Congress office

Box office is big news this week, not so much for its totals as for its totemic significance. Throngs will greet Top Gun: Maverick , but will kids join the grownups to see a nearly 60 year-old actor starring in a sequel to a 36 year-old hit? At the other end of the audience spectrum, will seniors conquer their torpor to catch the new Downton and even lure their kids – the movie is dubiously titled Downton Abbey: A New Era to motivate the youth quadrant. These are edgy days for an industry seeking clues to two big puzzles: Does a broad demographic truly crave a return to the cool comfort of their movie theaters? And, if so, what sorts of movies would best combat their streamer fatigue? In Los Angeles there’s one dark portent: The multiscreen Landmark Theater on Pico, long the cathedral of indie films, will shut its doors forever shortly after the opening of Downton Abbey . Charles S. Cohen, Landmark’s owner who is a dedicated film nerd – he owns 35 other … [Read more...] about Peter Bart: It’s Back To The Future For The Box Office If ‘Top Gun’ Sequel Hits Stratosphere

A memorial service was held Wednesday evening for Christine Ponthieux , the office manager of the Tampa-based Benz Model & Talent Agency who shot and killed herself inside the owner’s private office last month after sending an angry letter about him to some of the agency’s clients. Called to the agency’s offices on April 25, Tampa Police found her dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the office of owner Steve Benz. The door was locked from the inside and had to be busted open. Benz was not present when it happened, nor was he present for the memorial service. Her three daughters spoke lovingly at the celebration of life ceremony, held at the Wedding Retreat in rustic Plant City, FL. There was country music and horses neighing nearby, and a barn shimmering with stringed lights. “It was really beautiful,” said one of the invited guests. “She was kind of a country girl, and it was a perfect tribute to her. She was really loved. It was a nice group of people who … [Read more...] about Memorial Service Held For Christine Ponthieux, Tampa Talent Agency Office Manager Who Killed Herself In Owner’s Office

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) led a tour of the U.S. Capitol the day before the Jan. 6 , 2021 insurrection, Politico reported Thursday, citing a letter from the House Jan. 6 committee to the Republican congressman who voted to overturn the 2020 election results. “Public reporting and witness accounts indicate some individuals and groups engaged in efforts to gather information about the layout of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the House and Senate office buildings, in advance of January 6, 2021,” committee officials wrote in the letter , saying video footage of the tour “raises questions.” The letter notes that GOP members of the House Administration Committee — which Loudermilk sits on — had reviewed security footage from Jan. 5 and claimed that there were “no tours, no large groups, no one with MAGA hats on.” One week after the insurrection, which caused about $1.5 million in property damage to the Capitol, nearly three dozen congressional Democrats wrote to the … [Read more...] about Election-Denying Congressman Led Capitol Tour Day Before Insurrection, Jan. 6 Committee Says

TMZ.com Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez probably regrets heading down to Florida last week -- because she just caught a case of coronavirus a full 7 days later ... and is apparently hurting. The New York congresswoman announced Sunday that she'd come down with 'rona, saying she's received a positive test result -- but not really saying when exactly. She says she IS experiencing symptoms ... and is now recovering at home. No Masks, Kisses, AOC Party at Drag Queen Bar in Miami, Florida. pic.twitter.com/uCb1o6xDCZ — Nguyen Ken (@NguyenK37230640) January 4, 2022 @NguyenK37230640 Her office's statement notes AOC is double vaccinated, and that she received her booster shot in the fall. And for good measure, she encourages everyone to get vaccinated and to follow all CDC guidelines. That last part is catching a little bit of backlash at the moment ... seeing how the Representative was just down in the Sunshine State for New Year's with her boyfriend, … [Read more...] about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Catches COVID After Miami NYE

The Islands , a 10-episode drama series, is in the works from BBC alum Stephen McDonogh’s Lone Wolf Pictures, Axel Kuschevatzky, Phin Glynn and Cindy Teperman’s Infinity Hill as well as The Whole Spiel, the company launched last year by former NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy and his cousin, Stefan Telegdy. The series, which is being shopped to networks and streamers, tells the story of the Falklands-Malvinas War of 1982 from the point of view of the people who were there and with the involvement of writers and filmmakers from both UK and Argentina. Writing is already underway, with Argentine film and TV writer Sebastian Rotstein ( El Presidente Season 2, Morir de Amor ) on board. The Islands is not a story of failed diplomacy or geo-politics — an angle recently explored on The Crown — but rather an epic portrayal of the brutal realities they brought to a group of extraordinary human beings in a geography that is as bafflingly remote as it is … [Read more...] about Falklands War Drama Series In Works From UK & Argentinian Creative Team, Paul Telegdy, Lone Wolf & Infinity Hill

