Academy Invites

You are cordially invited to the Academy!

Earlier this week, the list of invitees to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was released. An invitation to the Academy means that you get to join the association and vote in the Oscars. In recent years, the Oscars have faced a lot of backlash and negativity, especially following the #OscarsSoWhite fiasco a few years ago. 

The Academy extended invitations to an all-time high number of invitees: 774! According to the Academy's website, this list consists of 57 countries, 39% female, and 30% minorities. These numbers are an increase from previous years and show the Academy is working towards their previously stated goal of a more inclusive list of members. 

However, not all critics are a fan of this list of invitees. Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter states,

The bottom line is that the Academy cannot fix the industry's diversity problems any more than a tail can wag a dog. This is not a problem that can be reverse-engineered.

While it is great that the Academy is trying to be more inclusive with their membership, what's important is the type of films being made. If the Oscars nomination committee is diverse that's great, but the films need to also be diverse. Personally, I am curious too see what slate of films are released for Oscars season. I hope there are some really good and interesting ones.

So, who got an invitation? 

Below I put together a list of some of the notable invitees that various articles, websites, etc. have pointed out. (Something I found interesting, was the amount of primarily television actors or actors that are fairly new to Hollywood films). 

Actors:

Gal Gadot, Naomie Harris, Donald Glover, Chris Hemsworth, Riz Ahmed, Dwayne Johnson, Priyanka Chopra, Leslie Jones, Betty White, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Margot Robbie, Channing Tatum, and Rupert Grint.

Directors:

Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, David Ayer, Theodore Melfi, Jessica Hausner, Joanna Hogg, and the Russo brothers

All of the nominees can be found HERE 

5 Reasons to See Wonder Woman

Superhero stories are a major trend in Hollywood right now. On television, superheroes dominate The CW with The Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. Netflix released a few originals with superhero protagonists such as Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. In the film industry, everywhere you look a new superhero movie is ready to be the next big blockbuster. Whether it’s from the Marvel or the DC universe, superheroes are the hot new trend.

At the start of the summer, a new superhero was introduced to the big screen: Wonder Woman. Though Wonder Woman has been around for about 75 years, she is new to Hollywood. The Wonder Woman film has been considered a huge success and it’s all for a good reason. I’ve listed below the top 5 reasons why everyone should go see Wonder Woman.

1. It has a female protagonist, who is a superhero! This is such a rare occurrence in Hollywood that I had to include it on my list.
2. Patty Jenkins, the director, just became the most successful female to direct a live-action film in Hollywood. This is huge for the industry and goes to show that women can make successful films when given the chance.
3. Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), gives a stellar performance. Her character, Diana is well developed, strong, and relatable to anyone, not just women.
4. It has a 92% rating on RottenTomatoes.
5. Lastly, the film talks about important, larger issues in the world without sounding preachy.

Wonder Woman is a movie that will, hopefully, serve as the start to the inclusion of more diversity and representation in Hollywood. I know it’s an ambitious thought, but I have hope. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you should! Even if you simply go to watch the stunning cinematography, it is worth it. 

What to Binge

So, it's officially summer and in between vacations, there is always time for relaxation. That's why I thought it would be helpful to come up with a list of some things to binge on Netflix this summer! Some of the shows are not new, but I believe they are still worth a watch.

What to watch on Netflix if you're looking for drama or more serious content:

• Game of Thrones (the new season is out this July!)
• Madmen
• House of Cards 
• Stranger Things 
• Supernatural 
• Prison Break
• The Crown (especially if you love the royal family)

If you're looking for a good laugh/comedy:

• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Gilmore Girls
• Orange is the New Black
• Friends
• 30 Rock
• New Girl 
• The Office

If you feel like giving British television shows a chance:

• Peaky Blinders
• Black Mirror
• The Office (this version actually came first)
• Sherlock
• The Great British Baking Show

As a bonus, I wanted to mention a new Hulu original series that has been getting a lot of attention: The Handmaid's Tale. It is really well done, so if you have a Hulu account, watch it! If not, borrow a friend's account.

