Category: Film News

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29th National Coming Out Day, Wednesday October 11th

 

“All men are created equal. No matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is about.” -Harvey Milk

What is Coming Out Day? It is a day to stand with those coming out about their sexual orientation to their families and friends. It is a day to support the resistance to homophobia and transphobia across the nation. It is a day to celebrate the rainbow of sexualities under our united flag.

30 years ago, the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, also known as the “Great March,” sparked an awareness of LGBT rights against president Ronald Reagan’s lack of acknowledgment on the issue. The next year, Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary started the first National Coming Out Day. Today, while we have made immense strides towards social equality, countless Americans still have trouble feeling accepted themselves, and let alone by their communities. Therefore, it is up to everyone to help spread awareness for our acceptance as a whole. The best way to combat the lingering homophobia and transphobia in our country is to show America its true identity.

For this year’s Coming Out Day, World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation would like to do its part by recommending a few great movies about coming out and other important LGBT+ topics.

Firstly, one of the funniest movies you could find is a 4th man out (2016). This charming movie about a man coming out to his friends on his 24th birthday doesn’t fail to amuse. While 4th man out or Fourth Man Out? is not daring or new, it is certainly a pleasant watch. It is a movie equivalent of a lighthearted sitcom and could be enjoyed by any fan of the genre.

Next, a slightly older movie that conveys a similar tone is But I’m a Cheerleader (1999). This movie feels like a lighthearted sitcom like 4th Man Out, as Friends does to Parks and Recreation. Where 4th  Man Out covers a group of young adults discovering a friend’s true identity, But I’m a Cheerleader covers actress Natasha Lyonne’s character and her completely unsupportive parents in a satirical manner. While film snobs could criticize its buoyant tone, it is definitely one worth watching for anyone who has had to come out to an unsupportive community.

Another small movie World Wide Motion Pictures recommends is Pop Kowboy (2012). Actor Shaun Driscoll and Ronnie Marmo star in this film about the complications of identity and romance in a very unsupportive world. Though a lesser-known entry on this list, Pop Kowboy, it is certainly one that embodies the spirit of Coming Out Day.

If you are not a movie person, supporting the community this Coming Out Day through volunteering or visiting your local LGBT centers are also very important. Whatever you plan to do for this day, World Wide Motion Pictures encourages you to support friends and family in accepting their identities, and, by extension, yourself.

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Explore Your Roots on Ancestor Appreciation Day

 

Today, September 27, provides the perfect excuse to call your grandparents— it is Ancestor Appreciation Day! This national holiday was founded to encourage folks to honor their heritage and learn more about their genealogy. Whether that means exploring your family tree on websites like Ancestry.com, or sitting down with a relative and reminiscing over family stories, learning about your family’s history can help you feel more connected in a world where connectedness can be hard to come by.  

Take a look at the 2015 film, The Nightingale directed by Philippe Muyl. This dramatic tale set in rural China tells the story of an iPad addicted city girl, Ren Xing (Xin Yi Yang), who is placed in the care of her Grandfather Zhu Zhi Gen (Li Baotian). The duo sets out on a journey through the Chinese countryside in search of his former home in a remote village.

Initially, Ren Xing appears spoiled and aloof; only concerned with playing games on her devices and tormenting her grandfather. Ren goes through a transformation of sorts when her devices finally lose battery. She effectively “wakes up” and becomes aware and mindful of her immediate surroundings. This allows her relationship with her grandfather to evolve and deepen, and she begins to develop a genuine reverence for his life experience and the considerable wisdom he has to offer.

Sound familiar? With the ubiquity of technology and devices that constantly keep us “connected” to our friends, we run the risk of ignoring those who physically surround us. Let National Ancestor Appreciation Day inspire you to get back to your roots and focus on where you come from. Have a conversation with a parent, grandparent, or relative to learn a little bit more about your personal history. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”

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Happy Birthday, Robbie Kay!

 

World Wide Motion Pictures Corporation would like to wish Robbie Kay a Happy 22nd Birthday.  He started acting at a young age and has never looked back. Robbie has had a busy year, appearing in multiple hit TV shows, a horror film, and several other upcoming movies.

Robbie was born in Lymington, England but moved to Brussels, Belgium at an early age. He had several small roles before being cast as young Jakob in the 2007 Canadian drama film Fugitive Pieces. He attended one of Britain's Stagecoach theatre schools, where he spent a year studying acting, dancing, and singing. In 2006, he and his family moved to Prague in the Czech Republic where he attended the International School of Prague.

In 2010, Robbie played a boy diagnosed with cancer in the film Ways to Live Forever. The film chronicles the life a 12-year-old leukemia patient who has a list of things he wants to do before he dies.

  ( Robbie Kay in the 2010 film Ways to Live Forever)

Robbie also appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the 2016 horror film Cold Moon, and will be in the upcoming drama film Blood Fest.

Robbie has held notable parts on several popular television shows. He played Peter Pan on the hit ABC television series Once Upon a Time. He also had roles on Heroes Reborn, Grey's Anatomy, and Sleepy Hollow.

     (Robbie Kay playing Peter Pan on Once Upon a Time)

In 2014, he was nominated for a Teen Choice award for his work on Once Upon a Time. Robbie currently resides in Houston, Texas. He has two older sisters, Camilla and Fiona.

