Jackson's Defamed Legacy Has Superfans up in Arms

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Jackson's Defamed Legacy Has Superfans up in Arms Established 1961 20 T L i f e s t y l e Music & Movies Thursday, March 7, 2019 Jackson s defamed legacy has superfans’ up in arms documentary on pedophilia accusations against star R. Kelly facing fresh legal challenges over grave accu- Michael Jackson has left some fans grappling Superfandom-a relationship‘Toxic fandom’ to a figure, object or ideol- sations of misconduct. In terms of Jackson, that “Leaving with the late superstar’s tarnished legacy-but ogy that often spills over into obsession-is nothing new, Neverland” has revived pedophilia accusations in stark among his outraged superfans, protecting it is said media scholar Paul Booth of Chicago’s DePaul relief nearly a decade after the artist’s overdose death only allA that matters. Celebrity fandom has morphed into a exacerbates the desire to protect his legacy, said Varma. University, but social media has increased its visibility. vicious online tool, with superfan gangs-Beyonce’s “Fans have always had disagreements and antagonisms,” “People can be legends in their lifetime but somehow Beyhive, Justin Bieber’s Beliebers, Cardi B’s Bardi Gang, to Booth said, “but the difference today is people who aren’t they become angels upon death,” she said, citing Elvis and name a few-attacking whenever their idol’s reputation is fans have ready access to view it.” The internet, he said, Princess Diana as examples. “Culturally, we are taught to thrown into question, no matter the circumstances. And allows entry into “fan communities,” heightening feelings of not speak ill of the dead-and somehow we just want to when celebrities face accusations of grievous crimes, as is identification and a need to defend. exonerate them.” Jackson’s estate-which categorically the case with Jackson, psychiatrist Sue Varma said the “When our object of fandom, which we have associated denies all accusations and is suing HBO for $100 million- urge to push back grows. so much with who we are, is accused of something heinous, has praised the online community passionately defending The phenomenon stems from a “need to have an escape, it some ways we want to deny that because it seems to the late King of Pop. “Thank you to all the fans that are a fantasy, someone we aspire to be,” she said. “It’s a form reflect on us as people,” Booth said. Today, he said “it’s not always standing by my uncle and my family,” tweeted of denial,” according to Varma. “They are superhuman and enough to mount a defense,” as social media discourse Jackson’s nephew Taj. “You are the backbone behind this we want-rather, we need-to believe that they can do no offers a platform to “attack back.” “The best defense is a fight. I wouldn’t have the strength, if it weren’t for you.” wrong.” Jackson diehards swarmed Twitter as the disturb- good offense” to many superfans, Booth said, calling this “I wouldn’t be armed with all the facts, if it weren’t for ing documentary “Leaving Neverland” aired, hijacking the attitude “the basis of toxic fandom.” you.” But despite fan backlash, director Reed said “support film’s eponymous hashtag to smear accusers while also For digital media scholar Mel Stanfill of the University of for the film has been a lot greater than I expected.” “I think defending their idol under #MJInnocent. “Shame on you Central Florida, the online venom is encouraged by “the the fans will never accept that, because the Michael for dragging an innocent man,” wrote one Twitter user with shifting way people converse.” “You can just fire it off,” she Jackson that they have a relationship with is not the real the handle @Claudia20195, calling alleged victims Wade said. “You don’t reflect, you just react.” “Our expectations Michael Jackson,” he said. “It’s not the man, it’s the mirage; Robson and James Safechuck “money hungry.” about what is socially appropriate has changed.” it’s the image; it’s the icon.” — AFP “The more I read into and watch this whole #FindingNeverland documentary the more angry I get,” wrote another, @bailey_hensel. “These guys are exploiting The struggle for Manfans orto mirage?reconcile art with its maker a dead man to make a dollar... My heart is breaking for the reaches far back, Booth said, pointing to Roman Polanski Jackson family.” The documentary’s director, Dan Reed, and Woody Allen, both accused of pedophilia, as examples. In this file photo American pop music told AFP he has been receiving vitriolic messages from But the issue has become particularly prescient in the star Michael Jackson sings October Jackson fans for months. “They have a blind devotion to #MeToo era that has changed the way society views 13, 1988 at the Capital Center in him,” he said. “It’s almost like