Yes I'm A Woman... And I Also Direct

YouTube: Yes I'm A Woman... And I Also Direct // Join Amy Lyndon on a walk through her directing career. Visit different sets of the projects she has developed over the years and learn the ropes. She'll explain the difference between types of directors and what they're looking for in an actor.

What happens if you insult a Morning Joe ‘technician’

MSNBC: Sam Stein learns a thing or two about what happens if you blame the 'technician.'

Alyssa Milano, Halsey, more stars speak at the 2018 Women's March

www.usatoday.com: From New York to Los Angeles, women are gathering for the Women's March 2018 — and celebrities are joining in.

Stars are speaking up across the nation Saturday to advocate for change, bring awareness to the #MeToo movement and more.

The Battle of The Hollywood

After Dark - January 2018: The future of Dormont’s historic Hollywood Theater became a source of bitter — and very public — dispute this week, after news of a pending sale prompted a swift outcry from the theater’s supporters and management.

On Monday, the nonprofit Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) announced it had come to an agreement to purchase the 90-year-old theater from the building’s owners, Oakland-based Kelly-Rielly-Nell-Barna Associates.

Producers Guild of America Sets Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines

Variety: The Producers Guild of America has issued its “Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines” to its 8,200 members in the wake of expelling Harvey Weinstein from its ranks.

The guidelines, issued Friday on the day before the PGA’s awards show, are the initial recommendations from the PGA’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force, which was created last October after the start of the massive sexual harassment scandal that engulfed Hollywood. The PGA’s board of directors ratified the guidelines unanimously this week.

Read 'Em And Weep: Celebrating 35 Years Of Opera Supertitles

NPR: In 1983, the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto tried a grand experiment. While the singers performed Elektra in German onstage, simultaneous translations in English were projected above the stage. These "supertitles," as they've come to be known, were quickly adopted at opera houses and are now an expected part of the opera-going experience.

The 2018 Detroit Auto Show in pictures

The Verge: The Detroit Auto Show has a weirdly duplicitous vibe these days. The biggest companies that attend make sure to talk about things that make them sound future-focused, almost benevolent. They talk openly about autonomy, electrification, and even embracing other forms of transportation. But they do this while doling out product announcements that are very much about meeting the current demands of consumers who, enjoying low gas prices, want trucks and crossover SUVs.

Mirror Glaze Cake Trend Showcases Glossy Take on Traditional Glaze

mymodernmet.com: With a self-proclaimed “passion in patisserie,” culinary artist Ksenia Penkina crafts cakes that are as fun to stare at as they are to sample. While the Vancouver-based baker dabbles in all sorts of desserts, her mesmerizing mirror-glazed mousse cakes have proven to be her most popular pâtisserie.

Young dramatists take turn in spotlight with Plays by Young Writers fest

The San Diego Union-Tribune: Anyone fretting about the future of theater will likely find solace — not to mention inspiration — in the Playwrights Project’s celebration of young dramatists’ work.

Since 1985, the San Diego-based organization has been running a statewide writing contest for students from elementary through high school. The winners are celebrated with an annual festival, open both to school groups and the public.

Ridgid R9205 18V Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo Kit

Home Fixated: If you’ve ever made holes or driven fasteners for work or play, you know the value of a quality power tool. The Ridgid R9205 brushless 18V compact hammer drill/driver and 3-speed impact driver combo kit we received for evaluation is a pair of high torque, compact tools sure to impress even the most skeptical. If “high torque compact” doesn’t garner your attention, the two 4 Amp-Hour lithium-ion battery packs, lifetime warranty (even on the batteries), and saved greenbacks are even more reasons to give these safety orange monsters the respect they deserve.

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

Here are the top five comment generating posts of the past week:

Costume designer makes a new wing for an injured monarch butterfly so it can fly again

Boing Boing: Romy McCloskey of Faden Design Studios (Instagram, website) makes stunningly gorgeous costumes for movies, television, and private commissions. She also is interested in butterflies, and so she put her talents and interests together to repair the badly damaged wing of a monarch butterfly.

Posted by David at 1/17/2018 12:05:00 PM

New study reveals why some people are more creative than others

theconversation.com: Creativity is often defined as the ability to come up with new and useful ideas. Like intelligence, it can be considered a trait that everyone – not just creative “geniuses” like Picasso and Steve Jobs – possesses in some capacity.

