are You? Build A $500 Outfit To Find Out
Epoch Times
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Loretta Swit, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘M.A.S.H.,' Dies at 87
Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her role as Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the iconic CBS series 'M.A.S.H.,' has died at age 87. According to her publicist, Harlan Boll, Swit passed away on Friday at her home in New York City, likely from natural causes. Swit and Alan Alda were the longest-serving cast members on 'M.A.S.H.,' which aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983. It was based on Robert Altman's 1970 film, itself adapted from a novel by Richard Hooker, the pseudonym of H. Richard Hornberger. The series' two-and-a-half-hour finale on Feb. 28, 1983, drew more than 100 million viewers—the largest audience ever for a scripted television episode. Rolling Stone ranked 'M.A.S.H.' No. 25 among the best TV shows of all time, while Time Out placed it at No. 34. The series won the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land awards and a Peabody Award in 1975 its humor and 'the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war.' Swit transformed Houlihan from a one-dimensional character in the film—played by Sally Kellerman—into a complex, evolving woman. Related Stories 5/30/2025 5/22/2025 'Around the second or third year I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes,' as Swit told Suzy Kalter, 'The Complete Book of 'M.A.S.H.'' author. 'She was a character in constant flux; she never stopped developing.' Swit appeared in nearly every episode and pushed for a more realistic portrayal of women. 'One of the things I liked, with Loretta's prodding, was every time I had a chance to write for her character, we'd get away from the Hot Lips angle and find out more about who Margaret was. She became more of a real person,' Alda told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2018 interview. The series finale saw Houlihan return to America to work at a hospital. Swit did not agree with this decision for her character, telling Yahoo Entertainment in 2023: 'I didn't think that was correct for my Margaret. I think her next move was Vietnam. So I didn't agree with that, but that's what they wanted her to do.' After 'M.A.S.H.,' Swit became an animal welfare activist, selling perfumes and her memoir to benefit animal nonprofits. The actress was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to Polish immigrants, studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and had notable roles on 'Gunsmoke,' 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Mission Impossible,' and 'Bonanza.' 'Loretta Swit's portrayal of Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan was groundbreaking—bringing heart, humor, and strength to one of television comedy's most enduring roles,' National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From
National Post
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner who played Houlihan on TV's M*A*S*H, has died at 87
NEW YORK — Loretta Swit, who won two Emmy Awards playing Major Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a behind-the-lines surgical unit during the Korean War on the pioneering hit TV series M*A*S*H, has died. She was 87. Article content Article content Publicist Harlan Boll says Swit died Friday at her home in New York City, likely from natural causes. Article content Swit and Alan Alda were the longest-serving cast members on M*A*S*H, which was based on Robert Altman's 1970 film, itself based on a novel by Richard Hooker, the pseudonym of H. Richard Hornberger. Article content The CBS show aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983, revolving around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which gave the show its name. The two-and-a-half-hour finale on Feb. 28, 1983, lured over 100 million viewers, the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. Article content Article content Rolling Stone magazine put M*A*S*H at No. 25 of the best TV shows of all time, while Time Out put it at No. 34. It won the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land annual awards. It won a Peabody Award in 1975 'for the depth of its humor and the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war.' Article content In Altman's 1970 film, Houlihan was a one-dimensional character — a prickly, rules-bound head nurse who was regularly tormented by male colleagues, who gave her the nickname 'Hot Lips.' Her intimate moments were broadcast to the entire camp after somebody planted a microphone under her bed. Article content Sally Kellerman played Houlihan in the movie version and Swit took it over for TV, eventually deepening and creating her into a much fuller character. Her sexuality was played down and she wasn't even called 'Hot Lips' in later years. Article content The growing awareness of feminism in the '70s spurred Houlihan's transformation from caricature to real person, but a lot of the change was due to Swit's influence on the scriptwriters. Article content Article content 'Around the second or third year I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes,' Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of The Complete Book of M*A*S*H. Article content 'To oversimplify it, I took each traumatic change that happened in her life and kept it. I didn't go into the next episode as if it were a different character in a different play. She was a character in constant flux; she never stopped developing.' Article content M*A*S*H wasn't an instant hit. It finished its first season in 46th place, out of 75 network TV series, but it nabbed nine Emmy nominations. It was rewarded with a better time slot for its sophomore season, paired on Saturday nights with All in the Family, then TV's highest-rated show. At the 1974 Emmys, it was crowned best comedy, with Alda winning as best comedy actor.
