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Paramount Pictures head Brad Grey has resigned after a year of major losses at the studio

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Brad Grey Mike Coppola Getty final

Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey announced his resignation on Wednesday in a company-wide memo.

Grey resigns following one of the worst years in the studio's history, with losses nearing $450 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

There will likely be other major changes coming to the studio's parent company, Viacom, as Shari Redstone, daughter of titan Sumner Redstone, is now in full control of the conglomerate.

Grey, who has run Paramount since 2005, wrote in his memo obtained by Business Insider, that "it has been my honor to work with a group of wildly talented storytellers. The core of our successes has always been their unique ability to entertain and inspire people around the world."

While searching for a replacement, the studio will be run by an interim committee that will report to new Viacom CEO Bob Bakish.

The complete Grey memo is below:

I am writing to let you know that I am leaving Paramount. I will hand over most of my duties effective today, but will remain engaged in the coming weeks to support a smooth transition.
 
It has been my privilege to be a part of Paramount’s storied history, and I am grateful to Sumner Redstone for giving me this opportunity.  I want to wish Shari, Bob and their entire team the best as they embark on Viacom’s next chapter.
 
From the moment I came to Paramount in 2005, I saw myself as a steward of an iconic institution. I never could have dreamed that privilege would last more than 12 years.
 
In that time, it has been my honor to work with a group of wildly talented storytellers.  The core of our successes has always been their unique ability to entertain and inspire people around the world.
 
Above all, I am indebted to all of you, the wonderful people here at Paramount. Your creativity, professionalism and integrity are second to none. I am grateful to everyone who helped me along the way and I look forward to new adventures.
 
Thank you.
 
Best,
 
Brad

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NOW WATCH: J.K. Rowling roasts fans threatening to burn Harry Potter books because of her anti-Trump rhetoric


'Shark Tank' star Daymond John looks for 5 traits before making an investment

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Daymond John

From his New York office, Daymond John tracks the performance in more than 60 companies he's invested in over the last eight years of "Shark Tank."

Besides being a hit show, it's given John a new revenue stream and a chance to branch out into industries far from the clothing world where he built a name for himself with FUBU.

Inspired by his relationships with the small businesses he invested in through the show, he's created a new company, Blueprint + co, housed in the same building where he and his team operate the Shark Group. It's a coworking space for small businesses more mature than what you'd typically find on "Shark Tank." But unlike a place like WeWork, the entrepreneurs will have access to John and his team for guidance.

Business Insider recently met with John to discuss this new venture, as well as his other investments. He told us that when he's considering investing in a company, there are five basic criteria he looks for in an entrepreneur.

1. They get along with him on a personal level.

John says that when he meets an entrepreneur, he asks himself, "Do I want to speak to this person potentially every day for the next 10 years?" If the answer is no, he's not going to make the investment, even if he's interested in that person. "When I invest on people on 'Shark Tank,' often, if the business is going to fail, then we're going to start another business together."

2. They understand failure and know how to react to it.

John is wary of entrepreneurs who are too green, and haven't experienced what it's like to have a project fail. That way, he can avoid a situation where a founder loses composure and focus as soon as they hit an unexpected challenge.

3. They are surrounded by supportive people.

One of the main reasons John decided to build Blueprint + co is to bring together a group of smart entrepreneurs in the same place, where they could share ideas and resources with each other and his own team — he wants a small business ecosystem of like-minded people with different specialties. He said even when he's in the Tank, he looks for indications that the entrepreneurs before him are surrounding themselves with a team that shares their vision and will support each other through ups and downs.

4. Their company is scalable.

A great idea with a capable entrepreneur isn't enough to compel John — or any of the other Sharks, for that matter — to invest in a company. It needs to be able to take an investment and grow exponentially, so that the company and the investors both make money. "Some people have companies that are great just for them, they don't need investors, and even though I like the product, I'll just buy the product. I don't need to invest in the company," John said.

5. They have skills and resources that will benefit him, and he has those that can benefit them.

John invested in the sock company Bombas, to use an example, because he could offer them connections in the apparel industry. They could show him new ways of doing business online, and how to integrate a charitable aspect into a company. John likes to occasionally invest outside of his comfort zone, but not at the expense of his portfolio, or at the entrepreneur's potential.

"I can feed off of them; they can feed off of me," John said of the perfect partnership.

SEE ALSO: Ford's CEO asks himself 3 questions before pursuing a new project

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NOW WATCH: 'Shark Tank' star Daymond John: Making products in the US could cost consumers 25-30% more

This astronomer's poem beautifully explains the monumental discovery of 7 Earth-sized planets

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trappist 1 exoplanet ice water habitable eso1615a

Seven rocky, Earth-size planets have been found circling TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf star about the size of Jupiter.

