1.
Terry Zwigoff
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Terry Zwigoff is an American filmmaker whose work often deals with misfits, antiheroes, and themes of alienation. Zwigoff was born in Appleton, Wisconsin to a Jewish family of dairy farmers, raised in Chicago, Zwigoff moved to San Francisco in the 1970s and met cartoonist Robert Crumb, who shared his interest in pre-war American roots music. Zwigoff, who plays cello and mandolin, joined Crumb’s string band R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders with whom he recorded several records. Zwigoff began his career making documentary films, starting with 1985s Louie Bluie. Zwigoff had been inspired to locate and interview him after listening to a 30s recording, State Street Rag, Zwigoff worked on a documentary about R. Additionally, critic Gene Siskel named Crumb the best film of 1995 as did over ten other major film critics. It appeared on over 150 Ten Best Lists of important critics, Zwigoff’s first fiction feature film was the comedy-drama Ghost World, based on the comic book of the same name. For this, Zwigoff and co-writer Daniel Clowes were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Ghost World was also nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and two AFI awards. USA Today and The Washington Post called it the best film of the year, Ghost World appeared on over 150 Ten Best Lists. Zwigoff’s next film was the 2003 black comedy Bad Santa whose star, the film cost $23 million to make and grossed over $76 million worldwide. His latest feature film was Art School Confidential whose best known stars are John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Art School Confidential was Zwigoff’s second collaboration with writer Daniel Clowes
2.
Glenn Ficarra
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Glenn Ficarra is an American writer, producer, actor and director. Ficarra met John Requa at Pratt Institute, where both were studying film, after college they went to work in animation for the TV channel Nickelodeon. As writers they wrote the comedy films Cats & Dogs, Bad Santa, in 2009 they made their directorial debut with their self-penned I Love You Phillip Morris, based on the life of con man Steven Russell. Their subsequent release was the comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Julianne Moore, again directed with Requa, with Requa and Charlie Gogolak he has formed the production company Zaftig Films. The pair also directed Focus, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, starring Tina Fey and Robbie
3.
John Requa
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John Requa is an American screenwriter of Cats & Dogs, Bad Santa and the 2005 remake Bad News Bears. The DVD commentary for Bad News Bears revealed that Requa was to have had a bit role in the film, Requa and Ficcara directed Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in their screenplay I Love You Phillip Morris. Requa grew up in Burien, Washington, a suburb of Seattle and his talents as a writer were evident when he wrote and performed in a skit for his senior year Homecoming assembly titled Fernbusters. It was a morphing of Ghostbusters and the Christmas Trees sketch from Saturday Night Live, in it, Requa played the killer fern. For another assembly later that year he wrote a skit about an almighty creator named Sven, Requa graduated from the film program at the Pratt Institute in the early 90s. While there he met and began his association with writing partner Glenn Ficarra. As best as is known, all of John Requas professional work has been in association with his writing partner Glenn Ficarra, Requa and Ficarra wrote numerous episodes of The Angry Beavers, an animated show in production on Nickelodeon from 1997 until 2001. Their first episode was season twos Kandid Kreatures which they followed with Dag for Night, Un-Barry-ble, Zooing Time, Sans-a-Pelt and they went on to write eleven more episodes over the remaining three seasons of the show. The pair directed Focus, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, starring Tina Fey and Robbie
4.