I hope my suggestions were helpful to the person struggling to decide what to binge next. If you have any recommendations, please feel free to leave a comment! 

Wikipedia of A Question of Silence

Recently, I watched a really interesting Dutch feminist film called A Question of Silence. I thought the film was so fascinating and wanted to read more on it so I began where most people start their searches: Wikipedia. When I got on the website, I noticed the plot summary of the film was very short and did not include a lot of information. It looked like this:

Housewife Christine M. tries to shoplift some merchandise from a boutique in a shopping mall but is caught by the male shopkeeper. Christine and two other customers, waitress Annie and secretary Anna, beat the man to death, witnessed by a large group of other female shoppers. They are tried with murder and deny the plea of insanity that the male prosecutor and judges assume they should plead. The female criminal psychiatrist assigned to ascertain their level of sanity comes to identify with the women's situations and concludes that they are not insane but have been driven to murder by the strain of living in a patriarchy.

This plot contained wrong information about the secretary's name and did not include the psychiatrist's name despite her large role in the film. I decided to expand the plot summary and fix the characters' names. With my changes the plot summary now looks like this:

Christine is a housewife, who does not speak. Her husband works while she stays home with their three children. Andrea is an executive secretary in an office predominantly run by men. Annie is a jolly waitress at a local café. These three women have never met before until one day in a dress boutique. Christine attempts to shoplift a dress by slipping it into her bag. She is approached by the male owner of the store. After refusing to return the garment, Andrea and Annie join Christine in a circle around the man. Together, the three women brutally murder him as a group of women stand and silently but attentively watch. 

Female criminal psychiatrist, Janine, is appointed to the case of these three women by the court to determine if they are sane or crazy. Janine takes the time to get to know each woman and their story. None of the three will say why they committed the crime, Janine comes to realize they were fed up with the strain of living in a patriarchy. After much deliberation, she concludes that they are all sane and finds herself identifying with them. Eventually tensions rise between Janine and her husband because he worries her statement in court will ruin his reputation. 

The court date arrives and Janine gives her professional opinion that the three women are in fact sane and that the court should take into consideration that the owner of the boutique was a male. Despite the prosecutors attempts to get her to change her opinion, she stands her ground. When the prosecutor suggests that the crime would have still happened if the owner were a woman, Christine, Andrea, Annie, Janine and the other women who witnessed the crime all laugh and exit the courtroom.

When writing my summary, I wanted to stay away from a lot of major spoilers and deep analysis of the film. Though it is a rich film that provides for an interesting analysis, I thought a simple, but extended, plot summary was the best way to go. I also didn't want my edit to be too lengthy because then it's more a full synopsis. The page now features a more detailed plot summary so visitors can either jog their memory of key plot points from the film or determine if they even want to watch it.

A Review of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

This April while I was studying abroad in London, I had the opportunity to see the newest edition to the Harry Potter franchise: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Showing at the Palace Theatre in Soho, London, this play is a sequel to the original book series by J.K. Rowling. The script is written by Jack Thorne with the concept being a collaboration between J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. The story is split into two separate parts directed by John Tiffany. When I went to the theatre, I saw both parts in one day. Upon exiting the theatre all guests are given a pin with #KeeptheSecrets on it to prevent major spoilers from circulating to those who cannot see the play quite yet. So, keeping my pin in mind I still thought it would be a great show to review considering it will be arriving in NYC for its Broadway debut April 2018.

The play features Harry Potter and his second child, Albus Severus Potter, 19 years after the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It picks up immediately where the epilogue left off and moves onward from there. Jamie Parker played Harry Potter in the performance I saw and he does a tremendous job portraying a now worn out, middle-aged Ministry of Magic employee. Parker embodies the beloved character extraordinarily well and really embraces the tensions of Harry’s life. Albus, was portrayed by Sam Clemmett who did a great job with such a complex character. The two actors had a great chemistry onstage and really bought the difficult father-son relationship to life.

