With September upon us it’s time to check in once again on the new movies and TV shows coming to Netflix.

One of the highlights is the documentary on Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards coming in the middle of the month.

Here’s what you should check out on Netflix in September:

TV

“The League” (Season 6) - Available 9/1
Fantasy football tackles reality in this semi-scripted look at a group of longtime friends whose annual hobby gives them an excuse to get together and escape their everyday lives in a blitz of trash-talking, deceit and ruthless extortion.

“The Walking Dead” (Season 5) - Available 9/27
In the wake of a zombie apocalypse that desolates the world as we know it, a group of survivors led by police officer Rick Grimes holds on to the hope of humanity by banding together to wage a never-ending fight for their own survival.

Movies

“Lawrence of Arabia: Restored Version” - Available 9/1
This Oscar-winning epic tells the true story of T.E. Lawrence, who helped unite warring Arab tribes to strike back against the Turks in World War I.

“Moonrise Kingdom” - Available 9/16
Wes Anderson's quirky drama follows the frantic search that ensues in a small New England town when two 12-year-olds fall in love and run away together. As the townsfolk hunt for the vanished kids, a storm causes even more profound communal upheaval.

“Keith Richards: Under the Influence” (NETFLIX ORIGINAL) - Available 9/18
This Netflix original documentary is unparalleled in its access as it looks at one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll music. The film charts the journey of Keith Richards’ sound and influences, back to the music that inspired him then and now – electric blues, country honky-tonk, southern soul, and more – as he creates his first solo album in 23 years.

Here’s the full list of September releases:

Available 9/1/15
“72 Dangerous Animals: Australia:” (Season 1)
“Arthur” (Season 17)
“Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher”
“Battle Creek” (Season 1)
“Blackbird”
“Capital C”
“Combustion”
“Da Jammies” (Season 1)
“Divorce Corp.”
“Giggle and Hoot's Best Ever!”
“Hamlet”
“Hardball”
“Heather McDonald: I Don't Mean To Brag”
“Lawrence of Arabia: Restored Version”
“Los hombres también lloran” (Season 1)
“Masters of the Universe”
“Mississippi Damned”
“Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Volume 1”
“Mouk” (Season 1)
“Our Man in Tehran”
“Pandas: The Journey Home”
“Person of Interest” (Seasons 1-3) *Season 4 arriving on 9/22
“Puffin Rock” (Season 1) (NETFLIX ORIGINAL)
“Rambo: First Blood”
“Rambo: First Blood Part II”
“Rambo III: Ultimate Edition”
“Shake the Dust” “Sleepy Hollow”
“Such Good People” “The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl”
“The League” (Season 6) “The Monster Squad” “Up in the Air”
“Zathura” “Zoo Clues” (Season 1) Available 9/2/15
“Black or White” “Miss Julie” 

Available 9/3/15

“Drumline: A New Beat”

Available 9/4/15

“Baby Daddy” (Season 4)
“Bad Night”
“Madame Secretary” (Season 1)
“Melissa & Joey” (Season 4)

Available 9/7/15

“Space Dandy” (Season 2)

Available 9/8/15

“6 Years” (NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE) “Love At First Fight”

Available 9/9/15

“Teen Beach Movie 2”

Available 9/10/15

“Fugitivos” (Season 1)
“Longmire” (Season 4) (NETFLIX ORIGINAL)

Available 9/11/15

“About Elly” “God Bless the Child” “Madame Bovary”

Available 9/12/15

“It Happened Here”
“Portlandia” (Season 5)
“The Roughnecks” 
“Why Did I Get Married?”

Available 9/13/15

“Comedy Bang! Bang!” (Season 4) (part 2)
“Pixies”

Available 9/14/15

“Call the Midwife” (Series 4)

Available 9/15/15

“Closer to the Moon”
“Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret” (NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE)
“Kambu” (Season 1)
“Rubble Kings”
“Sin Senos no Hay Paraiso” (Season 1)
“The Bank Job”
“The Road Within”
“Zoobabu” (Season 1)

Available 9/16/15

“Moonrise Kingdom”
“Reservation Road”
“The Blacklist” (Season 2)
“The Fosters” (Season 3)

Available 9/17/15

“The Mysteries of Laura” (Season 1)

Available 9/18/15

“Keith Richards: Under the Influence” (NETFLIX ORIGINAL)

Available 9/21/15

“Gotham” (Season 1)
“The Following” (Season 3)

Available 9/22/15

“Person of Interest” (Seasons 4)
“Philomena”
“SMOSH: The Movie”

Available 9/23/15

“The Loft”

Available 9/24/15

“Iris”

Available 9/25/15

“Blue Bloods” (Season 5)
“Hawaii Five-0” (Season 5)
“Parenthood” (Season 6)
“VeggieTales in the House” (Season 1) (NETFLIX ORIGINAL)

Available 9/26/15

“The Canyons”

Available 9/27/15

“The Walking Dead” (Season 5)

Available 9/29/15

“Bones” (Season 10)
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
“Monster High: Boo York”
“RL Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls”

Available 9/30/15

“Agatha Christie's Poirot: Series 12”
“Leafie: A Hen into the Wild”
“Midnight’s Children”
“Murdoch Mysteries” (Season 4-7)
“Ned Rifle”

SEE ALSO: Here's everything leaving Netflix in September

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NOW WATCH: Ridley Scott is about to show us a world where the Allies lost World War II

Changing career paths is fairly common today — something Tim and Karrie League know all too well. In 1997, the then engineer and research biologist left their careers behind and opened the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas.

What started as a second-run movie theater, screening films for low prices long after their initial release, now offers everything from live score readings to specialty cocktails. And of course there's the beer — the theater offers an extensive selection of ales and lagers to satisfy even the toughest beer aficionado.

