Latest news with #Zorro
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Meet Zorro and Luna, Rafiq's free-flying feathered friends
Rafiq Haikal Rosdi started training his birds Zorro (left) and Luna to free-fly when they were about two months old. (Rafiq Haikal Rosdi pic) PETALING JAYA : Have you heard of Have you heard of free-flying birds ? These are birds that are trained to return to their owners after flying outdoors. That's exactly what Rafiq Haikal Rosdi's feathered companions, Zorro and Luna, can do! On National Parrot Day today, FMT Lifestyle shines a spotlight on these beautiful birds and their bond with their human. Zorro, an Edward's Lorikeet, has striking greenish-yellow plumage with a splash of blue on his head. Luna, a Red Lory, is just as eye-catching, with glossy crimson plumage tinged with purplish and dark blue hues. 'I started training them to free fly when they were about two months old,' Rafiq, 23, shared. He began with commands like 'fly to me', 'walk to me', 'jump down' and 'jump up', training them indoors at first before gradually moving outdoors. 'When they're flying, Zorro always follows wherever Luna goes. But Luna doesn't follow Zorro!' he added with a smile. Zorro is a lovelyEdward's Lorikeet, while Luna is a vibrant Red Lory. (Rafiq Haikal Rosdi pic) Although he hasn't conducted DNA tests to accurately ascertain their genders, Rafiq believes Zorro is male and Luna female. Both birds, he said, are about two years old, with Zorro being four to five months older. Rafiq dotes on his feathered friends and makes it a point to spend his evenings engaging in free-flying sessions with them. When time permits on weekends, Rafiq – who lives in Lumut, Perak – travels to places like Bukit Antarabangsa in Selangor to meet other bird owners, so Zorro and Luna can soar through the skies alongside fellow free-flyers. His dedication doesn't stop there: every morning, he feeds the birds fresh fruits like bananas, papayas and apples. On weekdays, whenever his schedule allows, he returns home during his lunch break to give them extra food. Thankfully, his office isn't far from his home, making these midday visits possible. Zorro and Luna will boldly go where most birds won't: near a cat! (Rafiq Haikal Rosdi pic) Rafiq has cared for the birds since they were three or four weeks old, hand-feeding them three times a day when they were younger. Naturally, they've developed a close bond with him. 'When I return home, they start chirping as soon as they hear my voice,' he said fondly. Zorro, Rafiq noted, is the more affectionate of the two – although Luna has a jealous streak and doesn't like it when he plays with his kitten! While most birds steer clear from cats, Zorro is an exception: the bird tries to befriend the resident feline, sometimes by playfully nibbling on the kitten's ears and tail. The kitty is usually unimpressed. Both birds, Rafiq noted, are also fascinated by shiny things: if he's wearing a ring, they love to peck on it! Rafiq dotes on his feathered companions, and it's clear the affection is mutual. (Rafiq Haikal Rosdi pics) Indeed, Rafiq's feathered companions fill his life with happiness, and he treasures the lasting memories they create together, especially during their free-flying sessions. 'When Zorro and Luna fly back to me, it's a heartwarming feeling,' he concluded. Follow the adventures of Zorro and Luna on TikTok. This article was written by Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathered friends to lifestyle@ Don't forget to include details like your pet's name, age, breed and a short story about them.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain's Secuoya Posts Record Revenues After Doubling Down On Studio
Profits nearly doubled and turnover hit record levels at Zorro producer Secuoya Content Group last year, according to the Spanish major's latest financials. The outfit said EBITDA rose 85% to €59.1M ($67M) for 2024 fiscal year, while revenues shot up by 33% to a record €142M. Additionally, the group experienced a 51% increase in adjusted EBITDA, 118% growth in EBIT and a 214% rise in consolidated net profit, according to Secuoya. More from Deadline Secuoya Studios & 'The Castaways' Producer BlackBox Multimedia Ink First-Look Development & Production Deal Secuoya Studios Chief James Costos On How Spain Has Become A "Gold Mine" For Developing Global Productions - Iberseries & Platino Industria International Insider: Spanish Spotlight; Oscars Go International; Argentina Deep Dive Secuoya said the 'outstanding results are a direct consequence of the strong performance of Secuoya Studios, which has become the main pillar of value creation for the company and a benchmark in the industry for content creation, production, post-production, and distribution.' Last year, the 2,000-staff company shot five series and four movies totalling 156 hours of content, having doubled down on the studio and launched a production hub in Colombia. We revealed in Feb that Secuoya had struck a first-look development and production deal with The Castaways and This Time Next Year producer BlackBox Multimedia. Recent titles include Los 39, a Colombia-Spain co-production, along with Shades, Terra Alta, Arcadia, The