A few of the worlds might even be habitable.

The monumental discovery has prompted scientists to launch a website for the planetary system — and yes, it has an equally monumental domain: trappist.one.

Researchers inspired by the new planetary system, which is about 39 light-years from Earth, are using trappist.one to publish fiction, artwork, and even poetic prose about it.

One poem by Sean Raymond, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux who co-authored a study in Nature about the planetary system, caught our eye.

Called "Ode to 7 orbs", it beautifully explains the discovery and importance of TRAPPIST-1's seven planets.

Raymond gave Business Insider permission to share his work, which we've reproduced here with a few illustrative additions.

SEE ALSO: Why dim red stars may be our best hope of finding aliens

DON'T MISS: The 'Earth next door' may have a cozy atmosphere — and we could find out in just 2 years

"Ode to 7 orbs"

Wake up now people, I've got some big news!
You won't want to miss this. You don't want to snooze
We just found some planets while we were stargazing
Gather 'round, listen up. These ones are amazing!



And it's not just one new planet. There are seven!
All orbiting one star up there in the heavens.
(With seven planets it still goes to eleven…)



The thing 'bout this system that just makes us squeal,
All seven are Earth-sized. Now, that's a big deal!
And four of those planets could have the conditions
For liquid water! (based on their positions)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

TERRY CREWS: ‘Idiocracy' is so prophetic ‘it actually scares people’

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Terry Crews, actor, former NFL player, and the host of Netflix's upcoming "Beastmasters," says he would love to bring back his iconic character, President Camacho from "Idiocracy," to talk about the end of political correctness in America.

You can watch our full interview with Terry Crews here.

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The first thing you need to do with Nintendo's new console is download a major update

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Nintendo's new video game console, the Switch, is nearly available. There's just a few more days until March 3, when the console goes on sale for $299. 

Super Mario

But, out of the box, there are some things the Nintendo Switch isn't able to do without a major update. That's right: the first thing you need to do with the Nintendo Switch, after setting it up, is download an update. Another bump in the road between you and that sweet new "Zelda" game, we're sorry to say.

What kinda stuff is in the update? This kinda stuff, says Nintendo:

  • "Access to network features, such as Nintendo eShop, online gameplay, ability to share images to social media, etc."
  • "Ability to link Nintendo Accounts to your Nintendo Switch console."
  • "Ability to connect online using hotspots that require authentication, such as at a hotel or café. A web applet will open up so the user can sign-in or accept terms of use."

The most notable thing is the lack of access to the eShop, Nintendo's digital storefront. That's the place to buy new games, digitally, and it's also the place where Nintendo's Virtual Console lives — the digital storefront that sells games from Nintendo's vast back catalog of classic games (like the original "Super Mario Bros." for instance). Nintendo has yet to say exactly how Virtual Console will work on the Switch.

All that said, we've got a Nintendo Switch that Nintendo sent over, and we've been using it without the update (the update doesn't actually launch until "just prior to the Nintendo Switch launch on March 3"). While the console is extremely limited without the update, it's able to play "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" without any problems. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It's not clear how much of the Switch's internal storage (32 GB) will be taken up by the update — as it stands, the existing storage shrinks to 25.9 GB from the operating system alone. The Switch's storage can be expanded dramatically with the use of micro SD cards (sold separately), so storage isn't a huge concern. 

What is a real concern, however, is being able to play games on your new Nintendo Switch on March 3. If you're thinking about buying a digital version of any new games rather than picking up a copy of, say, the new "Legend of Zelda" at store, you may be out of luck — without the update, there's no way to access the digital storefront to buy and download any games.

Nintendo Switch (update)

And, if history repeats, there may be problems downloading that update on day one. When Nintendo's Wii U launched back in 2012, a day one patch was issued that added much of the console's functionality — servers choked, and downloads took hours for most people. Not exactly an ideal day one experience with a brand new, expensive luxury item.

We're staying hopeful for now. Besides, if you really want to play a game immediately on your Switch, the physical copy will get that done.

SEE ALSO: Thinking about buying Nintendo's new console? Consider waiting.

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NOW WATCH: We got to try Nintendo’s new Switch console — here’s what it was like

OSCAR PREDICTIONS: Here's who will win at the 2017 Oscars on Sunday night

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Fences

Hollywood’s biggest night, the Academy Awards ceremony, goes down on Sunday. After months of talk about the movies lining up to be the frontrunners and millions of dollars spent by studios to campaign for them, we will finally get some closure.