 

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From Child Star to Successful Actress: Our Top 5 Ella Purnell Films

 

Happy 21st Birthday, Ella Purnell! Since beginning her acting career in 2010, Ella Purnell has starred in over 10 films and shows before her 21st birthday. With her breakout roles in Never Let Me Go and Ways To Live Forever in 2010, Ella has launched herself into the movie spotlight. From heartfelt dramas to whimsical fantasies and horror, Ella proves that she is capable of playing a wide assortment of roles in both British and American films.

  1. Ways To Live Forever (2010)

Ella Purnell plays Robbie Kay’s romantic interest in Ways To Live Forever as she helps her cousin and friend complete a “bucket list” for their terminal illnesses. Ella is charismatic and open-minded in the film as she watches and helps her friends through their leukemia and entering their teenage years.  

  1. Intruders (2011)

Ella Purnell stars in Intruders, a horror film, and early on shows her versatility as an actor. As a creature named Hollow Face torments her and her family, Ella’s mental state and sanity go out with a bang. Ella breaks out of her typical teen and adolescent roles after her performance in Intruders.

  1. Wildlike (2014)

Wildlike is an amazing drama showcasing the emotional turmoil of a broken home and sexual abuse. As Ella’s character, Mackenzie, tries to run away from her abusive uncle, she joins Bruce Greenwood's character as he travels across Alaska. With her ultimate goal of reaching her mother in Seattle, Ella showcases her skills in a mature drama; bringing her character and traumatic experiences to the big screen.

  1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

In Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ella Purnell plays the mischievous and eccentric Emma Bloom. With the ability to manipulate air and breathe underwater, Ella helps her fellow orphan “peculiars” to fight against the evil forces hunting them down. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was directed by Tim Burton and is an exhilarating dark fantasy film.

  1. Churchill (2017)

Ella Purnell plays Winston Churchill’s secretary in Churchill. Based on Churchill’s experiences during World War II, the film goes in-depth to portray Churchill’s private moments and mental sanity during the war. Ella’s strong character, Helen, brings courage and insight to Churchill’s sensitivity in the war room during the war.

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Remake of Stephen King’s IT

 

Coming out September 8th, IT is definitely one of the most highly anticipated horror films of the year. Based on the novel by Stephen King, IT was first adapted as a TV mini-series in 1990. The story is about a group of kids who band together when a monster in the shape of an evil clown returns to their hometown and starts hunting children. IT is now being remade as a feature film, directed by Andy Muschietti, and fans are excited.

Would the original fans go see the IT remake? The IT television series has held up pretty well amongst horror fans considering it was made almost thirty years ago. However, IT director Andy Muschittei has come out and said that he is “not a fan” of the TV mini-series, stating that he was not a child anymore when the IT television series was released and was more of a fan of the book.

 

Still, the excitement is high for a good film to make up for this summer’s slew of below average blockbusters. Adding to the hype is a new IT movie haunted house that has popped up in Hollywood, giving fans the IT experience as they navigate through the house while being terrorized by Pennywise the evil clown. If you are not one of the few people banned by Stephen King from seeing this movie (in other words if you are not Donald Trump) then make sure you check out IT coming out in theaters September 8th!

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Supporting Women in the Film Industry on Women’s Equality Day

 

Today is Women’s Equality Day, which was recognized as a holiday in 1971 by the U.S Congress to remember the 19th Amendment of the Constitution. It says that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”. It's a day we remember the long fight for women rights reforms and realizing that we still have a long way to go.  It may be almost fifty years later but we still have domestic violence,  genital mutilation,  sex trafficking, the wage gap and a low conviction rate for rapists.  The people have spoken out from the streets to boardrooms, with video footage of mansplaining, women fighting back, and women bringing their issues to the public's attention. Unfortunately, even though progress has been made some parts of the ceiling remain unbroken and social media has made sexual harassment, stalking, and trolling even easier.

Film industry changes

In 2015, Jennifer Lawrence wrote an essay on equal pay in the film industry since then many other actresses have stepped up to demand a change. They include Hilary Swank from "Boys Don't Cry,"  who revealed that she couldn’t cover her health insurance on her salary. Emma Stone, Michelle Rodriguez, Emilia Fox and Robin Wright from the"House of Cards" all demanded to be paid the same as their male counterparts.  Many others have spoken out like Viola Davis best known for her role in "How to Get Away With Murder" who said that “if a woman does the same job as a man, she should be paid the same amount of money. She just should. That’s just the way the world should work. ” Actresses aren’t the only ones demanding equal pay many female directors and even the BBC director general, Tony Hall, has said that he hopes they can close the gender pay gap sooner than 2020, after an impressive intervention by more than 40 of its most high-profile female stars.

How to help

There are many ways for you to get involved - from supporting women in their careers to donating to Women’s Rights organizations. Some of these organizations include Women For Women International, Equality Now, Lady Parts Justice, Global Fund For Women, National Organization For Women, and National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. All of these organizations help women in different parts of the world. The most effective way to change the law is to call your representatives and vote your elections. People are also using social media to get their message out to the general public and using their creativity to create memes, gifs, and documentaries about women’s rights that are very popular these days. Remember that on August 26th,  we celebrate the women who fought for equality and remember to keep fighting for the cause.