Posted by David at 1/16/2018 12:04:00 PM

Art is Essential to Democracy

HowlRound: The Federation is a coalition of artists, arts organizations, and allies that are committed to keeping cultural borders open. The idea and the name was sparked by the artist Laurie Anderson. In the early spring, she, the producer Laura Michalchyshyn, and I were having dinner. Laurie talked about her recent experience working in Berlin, the growing refugee crisis there, and the threatened closing of physical borders throughout Europe. This was after the US Presidential inauguration but before the harmful tactics of the current administration, such as the travel ban, had taken effect.

Posted by David at 1/19/2018 12:26:00 PM

Mark Wahlberg Donates His $1.5 Million Reshoot Pay To Time's Up

www.thegrindstone.com: It’s well documented that Mark Wahlberg is kind of an asshole, but he’s taken a lot of steps within the last two decades to at least publicly correct that.

There was a public uproar when it was revealed that Wahlberg made 1,000 times more money for re-shoots of All The Money In The World than co-star (and multiple Oscar nominee) Michelle Williams did. However, that doesn’t necessarily make Wahlberg the bad guy here: Re-shoots were written into Williams’ original contract, not Wahlberg’s, which is a big reason why he charged such a hefty fee for his.

Wahlberg, in light of the public backlash against the pay disparity, donated the entire $1.5 million sum to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.

Posted by David at 1/16/2018 12:06:00 PM

Study Finds Increasing Diversity on Broadway

The New York Times: Diversity is increasing onstage on Broadway, according to a new study by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition.

The study, released Monday, examined the 2015-16 season and found it to be the most diverse the group has reviewed so far, with 35 percent of all roles going to minority actors, up from 30 percent the previous season and 24 percent the year before that. The coalition has now compiled 10 years of data on diversity on New York stages.

Posted by David at 1/16/2018 12:09:00 PM

Help Wanted to Save Tungsten

Lighting&Sound America Online - News: In response to the news that the EU is once again contemplating banning the use of tungsten halogen light bulbs in entertainment lighting, the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) is coordinating a high speed effort to gather reasons why this ban should not move forward, particularly from those who would be materially affected by such a ban, in time to create a formal response before the end of the proposal's consultation period on January 26, 2018.

Korg’s long-awaited new synth lets you program your own effects

The Verge: Korg has announced the prologue, its new flagship analog synthesizer that comes with full-sized keys and will be available in two models: the 16-voice 61-key prologue-16, and the eight-voice 49-key prologue-8.

Art is Essential to Democracy

HowlRound: The Federation is a coalition of artists, arts organizations, and allies that are committed to keeping cultural borders open. The idea and the name was sparked by the artist Laurie Anderson. In the early spring, she, the producer Laura Michalchyshyn, and I were having dinner. Laurie talked about her recent experience working in Berlin, the growing refugee crisis there, and the threatened closing of physical borders throughout Europe. This was after the US Presidential inauguration but before the harmful tactics of the current administration, such as the travel ban, had taken effect.

Building Your Workshop in 2018

Pro Construction Guide: Innovation and emerging new technologies mean your workshop can be more functional and efficient than ever. Whether corded or non-corded, the tools of 2018 will pack a punch of unmatched power when building your workshop in 2018. Battery-powered tools and combo kits are trending again for the New Year, along with ergonomic features and smart capabilities.

BWW Interview: With the Exuberant Patrick Hinds, Creator of Theaterppl and Broadway Backstory Podcasts

www.broadwayworld.com: The world is changing and let me tell you, not all of it is bad. In fact, there are some seismic shifts that have been taking place in the world of Broadway, that have been nothing but positive. As ticket revenues rise there are many explanations, from groundbreaking shows, to stories and music that speak to a younger and more diverse audience and podcasts. Podcast? Yes, those little shows that people can listen to on their phones, in their cars, offices, homes, on the subway or while working out. So why is this such a big deal for Broadway? If you have to ask, then this is the interview for you. If you don't have to ask, then this is the interview for you.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris Talks State of the Union

Variety: On the eve of the SAG Awards, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris acknowledges that the spotlight is shining particularly brightly on the union’s 160,000 members.

The Jan. 21 ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium mark the first time the SAG Awards have an emcee, with Kristen Bell tapped to handle hosting duties at a show that will feature all female presenters. Carteris admits that those choices were quite deliberate at a time of profound change for women in the entertainment industry.

Guthrie vows to investigate harassment claims

Minnesota Public Radio News: The Guthrie Theater is launching an investigation after allegations of sexual harassment by a former employee.

The female carpenter resigned earlier this week after working on the Guthrie staff for three and a half years, a position she described as a "dream job."