“La La Land” leads the field with a record-tying 14 nominations, and we expect it to take home many of those Oscars. However, there are titles like “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures” that could play spoilers.

Then there’s the best actor category, which is shaping up to be one of the night’s most interesting toss-ups, as the prize will either go to Casey Affleck for “Manchester by the Sea” or Denzel Washington for “Fences.”

Here are our predictions of who will win the 2017 Oscars and who could win:

The Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/4 PT.

SEE ALSO: 26 stars who shockingly still don't have Oscars

Best original score

What will win: “La La Land”
Get ready — it’s likely this title will get called a lot on Oscar night. And it’s difficult to see a beloved musical walk away without being recognized for its score.

What could win: "Moonlight"
If there is a spoiler (that applies for the movie not just counting this category but in the entire evening) it’s the moving strings in “Moonlight.”



Best original song

What will win: “City of Stars” (“La La Land”)
Again, it’s the music that’s the backbone of “La La Land,” and this is a main piece.

What could win: “How Far I’ll Go” (“Moana”)
If Academy voters are feeling in a history-setting mood, they may go with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s song. The win would make the “Hamilton” star the youngest person ever to win the famed EGOT.



Best editing

What will win: “Arrival”
Editing is important in every movie, but the use of it to deliver the powerful ending in “Arrival” should be recognized.

What could win: “Moonlight”
Used as a way to jump us forward in time with the blink of an eye, the editing in “Moonlight” is also top-notch.



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Watch a scene from the new 'Alien' movie that's eerily similar to the original's shocking reveal

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20th Century Fox released the official prologue to "Alien: Covenant" called "Last Supper." Colonization ship, the Covenant, heads to a remote planet to establish a new human population. In this scene, the crew of the Covenant have their final meal before entering cryosleep.

Luke Scott directs this next chapter in the "Alien" franchise made famous by Ridley Scott.

"Alien: Covenant" hits theaters May 19, 2017.

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A crucial feature of Nintendo's new game console will not be available at launch

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Nintendo's new console, the Switch, launches on March 3 for $299.

But when it arrives, it will be missing a crucial component: the Virtual Console service, which enables owners to buy games from Nintendo's decades-old catalog of classic games.

Nintendo revealed as much in a press release on February 23.

"Virtual Console games will not be available on Nintendo Switch at launch. We will share more information in the future," the Japanese game company said.

And that's a tremendous letdown for a few reasons: Most notably, this will not help the lackluster launch lineup for the Switch. A small handful of games are available on March 3, and just one marquee title ("The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"). 

Things improve as the year goes on:

  • An updated "Mario Kart 8" arrives in April.
  • A new "Splatoon" game is planned for the summer.
  • A new, 3D "Super Mario" game is planned for "holiday 2017."

But that's pretty much it (at least so far).

Super Mario Odyssey

It's also tremendously disappointing because this is far from the first game console where Nintendo's long-running Virtual Console service has launched. The service existed on the Nintendo Wii all the way back in 2006, which was over a decade ago. It also existed on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2011, and the Wii U back in 2013. It's seemingly ridiculous, from a consumer perspective, that this isn't ready for the Switch in 2017, especially with no real explanation from the company. Imagine if the next iPhone that launched couldn't access Apple's App Store — that's how ridiculous this is.

The Virtual Console was expected to bolster the thin line-up of games on the Switch by using Nintendo's incredible catalog of gaming's classics. Instead, it's entirely missing from launch; Nintendo isn't even saying when it'll arrive.

One thing that seems certain: The Virtual Console should arrive before this fall, when Nintendo's new, paid online service launches. It's not clear how much that service costs, but Nintendo's promising a classic game each month — games from the Virtual Console — as part of the service. 

SEE ALSO: Thinking about buying Nintendo's new console? Consider waiting.

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NOW WATCH: Apple was supposed to move into its new $5 billion campus in January — here's what it looks like right now


Stephen Colbert slams Trump's new 'information source,' conspiracy theorist Alex Jones

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late show stephen colbert alex jones cbs

Stephen Colbert is deeply troubled by the New York Times report that President Donald Trump's unofficial new adviser is Alex Jones, the host of right-wing conspiracy radio show "InfoWars."

"He's a bit of a hothead, loose cannon, powder keg, dump truck," the host said of Trump on Wednesday's "Late Show," "which is why it's important for him to be counseled by people who are even-keeled. Unfortunately, he's talking to some jerk named Alex Jones, the far-right conspiracy theorist who's apparently taking on a new role as 'occasional information source and validator' for Trump."

In order to give viewers a sense of what Jones is like, Colbert played a clip of the host that displayed his characteristic aggressive on-air style.