Crossroads and Padres. Raúl Berdonés, founder and executive chairman of Secuoya Content Group, said: 'Four years ago, we made a bold decision to pivot from a service-based business model to become a content-driven company. Today, the results validate that choice. Our strategy—focused on retaining intellectual property, diversifying content exploitation, optimizing tax incentives, ensuring creative freedom, and building a solid and sustainable international expansion—is proving to be profitable, scalable, and competitive.' Last year, we analyzed how Secuoya was planning to be a bridge between Hollywood and Spain after launching its most ambitious production to date: the modern take of Zorro, directed by Money Heist helmer Javier Qintas and starring Miguel Berardeau as the dashing vigilante created by Johnston McCulley. Since then, rival Mediapro has also launched a U.S. studio with projects featuring John Turturro and Melissa Leo. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 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
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
In 'Once,' supporting characters playing live music complete story
Three actor-musicians on why their 'small' roles in 'Once' matter most For the musical 'Once,' 16 different types of instruments -- including guitar, mandolin, violin and drums -- are used on stage. This show demands 12 performers who can not only act and sing, but also play musical instruments. In fact, the difficulty of assembling a cast of skilled actor-musicians is one reason the show is returning to the stage a full decade after its Korean premiere in 2014. While more musicals featuring actor-musicians — such as Great Comet and Zorro — are appearing domestically, the paths to becoming such versatile performers vary widely. Among 12 actors who take the stage each show for 'Once,' Park Ji-il, Ko Ye-il and Kim Min-seong exemplify that diversity. Park, 65, plays 'Da,' the father of the main character 'Guy.' A seasoned actor with a long career across theater, film, and television, Park landed the role on his second attempt -- an audition that marked one of the rare occasions he didn't succeed on the first try, with more than a decade between the two auditions. This role requires good guitar, ukulele and mandolin but he always loved playing the guitar but wasn't familiar with mandolin back then. However, hoping to participate in 'Once' he practiced, waited for a next change and tried again. Park has always loved performing with others, even if not in a professional setting -- making the actor-musician role feel like an ideal combination for him. 'Being able to play music on stage and also act, something I've done for decades, makes this show one of the most meaningful performances I could ever take part in,' Park told The Korea Herald during an interview joined by two cast members. 'In my 40-year acting career, this might be the smallest role I've ever taken on, but to me, it feels like a huge gift. Despite how small the role is, I feel like I've put in ten times more effort into this one production than I have for any other,' he added. While Park's acting career spans four decades, Ko Ye-il, who plays violin onstage, is arguably South Korea's most experienced actor-musician. The 37-year-old comes from a classical music background and trained as a violist. Her entry into musicals was unplanned; since stumbling into the genre in 2017, she has taken on nearly every actor-musician role available in the country, such as 'Mata Hari,' 'The Man Who Laughs,' 'Midnight,' 'Zorro,' 'The Great Comet' and more. 'I've mostly played roles where I'm running around and moving a lot on stage, so I thought 'Once' would be a quiet, lyrical kind of piece -- very different from what I usually do. This was a deeper and more introspective work and really drew me in,' Ko said, adding 'it has become my favorite role.' 'What's really remarkable about this piece is that every single role, no matter how small, feels embraced with love,' Ko added. Ko takes the role of 'Ex-girlfriend' in 'Once.' Kim Min-seong considers himself fortunate to make his debut as Andrej, a character who plays both guitar and bass guitar in the musical. 'I'd watched the film several times -- it's one of my favorites. When I saw the audition announcement, I thought it would be the perfect experience to have before starting my military service,' said the 23-year-old, who played guitar as he studied applied music in high school. With this role, Kim, who now majors in musical theater performance in college, hopes to pursue his career in musical theater. 'When I studied applied music, I realized that it wasn't the type of art that I wanted to pursue. When I saw a musical, my eyes opened wide. Now, I'm so sure about this path and I know performing in a musical production is something I really want to do,' Kim noted. 'I'm thrilled to start my career with this musical that I love so much,' he said. Originally based on the 2007 Irish indie film, "Once" made its Broadway debut in 2012, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The Korean version of "Once," produced by Seensee Company, runs at Coex Artium until May 31.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Opera San Jose set to present bilingual production of "Zorro"