it’s a religious cult.” alleged sex abuse victims, with celebrities like R&B super- Landover, Maryland. — AFP Hello Kitty hits Hollywood with planned film debut ello Kitty, Japan’s moon-faced global icon of cute, will soon appear in a Hollywood film for the first Htime in her 45-year-old history, her creator said yesterday. Sanrio, the feline character’s operator, announced it was teaming up with New Line Cinema and FlynnPictureCo for the film after a near five-year discus- sion about rights for the big screen. “A search for writers and creative talent will commence immediately,” Sanrio said in a statement. The mouthless character, with her child-like hair bow and a registered height of five apples, has spawned a Brie Larson attends Marvel Studios “Captain Marvel” Premiere in Hollywood, California. US actor Samuel L. Jackson multi-billion-dollar industry since Sanrio introduced her that slip on the bottom of a smartphone for those who — AFP photos attends the world premiere of in 1974. Immediately recognizing Hello Kitty’s cash cow think their device needs underwear. Hello Kitty is now “Captain Marvel”. potential, the company branched out into merchandising found in 130 countries on more than 50,000 branded the year after and she now adorns everything from pencil products every year, according to Sanrio. The firm also the least of which was fighting for many years the erro- cases and pyjamas to double-decker buses and airliners. operates two theme parks in Japan and licenses charac- neous notion that audiences did not want to see a Last year, a Japanese railway firm even splashed images ters such as Hello Kitty for amusement parks overseas, female-led hero (film) because of a slew of films 15 years of Hello Kitty over a special shinkansen, or bullet train, including in China. — AFP Captain Marvel, a ago that didn’t work,” he said. “And my belief was always painted in shocking pink and white. that they didn’t work not because they were female-led To mark her 40th year, toymaker Bandai released yet stories-they didn’t work because they were not particu- another licensed Kitty product: so-called “smartpants” superhero with girl larly good movies.” Of the few female-led superhero movies attempted until now many were box office flops, like Jennifer Garner’s “Elektra” in 2005 and Halle Berry’s was still a problem for a Malawian like me-but then I was “Catwoman” in 2004. probably the only one who understood Chichewa in the power to spare As a result, Marvel spent more than a decade relegat- whole cinema and so it did not matter to the rest of the Netflix film tells audience,” Joyah said. He pleaded with filmmakers to ron Man, Thor, Captain America: scores of Marvel ing its female characters to secondary parts, such as “next time give local actors a chance-they might surprise movies had superheroes taking turns to save the Avengers member Black Widow, played by Scarlett the world.” Iworld on the big screen before a woman finally cap- Johansson starting in 2012. Seeking to be more represen- tured a leading role in the comic franchise’s films. But tative, Marvel, a Disney subsidiary, finally responded to tale of Malawian “Captain Marvel”-which hits screens around the world demands for more strong female characters on the silver later this week-is making up for lost time, firing girl pow- screen-which were further spurred by the #MeToo move- er on all cylinders. There are women masterfully piloting ment. Telling Captain Marvel’s story was also a way to war planes, at the front lines of important scientific compete with DC Comics, owned by Warner Bros, whose eco boy genius experiments-and of course, there’s Carol Danvers, Brie superhero hit “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Larson’s mighty Captain Marvel. Larson, who won an Jenkins, premiered in 2017 and raked in more than $800 new Malawian film, Netflix’s latest offering to Oscar in 2016 for her role in “Room,” has until now been million worldwide. raise the profile of African cinema, has caused a best known for her work on independent movies and her Its sequel, “Wonder Woman 1984,” is due out in 2020. Astir back home, facing accusations of mangling outspoken feminism. “Obviously I was elated to feel times changing a little and the language and relying on foreign actors. “The Boy To play Danvers, Larson spent nine months in rigorous women being more accepted below the line but I think Who Harnessed the Wind”, which launched on Netflix physical training. “I was able to push myself further than I there is still a lot of work to be done with that,” said last Friday, is based on the true-life story of Malawian ever thought possible,” Larson said at the movie’s pre- Debbie Berman, the editor of “Captain Marvel.” “I think child inventor William Kamkwamba, who built a windmill miere Monday evening.
