How Hollywood Handles Women in Peril (Guest Column)

A woman's right to choose if and when to become a mother is once again under serious attack, this time using the fig leaf of COVID-19 regulations to shut down clinics, intimidate providers and punish women. The attorney general of Texas has ruled that abortions, unless there is an immediate medical emergency, are "elective procedures" and therefore banned.

This was to be a month of celebration and joy. Just a few weeks ago, I was supposed to debut my feature film Golden Arm during the first weekend at SXSW.

He donned a hard hat back in 2007 to help rebuild homes after the devastating Katrina hurricane in New Orleans, so  Brad Pitt  is no stranger to getting his hands dirty and doing some hard lifting. So when Canadian duo Jonathan and Drew Scott invited him to participate in their new show “Celebrity IOU,” it was a no-brainer for the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor.

By Stacey Sher

It spoils nothing to reveal that in the Modern Family finale, there is a group hug so spectacularly COVID-unsafe that one 6-foot space is occupied by 16 different people. If Seinfeld was a show about nothing (Was it? Did any comedy ever have more plot?), Modern Family was always, unabashedly, about emotion.

There won't be a Zoom wedding for Jennifer Lopez. The singer was interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres remotely this week and was asked directly about how the pandemic has affected her and her fiancé Alex Rodriguez's wedding plans.

By Peter Csathy

As the U.K.’s coronavirus crisis steadily escalated, Argonon Group-owned Britespark Films raced to complete a fast turnaround documentary on the pandemic for broadcaster Channel 4. Britespark director of programs Tom Porter details the extreme logistical hurdles involved.  

The musician received results from testing on March 31

As a female cinematographer, I am constantly asked how to find work or break into the system. Shooting the pilot for “Unbelievable” showed me that being a woman in this business isn’t about finding just any job — it’s about finding the right job with the right story and collaborators.

The dream of my writing life is to have a play on Broadway. During the second week of rehearsal for my first play on Broadway,Birthday Candles,the street itself closed for the longest period in its history.

If you talk to any artist, they will tell you their influences and inspirations are many and varied. I can easily say the same thing. When I think of a pivotal person who influenced me and my career, I can only think of one person, Wynn Thomas.

The media and entertainment business was thriving as we entered the new decade in 2020 B.C. (“Before Coronavirus”).

Hollywood, we need your help.

Radio, I’ve just about had enough of you and your abandonment of your defining purpose as broadcasters. With the coronavirus pandemic now ravaging everyday life and suspending every reliable comfort from work routines to sports and entertainment or actual human contact, we’re looking for steadiness somewhere — an echo of the familiar, a kindred connection.  Anything to tether us to something recognizable. A service the radio dial used to provide.

Congratulations are in order for local actress Pearl Thusi! The Queen Sono star has just acquired a new home for herself and kids -the yard is huge!

Although I never realized this reality until recently, most of my adult life has been invested in training for the coronavirus pandemic. As a cardiac surgeon, my highlight reel never included media, but after opening one too many chests with a band saw became overwhelmingly disheartening (figuratively and literally) I realized many of the indications for surgery could have been prevented through lifestyle changes.

Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran describes his brand as “risk-taking, fantasy driven couture.” His sultry silhouettes are intricately hand-crafted using Swarovski crystals, beads, sequins and even diamonds; and can take hundreds of hours to perfect. So it’s no wonder that superstars like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez turn to Jebran when they need a statement-making ensemble.

Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein receiving a 23-year jail sentence was the fairy tale Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ending that I was hoping for. Weinstein’s incarceration proves justice can be grossly delayed, but eventually delivered.