With little to no business experience, the couple has transformed the warehouse-turned-movie theatre into something much bigger than they ever expected: Today, there are more than 11 locations across the US.

As part of our Fast Track Q&A series, we interviewed the couple at the one of the first locations of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin. Tim and Karrie speak candidly about the hardest part of starting a business, managing finances, advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and the strangest request they've ever gotten.

This post is sponsored by Capital One Spark. 

Find out more about Sponsored Content.

SEE ALSO:  Why one lawyer gave up a 6-figure salary to serve tacos from a truck

SEE ALSO:  This couple ditched their tech jobs to pursue their passion for beer

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Deep in the heart of the Meatpacking District, the sun pounded the posh rooftop at STK.

The black ballistic rubber floors radiated heat from below as the sun beat down upon the brows of the 150 or so invited guests awaiting an acoustic set from American Authors, a band very much on the come up who boasts a triple-platinum single, "Best Day of My Life."

Despite the heat, the sweeping views of the High Line and Hudson River provided a picturesque backdrop for the upcoming show.

The guests were ostensibly eager for the band to play, but many appeared not to be fans per se, but rather pretty people who reveled in the thought of attending an invite-only party with a relatively-famous band and an army of professional photographers in tow.

That's not to say no fans were in attendance, but the room had a distinctly divided feel.

Throughout the crowd, you could see the Brooklyn-ites contrast starkly with the Manhattan-ers. The former adorned almost exclusively in fierce, black rocker attire; the latter bedecked in tight, oft-revealing dresses for women alongside men who looked like they walked straight off the pages of a J. Crew catalog.

While it would be unfair to say the Brooklyn-ites were there for the music and the Manhattan-ers were there to be seen, there was a definite distinction between factions within the crowd. It's entirely possible some of the fierce, black outfitted individuals hailed from Manhattan and some of the J. Crew wannabes were from Brooklyn (or any other borough for that matter). 

Regardless, about half the people there seemed to have come for the music, and the rest simply to be seen.

Sharply dressed servers buzzed around the party toting burger sliders, deviled eggs, miniature kale salads, and other appetizing hors d'oeuvres. 

Those same servers were slinging highly alcoholic mixed drinks concocted for those wanting to board the Blackout Express. With a full bar available to the guests, the booze flowed freely. There was both a literal and figurative buzz in the air as some of the tipsy guests mingled with the band or the other attractive people in attendance.

Members of the band (and their entourage) visited with friends and fans alike.

Another installment in the Island Records Summer Series, the event was intended for industry personnel and friends of the band.

Having just released a catchy new single, and on the eve of performing at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the US Open, the band was making good use of its admittedly limited time back home (they hail from Brooklyn).

The stage was set for American Authors to deliver a fun, informal acoustic set. At 5:15, the band took the stage as many in attendance turned their back to the band for the perfunctory selfie.

Lead singer Zac Barnett thanked the crowd for showing up, promised a one-and-a-half hour Led Zeppelin jam session at the end of the concert (about which I'm still pissed he didn't deliver on), and then jumped into the concert with "Go Big or Go Home."

The show was lighthearted and imminently enjoyable. The instruments were tight, the group locked in. Barnett showcased a singular vocal talent, at once powerful and strong while equally caressing concertgoers' eardrums with his pure, silky-smooth falsetto. 

For the most part, the crowd was engaged and invested — save for the obnoxious few who took selfie after selfie, or filmed whole songs with their hands held high in the sky.

It's always interesting to hear a highly produced studio band perform live, without the bells and whistles from their album. It's even more interesting to hear them unplugged.

American Authors delivered the rare show where a non-jam-band was better live than they were on an admittedly good album. But, like their first album, the short show left me wanting a little bit more.

College Dropouts

Conceptually, those who are famous have done something earning them such status — he or she is an incredible actor, elite athlete, talented musician, etc. Certainly, some people stumble into fame based not on merit but sheer happenstance, but by and large, the people who become famous have a reason for being so. But fame comes not simply because you're good; luck plays a huge part in who breaks through and who wallows in obscurity until abandoning the dream for a desk job.

Like most well-known bands, American Authors is good. The foursome met while studying music at one of the most prestigious music schools in the country, the Berklee College of Music. While this doesn't guarantee innate musical ability, it's a pretty good indicator.

While at Berklee, the band decided to "turn pro," so to speak: they dropped out and moved to Brooklyn, New York to chase the dream full time.

"We met each other. We got what we needed there. So we decided to take it to the next level," Matt Sanchez, the band's drummer, said.

The foursome met while studying music at one of the most prestigious music schools in the country.

"We didn't really have all that much keeping us in Boston," Zac Barnett, lead singer, added.

While parents might cringe at Barnett's attitude, he said their dream was more immediately important than school.

“We were all very logical in the sense that school would be there, and this moment might pass us up,” Barnett said. "We were writing and recording and performing and going to parties and whatnot in New York, so it just made sense to make the move and be there full-time and really just kick it into high gear."
 

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Originally called The Blue Pages, the band initially struggled to find its sound and identity.

“We spent a lot of time in our early days trying to figure out our scene and where people could categorize us and where we really fell,” Barnett said. “And that never worked. Once we discovered what American Authors truly were, and our sound, was really when we let it all go.”

After struggling as a relative unknown for years, letting it all go netted the band three things. First, fans in the New York area responded enough for American Authors to catch a record label’s eye. Second, Island Records signed them to a record deal, and the band received the runway and support needed to record its first album. And third, the band got incredibly lucky.