Billy Bob Thornton
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Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, filmmaker, singer, songwriter, and musician. In 2016, he starred in an Amazon original series, Goliath about a washed up attorney with a new case. He has been vocal about his disrespect for celebrity culture, choosing to keep his life out of the public eye, however, the attention of the media has proven unavoidable in certain cases, his marriage to Angelina Jolie being a notable example. Thornton has appeared in at least one film per year every year since 1991. Thornton has written a variety of films, usually set in the Southern United States and mainly co-written with Tom Epperson, including A Family Thing, after Sling Blade, he directed several other films, including Daddy and Them, All the Pretty Horses, and Jayne Mansfields Car. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award, four Golden Globes, in addition to film work, Thornton began a career as a singer-songwriter. He has released four albums and is the vocalist of a blues rock band The Boxmasters. His brother Jimmy Don wrote a number of songs, two of which Thornton has recorded on his solo albums, during his childhood, Thornton lived in numerous places in Arkansas, including Alpine, Mount Holly, and Malvern. He was raised a Methodist in a family in a shack that had neither electricity nor plumbing. He graduated from school in 1973. A good high school player, he tried out for the Kansas City Royals. After a short period laying asphalt for the Arkansas State Transportation Department, he attended Henderson State University to pursue studies in psychology, in the mid-1980s, Thornton settled in Los Angeles to pursue his career as an actor, with future writing partner Tom Epperson. He initially had a difficult time succeeding as an actor, and worked in telemarketing, offshore wind farming and he also played drums and sang with South African rock band Jack Hammer. While Thornton worked as a waiter for an event, he served film director. Thornton struck up a conversation with Wilder, who advised Thornton to consider a career as a screenwriter, thorntons first screen role was in 1980s South of Reno, where he played a small role as a counter man in a restaurant. He also made an appearance as a store clerk in the 1987 Matlock episode The Photographer. Another one of his screen roles was as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire. His role as the villain in 1992s One False Move, which he also co-wrote and he also had small roles in the 1990s films Indecent Proposal, On Deadly Ground, Bound by Honor, and Tombstone
5.
Lauren Graham
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Lauren Helen Graham is an American actress and author. She is also known for roles in Sweet November, Bad Santa, The Pacifier, Because I Said So. From 2010 to 2015, Graham starred as Sarah Braverman on the NBC television drama Parenthood, Graham published her debut novel in 2013, Someday, Someday, Maybe, with Ballantine Books. Lauren Graham was born on March 16,1967 in Honolulu and her mother, Donna Grant, was a fashion buyer, and her father, Lawrence Graham, is a candy industry lobbyist who has been president of the National Confectioners Association. Graham was raised in her fathers Catholic faith, she is of Irish, English, when Grahams father worked for the Agency for International Development in Vietnam, Lauren lived for a few years in Japan. Graham has a half-sister and a half-brother from her fathers marriage and a British half-sister, Shade Grant, from her mothers second marriage. As a girl, Graham rode horses competitively, but soon switched to acting, honing her talent at Langley High School and she earned her actors Equity Card in 1988 after two years in summer stock at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan. Graham graduated from Barnard College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, after moving to Texas in 1992, Graham earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting Performance from Southern Methodist University. After completing her education, Graham moved back to New York City where she earned her living as a waitress, while she aspired to become an actress, she made publicity appearances wearing the costume of Striker, the dog mascot of the US-based 1994 FIFA World Cup. In 1995, she relocated to Hollywood and she appeared in various commercials for products such as Dimetapp and Lean Cuisine and hosted free preview weekends on The Movie Channel. Between 1996 and 1997, Graham became a regular guest star on several hit NBC shows and she played a graduate student who caught the eye of Dick on 3rd Rock from the Sun, Richards overly-optimistic girlfriend on Caroline in the City, and Jerrys speed-dial ranking girlfriend on Seinfeld. She also portrayed an antagonizing but friendship-starved efficiency expert on Newsradio, in 2000, Graham landed her breakthrough role as Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls - a witty thirty-something raising her teenage daughter in small town Connecticut. For her work she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards, beginning with Season 7 episode To Whom It May Concern and continuing throughout the rest of the season, Graham served as a producer on Gilmore Girls. TV Guide reported that she received the position in an attempt to persuade her to sign for an eighth season, Graham returned to her guest-starring roots when she portrayed herself in two episodes of NBCs Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Graham has also appeared in the season of Bravos Celebrity Poker Showdown. After winning her match, she came in second to another former Newsradio star, Maura Tierney. Grahams film roles encompass several NYU student films and multiple major releases, including Sweet November, Bad Santa, The Pacifier, Because I Said So. Graham has said that she enjoys playing in short films, and she has performed in numerous short films, including the 15-minute-long Gnome
6.