A stellar performance was given by Anthony Boyle as Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry’s childhood nemesis Draco Malfoy. Albus and Scorpius become immediate friends aboard the Hogwarts Express in one of the first scenes of the play. The two friends become involved in all sorts of shenanigans that test the limits of time and bring up issues of the past that continue to haunt Harry and his friends. The play is filled with twists and turns that fans of the original books will never see coming.  Containing a rather large cast, the play sends audience members on quite the journey with a few familiar faces along the way. The story does drag on at some bits towards the beginning of Part 2 and some subplots left me conflicted because they did not seem to be compatible with the Potter universe I remembered.

However, the magic of the technical aspects allowed me to look past these head-scratching scenes. Bringing magic to life is no easy task but the lighting, set and sound design teams excelled. Each design is exquisitely done and does its job of transporting the audience back into the Wizarding World.

The play broke a record at the Olivier Awards receiving 9 total (and deserving) awards. Though it has received a lot of mixed reviews from fans, critics praise the play. Most notably, the production receives the most praise for its actors and technical designs (light, sound, set). Fans have issues with some of the plot points (which I cannot mention more specifically because it would entirely spoil the play). While I agree with a lot of their criticism, I still believe it is a truly wonderful piece of theatre.

Overall, I would highly recommend trying to secure tickets to this production. My one piece of advice would be to take some of the subplots with a grain of salt and just allow yourself to be swept away but the outstanding staging and set designs. I would give it an 8/10. 

13 Reasons Why

This year, Netflix released their newest hit: 13 Reasons Why. Based on the book of the same name by Jay Asher, this show follows the suicide of high schooler Hannah Baker and the reasons why she did what she did. Prior to her death, she recorded a series of 13 cassette tapes in which she revealed what she went through and called out those who led her to suicide. The show has raised a lot of controversy and the reviews are mixed. There is one question that stands out above all else: did the show glorify suicide?

After watching the show, I spent a lot of time thinking about my response to this question. I think it is more difficult than a simple yes or no. Besides the suicide of the protagonist, the show handles a lot of real life issues that are important to talk about such as rape, depression, and substance abuse. Personally, I took the show to be about so much more than suicide. When I watched it, I had to stop between episodes because there were so many issues being addressed that I was a little overwhelmed. To me, that meant the show was doing its job: it made me think.

What the show does well is shine light on issues that often get overlooked. It emphasizes the importance of the way you treat others, how far help can go, and the reality that everyone is fighting a battle. High school is hard, and today with the influence of social media and technology, it’s even harder. 13 Reasons Why does not glamorize the harsh realities of a high school in my opinion. Dialogue needs to be started so people can educate themselves. If more people are educated on these issues, society can start taking the steps necessary to help prevent them.

Do I think the show could have done without including her suicide scene? Yes; but, I also think the inclusion of this moment made a powerful statement and forced viewers to acknowledge that this is a reality. I do not believe it glorified her suicide. Was it difficult to watch? Incredibly! In my eyes, this means that the show was successful. It made me really think about if I knew anyone who could silently be suffering. I know that I am now more conscious of my actions. Schools that are banning the show from being talked about are handling it wrong in my opinion. They should be holding an assembly to teach the students that these issues are very real and important. People should be encouraging those who watch it to talk to others about it. (That being said, I do think the age restriction should be followed because it is mature and heavy content.)

13 Reasons Why gets people talking. Whether someone is discussing why they hated it or why they loved it, they are still actively engaging in dialogue. The show was well crafted and the acting was a job well done for all involved. I would recommend the show.

It’s important to know that help is available. 13 Reasons Why started discussion about tough topics that need to continue. Like the show, hate the show, the issues it deals with are what’s important. 