Infectious Optimism

Harnessing a seemingly unshakable optimism and fusing it with upbeat, anthemic instrumentals, American Authors embodies an ethos that has resonated strongly with music fans in the last few years. In the same vein as fun., Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, or Walk the Moon, American Authors’ songs sound almost universally happy, for lack of a better descriptor.

Featuring a driving drum beat, playful lead banjo, uplifting lyrics, polyphonic harmonized backup vocals, and Barnett’s silky smooth voice, the band fills the “happy pop anthem” niche to a tee.

That optimism seems to come from an honest place.

“It was kinda like finding optimism in low places,” Barnett said. “That was a big thing with that first album because … when life throws these obstacles at you, and you have these challenges with whatever you want to do in life — for us, music — there's kinda like, ‘do you just give up and quit, or do you see the light at the end of the tunnel and keep working and pushing harder to get through that.'”

“In a lot of ways it was self serving optimism," Sanchez added. "I know that sounds funny, but it really was for us."

It's almost as if the band was willing itself to success and happiness by writing songs that reflected that mindset.

Best Day of Their Lives

Smash hits are a tenuous breed. While both financially lucrative and audience enlarging, an up-and-coming band can be swallowed by a single song’s success.

One of the most dreaded designations in music is that of “one hit wonder."

Every person surveyed in the days leading up to the show either didn’t know the band off the top of their head or made a snarky comment, “Is it going to be the best day of your life?”

Often, this happens not because the band got blindly lucky and made only one good song, but rather because fans become so enamored with one song that no other songs could ever live up to it.

It’s often better to acquire acclaim and fame in small but steady increments to ensure a longer shelf life. American Authors has no such luxury.

“Best Day of My Life” has racked up over 140 million Spotify plays. It has over 62 million Vevo views. Every person surveyed in the days leading up to the show either didn’t know the band off the top of their head or made a snarky comment like, “Is it going to be the best day of your life?”

And for those that didn’t recognize the band initially, when prompted with American Authors’ hit song, everyone knew at least that one tune.

While American Authors have had rather successful singles in addition to their smash hit, the band currently occupies a delicate position on what I call the “one hit hump.” The question for them now is whether or not they can keep plodding forward, crest that hill, and become more than just their one hit song; or, if they can't, and figuratively roll back down the hill from whence they came.

The Next Step

If there’s one knock on the group, it’s that their songs are almost too consistent. Even on melancholy tracks like "Luck," the song sounds joyful.

Almost every song is either fun, optimistic, or both. If you love happy pre-game songs that get you amped up for a great night out, then American Authors should be your new favorite band. If you like a little more emotional range, the band has yet to fully deliver on their heretofore nascent musical talent.

"Luck," one of the deeper cuts from "Oh What a Life," is actually the best song American Authors has produced to date, and provides listeners a glimpse of all the band could become.

In the song, the protagonist apologizes to his mother, his brother and father:

I’m sorry father, I up and left this town.

Please just listen 'cause I don't ask for much

I am my own man

I make my own luck

…and some birds aren’t meant to be caged

“I haven't talked to my mother in probably like eight years,” Sanchez admits. “I don't want to go too deep into it, but the song was more about the sacrifices you make to do what you love. And while it is a literal story, I know it's something we all relate to. I didn't just write the song by myself; we all inserted our own stories into it.”

The group’s infectious pop anthems belie deeper musical and lyrical talent. Barnett showcased honest-to-God, capital "r" Rock vocals during their show. Their eclectic instrumentation and obvious skill therein hint at a greater ability than many of their tunes showcase. The level of emotional awareness demonstrated in "Luck" is seen in many of the truly great rock songs throughout history. The specific lyrics granting the listener a peek into the band members’ real lives humanize the track beyond a pump-up jam. The depth of emotion and universal theme wreathe the song in the trappings of greatness.

"Luck" is a glimpse into what American Authors could become. But, with industry pressure to keep churning out hits, it’s tough to know whether the band will take that next step.

“We're really feeling the pressure of, 'ok, how do we take what people know and love about us from the first album, but really give it where we're at today and kind of take it to the next level for who we are as people and who we are as musicians right now,” Barnett said.

“There's always people breathing down your neck, looking for that next big single … But, when you do the best you can, you can only just write from your heart, write the best songs, write the songs that you love, and hope that you get something amazing.”

Sanchez and Barnett are genuine, nice guys who you can't help but pull for.

Here’s to hoping they can make more of their own luck.

SEE ALSO: The craziest outfits at the MTV Video Music Awards

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NOW WATCH: Mark Cuban just sent us this hilarious ‘Shark Tank’ spoof that replaces all the judges with clones of himself

Miley Cyrus released a surprise album, "Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz," moments after performing at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.

The album, which was released on SoundCloud for free, is her first collection of new music since 2013's "Bangerz," which sold more than one million units.

There's a lot to talk about with "Dead Petz" — from the subject matter and the sound to the collaborators and the release strategy. One of the most interesting stories about the album comes from Joe Coscarelli of the New York Times, whose profile of Cyrus was published hours after the VMAs.

Coscarelli reports that Cyrus recorded the album for $50,000 (millions less than "Bangerz"), and her record label wasn't involved at all.

From the Times:

She said the album cost about $50,000 to make — “Bangerz” was “a couple million” — although RCA Records, her label, did not contribute to the budget this time around. “They had never heard the record until it was done,” she said, and it won’t count toward fulfilling her multi-album contract.

That lack of financial commitment helps explain how this album — a psychedelic 23-song collaboration with Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne — saw the light of day in its current form. There are no clear radio hits or concessions to the mainstream on here. While "Bangerz" rode in on the wave of massive singles like "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop," this album got posted online around midnight and the lead single is a screechy, meandering ode to smoking weed called "Dooo It!"