Lauren Tom
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Lauren Tom is an American actress. She also voiced Numbuh 3 in Codename Kids Next Door, Lauren Tom was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Nancy and Tom Chan, Jr. who worked in the frozen food business. Her parents were born in Chicago, and her grandparents came from Guangdong province and her grandfather Tom Y. Chan was a businessman and a leading supporter of the Kuomintang in the United States, and helped raise money for both Sun Yat-sen and General Chiang Kai-shek. Her uncle, Ping Tom, was also a businessman and a civic leader in Chicagos Chinatown. She was raised in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, in an article for Detour magazine Tom described how being teased as a child about her Chinese heritage made her introverted and is what originally inspired her to study dance. At the age of 17, Tom landed a spot with a company of A Chorus Line and was cast in the Broadway production of the show less than a year later in the role of Connie. She won an Obie Award for her Off-Broadway acting and was cast in the Broadway shows Hurlyburly, in Chicago she starred in the Goodman Theaters production of Tis Pity Shes a Whore. Tom had several roles in movies including Nothing Lasts Forever, Wall Street, See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Her biggest role up until that point was as a waitress in the Robin Williams/Tim Robbins film Cadillac Man and this role led to being a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Tom landed a role in the film The Joy Luck Club in 1993. Since the mid-1990s, Tom has focused her work primarily in voiceover roles and she has appeared in a few live action films, including the 2003 comedy Bad Santa and the critically acclaimed 2004 film In Good Company. Lauren Toms first role in television was that of Miko Wakamatsu on The Facts of Life and she had an acting role in a bonus feature on the Futurama, Into the Wild Green Yonder DVD. She also had a role on the 8th and 9th season of the drama series Supernatural as prophet Kevin Trans mother. Tom began vocal work in the animated series Superman, The Animated Series playing Angela Chen and she has also lent her voice to All Grown Up. Rocket Power, Max Steel, Handy Manny as Mrs. Lee and Nelson, Samurai Jack, Johnny Bravo, Justice League Unlimited, Kim Possible, from 2002 to 2008, Lauren Tom played Numbuh Three and Numbuh Threes mother Genki on Codename, Kids Next Door. She also voiced various recurring characters on the show, such as Numbuh 23 and she has also voiced the villains Gizmo and Jinx on Teen Titans, Yan Lin, Susan, Alchemy on W. I. T. C. H. Tasumi on The Replacements, Jakes mom, Counselor Chang on American Dragon, Jake Long and she also guest-starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Chuck Charless co-anchor, Bonnie Chang, in Gator Watch and All Tied Up With a Boa. Recently in 2010, she did the voice of Bai Li and Ming on the series, Kung Fu Panda, Legends of Awesomeness and also played the role of Jessica in the animated film
7.
John Ritter
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Ritter appeared in hundreds of films and television shows/episodes combined, including It, Problem Child, Problem Child 2, and Bad Santa in 2003. Don Knotts called Ritter the greatest physical comedian on the planet, Ritter died from an aortic dissection on September 11,2003. His death occurred shortly after the production of an episode for the season of 8 Simple Rules. Ritter was born at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, Ritter had a birth defect known as a coloboma in his right eye. His father, Tex Ritter, was a singing cowboy/matinee star and he has an older brother, Thomas Matthews Tom. Ritter attended Hollywood High School, where he was student body president and he went on to the University of Southern California and majored in psychology with plans to have a career in politics. He later changed his major to theater arts and attended the USC School of Dramatic Arts after the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. while still in college, Ritter traveled to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and West Germany to perform in plays. After his graduation from USC in 1970, his first TV acting experience was a revolutionary in the TV series, Dan August, starring Burt Reynolds. Ritter made his debut in the 1971 Disney film The Barefoot Executive. He made guest appearances on the television series Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H and he had a recurring role as the Reverend Matthew Fordwick on the drama series The Waltons from October 1972 to December 1976. Since he was not a weekly cast member, he had time to other roles, which he did until December 1976. In 1978, Ritter played Ringo Starrs manager on the TV special Ringo, in 1982, Ritter provided the voice of Peter Dickinson in Flight of Dragons. Ritter became a name playing struggling culinary student Jack Tripper with two female roommates. Ritter co-starred opposite Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, however, Somers left due to a dispute in 1981. Jenilee Harrison and then Priscilla Barnes filled Somerss role, much of the comedy centered around Jacks pretending to be gay to keep the old-fashioned landlords appeased over the seemingly sordid living arrangements. The series spent several seasons near the top of the TV ratings in the U. S. before ending in 1984, a year-long spin-off Threes a Crowd ensued, as the Jack Tripper character has a live-in girlfriend and runs his own bistro. The original series has been continuously in reruns and is also available on DVD. During the run of Threes Company, Ritter also appeared in the films Hero at Large, Americathon, Hooperman was Ritters first regular television role after Threes Company
8.