Opera San Jose is hoping to bring in a new audience with its upcoming of "Zorro," a blend of Latin-American culture and California history that will be performed in English and Spanish. Every note reflects a story of the past and the present. Conductor Jorge Parodi recently rehearsed the music for the production, which will be Opera San Jose's second Spanish language offering. Maestro Parodi says it will engage audiences on all levels. "There's sword fights, and all kinds of fights and drama. It's a very meaningful piece for all of us," he said. "First of all, it happens here in California, which is very unusual. So it's very rare to have an opera that happens in California." It's also very rare to have an opera switch between English and Spanish so frequently, but Parodi says that is what makes this production of Zorro so magical. "It makes it very easy to understand," Parodi explained. "Maybe because I speak both languages, but I'm sure in this community, a lot of people will understand most English and most Spanish. So in that sense, it's quite genius." And according to stage director David Radamés Toro, the local story line is a reminder of California's multicultural heritage. "The fact that it is an American opera, that is written on a Latino-American story," said Radamés Toro. "The story itself takes place in colonial California in 1811. And a lot of times when you don't study history outside of California, you tend to forget that, west of the Mississippi mostly belonged to the Spanish. It reminds us that the Latino culture is an American culture." As the conductor and director prepare the final details for opening night, Maestro Parodi says the Spanish lyrics, paired with the poetic text, will captivate hearts of all cultural backgrounds. "After all, in opera, the actor is the music. And when the music changes, the drama changes," he said. "But we have the text that tells us exactly what's happening." A text that reflects California's vibrant past, and evolving future.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We Can't Stop Watching Antonio Banderas Dance In Bosch's Super Bowl Ad
Super Bowl ads are usually the domain of the same big-name brands, with beer and snack food like Lay's, cars, and insurance dominating the scene. But each year, a few new brands give it a go. This year, consumer electronics company Bosch is hoping Antonio Banderas will make a splash with its first ever ad during the big game. The German brand, which makes a wide range of products including kitchen appliances, has tapped the "Zorro" and "Babygirl" star as the face of a new campaign with the title "The More You Bosch, The More You Feel Like A Bosch," (it's a play on "boss" FYI), which also adds the unlikely pairing of someone doing an impression of former pro wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who passed away in 2011. The ad highlights multiple sides of Bosch's business, with Banderas repping the specialty kitchen appliances in the form of a Bosch refrigerator, and the Macho Man impersonator personifying power tools. The ad escalates into a dance-off as each rep hypes his side of Bosch's business. The company says the two "play 'Bosches,' or physical manifestations of the confidence, strength, and power you feel with Bosch products." This ad is just the start of a multi-year campaign meant to advertise Bosch's full line of products together for the first time. A 30-second version of the ad will air during the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, but Bosch has already posted a longer version on its YouTube channel. Read more: 13 Ways To Help Save Money At The Grocery Store The full Bosch ad campaign that is launching during the Super Bowl will eventually feature seven ads, all with their own unique "Bosches" personifying different products. Bosch has long been a big-name brand in Europe, but it doesn't have the same level of name recognition as other competitors in the U.S., and the company says that the ad campaign comes as it is focusing on growing its North American business. Bosch says it is planning on launching multiple new products along with the campaign that are specifically made with U.S. consumers in mind. While the other "Bosch" characters haven't gotten commercials yet and don't seem to be quite as celebrity driven, the kitchen side of things will see a fast-boiling induction cooktop repped by an Olympic sprinter and a dishwasher with some kind of original superhero. It's not just big name celebrities Bosch is using to court your business after the Super Bowl either. The company has also partnered with Lowe's for a sale after the game. Starting on February 27 and lasting until March 12, Lowe's is offering 10% off all premium Bosch home appliances. The offer is available online, but you can also use Bosch's product locator to find a store near you if you want to check the products out in person. For some people, scoring a new coffee maker may be a more exciting prospect than the game itself. Here's our ranking of the best drip coffee makers of 2024 if you're in the market. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