"Dooo It!" is more-or-less representative of the album on the whole — a trippy, experimental mishmash of rock, pop, and hip hop that has an identifable Flaming Lips feel. You get a sense that this is Miley's "weird" album, and she knows it.

In the Times interview Cyrus says, "I literally can do whatever I want. It’s insane."

A more accurate statement might have been, "I literally can do whatever I want, as long the record label doesn't spend a penny on it and this will be clearly designated as a side project."

Making the album on the cheap and keeping it out of the official RCA succession of Miley albums lowered the stakes in a way that empowered her to make something devoid of commercial ambitions. It's a win-win for everyone — Miley got to go nuts on her passion project without any pressure to move units, and her label still has her locked up for what will ostensibly be more mainsteam albums down the road.

The Times used the word "homemade" to describe the nature of the album. Others have pointed out that this is very much not "Bangerz":

"Dead Petz" is not meant for mass commercial consumption in the way the last album was, because Miley set up a scenario where it didn't have to be.

SEE ALSO: Here are all 10 of Miley Cyrus' bizarre costumes she wore to host the MTV VMAs

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NOW WATCH: The first trailer for the new 'Walking Dead' season just dropped and looks as terrifying as ever

We're a few short months away from IGNITION, Business Insider's flagship conference on the future of digital.

Save 25% on your tickets with our early-bird rate. These low rates expire September 8, so buy now to save big. 

Don't miss the opportunity to hear from some of the greatest innovators of today, including:

• Jeff Bewkes, Chairman & CEO - Time Warner Inc.
• Linda Boff, Executive Director, Global Brand Marketing - GE
• Carolyn Everson, VP, Global Marketing -Facebook
• Jennifer Hyman, Co-Founder & CEO - Rent the Runway
• Michael Lynton, Chairman & CEO - Sony Pictures Entertainment
• Lowell McAdam, Chairman & CEO - Verizon 
• Leslie Moonves, President & CEO - CBS Corporation
• James Murdoch, CEO - 21st Century Fox
• Jonah Peretti, Founder & CEO - BuzzFeed
• Brian Roberts, CEO - Comcast
• and more!

Get insight into their many successes and experiences, and learn what's next for the changing digital landscape. 

So don't wait — get your tickets today with our early-bird rate. IGNITION will take place December 8-9 at the Time Warner Center in New York City. 

Follow @BI_Events on Twitter or join the IGNITION group on LinkedIn to find out who will be speaking at IGNITION 2015. 

SEE ALSO: Alexander Klöpping, co-founder of pay-per-article startup Blendle, will speak at IGNITION 2015

AND: Blue Apron cofounder Matt Salzberg to speak at IGNITION 2015

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Hulk Hogan begged for forgiveness and understanding from fans in his first interview since being fired by the WWE for using racial slurs on a recently surfaced tape.

"I'm not a racist," Hogan aka Terry Bollea said in an interview with ABC's GMA on Monday. "I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it. But, a lot of people need to realize that you inherit things from your environment."

The 12-time wrestling champion said that his upbringing in South Tampa contributed greatly to who he is and the language he used on that tape.

"It was a really rough neighborhood, very low income," Hulk said. "And all of my friends, we'd greet each other saying that word. The word was just thrown around like it was nothing."

On top of that, he said he was very angry at his daughter and at her ex-boyfriend for something he was doing when the tape was made. Plus, he was dealing with depression at the time. "I wanted to kill myself," Hogan said.

"Oh my God, please forgive. Please forgive me. I'm a nice guy. It's not the Hulk Hogan who rips his shirt off, bang, bang, bang, bang, and slams giants. I'm Terry Bollea. I'm a normal man."

In addition to firing Hogan, WWE wiped its site of all images and mentions for the champ.

"Everything I've done, my whole career, my whole life was like it never happened," he said.

"Oh my gosh, it was devastating," he later added.

Later, the wrestler's daughter, Brooke Hogan, wrote a poem in her father's defense. Talking about that brought Hogan to tears.

"She should have been the one to throw me out like the trash," he said. "Instead, she showed me more love than anybody."

Watch the interview below:

SEE ALSO: WWE fires Hulk Hogan

MORE: Hulk Hogan apologizes for racist rant

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NOW WATCH: 50 Cent testifies his lifestyle is an illusion

With the sudden passing of filmmaker Wes Craven on Sunday evening due to brain cancer, movie fans have lost one of the masters of the horror genre.

Thankfully Craven, who was 76, left behind some incredible works that pushed the boundaries of what could be done in scary movies.

His best work ranges from a movie about a demon who invades our nightmares to a serial killer who was obsessed with horror movies. 

SEE ALSO: "Scream" producer reveals 3 things to expect from MTV's new reboot

"The Last House On The Left" (1972)

Craven's debut feature film would become an instant classic. Following two teenage girls who are taken to the woods and tortured by psychotic thugs, the film was a box office hit. But due to the film's gore, it was banned in several countries, only giving Craven more cred in the horror film community.

"The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)

Craven pushed the envelope further with "The Hills Have Eyes" and ended up getting an X rating on the film along with cult status. We watch a family vacation to the Nevada desert turn horrific when they come across a group of savages. The movie would launch actor Michael Berryman into a horror film icon. 

"Swamp Thing" (1982)

With this adaptation of the DC Comic character, Craven shifted a little closer to mainstream moviemaking. But the film's low-budget feel still gives it an edge that can be enjoyed by horror traditionalists and fanboys alike.

NOW WATCH: Mark Cuban just sent us this hilarious ‘Shark Tank’ spoof that replaces all the judges with clones of himself

Kanye West took the MTV Video Music Awards by storm Sunday night when he concluded a 12-minute speech by saying he would run for president in 2020.