Recommended publications
  • BFI Poll Reveals UK's Favourite Black Star Performance
    BFI POLL REVEALS UK’S FAVOURITE BLACK STAR PERFORMANCE: SIDNEY POITIER AS “MISTER TIBBS” In the Heat of the Night Angela Bassett’s courageous portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It voted as top performance by over 100 industry experts London: (embargoed until 16:30 BST) Thursday 20 October, 2016 – To mark this week’s official launch of its BLACK STAR season, the BFI announced today that Sidney Poitier’s critically-acclaimed and seminal performance as Detective Virgil Tibbs in In the Heat of the Night (dir. Norman Jewison, 1967) has been voted the public’s Favourite Black Star Performance in a poll which included 100 performances spanning over 80 years in film and TV. Running alongside the public poll, a separate poll of over 100 industry experts voted for Angela Bassett’s Oscar®- nominated performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It (dir. Brian Gibson, 1993). UK Public Poll Pam Grier followed in second place with her terrific turn as the titular character in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown – an homage to the 1970’s era of Blaxploitation films in America; Michael K. Williams was number three with his unforgettable portrayal of the legendary Omar Little, the openly gay, notorious stick-up man with a strict moral code feared by drug dealers across the city of Baltimore, in the socially and politically charged hit television series The Wire. British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor followed in fourth with his visceral portrayal of Solomon Northup, his break-out performance in Steve McQueen’s ground-breaking, Oscar®-winning true story, 12 Years A Slave; and Morgan Freeman rounded out the top five with his acclaimed, quiet and layered performance in Frank Darabont’s Oscar®-nominated cult classic, The Shawshank Redemption.
    [Show full text]
  • Be Unveiled, in Crowded Race
    Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013 Actress Olivia Wilde reads nominations at the 71st Annual This image released by The Weinstein Company shows This publicity image released by HBO shows Julia Louis- Golden Globe Awards nominations announcement event, Judi Dench, left, and Steve Coogan in a scene from Dreyfus in the comedy series “Veep.” yesterday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, ‘Philomena.’ California. —AFP photos Golden Globe nominees to be unveiled, in crowded race olden Globe organizers unveil nomi- nominees are likely to include cult series nations for their annual movie awards “Breaking Bad” and Netflix’s political drama Gshow yesterday, as Hollywood’s hon- “House of Cards,” while “Girls” and “Modern ors season gets into full swing with a bumper Family” are expected to be shortlisted in the cast of hotly-tipped contenders. Historical best comedy category. Best acting nominees drama “12 Years a Slave” got an early boost may include Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), on the eve of the Globes nominations, top- Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”), Claire Danes ping the Screen Actors Guild (SAGs) nods (“Homeland”), Kerry Washington (“Scandal”), Wednesday with four. But this year’s race Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”), Michael risks being particularly crowded, with a string of films winning critical acclaim, ranging from 3D sci-fi spectacle “Gravity” to historical epics like “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and crime dra- ma “American Hustle.” On the acting front, early frontrunners include big names like Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett, but also This film image released by Warner Bros.