"This is why you don't mix steroids with peyote," Colbert mocked Jones. "I don't know how to explain this, but just watching that clip, he somehow got spittle on me."

Viewers might remember Jones for being mentioned by another late-night host. Last summer, the radio host helped spread rumors that Hillary Clinton was in poor health. When the then-presidential nominee appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," Kimmel had her open a pickle jar to prove she wasn't ill. Jones then accused Kimmel of fixing the jar so Clinton could easily remove its lid.

"If you've been living underground for the last few years, you probably listen to Alex Jones," Colbert said. "Donald Trump's phone buddy has gained a reputation for telling it how it isn't."

Colbert then ran a clip of Jones explaining how the plastic liner of a juice box made men gay.

"Yes, juice boxes make men into women," Colbert said. "A couple of sips and suddenly your Capri Sun is your Capri daughter."

Watch Colbert slam Jones in the video below:

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel fires back at accusations that he fixed a pickle jar for Hillary Clinton

DON'T MISS: Jimmy Fallon: Here's what a Trump news network would look like

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NOW WATCH: The Trump family's lavish lifestyle is costing taxpayers a fortune

Seth Meyers: Why Trump's immigration plans are 'cruel' and 'unnecessary'

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Seth meyers

Over the past couple months, Seth Meyers has proven that he’s not giving President Donald Trump a break any time soon. Last night in his “A Closer Look” segment, the “Late Night” host criticized Trump for exaggerating the number of illegal immigrants in the US and called his immigration plans “cruel” and “unnecessary.” 

Meyers started the segment with some news from Texas, where two men were shot. They blamed “illegal aliens,” but it turns out they actually shot each other.

Meyers also cites reports that counter claims from Trump's administration, including that immigrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than people born in the US, and that there are more Mexicans leaving the country than there are coming into the country. 

The host also rebuked Trump for "wildly inflating" the number of undocumented immigrants in the US. The president told CNN's Anderson Cooper "it could be 30" million, while official estimates put it at 11 million.

"We do know what the number is. Just because you don't know, doesn't mean no one knows," Meyers said.

To close the segment, Meyers discussed the “disastrous consequences” of Trump's immigration ban, citing reports that visa holders are being denied entry even after the ban was lifted by court order. He called Trump's policies "ineffective," and urged both Republicans and Democrats who disagree with them to "stand up to Trump."

Watch Meyers discuss Trump's immigration plans below:

 

SEE ALSO: The most popular TV shows based on how much money you make

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NOW WATCH: Netflix and Marvel just dropped the first 'Iron Fist' trailer — and it looks incredible

We finally know a lot more about what's going to be in Ridley Scott's new 'Alien' movie

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Alien Covenant Prologue 20th Century Fox final

Though Ridley Scott's continuation of his "Alien" saga, "Alien: Covenant," doesn't come out until May, we have been given a nice little tease of the new characters we will be following in the sequel to "Prometheus."

20th Century Fox released the film's prologue on Wednesday night, which shows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they party one last time before going into cryosleep. And the nearly five-minute prologue is filled with hints of what's in store.

James Franco plays the captain of the ship, who is under the weather as he goes into cryosleep (never a good sign in an "Alien" movie). There seems to be tension in the ranks between officers played by Katherine Waterston and Billy Crudup. Michael Fassbender returns as the creepy andriod from "Prometheus," and it will be interesting to see what ulterior motives he has. And Danny McBride looks to be coming with the comic relief. The "Eastbound & Down" star will be the one we're all rooting for to survive.

"Alien: Covenant" opens in theaters May 19. Watch the prologue below:

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: Jordan Peele explains why his horror movie about racism is what we need in the Trump era

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NOW WATCH: HBO's new documentary dives deep into the daily life of billionaire Warren Buffett

Pamela Anderson wants to advocate for men who are falsely accused of rape

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Pamela-Anderson

Pamela Anderson plans to help men who are falsely accused of rape find justice.

The former "Baywatch" actress announced her new cause on the Russian television show "The Underground." She said the move came out of her support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the wake of rape allegations against him in Sweden.

"Sweden has these very progressive laws against sexual crimes," Anderson said. "It’s almost too progressive, it’s almost paralyzing. I’m going to actually start campaigning for men who have been victims of being accused of rape when they haven’t actually done anything."

Anderson has been very vocal about being the victim of sexual abuse as a child and multiple rapes. But she doesn't feel that seeking justice for men who are falsely accused of rape undermines her previous work in supporting abused women and children's charities.

“We all of course gravitate toward vulnerable people and we consider that to be women and children first and foremost, which is important of course," she said, "but there’s also a lot of men who are in a vulnerable situation and politically bullied.”