Equal Pay for Equal Laughs: #TimesUp Meeting Reveals Tracee Ellis Ross Paid ‘Significantly Less’ Than Anthony Anderson

thegrapevine.theroot.com: At a recent meeting of Time’s Up, the initiative spearheaded by Hollywood actresses with the aim of addressing sexual assault and workplace harassment and inequality, there was a lot said about Tracee Ellis Ross getting paid “significantly less” than her Black-ish co-star Anthony Anderson.

Technical Advances Bring a Renaissance in Church Design

Church Production Magazine: Remember when churches first started adding video to their sanctuaries? So many choir lofts became a hodgepodge of awkwardly angled projection screens. Pale images beamed from underpowered projectors hanging via plywood and chains from the ceiling.

And now?

So much more is possible. Recent advances in technology enable the blending of audio, video and lighting with a church’s building style or architecture, whether contemporary or traditional, creating a whole new experience.

Clearing Up Misconceptions And Clarifying Constant-Voltage

ProSoundWeb: Why a “70-volt” system? A good question, and one that causes a lot of confusion among audio practitioners.

Some common misconceptions about 70-volt (actually 70.7-volt) distribution systems:
— There is 70.7 volts on the line at all times.

Foam Insulation: Looks Soft. Works Hard.

Remodeling | Design, Insulation, Walls: When it comes to tough, durable materials, nothing packs more punch per ounce than one component PU (polyurethane) insulating foam sealant. It’s a stable, flexible, water vapor and thermal barrier that conforms to any space and tolerates a wide range of conditions.

Fast & Furious

Church Designer Magazine: Moving-head light fixtures are the gymnasts of the lighting world, and like dance clubs, theaters and music tours, houses of worship are not immune to their allure. They add a level of engagement to services and performances with a sublimity that makes video seem almost too literal.

Not As Simple As They Look?

ProSoundWeb: Besides sound quality, there really isn’t much to think about when it comes to microphones, right? Well, guess again!

Like all elements of a sound system, mics present their own unique set of special problems.

Fortunately, a lot of these problems are relatively simple to solve. It’s just a matter of identification and appropriate action.

Metallica WorldWired Tour, Part Two

www.livedesignonline.com: In addition to the world’s first indoor swarm of LED-equipped drones provided by Verity Studios, Metallica’s current WorldWired Tour, designed and directed by Dan Braun, also features a 44' x44' stage-in-the-round, custom built by TAIT.

“The in-the-round-concept is something I have liked since being a kid,” says Braun, who feels it’s the only way to take the worst seat in the house and make it a good seat.

Sarah Laiwala Profile

Carnegie Mellon University Online Community: Sarah Laiwala (E 2008) is the director of digital experiences at the Walt Disney Company, currently responsible for innovation, apps, websites and a budding virtual assistant platform for Parks & Resorts worldwide. Sarah believes that the seed of her success on her journey to where she is today is her master's degree in software engineering and development management from CMU's Silicon Valley Campus in 2006. This is when she began exercising her innovative mind, entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative nature.

Packing Essentials for USITT 2018

Stage Directions: Packing can be a tedious, time-consuming task for even the smallest trip. There are many items such as toiletries, clothing, and plane tickets that are important to remember. Then there are items that will prove essential once you arrive but may not be on the top of your list whilst packing. Follow this list and you’ll be at the top of your game at USITT 2018, allowing you to make connections, get the most out of sessions, and cover major ground at Stage Expo.

How Closed Trade Deals Ratchet Up the Copyright Term Worldwide

Electronic Frontier Foundation: Although copyright is a subject of international law—principally the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s Berne Convention from 1886 and its Internet Treaties from 1996—it is still implemented and enforced primarily through national laws. Those laws differ from one country to another in significant ways. One of the most significant differences is the length of the term of copyright protection, which varies from the life of the author plus 50 years (the Berne Convention's minimum requirement), up to life plus 100 years (in Mexico).

The Larger Lessons of Mark Wahlberg's $1.5 Million Salary on 'All the Money in the World'

The Atlantic: When All the Money in the World was fast-tracked into reshoots to replace scenes featuring Kevin Spacey (who has been accused of sexual assault), Michelle Williams saw it as a powerful sign that Hollywood was changing. At the director Ridley Scott’s insistence, the studio was spending upwards of $10 million to recast Spacey with Christopher Plummer in the role of the oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. As the film’s lead actress, Williams immediately signed off on the decision. “They could have my salary, they could have my holiday, whatever they wanted,” she said at the time. “Because I appreciated so much that they were making this massive effort.” To Williams, the reshoots were a statement, but to her co-star Mark Wahlberg, they were an opportunity.

Movies Turn to Stunt Professionals to Keep Action Real

Variety: Filmmakers use visual effects to create spectacular images, but the technology has yet to be devised that can replicate all human movement. For that reason, many of today’s biggest and most ambitious films still use stunts for their most memorable action moments.