Bernie Mac
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Bernard Jeffrey Bernie McCullough better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American comedian, actor and voice artist. Born and raised on Chicagos south side, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian and he joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley in The Original Kings of Comedy. After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in films in smaller roles. His most noted role was as Frank Catton in the remake Oceans Eleven. He was the star of The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001 through 2006, Mac was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough in Chicago, Illinois, on October 5,1957. He was raised on the citys South Side by his mother, Mary. Mac attended Chicago Vocational Career Academy, where Dick Butkus had attended earlier, later, Mac moved to Tampa, Florida, to attend Jesuit High School. During his 20s, he worked in a variety of jobs, including furniture mover, Bernie Macs influences were from The Three Stooges and listening to stand-up comedians Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. Mac started as a comedian in Chicagos Cotton Club. After he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search at the age of 32, Macs comedy and fearlessness onstage cemented his reputation with fans and colleagues. Mac opened for Dionne Warwick, Redd Foxx and Natalie Cole and he played a small role in 1994s House Party 3 as Uncle Vester. He also had a talk show on HBO titled Midnight Mac. Later, Mac also acted in roles and got his big break as Pastor Clever in Ice Cubes 1995 film Friday. Following that role, Mac had his first starring role as Dollar Bill, in 2003 he gave an impressive performance in a supporting role as the villain Gin Slagel, The Store Dick in Bad Santa. He also starred in Guess Who, a comedic remake of the film Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, and made an appearance in the 2007 film Transformers as the car salesman Bobby Bolivia. In his later years, he hosted the reality talent show Last Comic Standing. He also served as the voice of Zuba, Alex the Lions long lost father in Madagascar and he co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the 2008 musical comedy Soul Men as Floyd Henderson. His final film role was as Jimmy Lunchbox in the 2009 Disney film Old Dogs which was released a year after his death and he starred alongside John Travolta and Robin Williams in that film
9.
Columbia Pictures
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The studio was founded in 1918 as Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales by brothers Jack and Harry Cohn and Jacks best friend Joe Brandt, released its first feature film in August 1922. It adopted the Columbia Pictures name in 1924, and went public two years later and its name is derived from Columbia, a national personification of the United States, which is used as the studios logo. In its early years, it was a player in Hollywood. With Capra and others, Columbia became one of the homes of the screwball comedy. In the 1930s, Columbias major contract stars were Jean Arthur, in the 1940s, Rita Hayworth became the studios premier star and propelled their fortunes into the late 1950s. Rosalind Russell, Glenn Ford, and William Holden also became major stars at the studio, in 1982, the studio was purchased by The Coca-Cola Company, and launched TriStar Pictures as a joint venture with HBO and CBS. Five years later, Coca-Cola spun off Columbia, which was sold to Tri-Star, after a brief period of independence with Coca-Cola maintaining a financial interest, the combined studio was acquired by Sony in 1989. It is one of the film studios in the world. It was one of the so-called Little Three among the eight major film studios of Hollywoods Golden Age, Brandt was president of CBC Film Sales, handling sales, marketing and distribution from New York along with Jack Cohn, while Harry Cohn ran production in Hollywood. The studios early productions were short subjects, Screen Snapshots, the Hall Room Boys. The start-up CBC leased space in a Poverty Row studio on Hollywoods famously low-rent Gower Street, among Hollywoods elite, the studios small-time reputation led some to joke that CBC stood for Corned Beef and Cabbage. Brandt eventually tired of dealing with the Cohn brothers, and sold his stake to Harry Cohn. In an effort to improve its image, the Cohn brothers renamed the company Columbia Pictures Corporation on January 10,1924, Cohn remained head of production as well, thus concentrating enormous power in his hands. He would run Columbia for the next 34 years, the second-longest tenure of any studio chief, even in an industry rife with nepotism, Columbia was particularly notorious for having a number of Harry and Jacks relatives in high positions. Humorist Robert Benchley called it the Pine Tree Studio, because it has so many Cohns, Columbias product line consisted mostly of moderately budgeted features and short subjects including comedies, sports films, various serials, and cartoons. Columbia gradually moved into the production of higher-budget fare, eventually joining the tier of Hollywood studios along with United Artists. Like United Artists and Universal, Columbia was an integrated company. It controlled production and distribution, it did not own any theaters, helping Columbias climb was the arrival of an ambitious director, Frank Capra
10.