Watch Anderson announce her new campaign on "The Underground" below:

SEE ALSO: Bill Maher takes credit for conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos' downfall: 'You're welcome'

DON'T MISS: Shia LaBeouf's Trump protest has been shut down due to violence

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: ALAN DERSHOWITZ: It was wrong for Julian Assange to interfere in the US election

Here's everything leaving Netflix in March that you need to watch

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Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

It's time to say bye to a bunch of titles from Netflix as the calendar turns to March.

Be sure to binge "Jaws" and its awful sequels one last time before they leave the streaming giant, along with the classic comedy "Animal House." And watch the highly underrated "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," too.

Here's everything else that's leaving Netflix in March. We've highlighted the titles we think you should watch in bold.

SEE ALSO: Here's who's most likely to win at the 2017 Oscars on Sunday night

Leaving March 1

“Jaws”
“Justice League: War”
“Jaws 2”
“Jaws 3”
“Jaws: The Revenge”
“Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox”
“Keeping Up Appearances”
“Monarch of the Glen” (Seasons 1 - 7)
“National Lampoon's Animal House”
“Robin Hood” (Seasons 1 - 3)
“Survivors” (Series 1 - 2)



Leaving March 2

“Black or White”
“Sweetwater”



Leaving March 3

“Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey”
“Misfire”
“Web Junkie”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Shia LaBeouf shut down his anti-Trump protest stream after reports of gunshots

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shia labeouf

Shia LaBeouf decided to turn off the camera for his live-streamed protest of President Donald Trump, "He Will Not Divide Us," after reports of gunshots near its new location in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The actor announced his decision to turn off the camera in the early morning on Thursday.

"We have taken the stream down after shots were reported in the area," LaBeouf wrote on Twitter. "The safety of everybody participating in our project is paramount."

The stream is still down as of the publishing of this article.

Local police told TMZ that they recieved a report of gunshots fired around 2:51 a.m. on Thursday in downtown Albuquerque, one block away from the Historic El Rey Theater where LaBeouf, Finnish artist Nastja Säde Rönkkö, and British artist Luke Turner's protest relocated to on Saturday.

The protest was forced to find a new location after the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City shut it down nearly two weeks ago due to concerns that the protest had become a "flashpoint for violence."

At its New York location, the "Transformers" star was arrested in the protest's first week for allegedly getting into a fight with a man. There were other reports of violence at the protest, as well.

Originally planned to last through Trump's full presidential term, LaBeouf's protest began on January 20.

SEE ALSO: Shia LaBeouf's Trump protest has been shut down due to violence

DON'T MISS: Pamela Anderson wants to advocate for men who are falsely accused of rape

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Shia LaBeouf got into a shouting match with a white nationalist on his anti-Trump live stream

Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey talk about their unique new Netflix movie

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I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore Allyson Riigs Sundance Institute

Sundance Film Festival veterans Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey star together for the first time ever in the dark comedy "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore," and it led to strong reviews out of the fest and the movie receiving this year's grand jury prize. Now you can see it on Netflix beginning Friday.

The movie follows a depressed woman named Ruth (Lynskey) who calls on the assistance of her weird neighbor Tony (Wood) after her house is burglarized and decides to find the thief herself as the police are no help. Writer-director Macon Blair (the lead in the 2013 indie hit "Blue Ruin") delivers a terrific twisted comedy in the vein of the Coen brothers but with more gore. 

Business Insider sat down with Wood and Lynskey to talk about why they seek out unique stories, how Netflix has changed the movie business, and if we'll ever see Wood play Iggy Pop.

Jason Guerrasio: Did you guys know each other before shooting began?

Elijah Wood: We did, we met through Peter Jackson.

Melanie Lynskey: Yeah.

Guerrasio: How far back was this?

Wood: Probably seven or eight years ago.

Lynskey: Didn't I meet you at the opening for the King Kong ride?

Wood: I feel like we met there.

Guerrasio: That's a great first meet memory.

Lynskey: [Laughs] Yeah, it was before it opened and they invited us to come with friends and ride on it.

Guerrasio: Going into this movie was there a need to get together and break the ice?

Wood: We worked a little bit before on a Cartoon Network mini series called "Over the Garden Wall," and we had a day of work together. It was fun because we were in each other's world but never got to hang out.

Guerrasio: But you didn't connect before shooting started?

Lynskey: He showed up for shooting early, I'm terrible. I'm like, "Can I come up in the morning before we start filming?" I like being at home. But once I get there and I like everyone I'm like, "I don't want to leave." Filming this was very easy, very comfortable.

Wood: I just felt like I knew you already.