    [Show full text]
  • “Revenge in Shakespeare's Plays”
    “REVENGE IN SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS” “OTHELLO” – LECTURE/CLASS WRITTEN: 1603-1604…. although some critics place the date somewhat earlier in 1601- 1602 mainly on the basis of some “echoes” of the play in the 1603 “bad” quarto of “Hamlet”. AGE: 39-40 Years Old (B.1564-D.1616) CHRONO: Four years after “Hamlet”; first in the consecutive series of tragedies followed by “King Lear”, “Macbeth” then “Antony and Cleopatra”. GENRE: “The Great Tragedies” SOURCES: An Italian tale in the collection “Gli Hecatommithi” (1565) of Giovanni Battista Giraldi (writing under the name Cinthio) from which Shakespeare also drew for the plot of “Measure for Measure”. John Pory’s 1600 translation of John Leo’s “A Geographical History of Africa”; Philemon Holland’s 1601 translation of Pliny’s “History of the World”; and Lewis Lewkenor’s 1599 “The Commonwealth and Government of Venice” mainly translated from a Latin text by Cardinal Contarini. STRUCTURE: “More a domestic tragedy than ‘Hamlet’, ‘Lear’ or ‘Macbeth’ concentrating on the destruction of Othello’s marriage and his murder of his wife rather than on affairs of state and the deaths of kings”. SUCCESS: The tragedy met with high success both at its initial Globe staging and well beyond mainly because of its exotic setting (Venice then Cypress), the “foregrounding of issues of race, gender and sexuality”, and the powerhouse performance of Richard Burbage, the most famous actor in Shakespeare’s company. HIGHLIGHT: Performed at the Banqueting House at Whitehall before King James I on 1 November 1604. AFTER: The play has been performed steadily since 1604; for a production in 1660 the actress Margaret Hughes as Desdemona “could have been the first professional actress on the English stage”.
    [Show full text]
  • Read the Othello Programme
    OTHELLO Othello By William Shakespeare Abridged by Dzifa Benson Directed by Miranda Cromwell Associate Director Mumba Dodwell Starring the NYT REP Company Co-produced by Royal & Derngate as part of their Made in Northampton season In partnership with English Heritage We would like to thank National Youth Theatre Patrons Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund and Urban Myth Films for their support of bursaries for the National Youth Theatre Rep Company Members. National Youth Theatre and Royal & Derngate are grateful for support Promotional from the Cultural and rehearsal photography by Recovery Fund. Helen Murray This female-led thrilling and lyrical Othello remix, with Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role, sees the National Youth Theatre REP company explore themes of love, jealousy, systemic racism and misogyny through the lens of crime and power. The action takes place in and around Club Cyprus in Manchester in 1991. Set against the early 90s rave scene with electrifying music and movement Olivier Award-winning Director Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman, West End) gets to the heart of the play in this abridgement by dramatist Dzifa Benson (Creative Producer at The Water Replies for Estuary 2021 Festival). Othello was created under Covid-secure restrictions. The production is a collaboration between Royal & Derngate and the National Youth Theatre, whose renowned alumni rank amongst Britain’s greatest actors including Northampton’s Matt Smith, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Mirren and Daniel Day Lewis. Backstage NYT graduates have gone on to work in key roles at the world’s biggest theatres and events including Olympic Ceremonies, award-winning large-scale theatre productions and global tours of the world’s biggest music artists.
    [Show full text]
  • New Bfi Research Reveals Representation of Black Actors in Uk Film Over Last 10 Years
    NEW BFI RESEARCH REVEALS REPRESENTATION OF BLACK ACTORS IN UK FILM OVER LAST 10 YEARS 13% of UK films have a black actor in a leading role; 59% have no black actors in any role Noel Clarke is most prolific black actor in UK film, followed by Ashley Walters, Naomie Harris and Thandie Newton Decade sees little change in the number of roles for black actors; only 4 black actors feature in the list of the 100 most prolific actors 50% of all lead roles played by black actors are clustered in 47 films, potentially limiting opportunities for audiences to see diverse representation; these 47 films represent LESS than 5% of the total number of films Horror, drama and comedy films LEAST likely to cast black actors Crime, sci-fi and fantasy films MOST likely to cast black actors LONDON – Thursday 6 October, 2016: The BFI today announced ground-breaking new research that explores the representation of black actors in UK films over the last 10 years (January 2006 - August 2016) and reveals that out of the 1,172 UK films made and released in that period, 59% (691 films) did not feature any black actors in either lead or named roles1. The proportion of UK films2,3 which credited at least one black actor4 in a lead role was 13%, or 157 films in total. The new research provides an early indicator of what is set to be the most comprehensive set of data about UK films from 1911 to the present day – the BFI Filmography, launching in 2017.