Crime film
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Crime films are a genre of film that focus on crime. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, films dealing with crime and its detection are often based on plays rather than novels. Agatha Christies stage play Witness for the Prosecution was adapted for the big screen by director Billy Wilder in 1957, the film starred Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton and is a classic example of a courtroom drama. In a courtroom drama, a charge is brought against one of the main characters, another major part is played by the lawyer representing the defendant in court and battling with the public prosecutor. He or she may enlist the services of an investigator to find out what really happened. However, in most cases it is not clear at all whether the accused is guilty of the crime or not—this is how suspense is created. Often, the private investigator storms into the courtroom at the very last minute in order to bring a new and this type of literature lends itself to the literary genre of drama focused more on dialogue and little or no necessity for a shift in scenery. The auditorium of the theatre becomes an extension of the courtroom, in Witness for the Prosecution, Leonard Vole, a young American living in England, is accused of murdering a middle-aged lady he met in the street while shopping. His wife hires the best lawyer available because she is convinced, or rather she knows, another classic courtroom drama is U. S. playwright Reginald Roses Twelve Angry Men, which is set in the jury deliberation room of a New York Court of Law. Eleven members of the jury, aiming at a verdict of guilty. The popularity of TV brought about the emergence of TV series featuring detectives, investigators, special agents, lawyers, in Britain, The Avengers about the adventures of gentleman agent John Steed and his partner, Emma Peel, achieved cult status. In Germany, Derrick became a household word, breaking Bad character Walter White is a methamphetamine drug manufacturer, this offered a different approach whereby the protagonist is the criminal instead of being the detective. Crime films may fall under several different subgenres and these include, Crime comedy - A hybrid of crime and comedy films. Mafia comedy looks at organized crime from a comical standpoint, humor comes from the incompetence of the criminals and/or black comedy. Examples include Analyze This, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, In Bruges, tower Heist and Pain & Gain. Crime drama - A combination of crime and dramatic films, examples include such films as Straight Time and Badlands. Crime thriller - A thriller in which the characters are involved in crime, either in its investigation, as the perpetrator or, less commonly. While some action films could be labelled as such for merely having criminality and thrills, the emphasis in this genre is the drama, examples include Untraceable, Silence of the Lambs, Heat, Seven, Witness, Memories of Murder, The Call, and Running Scared
11.