A Night For Theatre Kids

Last night, my inner theatre geek was screaming for joy as thousands gathered in New York City for the 71^st annual Tony Awards. In honor of the awards show, I decided to write about all the little fun facts I learned over the years about Broadway and the Tony’s.

Broadway, or “The Great White Way” has been around since the 18^th century and continues to draw people from all over the world. The nickname, “The Great White Way” refers to Broadway’s being one of the first streets to be completely lit up with lights in the US. The famous song doesn’t lie when it says, “the neon lights are bright on Broadway.” To be considered a Broadway show, a production must take place in one of the 41 professional theatres. Shows are usually categorized as a musical or a play (though there have been shows that are a hybrid). Loosely the main distinction between the two is that musicals integrate the plot into songs and dances whereas plays typically tell the story through spoken dialogue. Whether you prefer one over the other, Broadway is guaranteed to deliver a stellar show.

The Tony Awards began in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing to praise and acknowledge excellence in Broadway theatre. Each year, a Nominating Committee of about 50 professionals in theatre see all the new shows on Broadway and decide which shows and artists should be recognized. The Tony Awards are presented by two companies that come together: The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League.

Who votes for the winners, you may be asking? Well, the voters come from many companies and organizations dedicated to Broadway, theatre, and the arts in general. As a former intern of one of these companies, I can vouch for them and say they are extraordinary people who are fighting to keep the arts alive.

Antoinette Perry was an actress, stage director, and philanthropist who founded the American Theatre Wing. The Tony’s were named in honor of her and the first award ceremony was held the year after she passed away. From the beginning, this night has been about celebrating all of those who dedicate their lives to theatre. It has grown into one of the most highly anticipated events for the theatre community.

So, who won last night?

·       Best Play: Oslo

·       Best Musical: Dear Evan Hansen

·       Best Revival of a Play: August Wilson’s Jitney

·       Best Revival of a Musical: Hello, Dolly!

·       Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Kevin Kline (Present Laughter)

·       Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Laurie Metcalf (A Doll’s House, Part 2)

·       Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen)

·       Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Bette Midler (Hello, Dolly!)

·       Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Michael Aronov (Oslo)

·       Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Cynthia Nixon (The Little Foxes)

·       Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Gavin Creel (Hello, Dolly!)

·       Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen)

·       Best Book, Musical: Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hansen)

·       Original Score: Dear Evan Hansen music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

·       Best Scenic Design for a Play: Nigel Hook (The Play That Goes Wrong)

·       Best Scenic Design for a Musical: Mimi Lien (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812)

·       Best Costume Design for a Play: Jane Greenwood (The Little Foxes)

·       Best Costume Design for a Musical: Santo Loquasto (Hello, Dolly!)

·       Best Lighting Design for a Play: Christopher Akerlind (Incedent)

·       Best Lighting Design for a Musical: Bradley King (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812)

·       Best Direction for a Play: Rebecca Taichman (Incedent)

·       Best Direction for a Musical: Christopher Ashley (Come From Away)

·       Best Choreography: Andy Blankenbuehler (Bandstand)

·       Best Orchestrations: Alex Lacamoire (Dear Evan Hansen)

·       Special Tony Award: Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin’ sound design for The Encounter

A total of 12 productions (13 including the special award) accepted a Tony Award last night. It’s incredible how many productions got recognition for their outstanding work. I cannot wait to see some of these productions.

Welcome to Emily's Entertainment Feed!

Hi, my name is Emily and I am here writing this blog because of my passion for the entertainment industry. For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated by the arts and did everything I could to be involved whether it be acting, dancing, or even producing my own content. For me, keeping up with current events in the industry is really important because it's an industry that's always evolving. With this blog I plan to look at what's happening in the industry from things like the rise of Netflix and the effect this might have on films and television, to more specific issues like representation. Also, I know I am always looking for recommendations of what to see or to look out for, so I will also be giving some advice on what I think is worth checking out. So grab your bucket of popcorn and enjoy my exploration of all things entertainment!