    [Show full text]
  • 02 the Hollow Crown Bios
    Press Contact: Harry Forbes 212.560.8027, [email protected] Lindsey Bernstein 212.560.6609, [email protected] Great Performances: The Hollow Crown Bios Tom Hiddleston After he was seen in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Lorraine Hamilton of the notable actors’ agency Hamilton Hodell, Tom Hiddleston was shortly thereafter given his first television role in Stephen Whittaker’s adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby (2001) for ITV, starring Charles Dance, James D’Arcy and Sophia Myles. Roles followed in two one-off television dramas co-produced by HBO and the BBC. The first was Conspiracy (2001), a film surrounding the story of the Wannsee Conference in 1942 to consolidate the decision to exterminate the Jews of Europe. The film prompted Tom’s first encounter with Kenneth Branagh who took the lead role of Heydrich. The second project came in 2002 in the critically acclaimed and Emmy Award- winning biopic of Winston Churchill The Gathering Storm, starring Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave. Tom played the role of Randolph Churchill, Winston’s son, and cites that particular experience – working alongside Finney and Redgrave, as well as Ronnie Barker, Tom Wilkinson, and Jim Broadbent – as extraordinary; one that changed his perspective on the art, craft and life of an actor. Tom graduated from RADA in 2005, and within a few weeks was cast as Oakley in the British independent film Unrelated by first-time director Joanna Hogg. Unrelated tells the story of a woman in her mid-40s who arrives alone at the Italian holiday home of an extended bourgeois family.
    [Show full text]
  • Shakespeare's Timeless Tragedy in a Stunning New Light
    April 3 – May 6, 2012 Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy in a stunning new light. Photo: Brian Ach Design: Todd Edward Ivins OTHELLO STUDY GUIDE Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Othello Study Guide written by April 3 –May 6, 2012 Quadracci Powerhouse Leda Hoffmann By William Shakespeare Education Coordinator Directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements Study Guide edited by Brent Hazelton “Othello is a play that I have wanted to do for Associate Artistic Director a very long time. Shakespeare was the greatest Jenny Kostreva writer of his time and nobody has eclipsed his Education Director skills, I believe, in over 400 years. His plays still Lisa Fulton tell the greatest stories and influence modern Marketing Director movies and plays we see today. Othello is one Neal Esterling such story that explores the Education Assistant human condition of jealousy. It Jordan Hunt is a thriller that will be set with a Education Intern very contemporary feel, making Graphic Design by Shakespeare’s text live for today.” Megan Gadient -Mark Clements, Artistic Director TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 3 Othello in Motorcycle Culture Page 4 Synopsis Tickets: 414-224-9490 Page 5 Characters www.MilwaukeeRep.com Page 6 William Shakespeare Mark Clements Page 7 Themes Artistic Director Page 8 Performance History of Othello Dawn Helsing Wolters Page 9 Motorcycle Clubs in Othello Managing Director Page 10 Creating The Rep Production Page 11 Classroom Activities MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER Page 13 Education Standards 108 E. Wells Street Page 14 Visiting The Rep Milwaukee, WI • 53202 Othello Study Guide • pg 2 Lindsay Smiling. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
    [Show full text]
  • Movie Data Analysis.Pdf
    FinalProject 25/08/2018, 930 PM COGS108 Final Project Group Members: Yanyi Wang Ziwen Zeng Lingfei Lu Yuhan Wang Yuqing Deng Introduction and Background Movie revenue is one of the most important measure of good and bad movies. Revenue is also the most important and intuitionistic feedback to producers, directors and actors. Therefore it is worth for us to put effort on analyzing what factors correlate to revenue, so that producers, directors and actors know how to get higher revenue on next movie by focusing on most correlated factors. Our project focuses on anaylzing all kinds of factors that correlated to revenue, for example, genres, elements in the movie, popularity, release month, runtime, vote average, vote count on website and cast etc. After analysis, we can clearly know what are the crucial factors to a movie's revenue and our analysis can be used as a guide for people shooting