CNN
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner who played Houlihan on pioneering TV series ‘M.A.S.H.,' has died at 87
Loretta Swit, who won two Emmy Awards playing Major Margaret Houlihan, the demanding head nurse of a behind-the-lines surgical unit during the Korean War on the pioneering hit TV series 'M.A.S.H.,' has died. She was 87. Publicist Harlan Boll said Swit died Friday at her home in New York City, likely from natural causes. Swit and Alan Alda were the longest-serving cast members on 'M.A.S.H.,' which was based on Robert Altman's 1970 film, which was itself based on a novel by Richard Hooker, the pseudonym of H. Richard Hornberger. The CBS show aired for 11 years from 1972 to 1983, revolving around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which gave the show its name. The two-and-a-half-hour finale on Feb. 28, 1983, lured over 100 million viewers, the most-watched episode of any scripted series ever. Rolling Stone magazine put 'M.A.S.H.' at No. 25 of the best TV shows of all time, while Time Out put it at No. 34. It won the Impact Award at the 2009 TV Land annual awards. It won a Peabody Award in 1975 'for the depth of its humor and the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war.' In Altman's 1970 film, Houlihan was a one-dimensional character – a sex-crazed bimbo who earned the nickname 'Hot Lips.' Her intimate moments were broadcast to the entire camp after somebody planted a microphone under her bed. Sally Kellerman played Houlihan in the movie version and Swit took it over for TV, eventually deepening and creating her into a much fuller character. The sexual appetite was played down and she wasn't even called 'Hot Lips' in the later years. The growing awareness of feminism in the '70s spurred Houlihan's transformation from caricature to real person, but a lot of the change was due to Swit's influence on the scriptwriters. 'Around the second or third year I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes,' Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of 'The Complete Book of 'M.A.S.H.'' 'To oversimplify it, I took each traumatic change that happened in her life and kept it. I didn't go into the next episode as if it were a different character in a different play. She was a character in constant flux; she never stopped developing.' 'M.A.S.H.' wasn't an instant hit. It finished its first season in 46th place, out of 75 network TV series, but it nabbed nine Emmy nominations. It was rewarded with a better time slot for its sophomore season, paired on Saturday nights with 'All in the Family,' then TV's highest-rated show. At the 1974 Emmys, it was crowned best comedy, with Alda winning as best comedy actor. The series also survived despite cast churn. In addition to Swit and Alda, the first season featured Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Larry Linville and Gary Burghoff. Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell and David Ogden Stiers would later be added, while Jamie Farr and William Christopher had expanded roles. Swit appeared in all but 11 episodes of the series, nearly four times longer than the Korean War itself, exploring issues like PTSD, sexism and racism. Swit pushed for a better representation for women. 'One of the things I liked, with Loretta's prodding, was every time I had a chance to write for her character, we'd get away from the Hot Lips angle and find out more about who Margaret was. She became more of a real person,' Alda told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. The series ended on a happy note for Houlihan, who spends much of the finale debating whether she wants to head to Tokyo or Belgium for her next overseas post. Ultimately she opts to return to America and work at a hospital, citing her father – a career Army man. Swit didn't personally agree that was the correct decision for a military-minded official: 'I didn't think that was correct for my Margaret,' she told Yahoo Entertainment in 2023. 'I think her next move was Vietnam. So I didn't agree with that, but that's what they wanted her to do.' But the actor did get to write the speech that Houlihan delivers to her fellow nurses on their final night together, in which she says: 'It's been an honor and privilege to have worked with you. And I'm very, very proud to have known you.' 'I was consumed with writing that. And I still get letters from women all over the world who became nurses because of Margaret Houlihan. To have contributed to someone's life like that is remarkable,' she told Yahoo Entertainment. During her run, Houlihan had an affair with Hawkeye's foil, the bumbling Frank Burns, played by Linville in the TV version, and in Season 5, Houlihan returns from a stay in Tokyo engaged to a handsome lieutenant colonel, a storyline that Swit says she advocated for with the writers. 'I told them: 'Can you imagine what fun you're going to have with Larry when I come back to town and I tell him I'm engaged? He'll rip the doors off of the mess tent!' And that's exactly what they had him do. So we were all of the same mind.' Toward the end, Swit was tempted to leave the show. She played the role of Chris Cagney in a 1981 television movie, 'Cagney & Lacey,' and was offered the part when it was picked up as a mid-season series for the spring of 1982. But producers insisted she stay with 'M.A.S.H.' for its last two seasons. Swit told The Florida Times-Union in 2010 she might have stayed with 'M.A.S.H.' anyway. 'You can't help but get better as an actor working with scripts like that,' she said. 'If you're in something that literate, well, we got spoiled.' In 2022, James Poniewozik, The New York Times's chief television critic, looked back on the show and said it held up well: 'Its blend of madcap comedy and pitch-dark drama – the laughs amplifying the serious stakes, and vice versa – is recognizable in today's dramedies, from 'Better Things' to 'Barry,' that work in the DMZ between laughter and sadness.' After the TV series, Swit became a vocal animal welfare activist, selling SwitHeart perfume and her memoir through her official website, with proceeds benefiting various animal-related nonprofit groups. In 1983, she married actor Dennis Holahan, whom she'd met when he was a guest star on 'M.A.S.H.' They divorced in 1995. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, the daughter of Polish immigrants, Swit enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, then paid her dues for years in touring productions. In 1969, she arrived in Hollywood and was soon seen in series such as 'Gunsmoke,' 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Mission Impossible' and 'Bonanza.' Then in 1972, she got her big break when she was asked to audition for the role of 'Hot Lips.' She would regularly return to theater, starring on Broadway in 1975 in 'Same Time, Next Year' and 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' in 1986. She was in 'Amorous Crossing,' a romantic comedy, at Alhambra Theatre & Dining in 2010 and in North Carolina Theatre's production of 'Mame' in 2003.