Back in February, after the CW had picked up its pilots for this year and Babylon 5 was not among them, creator J. Michael Straczynski took to social media to assure fans that the reboot was still alive. That was confirmed this morning by the CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz. “It is very much in very much in active development, I personally spoke with Straczynski back when we picked up the pilot,” Pedowitz said during the network’s pre-upfront press call. “I’m a huge fan of Babylon 5, on a personal basis, I’ve seen every episode of the series. I’ve known Joe for a long, long time. I’d love to bring back that story in some shape or form, I think it’s perfect for the CW.” Back in February, Straczynski spoke about that call from Pedowitz. . “Calling the [reboot] pilot ‘a damned fine script,’ he said he was taking the highly unusual step of rolling the project and the pilot script into next year, keeping B5 in active development while the dust settles on the … [Read more...] about ‘Babylon 5’ Reboot Still “Very Much In Active Development”, the CW CEO Confirms

Tamannaah Bhatia is currently attending the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France. At the French Riviera, the actress in her interaction with Anupama Chopra from Film Companion, talked about the missteps she took in the Hindi Film Industry. Citing example of one of the flop films in her Bollywood career, Tamannaah said that she believed in Sajid Khan's Himmatwala as much as she did in SS Rajamouli's Baahubali. The actress said, "I feel like the best and the worst decisions I have made in my film career, both I wasn't really planning on doing and I didn't know where that would go. Both seemed equally correct at that point. Like a film like Himmatwala , and I am very open if I don't like a film of my own. I'll say it. It didn't do what it should have done. I believed in it as much as I believed in Baahubali. " Tamaanaah further told Anupama that the beauty of being an actor is that one is constantly discovering and evolving as a person. … [Read more...] about Tamannaah On Her Missteps In Hindi Film Industry: I Believed In Himmatwala As Much As I Believed In Baahubali

Ranveer Singh and Shalini Pandey-starrer Jayeshbhai Jordaar has received positive response from the masses. Despite facing a lot of criticism from the critics, the film has so far garnered more than Rs 15 Crore at the box office. Directed by Divyang Thakkar, the film is being applauded by the audience for the actors' performances. Actress Deeksha Joshi, who played Ranveer Singh's sister Preeti in the film is receiving praises from the audience for her performance. Recently, Deeksha Joshi had an exclusive interaction with Filmibeat , in which she opened up about her Bollywood debut and fun BTS moments. While talking about her Bollywood debut, the actress said, "Honestly, I'm extremely excited about my Bollywood debut. I've always been very grateful in life and I've been practising gratitude since quite some time now. So, I just keep reminding myself of the fact that this is a dream come true. It couldn't have been any better. Since childhood, whenever I would watch … [Read more...] about Ranveer Singh’s Co-Star Deeksha Joshi: Jayeshbhai Jordaar Is Always Going To Be Very Special (Exclusive)

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has been sentenced to one-year jail term in a 34-year-old (1988) road rage case, where he was earlier let off with a mere Rs 1,000 fine. The cricketer-politician, who was replaced by Archana Puran Singh in The Kapil Sharma Show , has to surrender before a court to serve a one-year rigorous imprisonment in a three-decade old road rage case, in which a person had died. However, Sidhu has the option of challenging the order. Soon after the verdict by Supreme Court, Sidhu took to Twitter and wrote, "Will submit to the majesty of law ...." According to News18 report, the victim's family had filed a review petition seeking punishment for an offence of more serious category than causing hurt, leading to enhancement of punishment. However, Sidhu had urged Supreme Court not to punish him with a jail term. As per the report, senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Sidhu, told the bench during the arguments, "It is an … [Read more...] about Navjot Singh Sidhu Gets One-Year Jail Term In 34-Year-Old Road Rage Case

The strategy to license Yellowstone and other major properties to rival streaming services like Peacock and HBO Max, which Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish has called “unfortunate,” is out the window, according to CFO Naveen Chopra . “We’re no longer licensing big, franchise IP to third parties. Back in the day when Paramount didn’t have its own streaming service, that was the best way to monetize content,” Chopra said during an appearance today at MoffettNathanson’s 9th annual Media and Communications Summit. “Today, that doesn’t necessarily make sense. As some of those things come up, we’ll keep them for our owned and operated platform.” Moderator Michael Nathanson cited heavy viewing on Netflix of Paramount shows like NCIS, wondering if that demand would persuade the company to continue selling off those rights. In answering, Chopra didn’t bring up any specific shows. He joined the company, then known as ViacomCBS, in August 2020, after a large licensing … [Read more...] about ‘Yellowstone’-Style Licensing Deals With Rival Streamers Are No Longer In Paramount’s Forecast, CFO Naveen Chopra Confirms