When West was out to dinner after the show and asked by reporters whether his campaign plans were serious, he offered voters a huge incentive.

"If I win, everybody gets Yeezys," the hip-hop mogul said.

West was of course referring to his extremely popular shoes, which recently sold out just hours after their release.

The Yeezy Boost 350s (when in stock) are selling for $200 retail but on eBay are going for hundreds more. West's net worth is $130 million, so it's unclear how he'll provide "everyone" with a pair of Yeezys.

Check out West offering the incredibly expensive incentive below:

SEE ALSO: After a 12-minute MTV VMA speech, Kanye West says he's going to run for president in 2020

SEE ALSO: Kanye West had a priceless reaction when Taylor Swift won another VMA over Beyoncé

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NOW WATCH: We followed a cosplayer into the world of anime, tight vinyl costumes, and nerd culture

Kanye West ‘smoked something’ and then announced presidential campaign in epic 11-minute speech at the VMAs.

Produced by Adam Banicki

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August 31 marks the 18th anniversary of the car crash that killed Diana, princess of Wales and the "Queen of People's Hearts."

The year of her death, 1997, was highlighted by trips to Angola and Bosnia in her high-profile campaign against land mines and Mediterranean holidays with her sons and companion, Emad Mohamed "Dodi" Al-Fayed.

Eighteen years after her death, Princess Diana is remembered for her compassion and commitment to her causes. These photos display her endless supply of charm and generosity.

Lady Diana Spencer as a toddler on the Norfolk, England, property where she grew up. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her father, an earl, won custody.

Riding in style at the Park House in 1962. Her family rented the property, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, and arranged occasional playdates with Princes Albert and Edward when Diana was young.

She kept a Shetland pony, Souffle, at her mother's Scotland home.

Susan Sarandon has spoken openly about her love of Burning Man and it appears the 68-year-old actress is back for another round of the festival this year.

"These boots were made for Burning Man," she captioned the above photo.

Sarandon has already survived a dust storm:

And tech writer Nellie Bowles even spotted the Oscar winner helping out on the playa during the first day of the week-long festival:

The actress first went to the festival two years ago. After the experience, she spoke to The Daily Beast about why she loved it:

It’s fabulous. I went all around on a Segway and a bicycle, which was great, and even though people sometimes recognized me and said, 'Oh, it’s so cool you’re here!' it wasn’t like walking the streets of New York. The art was amazing. You’ll find fantastical stuff like four-story women, and when the light comes up, a half-naked woman with a parasol. Despite the fact that there was more of a police presence there, it was a lot of fun and I’d definitely go back. 

Sarandon had to opt out of the festival last year because her daughter was due to give birth at any moment. "I don’t think I’d feel very free to indulge if I was waiting for a message to see if she’s gone into labor," she explained.

But when Sarandon is free of responsibility, she told the Beast she definitely lets loose and experiments with drugs:

Well, it’s pretty psychedelic to begin with. But, yeah, I’m not new to the idea of mushrooms. I don’t really like chemical things, really... But I’ve done Ayahuasca [psychedelic tea] and I’ve done mushrooms and things like that. But I like those drugs in the outdoors — I’m not a city-tripper. My attitude about marijuana or anything is, 'Don’t be stoned if you have to pretend you’re not,' so I’d never do drugs if I was taking care of my kids. I like doing it in the Grand Canyon, or in the woods. It does remind you of your space in the universe—your place in the universe—and reframe things for you. I think you can have some very profound experiences.

Sarandon isn't the only Hollywood celebrity to attend Burning Man. Last year, Will Smith was spotted performing a choreographed dance on a Segway in the middle of the desert.

SEE ALSO: Burning Man officially begins — here's the first photos from the playa

MORE: This year's Burning Man festival has a frightening theme

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NOW WATCH: The insanely successful and unorthodox life of Google founder Sergey Brin

Zac Efron just had his lowest opening weekend at the box office ever.

Making an estimated $1.8 million over the weekend, “We Are Your Friends” is a huge disappointment for Efron as he continues to find a niche post “High School Musical.”

Bouncing from indies to romantic comedies in recent years, Efron’s greatest success was playing opposite Seth Rogen in the 2014 comedy “Neighbors.” The film grossed over $250 million worldwide and there’s a sequel lined up.

But things are still looking challenging for Efron as the face of a project.

“We Are Your Friends” didn’t even break the top 10 at the box office this weekend (landing number 14th), but couldn’t even make $1 million on Friday, according to Deadline. 

In the movie, Efron plays a DJ who aspires to play in front of stadiums full of people.

He can even get Emily Ratajkowski of “Blurred Lines” fame to bust some moves.

Here ya go...

But sadly, looks like audiences aren't as excited to go to the theaters to see his stills on the turntables.

SEE ALSO: The craziest outfits at the MTV Video Music Awards

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Long before becoming a presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was a regular on an email listserv for Bruce Springsteen fans.

Politico New Jersey revealed Christie's Springsteen fan posts in a story published on Monday. The posts included Christie's tale of meeting his rock idol on a plane when he was returning to New Jersey with his wife after attending one of Springsteen's concerts in January 2000.

"He was by himself--no Patty, no bodyguards--just Bruce, a baseball cap, jeans jacket, NY Times and Minneapolis Star-Tribune. I immediately go off the deep end," Christie wrote.

"We walked back to see Bruce," he added, "introduced ourselves and told him we had flown in for the show last night and were headed home. ... He was incredibly gracious, we chatted briefly about where we lived, etc., and then said good-bye and went back to our seats."

