News

January 17, 2012 - [ TED.com ]

"How A Virus Changes The World," the viral video created for the Contagion Social Action campaign, has been nominated as a TED "Ad Worth Spreading." The video is one of only 90 ads selected (out of over approximately a thousand submissions).
 
To vote, click on the following link and then click on "Vote For This" under the video.

January 17, 2012 - [ IndieWire ]

A graphic from "Finding North," a new documentary about hunger in America "Finding North," screening in the U.S. Documentary Competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival, examines why 49 million people in this country are hungry when the country has enough food.

The film, directed by Kristi Jacobson ("American Standoff") and Lori Silverbush ("On the Outs"), premieres January 22 in Park City and we've got the exclusive trailer.

January 16, 2012 - [ Los Angeles Times ]

Golden Globe winner Octavia Spencer is destined for Oscar gold -- that is, if the nation's domestic workers have anything to say about it.

Spencer won a Golden Globe on Sunday night for her turn as a maid who takes delicious revenge in <i>The Help.</i> The feel-good drama offered a window to the lives of black servants and their white employers in the Segregated South -- but was criticized in some corners for a too-rosy view. The film also sparked plenty of debate about today's complicated relationship between employers and "the help."

January 13, 2012 - [ Sundance.org ]

“The American Dream will be revised. It was never sustainable and now we need to rethink it.” –Filmmaker Rachel Grady

The American Dream took a real beating in 2011, leaving the national ethos bruised and battered beyond recognition. The Occupy Movement dealt the most sustained and visible blows to the consumerist ideals that have created vast economic inequality, with its nationwide demonstrations of mass discontent with the entrenched systems of power and corruption.

January 12, 2012 - [ Reuters ]

The Artist won Best Picture honors, George Clooney and Viola Davis nabbed Best Actor and Actress awards and The Help won three acting awards as the 2012 Critics' Choice Movie Awards were broadcast live on VH1 from the Hollywood Palladium.

Comedians Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel hosted the festivities, where the movie about movies -- The Artist -- won top honors, and The Help took CCMA for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer) and Best Acting Ensemble.

January 9, 2012 - [ American Songwriter ]

Over the course of 40 years in the music industry, T Bone Burnett has made a lot of friends in high places, producing albums for artists as varied as Robert Plant, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello and Willie Nelson. Last year, he got many of them together for a good cause, creating the three-city Speaking Clock Review tour to raise money for The Participant Foundation, which supports the inclusion of music and arts education in public school systems, among other causes. This fall, he released a live album that includes performances from Costello, Gregg Allman, Neko Case, John Mellencamp, Elton John & Leon Russell, and Ralph Stanley to keep the fundraising going. We talked with Burnett about the project, his producing style and the current roots music revival.

January 5, 2012 - [ All Things Documentary ]

My rundown of the 2012 Sundance US Documentary Competition continues with: 'FINDING NORTH,' Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush’s compelling exploration of poverty and food insecurity in the US.

Sundance Program Description:

America has lost its way in taking care of its own. The shocking fact is that one in six Americans doesn’t get enough to eat on a regular basis. Even more disturbing is the fact that this new face of hunger is largely invisible. There are no breadlines in the streets, but increasing numbers of soup kitchens and food banks are feeding people who—though employed full-time—can’t make ends meet.

January 5, 2012 - [ Sundance ]

Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush employ the human stories of struggling citizens to lead an exploration into the American hunger crisis in their U.S. Documentary Competition film 'Finding North.'

January 5, 2012 - [ Writers Guild Award ]

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• 50/50, Written by Will Reiser
• Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen
• Win Win, Screenplay by Tom McCarthy; Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
• Young Adult, Written by Diablo Cody

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemming
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian; Based on the novel by Stieg Larsson, originally published by Norstedts
• The Help, Screenplay by Tate Taylor; Based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett
• Hugo, Screenplay by John Logan; Based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznic
• Moneyball, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin; Based on the book by Michael Lewis

January 3, 2012 - [ Associated Press ]

The historical epic "War Horse," the Deep South drama "The Help," the silent film "The Artist" and the wedding comedy "Bridesmaids" are in the running for top honors from the Producers Guild of America.

Also nominated Tuesday for the guild's big film prize are two George Clooney tales: the family drama "The Descendants" and the political saga "The Ides of March." Two Paris stories made the cut, the family adventure "Hugo" and the romantic fantasy "Midnight in Paris."