Portland’s KATU-TV will face a union picket

nwLaborPress: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 600 will hold an informational picket Saturday, Jan. 27, from noon to 2 p.m. at KATU TV, 2153 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. The union represents 24 workers at the station who have been working without a contract since October 2015.

The Artist Co-Op To Live Stream “Sexual Harassment In The Theatre"

Live Design: The Artist Co-op (TAC) will be holding its first live community conversation, “Sexual Harassment in the Theatre,” on January 19, 2018, hosted by Claire Karpen (actress and director working with TimesUp movement and a National Councilor of Actor’s Equity) and streamed live via Facebook.

Stage preview: City Theatre mystery sheds light on community collaboration

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Leonard Pelkey could sing like Julie Andrews and dance like Britney Spears. He knew how to dress a salad and all the women of Neptune, N.J., a place he called home for a short time in his short life.

Leonard Pelkey was 14 when he disappeared. A Shakespeare-quoting cop took the case, and that’s where we pick up the story at City Theatre on the South Side.

Assessing Your Life In Entertainment

TheatreArtLife: In an industry that is evolving, competitive, and demands so much of an individual’s passion, creativity and attention, it can be near impossible to recognise when we have lost sight of our personal needs. We put ourselves second, or often not even in our top 5 priorities. Which industry am I talking about? Well, to be frank, all of them.

Picket line comes to Hualalai: With no new deal, Golf Channel workers still on strike for Big Island tournament

West Hawaii Today: The kind of scramble played last weekend at Waialae Country Club on Oahu was a no-win situation.

Before the final round of the Sony Open teed off on Sunday morning, union workers responsible for video and audio production at Golf Channel events walked out over stalled negotiations for a new contract. The move severely impacted the broadcast, which featured a heaping serving of blimp shots from overhead, no ambient sound or on-course interviews and a lack of close-up shots of the players.

Costume designer makes a new wing for an injured monarch butterfly so it can fly again

Boing Boing: Romy McCloskey of Faden Design Studios (Instagram, website) makes stunningly gorgeous costumes for movies, television, and private commissions. She also is interested in butterflies, and so she put her talents and interests together to repair the badly damaged wing of a monarch butterfly.

Resort Producer RWS Eyes Broadway With Theatrical Development Unit

Variety: Long Island City may be a quick subway jaunt from Midtown Manhattan, but for a lot of New York’s Broadway-centric theater industry, it feels about as far away as Long Beach, Calif. That’ll change, if RWS Entertainment Group has anything to say about it.

An interview with lighting designer Max Keller

et cetera...: A leading pioneer in the theatre lighting industry, Swiss-born Max Keller has been offering creative and technical solutions for the stage for more than 40 years.

Keller’s comprehensive knowledge and experience on some of the world’s most famous stages make him the definitive source for experts and those new to the field of stage lighting. His book, Faszination Licht, has been translated into multiple languages and is recognized as an indispensable handbook among the stage lighting community. In acknowledgment of his outstanding achievements, Keller was recently awarded the Federal Cross of Merit – a reward for loyal German citizens, equivalent to Britain’s Knighthood and France’s Legion of Honour.

Birthing Opera: The Next Generation of Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative

DC Theatre Scene: This coming weekend Washington National Opera will showcase its most vital work: insuring the future of the form by developing young creative talent through its American Opera Initiative (AOI), a process that includes getting short operatic gems up on their feet.
Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and her company invite the audience into this process January 19-21. The mini-festival promises to be an exciting three days where artists and audience together witness the birth of three twenty-minute operas and the world premiere of the hour-long Proving Up.

Caryl Churchill and Lucy Kirkwood recognised in Writer's Guild Awards

WhatsOnStage.com: The winners of the 2018 Writers' Guild Awards were announced last night in a ceremony at the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Caryl Churchill was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Writing Award to honour of her extensive body of work.

Churchill said she was 'overwhelmed' and that it meant a great deal "to be recognised by my writing colleagues and the Writers' Guild".

Actors' Equity Association Declares January 17, 2018 Third Annual 'National Swing Day'

www.broadwayworld.com: Actors' Equity Association will mark its third annual "National Swing Day" with a social media celebration on Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

Using the hashtag #EquityTeamSwing, the event will flood Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with posts and discussions honoring Swings.

Matt Damon Apologizes for #MeToo Comments

Variety: Matt Damon apologized for his controversial remarks regarding the #MeToo movement and recent sexual misconduct revelations on the “Today” show Tuesday morning.