Once the plane landed, Christie said he approached Springsteen again and shared a story:

"I told him about the night he played Sandy at the Continental Arena. My 6 year old son Andrew and I were in the front row on tix we won in the KACF auction. Bruce had thrown him a pick earlier in the evening and acknowledged his energy at 11 PM during Land of Hope and Dreams. (He said, looking at my six year old son, 'He's still going?') He then introduced Sandy by pointing to my son and saying 'We're gonna send you home with a little lullaby.' As I finished this story in the jetway, Bruce said, 'That was your little guy?' I said yes and told him how much it meant to my son (he'll still calls Sandy 'his' song) and how much it meant to me. He said he remebered [sic] and called Andrew 'crazy' with a big grin and chuckle. He told me to tell Andrew he was glad he had such a good time and to come back again. I then asked Bruce if he could sign an autograph to Andrew and his 3 year old sister Sarah Anne (who had also been to 2 shows--one in Philly and one in Jersey). He was happy to do it and signed to both of them. He shook my hand, told my wife to make sure the kids got the autograph and wished us a Merry Christmas. His ride was waiting at the gate and he walked away. What an incredible time for me, a Bruce fan since 1976."

Christie's campaign spokeswoman confirmed to Politico New Jersey that the posts from the listserv, which were written in 1999 and 2000, came from the governor. Christie's enthusiasm for Springsteen is well known. He has attended more than 100 Springsteen concerts.

Christie's messages on the listserv included his observations from multiple concerts and a request to share recordings of shows. He described Springsteen as "the master." Read all of Christie's messages from the Springsteen listserv here.

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NOW WATCH: We unearthed Donald Trump's Vine account from 2013 and it's incredible

America is preparing for Kanye West's presidency. After Kanye announced a 2020 presidential run last night at the VMAs, one person has already filed with the Federal Election Committee to create a Political Action Commitee for his candidacy.

"Ready for Kanye" — recalling the super PAC Ready for Hillary— could raise money for Kanye's possible campaign five years from now (Yeezy himself hasn't yet filed papers for a presidential run). The PAC was formed by Eugene Craig, a black 24-year-old member of the Maryland Republican Party.

"If Mr. West is to seek the presidency in 2020, and if there is no incumbent Republican president, I would absolutely encourage him to run," Craig told the Washington Post. "He’s pointed out the crippling racial disparities in the law and the economy. He’s talked about the pipeline of private prisons. He's a genuine entrepreneur."

Craig also told the Post that "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" was his favorite Kanye album, which is correct.

West was born in the US and over the age of 35 (he's 38), so he's eligible to run for president.

"We're not gonna control our kids with brands," West said in his VMA speech. "We're not gonna teach low self esteem and that to our kids. We gonna teach our kids that they can be something. We're gonna teach our kids that they can stand up for themselves. We're gonna teach our kids to believe in themselves ... It's about ideas bro, new ideas. People with ideas. People who believe in truth. And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president."

SEE ALSO: 15-year-old 'Deez Nuts' scores in US presidential polls

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NOW WATCH: This new Leonardo DiCaprio movie from the 'Birdman' director looks incredible

Turns out it’s hard to know when Michael Shannon is joking.

Earlier this month the actor told a reporter for Vulture that he is starring in the upcoming movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” reprising his role as General Zod from the 2013 film “Man of Steel.”

He then went on to tell a funny story about an incident that happened on set. 

“I was in my costume, and I couldn’t use my fingers because in the sequel I have flippers instead of hands,” he told the reporter. “So I had these wax flippers on my fingers, and I couldn’t open the door, and I could hear Zack [Snyder, the director] being like, 'Where’s Shannon? Where the f—k is he?' and the whole crew was standing around. I was like, knocking on the door with my flippers, 'Let me out of here!'”

Fortunately, Shannon was finally let out by a person in craft services, as the story goes.

The story went viral across the internet, with many sites coming up with theories as to why General Zod would now suddenly have flippers.

But when talking to Business Insider on Monday Shannon came clean: the story was a joke.

“That was me just having a laugh,” Shannon told BI while doing press for his new movie “99 Homes.”

“I mean, honestly, the whole situation is kind of absurd because you’re not supposed to talk about it. They [the studio] tell you, 'Don’t talk about it,' and people keep asking you about it."

Shannon says he made up the story to entertain himself, because it can get boring when reporters ask the same questions over and over again.

"Every once in a while to amuse myself I say something ridiculous and it’s amazing how it takes off," he said. "I guess people are that desperate to get some glimpse into — I mean, can’t you just wait for the movie to come out? Isn’t it more fun that way? I don’t understand this thing about knowing everything about a movie before going to see it.”

Shannon said he wasn’t surprised that his fake story took off. “I have a very dry sense of humor,” he continued. “I deliver this information in a very matter-of-fact way. But Zod has flippers? Are you kipping me? Why would Zod have flippers? That’s Aquaman or something.”

So, it sounds like there will be no flippers for Zod in “Batman v Superman” after all.

Unless, he’s just having fun with another reporter…

SEE ALSO: We finally know why Batman is going head-to-head with Superman

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NOW WATCH: The first trailer for the new 'Walking Dead' season just dropped and looks as terrifying as ever

Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, feuds, crying, and 10 Viacom channels still couldn't attract an audience that topped last year's VMA awards.

Despite all the chatter surrounding Sunday's MTV VMAs and the fact that it aired on six more Viacom channels, the show attracted 9.8 million total viewers. That's 500,000 less viewers than the 10.3 million who tuned into last year's show.

While no network wants to see its audience decrease, MTV does like looking for the silver lining. It was ranked No. 1 among the channel's younger-skewing audience demographic of 12-year-olds to 34-year-olds.

 Also, the show generated a lot of social chatter. It was the most tweeted program in the history of Nielsen's social ratings. 