movies who want to earn higher renveue for their next movie. They can focus on those most correlated factors, for example, shooting specific genre and hire some actors who have higher average revenue. Reasrch Question: Various factors blend together to create a high revenue for movie, but what are the most important aspect contribute to higher revenue? What aspects should people put more effort on and what factors should people focus on when they try to higher the revenue of a movie? http://localhost:8888/nbconvert/html/Desktop/MyProjects/Pr_085/FinalProject.ipynb?download=false Page 1 of 62 FinalProject 25/08/2018, 930 PM Hypothesis: We predict that the following factors contribute the most to movie revenue.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthony Hopkins Knows How to Play It
    CP HOPKINS_AUG_V 7/11/07 3:05 PM Page 28 CELEBRITY PLAYGROUND BY MICHAEL SHULMAN Magical Realism CineVegas Honoree Anthony Hopkins Knows How to Play It n Friday, June 15th, Academy the script, did you have any idea just Award-winning actor Sir Antho- how integral a part of the Zeitgeist that O ny Hopkins—in Las Vegas to role would become? receive the 2007 Marquee Award from the I had a hunch. I don’t know why, because CineVegas Film Festival—sat down at the I’m not Hannibal Lecter. I just had this Palms Casino Resort for an insightful tête- uncanny feeling as an actor. à-tête with Vegas’ very own pop-culture So something inside of you just said…. pundit, Michael Shulman. Actors are supposed to have this highly developed sense of intuition. Some actors ANTHONY HOPKINS: Hello. Call me Tony, act from their heads, but I tend to act…. please. From the gut? VEGAS: Well, then, welcome to fabulous Yeah. I had a sense that this was going to Las Vegas, Tony. And I know I’m most be one of those parts that give me a likely mispronouncing this, but cymru whole different look at the movies. And I am byth [a Welsh motto meaning ‘Wales knew how to play it. forever’]. Before that, you were leaving Hollywood Cymru am byth [pronouncing it cumree and going back to the stage, no? um bithe]. I’d gone back to London. And it’s interest- In speaking of your film Slipstream, you ing, but I’m sure you know the film The commented on your fascination with Third Man [1949 Oscar and Palme d’Or time, saying, ‘If there is a god, that god is winner starring Joseph Cotten and Orson actually time.’ Could you expound a bit? Welles]? It’s this incredible film in which I’ve always been interested in the mystery you hear about the main character for 15 of time, because you can never grasp minutes before you ever see him.
    [Show full text]
  • Read the Othello Programme
    OTHELLO Othello By William Shakespeare Abridged by Dzifa Benson Directed by Miranda Cromwell Associate Director Mumba Dodwell Starring the NYT REP Company Co-produced by Royal & Derngate as part of their Made in Northampton season In partnership with English Heritage We would like to thank National Youth Theatre Patrons Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund and Urban Myth Films for their support of bursaries for the National Youth Theatre Rep Company Members. National Youth Theatre and Royal & Derngate are grateful for support Promotional from the Cultural and rehearsal photography by Recovery Fund. Helen Murray This female-led thrilling and lyrical Othello remix, with Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title role, sees the National Youth Theatre REP company explore themes of love, jealousy, systemic racism and misogyny through the lens of crime and power. The action takes place in and around Club Cyprus in Manchester in 1991. Set against the early 90s rave scene with electrifying music and movement Olivier Award-winning Director Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman, West End) gets to the heart of the play in this abridgement by dramatist Dzifa Benson (Creative Producer at The Water Replies for Estuary 2021 Festival). Othello was created under Covid-secure restrictions. The production is a collaboration between Royal & Derngate and the National Youth Theatre, whose renowned alumni rank amongst Britain’s greatest actors including Northampton’s Matt Smith, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Mirren and Daniel Day Lewis. Backstage NYT graduates have gone on to work in key roles at the world’s biggest theatres and events including Olympic Ceremonies, award-winning large-scale theatre productions and global tours of the world’s biggest music artists.