Lynskey: We got together for dinner a few times and hung out. It wasn't like we felt like we needed to connect.

Guerrasio: What was it about Macon's script that you dug?

Wood: Everything about it. I loved the characters. I've been a huge fan of his work from "Blue Ruin" to "Green Room," which I starred in with him. And the script he wrote was incredible, with really beautiful, well drawn characters that you could relate to. But it also delved into genre cinema as well. It was all these things in one. It was my favorite thing I've read in a long time.

Lynskey: It's just so original and it felt very honest, there were a lot of specific details that made me feel very sure of the story he wanted to tell and the world he wanted to create. I like it when somebody has a voice but it's not a voice where all the characters sound the same. He's able to create different and interesting characters.

Guerrasio: Are you guys surprised by the growth Netflix has made in building out its original content?

Wood: It's actually not that surprising, anymore. I think there was a time in the '90s that this would have been a title that would have gone direct-to-video, which would have been some certain kind of death. But that's not the case anymore. If anything, it's created this equal opportunity for filmmakers. There are so many ways to distribute a movie now and for a film like this in particular if it got a theatrical release it might have only played in the coastal cities.

Guerrasio: I was thinking after seeing the movie, if Netflix or Amazon wasn't around this movie would be in play with the Focus Features, Magnolia Pictures, IFC Films of the world.

Wood: Yeah, it's great that there's a company that, yes, has a lot of money but also is a really creative film department that are making great choices.

Lynskey: And TV.

Wood: Yeah, I love their TV. But they are making choices based on the filmmakers and material without really wanting to get in the way. They did not come to set. They saw our dailies and we were getting thumbs up. That's a really remarkable thing for a first time director to have that kind of faith. I'm all for it. If you can get your movie made the way you want to get it made, no matter what the end result is going to be, if people are going to see it that's awesome.

Lynskey: There is a wonderful peace of mind knowing that it's going to have an audience. But you still want it to have the best sendoff, so showing it here I was worried how the reviews would be, because Netflix doesn't usually let stuff go to festivals. So there was a discussion about that.

Guerrasio: Well, it sounds like it's been received very positively.

Lynskey: Very. It's been amazing.

Guerrasio: You guys have been working in this industry for almost your whole lives, what keeps you motivated to continue working?

Wood: Every experience is a new experience. I feel like I'm constantly learning. Constantly trying to grow. This is a good example, I had never played a character like this before. I never had an opportunity like this before. That's what keeps you going. It's also the filmmakers, going to festivals or just seeing movies on your own, there are just so many incredible people with so many amazing ideas. That inspires you. And I never feel safe. Safety and comfort comes with complacency and that's never a good place to be working from.

Lynskey: I feel very fortunate to have a job where I'm allowed to keep growing. And a lot of it is about exploring yourself and exploring other people and getting to understand humans. It's something that you get addicted to. I also don't know how to do anything else. Honestly, sometimes I think, "Gosh, I wish I had some backup plan." I think I would be a therapist at this point.

Wood: You would be good at that.

Guerrasio: Well, being an actor is kind of like therapy in a weird way.

Lynskey: It's true. It's the closest thing to it, I think.

Guerrasio: Elijah, will the Iggy Pop biopic every happen?

Wood: I think it's dead. I'm actually kind of grateful because I was terrified of it at the time.

Lynskey: What's this?

Wood: There was this biopic that had been written about Iggy Pop that tracked him from high school to starting The Stooges and inevitably ending The Stooges to go make his first solo album.

Lynskey: Wow!

iggy popGuerrasio: How many years were you attached to it?

Wood: It was probably like two or three years. [Current head of Amazon Studios] Ted Hope was involved in producing it and Nick Gomez was the director. It was an interesting thing and I was so flattered to be asked to play that role but it terrified me. At the time I thought I was too young and there's one thing about playing someone who has passed away, which I also would feel equally anxious about, but someone who is alive and very vital still as a musician and an artist, I don't know.

Guerrasio: Iggy didn't want to be a part of it but he gave his blessing of you playing him.

Wood: He did.

Lynskey: That's awesome!

Wood: The older I've gotten the more I've gotten a little precious about music-related films as it comes to biopics. I kind of don't want to see it, I'd rather see a documentary. And this is just coming from me. I love music documentaries, I kind of don't want to see people embodying those people.

Guerrasio: Melanie, give me a sense of the movie business today as an actress from your eyes. Are you starting to see scripts come to you with characters for you to play that are more outside the box from typical female roles?

Lynskey: I really do. I think this is so sh---y for the world and I'm terrified [about the election of Donald Trump] but I do think there's something so positive and that people are really rising up and using their voices and feeling empowered and feeling like I have to do it. There's more urgency and I think we are going to see a lot more diversity in storytelling and filmmaking. I'm kind of excited about what's ahead.