SEE ALSO: Miley Cyrus made her new album for $50,000, and it explains a lot

MORE: The best VMA performance was by a YouTube star you probably never heard of

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NOW WATCH: Kanye West 'smokes something' and announces his presidential bid at MTV's big awards show

Word on the street is that Apple is planning on introducing a long-awaited major overhaul to the Apple TV at its September 9th event. 

If the rumors are true, the new Apple TV will be a $200-ish machine with an intriguing new motion-based remote, a version of the Siri virtual digital assistant, and, most importantly, access to a full-fledged App Store, taking it well beyond the 60-some-odd carefully chosen media partners it currently supports.  

In other words, the new Apple TV will be a full-fledged computer — or at least, a full-fledged iPad — in your living room. 

If those rumors pan out, it means that we're nearing the finish line of a race between Microsoft and Apple that started way back in the nineties.

The first Apple "TV": Only in Disneyland

After Steve Jobs left Apple in the early nineties, CEO John Sculley tried to expand the company beyond the Macintosh computer with a series of failed consumer electronic devices, including portable CD players, personal digital assistants, digital cameras — and a set-top TV device. 

That device, called the Apple Interactive Television Box, never actually made it to market, except for a trial run in as many as a thousand Disneyland Hotel rooms in 1995, proving that it was close to ready for sale. Apple's box would have provided the ability to pause and rewind live TV, four years before TiVo hit the market. 

Apple's small-screen ambitions kind of fell by the wayside after that, until the Apple TV hit the market in 2007.

After an initial marketing push, though, even the Apple TV fell by the wayside in favor of the iPhone money-making machine: The last time the Apple TV got a major refresh was 2012, and then a mild update in 2013. 

Microsoft's WebTV failed to set the world on fire

Microsoft got a little further than that. In 1997, Microsoft purchased hot Silicon Valley startup WebTV, founded by ex-Apple engineer Steve Perlman, for $425 million, with Bill Gates himself participating in the negotiation process.

At that point, WebTV had about 150,000 subscribers for its epynomous service and set-top box that basically provided a web browser and email on your TV screen. The idea was to give access to the Internet to those who weren't geeky enough to have an actual PC.

At the time, Microsoft was riding high off the massive success of Windows 95. Gates had recently identified the Internet as the world-changing force it would soon prove itself to be, and he wanted Microsoft, and by extension, Microsoft Windows, to be a big part of it. 

When the acquisition was announced, Microsoft shared plans to eventually put Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer on the device. It wasn't a huge surprise, given Microsoft's laser focus on Windows at that point. 

WebTV was a never a huge success, but it had some hardcore fans. In 2001, it was rebranded to MSN TV, to include Hotmail and MSN Messenger support. In 2013, it was finally shut down with little fanfare. 

But the legacy of WebTV is with us today: Members of the WebTV team contributed to the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One video game consoles. 

Microsoft took some other shots at putting a full PC in the living room. Most notable was Media Center, a version of Windows that supported a remote control and multimedia functions like DVD playback and TV broadcasting. It never took off, and with Windows 10, Microsoft has eliminated it from Windows.

The Xbox Trojan horse

The original Xbox console came about because Microsoft was worried about Sony's PlayStation 2, which was enticing developers away from making games for Windows.

Plus, with the inclusion of a DVD player, Sony made no bones about the fact that it saw the PlayStation 2 as its own first step towards making a video game console into a media hub.

With the Xbox, built on top of the same DirectX technology that powers Windows games (but without anything we'd recognize as "Windows,"), Microsoft made a credible play to keep its developers happy while providing a roadmap towards trying that whole "computer-in-the-living-room" thing again. 

It was risky. The video game market is notoriously hard to break into. But it worked, with over 24 million Xbox consoles sold over its lifespan.

The Xbox was established as a serious player in the market. And by appealing to gamers, Microsoft finally had a real beachhead in the living room. 

The follow-up Xbox 360 went a step further: In addition to games, it had a bunch of video apps, including Netflix and Hulu. With the Xbox 360, Microsoft was perpetually walking a fine line between selling it as a video game console and as a multimedia hub. Eventually, Microsoft even came out with Internet Explorer for the Xbox 360, basically revisiting the WebTV concept.

But, again, it worked, in part because the Xbox 360 beat Sony's PS3 to market by a full year. The Xbox 360 was the best-selling system of its generation with 84 million units sold. 

But it still wasn't the full Windows-on-TV experience that Microsoft had been looking for.

Then came the Xbox One...

With the Xbox One, which came out in 2013, Microsoft got cocky and put the gaming focus on the back burner. 

When Microsoft first announced the console in 2013, it focused mainly on the Xbox One's multimedia capabilities, leaving the video games as an afterthought. A lot of gamers who had supported the Xbox 360 found this alienating.

Then, Microsoft announced the Xbox One would require the motion-sensing, movement-tracking Kinect sensor, meaning that the system would cost $500 at retail — $100 more than the Sony PlayStation 4.

In exchange for the higher price tag, Microsoft promised that the new system, plus Kinect, would provide an unprecedented user experience, including immersive games and television shows that you could actually interact with. Plus, it shipped with Bing-powered search and the Internet Explorer browser preinstalled. 

This was finally going to be Microsoft's perfect living room computer: Games, media, and the Web, all in one box, and attached to the TV. 

Except for one problem: Gamers hated that idea. The backlash was huge.

Six months after it launched, Microsoft nixed the Kinect requirement for the Xbox One, and started selling the console minus the sensor for a more competitive $399. Microsoft's press events and public appearances after that primarily focused on games.

But it may have been too late. The Kinect drama, and that initial higher pricetag, is one likely reason why the Xbox One is getting creamed by Sony's PlayStation 4 — according to VGChartz, people have bought almost 14 million Xbox Ones, compared with nearly 25 million PlayStation 4s. 