    [Show full text]
  • Savoring the Classical Tradition in Drama
    SAVORING THE CLASSICAL TRADITION IN DRAMA ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS BY THE SHAKESPEARE GUILD IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB THE WNDC IN WASHINGTON THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION NANCY ZECKENDORF ♦Thursday, May 25 NANCY ZECKENDORF is a cultural leader who began her career as a principal dancer, appearing on TV as well as on Broadway and earning plaudits with such prestigious companies as the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and the Santa Fe Opera. She devoted three decades to the American Ballet Theatre, serving as Gala Chair and NATIONAL ARTS CLUB chief fundraiser. But she is best known for what she and de- 15 Gramercy Park South veloper William Zeckendorf Jr. have done for the locales that Manhattan have benefited most from their philanthropy and civic vi- PROGRAM 6:00 P.M. sion. Anyone familiar with Union Square is aware of the Admission Free, But impact that Zeckendorf Towers has had on its vibrant Reservations Requested neighborhood. And those who visit or reside in Santa Fe are grateful for such treasures as the Lensic Performing Arts Center. As a tribute to her late husband, Mrs. Zeckendorf has just published Developing: My Life, his beautifully illustrated memoir, and she’ll talk about what made him and his work so special. JULIAN BIRD ♦ Monday, June 12 / When this year’s Tony Awards are presented on Sunday, June 11, a key member of the audience will be JULIAN BIRD, an arts executive who oversees the two British ceremonies that parallel America’s most prestigious theatrical gathering. Mr. Bird heads both the NATIONAL ARTS CLUB Society of London Theatre, the West End organization that bestows the Olivier Awards each spring, and UK Theatre, 15 Gramercy Park South Manhattan a consortium that represents performing-arts institutions PROGRAM 6:00 P.M.
    [Show full text]
  • Best Motion Picture – Drama Best Performance by An
    BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR 12 YEARS A SLAVE MUSICAL Plan B Entertainment, New Regency Productions and River AMERICAN HUSTLE Road Entertainment; Fox Searchlight Pictures Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing CAPTAIN PHILLIPS Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing HER Warner Bros. Pictures / Annapurna Pictures; Warner Bros. GRAVITY Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures / Esperanto Filmoj / Heyday Films; Warner Bros. Pictures INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS Mike Zoss Productions, Scott Rudin Productions, Studio PHILOMENA Canal; CBS Films Pathe, BBC Films, BFI, Canal+, Cine+, Baby Cow/Magnolia Mae; The Weinstein Company NEBRASKA Paramount Vantage; Paramount Pictures RUSH Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Revolution Films; Paramount Pictures and Red Granite Pictures; Paramount Universal Pictures Pictures BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL CATE BLANCHETT BLUE JASMINE AMY ADAMS AMERICAN HUSTLE SANDRA BULLOCK GRAVITY JULIE DELPY BEFORE MIDNIGHT JUDI DENCH PHILOMENA GRETA GERWIG FRANCES HA EMMA THOMPSON SAVING MR. BANKS JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS ENOUGH SAID KATE WINSLET LABOR DAY MERYL STREEP AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL CHIWETEL EJIOFOR 12 YEARS A SLAVE CHRISTIAN BALE AMERICAN HUSTLE IDRIS ELBA MANDELA: LONG
    [Show full text]