Rounding out the 10 nominees are the thriller "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and the sports tale "Moneyball."

January 2, 2012 - [ Participant Media ]

This week TakePart launched as a content partner within the Starbucks Digital Network. TakePart will run its 30 Ways 30 Days action calendar on the SDN each month, and receive weekly home page promotion. TakePart and the SDN will also explore additional content creation and promotion opportunities tied to our cross-platform editorial calendar.

On a separate initiative, TakePart is also working with Starbucks to develop video content in support of their Create Jobs for USA program.

December 30, 2011 - [ The Globe and Mail ]

Jeff Skoll has been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest civilian honors. He is one of 66 new appointments, which are recommended to the Governor General by an advisory council chaired by the Chief Justice of Canada. They consider 400 to 600 nominations per year and recommend about 150 new appointments.

From Joe Friesen’s article in The Globe and Mail:

Jeffrey Skoll, the Canadian engineer who was founding president of EBay and ranks among the wealthiest Canadians, was also recognized for his innovative philanthropy, particularly in support of education and social entrepreneurship.”

December 16, 2011 - [ Chicago Sun-Times ]

3. Contagion
Perhaps the most impressive cast of the year: Kate Winslet. Matt Damon. Jude Law. Marion Cotillard. GwyÂneth Paltrow. The prolific Steven Soderbergh chronicles the outbreak of a deadly virus in a film that’s equal parts thriller, horror film and human drama. The final 10 minutes are just stunning.

December 15, 2011 - [ National Domestic Workers Alliance ]

NDWA’s most recent newsletter sent out this morning. In response to Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer’s nominations:

“More than just a pop culture news story, these nominations are significant because they've now placed these characters — and the realities of domestic work — on a global stage. We may never again have this golden opportunity to inspire millions of Americans to become champions for our movement.”

December 15, 2011 - [ Hollywood Foreign Press Association ]

The Help

• Best Picture (Drama)
• Best Actress (Drama) – Viola Davis
• Best Supporting Actress – Jessica Chastain
• Best Supporting Actress – Octavia Spencer
• Best Original Song – The Living Proof

December 15, 2011 - [ Screen Actors Guild ]

THE HELP leads the SAG nominations with a total of five - Ensemble Cast, Actress (Viola Davis) and two for Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer).

Below are the film nominations for the SAG Awards.

Ensemble Cast of a Motion Picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

December 13, 2011 - [ Broadcast Film Critics Association ]

The Help received 8 nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics Association:
Best Picture, Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Acting Ensemble, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Song.

PAGE ONE: Inside The New York Times was nominated for Best Documentary Feature.

Awards are announced at the ceremony January 12.

Full List of nominees below:

December 12, 2011 - [ Business Wire ]

DreamWorks Pictures announced Dec. 8 that its empowering film The Help has surpassed $200 million in worldwide ticket sales. The Help, directed and written for the screen by Tate Taylor, is based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett.

The Help has resonated with audiences around the globe, sparking conversation and comments across all media platforms from such notables as Oprah, Scott Fujita, Tyler Perry, Russell Simmons, Katy Perry, Diane Sawyer, Jason Whitlock, Jackie Jackson and others.

December 8, 2011 - [ Time ]

Capitalism has changed the world for the better in so many ways by creating jobs, encouraging invention and connecting people all over the world. But sadly, big business has lost its way. Driven by a short-term focus on profits, taking care of the planet and its people often falls to the bottom of the list of priorities.

With a world population of 7 billion and increasing levels of demand for goods and services, we are on a rapid path to destroy the very natural resources that keep us alive; this will only perpetuate the growing inequity in the world. Since the Industrial Age, businesses have built their wealth off the use of natural resources. And unless businesses start to value and protect these resources, this cycle will have a devastating impact on the lives of our children and grandchildren.

December 6, 2011 - [ TakePart ]

Sitting with Ai-jen Poo, it's easy to see why she has become an influential voice in the fight for domestic workers' rights. She is sincere, determined and has spent the past 15 years fighting to ensure that caretakers, nannies and housekeepers are recognized, treated fairly and paid appropriately.

Ai-jen is the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. She became passionate about this cause after meeting women who did not have sick days, weren't receiving health care and were devalued because of the nature of their work. "Domestic workers are excluded from almost every single labor law," Ai-jen said.