In addition, the Kinect has basically fallen into irrelevance, with no developer wanting to make games for an accessory that most people didn't have. Microsoft closed the doors on the studios that were making the interactive TV content last year, too.

That isn't stopping Microsoft from trying yet again. This November, Microsoft is finally giving every single one of the estimated 15 million Xbox One consoles its sold a full upgrade to Windows 10 under the hood via a downloadable software update. 

That means there will be about 14 million Microsoft Windows PCs, optimized for media and gaming but also capable of productivity and web browsing, attached to the television. It's the fulfillment of the plan that Microsoft originally made way back in 1997 with WebTV.

The war for the couch

Come this Holiday season, consumers will have two options for real computers that attach to their TVs: The new Apple TV, and the newly souped-up Xbox One. 

In a weird way, they're going to be a lot alike, especially if the new Apple TV remote is also a game controller, as some have surmised. 

And they have their own advantages, too. Apple's App Store is the marketplace of choice for many developers, not least because it tends to be a lot more lucrative than stores for other platforms. With an App Store, the Apple TV could get a lot more flexible and useful, filling in the gaps in its library very quickly.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Xbox One has some of the biggest, most lucrative franchises in gaming, plus the Xbox Live online gaming service, plus tight integration with Windows 10 computers. Apple is good for a lot of things, but gaming, outside of the Angry Birds-style free-to-play game, isn't exactly its forte.

If anything really makes a difference here, it would be that Apple TV is explicitly named and marketed as something to help you watch TV. Plus, it has the partnerships with TV networks like HBO and Showtime to back it up. 

Meanwhile, Microsoft's core gamer demographic for the Xbox One has traditionally reacted very poorly to anything that takes away from its focus on playing games.

If Microsoft can't sell the Xbox One as a media device, even with the Windows 10 upgrade, then this long, 17-year hike to getting Windows in the living room will have all been for nothing.

And if the Apple TV ends up back in its current position as a footnote in the company's history, even after all of this, it might mean that the idea of a computer for your television was just never very good in the first place. 

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly planning a big increase in the price of the new Apple TV

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Apple has been meeting with Hollywood executives with an eye towards making its own original TV shows and movies, Variety reports. 

The news comes just over a week before Apple's September 9th event, where it's expected to launch the next version of its Apple TV set-top device. 

According to Variety's sources, a division of Apple that reports to iTunes frontman Eddy Cue has been sounding this out for a while. While accounts vary, apparently Apple is looking into making Netflix-style longform TV content. 

In fact, the report says, Apple made an "unprecedented bid" for Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond after they left the BBC car enthusiast show in July. Apparently, Apple ultimately lost to Amazon, which offered $36 million for Clarkson alone.

This move would ratchet up competition with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, in an effort by Apple to strengthen its own content platform and make the Apple TV a more differentiated device in a crowded marketplace. 

Currently, the iTunes store only sells episodes a la carte, but given Apple Music's monthly all-you-can-stream subscription fee structure, it's certainly feasible that it could move to a Netflix-style subscription plan for this content, too. 

The news comes as Apple is also reportedly seeking to create an over-the-top streaming television service, which will bundle several cable channels and would be available through the Apple TV device. Apple has apparently been negotiating with various media companies for quite some time, but a streaming video service could arrive as soon as next year for a starting price of $40 a month, 9to5Mac recently reported.

Apple's plan to create its own original content is apparently still in the early phase, and will likely not get announced at next week's event. Still, if this report pans out, it's a sign that Apple is even more serious about its TV ambitions. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon is paying former 'Top Gear' host Jeremy Clarkson a ridiculous amount of money

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NOW WATCH: Apple has a very clever way of hyping up its next major event

This October, Apple is releasing an updated version of its popular streaming device, Apple TV. Here's everything you need to know about the new features. 

Produced by Devan Joseph

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Burning Man 2015 officially started on Sunday.

Despite photos of this year's festival starting to trickle onto social media, many are still baffled by what exactly goes on at the week-long event.

Two years ago, I went to Burning Man for the first time.

Despite having attended many different festivalspreviously, Burning Man was unlike anything I had ever seen.

Burning Man, as the website proclaims, is "an annual art event and temporary community based on radical self expression and self-reliance in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada."

The year I attended, so did over 61,000 other people, many of them in the tech industry. This year, over 70,000 people are expected — myself included.

While many people go for the full seven days, I previously only did four, so my experience may have been different from others. But the beauty of Burning Man is that everyone can have whatever kind of experience they want.

For me, I loved biking around during the hot desert days looking at all of the beautiful art installations constructed in the middle of nowhere and taking advantage of strangers' generosity by way of wine tastings, zip lines, and fried chicken.

For others, the festival comes alive at night. As the sun goes down, the lights of Black Rock City come up and the pulse of the music keeps people awake until well into the following day.

Since most people who haven't been to Burning Man seem to be confused by what it actually is, here are some photos that sum up my trip two years ago. After a hiatus last year, I'll be heading back to the Burn in a few days, so check Business Insider for full coverage.

SEE ALSO: Burning Man 2015 officially begins — here's the first photos from the playa

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It all started with this: a cheap, leopard suitcase I purchased on the streets of NYC. Everything you bring to Burning Man you risk getting seriously dirty or losing. I felt okay sacrificing this.

I packed it full with costumes, sunscreen, sunglasses, flashlights, food, and other items on the official checklist. Everything is in plastic bags to keep it clean from the impending desert dust.

Upon arrival in Reno, the closest airport, I hit a Walmart to grab last-minute necessities such as jugs of water. Walmart was clearly prepared for all of the "Burners" driving from Reno.