Wood: The next four years are exciting because the opposition of Trump is so strong and so united and that will yield great results.  

SEE ALSO: "Zootopia" directors: Why the movie has a special meaning after the Trump victory

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Why the guy who wrote the new Wolverine movie says working with Netflix was actually his best experience (NFLX)

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scott frankScott Frank is a superstar Hollywood screenwriter and director — with credits ranging from “Minority Report” to “Get Shorty” and a new blockbuster Wolverine movie (“Logan”) in theaters — but he says working with Netflix is the best experience he’s had.

Frank has an upcoming Netflix show called “Godless,” a period Western set in 1800s New Mexico, that will likely land sometime in the fall.

“It’s the best experience I’ve ever had,” Frank said on the Recode Media podcast with Peter Kafka. He said Netflix is definitely holding up their end in letting him have creative freedom on the show, which counts Steven Soderbergh as an executive producer.

“It doesn't mean they don't have opinions, and don't have thoughts and have budgets and so on. You still have to be disciplined with them, but they are unbelievable to work for, and were supportive and always helpful. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m still waiting.”

Market rate...plus a bit extra

There have been conflicting reports about creative freedom on Netflix shows, especially as it gains power in Hollywood. A report from The Hollywood Reporter in September said that Beau Willimon, whose adaptation of “House of Cards” was Netflix’s first monster hit, was “taken off the show after its fourth season because he pushed back hard on notes from Netflix execs.”

But Netflix has maintained that its input in shows is always invited. “We don't impose ourselves on the process creatively," Netflix content boss Ted Sarandos said last year.

It seems that, at least in Frank’s experience, that is true.

Frank also said that Netflix is paying the market rate, plus a bit extra “in some cases,” since the Netflix model is based on subscriptions, and doesn’t have the same opportunity to make money on the back end.

And as to how Frank approached creating a Netflix show people will most likely be binge-watching, he used an old touchstone: the novel.

“I treat it like a novel,” he said. People may drag it out over a couple of weeks or people might watch the whole thing on a Friday night. “Everyone has their own kind of thing.”

SEE ALSO: This founder who sold a startup for $200 million wants to build the next ESPN out of smartphone footage

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This is the only correct way for men to dress for a black tie event like the Oscars

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Black tie

Many men panic when they recieve an invitation to a black tie event. Questions run through their mind: "What does black tie mean?" "Does my tuxedo still fit?" "Do I even remember how to wear it?"

The reality is far less mysterious. Black tie is the simplest dress code for men because the rules are clearly enumerated.

Black tie is often considered the pinnacle of modern formality (aside from white tie, which has been completely forgotten about, and is almost never worn aside from royal weddings).

Here's what you need to wear for a black tie event:

- A completely black tuxedo with a white formal shirt featuring a wing collar, finished with a black satin bow tie. Sometimes a black satin cummerbund is added, but that is becoming less and less common.

- Black socks and black patent leather shoes are non-negotiable for footwear here.

Recently, some men have edited their black tie ensembles. They have instead worn ivory jackets, navy tuxedos, or suede shoes. This deviation makes tuxedos a degree or two less formal, and it will be frowned upon at more conservatively dressed events.

SEE ALSO: This is the best beard style for every face shape

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Why this new racially charged horror movie has a rare perfect score from critics

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get out universal

It’s very rare, even close to unseen, for a wide-release movie to get a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes just a day before its release. A score of 100% means that every critic who has seen the movie so far gave it a positive review.

Even some of the movies you’d expect to have a perfect score don’t have one. This honor is primarily reserved for classic films including “Citizen Kane,”“All About Eve,"“Singing “in the Rain,” and “North by Northwest.”

But before its opening weekend, Jordan Peele’s comedy-horror mashup film “Get Out” has managed to move up the ranks and earn this high honor, with 78 100% positive reviews counting as of this writing.

"Get Out" addresses issues of race in the United States in ways that are uncomfortable, gruesome, and at times also uncomfortably funny. It's especially timely given the current political climate. The sketches on Peele's Comedy Central sketch show "Key & Peele," which ended in 2015, often addressed racial issues and blended comedy with the horror genre but never to an extent as serious as his directorial debut, which according to what critics are saying so far, is working out beautifully.

(Warning: Mild spoilers for "Get Out" below.)

See what the critics say about the 100% fresh "Get Out":

SEE ALSO: Jordan Peele explains why his horror movie about racism is what we need in the Trump era

It proves a point about race. Powerfully.