While discussing Damon’s upcoming Super Bowl ad, Kathie Lee Gifford asked the “Downsizing” actor about the backlash he received over comments made on ABC News’ “Popcorn With Peter Travers,” where he said sexual misconduct should be judged on a “spectrum of behavior.” “I really wish I’d listened a lot more before I weighed in on this,” Damon told Gifford.

Spring Drama Season Opens with “The Drowsy Chaperone”

Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama: On stage this spring at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama will be a mix of farce and dark political satire, providing humor and food for thought to Pittsburgh audiences.

“From political intrigue and drama at its most tempestuous, to the joy and delight of a musical fantasia, this spring the School of Drama showcases why it is one of our country’s leading conservatories,” said Peter Cooke, head of the school.

Preview: Opera 'The Long Walk' shines a spotlight on PTSD

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “The long walk” is military jargon for Explosive Ordinance Disposal — the harrowing experience of a soldier defusing a possibly live bomb.

In 2012, Iraq War veteran Brian Castner published a memoir of his experiences in the field and the post-traumatic stress disorder he suffered after returning to civilian life. An electrical engineer, Mr. Castner was an Air Force captain who led an EOD unit in Kirkuk in 2006, though he never did the actual walk himself.

‘Roseanne’ in the Trump Era

www.vulture.com: I’m not great at tweeting about politics because it takes me too long to emotionally process news before I can come up with a witty, quippy, retweetable tweet. By last summer though, I was finally able to accept the election results and get my brain functioning enough to get back to tweeting in a timely fashion. After a couple of months of unanimously positive feedback, I had a chilling realization: There was a lack of negative comments when I posted anything critical of our current administration. Trolls are abundant online, so why wasn’t anyone lashing out against me, calling me a “libtard,” a “snowflake,” or “lacking common sense”?

The Joyce Foundation names Links Hall a 2018 Joyce Awards recipient

Showbiz Chicago: The Joyce Foundation announced today that Links Hall and dancer/choreographer Onye Ozuzu have been awarded a 2018 Joyce Award to activate their community engagement art collaboration in Chicago.

The $50,000 award will support the commission of a new work called “Project Tool” by dancer and choreographer Onye Ozuzu. The commission by Links Hall will survey histories of black migration and the connections between Chicago, Louisiana, and Haiti by examining the ways that labor shapes the movement of a people over time, space, and geography.

Female Lighting Designers: Past, Present, and Future

THE INTERVAL: Women lighting designers started in the spotlight. In the last century, women were at the forefront of lighting design’s major changes, both technological and conceptual, and yet men have dominated its ranks. One would think that a profession created by women would remain in the hands of women, but for theatrical lighting design that has not been the case, and questions persist in the minds of many of today’s lighting designers: Can women hold on to their legacy? Are they disappearing from the profession?

Post-Harvey Weinstein, is America in a sexual harassment 'reckoning'?

www.usatoday.com: America is in the middle of "reckoning" on sexual harassment we have been told for months now.

The issue loomed over this month's Golden Globe Awards, prompting CNN's Brian Stelter to write a post under the headline "First a reckoning for harassers, now a reckoning for awards shows.

"Hollywood was on-message — saying this reckoning must be about action, not just talk," Stelter said.

Study Finds Increasing Diversity on Broadway

The New York Times: Diversity is increasing onstage on Broadway, according to a new study by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition.

The study, released Monday, examined the 2015-16 season and found it to be the most diverse the group has reviewed so far, with 35 percent of all roles going to minority actors, up from 30 percent the previous season and 24 percent the year before that. The coalition has now compiled 10 years of data on diversity on New York stages.

Vegas enters new dimension of entertainment with Twilight Zone mini golf

InPark Magazine: Christina Vitagliano, founder of Monster Mini Golf®, wasn’t necessarily thinking Vegas when she and her husband Patrick started the company 12 years ago. The company concept was straightforward: franchise blacklight indoor mini-golf courses with a spooky monster theme. But an opportunity came up to develop a co-branded facility in Vegas themed to the rock band KISS. The golf course, now located at the Rio resort, has stood the test of time. So when Caesar’s approached Christina about an additional space available at their Vegas Bally’s location, she decided to pursue it.

3 Techniques For Miking An Audience

ProSoundWeb: If you’re recording a live performance, then you want to pick up some of the audience to make it sound realistic. Here are some techniques and considerations culled from the latest edition of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook.

Lifetime Showrunners Talk #MeToo and Meaningful Change for Women

Variety: The #MeToo movement has the potential to not only expose the continuing scourge of sexual harassment but also to bring meaningful changes to the business landscape for women in Hollywood.