As a black man, the protagonist of "Get Out" is nervous about meeting his white girlfriend's family. His anxiety turns into straight-up terror as he discovers a conspiracy that has to do with black people disappearing.

“[Peele] has created a work that addresses the myriad levels of racism, pays homage to some great horror films, carves out its own creative path, has a distinctive visual style — and is flat-out funny as well,” Richard Roeper wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times. 

 

 



But it’s still it’s a crowd-pleaser.

Despite its social commentary, "Get Out" still provokes what movie audiences crave, including jump scares and nervous laughter. This isn’t one of those movies you want to see in an empty theater once it's been out for a couple of weeks. With an empty theater, it just won’t be as fun and exciting. The movie incites audience reaction that adds to the whole experience. 

“This one really should be seen with a crowd,” Michael Phillips wrote in the Chicago Tribune.

 

 



It’s hilarious. (Really.)

Despite the daring premise and elements of horror, Peele doesn't let his comedic genius so beloved from "Key & Peele" go unnoticed. 

"'Get Out' is an absolutely brilliant and original horror film. Imagine a devilishly twisted update of 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.' 'Get Out' is scary, laugh-out-loud funny, and an inspired satire of interracial relationships," MovieWeb wrote.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Raindrops, drop tops': Alex Trebek raps the #1 hit 'Bad and Boujee'

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"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek made news this week when a clip of him reciting verses from popular hip-hop songs went viral

The day after the video became an internet sensation, we happened to be in Los Angeles to film an interview with Trebek and film what it's like to be on set during a "Jeopardy!" taping. 

We asked Trebek what he thought of the overwhelming reaction to his rapping skills, and also asked if he would recite some verses from two hip-hop songs that are currently topping the charts. Watch as he tackles selected lyrics from "Bad and Boujee" by Migos and "I Got the Keys" by DJ Khaled featuring Jay-Z and Future.

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These Silicon Valley investors set out to create the antithesis of 'Shark Tank'

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When Silicon Valley venture capitalist and philanthropist Jillian Manus was invited to co-host "The Pitch," a podcast in which budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, she had one condition.

"I wanted it to be the antithesis of 'Shark Tank,'" Manus tells Business Insider.

"The Pitch," which launched its second season in January, aims to deliver a more realistic version of the hit reality TV show. Each episode follows one entrepreneur through their pitch before a panel of judges, and follows up several months later to see what came of the investment opportunity.

"Shark Tank" draws approximately five million viewers on Friday nights on ABC. Some entrepreneurs walk away with thousands of dollars in order to turn their bright idea into a viable company, while others leave with their dreams crushed. The stakes are impossibly high.

But according to Manus, the show doesn't come close to her experience as a venture capitalist in the real world. The "sharks" on TV can be vicious and manipulative as they compete against each other for the deal they want. 

Plus, the judges often offer up a small amount of money for ownership of half of a company — a feat they can get away with because they "have star power behind them," Manus said.

Josh Muccio, an entrepreneur and co-creator of "The Pitch," decided to introduce just one entrepreneur per episode, allowing the podcast to dig deeper into the founder's story, give investors the space to conduct thorough interviews, and allow drama to unfold organically.

"We do thrill, but it's not demeaning," Manus said. "There's a mutual respect between an entrepreneur and the venture capitalist."

the pitch podcast 1.JPG

It also devotes significantly more time at the end of each episode to how the investment played out and what has become of the startup, as compared to "Shark Tank." They follow up with every guest, no matter if they landed an investment during their appearance on the podcast.

"We're not just going to tell the success stories. This is real life," Muccio told Business Insider.

During season two, which was recorded back in October, the show's five venture capitalists invested $1.5 million in featured companies. Entrepreneur Laura Bilazarian made such an impression on Manus with her recruiting startup Teamable that she wound up with funding from Manus's angel fund and a separate fund, Structure Capital, where Manus serves as a managing partner.

The 12-episode season also features Tesloop, a ride-sharing service that wants to shuttle passengers from city to city via Tesla vehicles, and Hykso, a Fitbit-like company that makes wearables built for tracking a boxer's punches. In some cases, the panel invested after the show taped, when they could conduct more due diligence. By comparison, most "Shark Tank" deals are made in minutes, though some sharks later rescind their offers after further research.

Since its premiere, the show has even gotten a nod of approval from a shark.

Barbaca Corcoran tweeted, "Like Shark Tank? Check out The Pitch podcast," adding a shout-out to "The Pitch" investor Phil Nadel, who also cofounded Corcoran's angel fund.

SEE ALSO: This Silicon Valley 'smart drug' startup crashed and burned on 'Shark Tank,' but business is booming

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