Coen brothers
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Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen, collectively referred to as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers. Their films span many genres and styles, which they frequently subvert or parody and their best-reviewed works include Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man, True Grit, and Inside Llewyn Davis. The brothers write, direct, and produce their films jointly, although until The Ladykillers, Joel received sole credit for directing and they often alternate top billing for their screenplays while sharing film credits for editor under the alias Roderick Jaynes. The duo also won the Palme dOr for Barton Fink, and were nominated for Fargo, the Coen brothers have written a number of films that neither of the two directed. Ethan is also a writer of stories, theater. Their films No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man, Joel and Ethan Coen were born and raised in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Their mother, Rena, was an art historian at St. Cloud State University, when they were children, Joel saved money from mowing lawns to buy a Vivitar Super 8 camera. Together, the brothers remade movies they saw on television, with a kid, Mark Zimering. Their first attempt was a romp entitled Henry Kissinger, Man on the Go, cornel Wildes The Naked Prey became their Zeimers in Zambia, which also featured Ethan as a native with a spear. Joel Coen has said, in regards to whether our background influences our film making, theres no doubt that our Jewish heritage affects how we see things. Joel and Ethan graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1973 and 1976 and they both also graduated from Bard College at Simons Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Joel then spent four years in the film program at New York University. Ethan went on to Princeton University and earned a degree in philosophy in 1979. His senior thesis was a 41-page essay, Two Views of Wittgensteins Later Philosophy, Joel has been married to actress Frances McDormand since 1984. They adopted a son from Paraguay, named Pedro McDormand Coen and she also did a voice-over in Barton Fink. Ethan married film editor Tricia Cooke in 1990 and they have two children, daughter Dusty and son Buster Jacob, who goes to Vassar College. Both couples live in New York, after graduating from New York University, Joel worked as a production assistant on a variety of industrial films and music videos. He developed a talent for film editing and met Sam Raimi while assisting Enda Ruth Paul in editing Raimis first feature film, in 1984, the brothers wrote and directed Blood Simple, their first commercial film together
12.
DVD
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DVD is a digital optical disc storage format invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. The medium can store any kind of data and is widely used for software. DVDs offer higher capacity than compact discs while having the same dimensions. Pre-recorded DVDs are mass-produced using molding machines that physically stamp data onto the DVD, such discs are a form of DVD-ROM because data can only be read and not written or erased. Blank recordable DVD discs can be recorded using a DVD recorder. Rewritable DVDs can be recorded and erased many times, DVDs containing other types of information may be referred to as DVD data discs. The OED also states that in 1995, The companies said the name of the format will simply be DVD. Toshiba had been using the name ‘digital video disk’, but that was switched to ‘digital versatile disk’ after computer companies complained that it left out their applications, Digital versatile disc is the explanation provided in a DVD Forum Primer from 2000 and in the DVD Forums mission statement. There were several formats developed for recording video on optical discs before the DVD, Optical recording technology was invented by David Paul Gregg and James Russell in 1958 and first patented in 1961. A consumer optical disc data format known as LaserDisc was developed in the United States and it used much larger discs than the later formats. CD Video used analog video encoding on optical discs matching the established standard 120 mm size of audio CDs, Video CD became one of the first formats for distributing digitally encoded films in this format, in 1993. In the same year, two new optical disc formats were being developed. By the time of the launches for both formats in January 1995, the MMCD nomenclature had been dropped, and Philips and Sony were referring to their format as Digital Video Disc. Representatives from the SD camp asked IBM for advice on the system to use for their disc. Alan E. Bell, a researcher from IBMs Almaden Research Center, got that request and this group was referred to as the Technical Working Group, or TWG. On August 14,1995, an ad hoc group formed from five computer companies issued a release stating that they would only accept a single format. The TWG voted to both formats unless the two camps agreed on a single, converged standard. They recruited Lou Gerstner, president of IBM, to pressure the executives of the warring factions, as a result, the DVD specification provided a storage capacity of 4.7 GB for a single-layered, single-sided disc and 8.5 GB for a dual-layered, single-sided disc
13.
Blu-ray
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Blu-ray or Blu-ray Disc is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was designed to supersede the DVD format, in that it is capable of storing high-definition, the plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Conventional Blu-ray Disc discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the standard for feature-length video discs. Triple-layer discs and quadruple layers are available for BD-XL re-writer drives, the name Blu-ray refers to the blue laser used to read the disc, which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs. The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as films and physical distribution of video games for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4. Besides the hardware specifications, Blu-ray is associated with a set of multimedia formats, high-definition video may be stored on Blu-ray discs with up to 2160p resolution, at up to 60 frames per second. DVD discs had been limited to a resolution of 480p or 576p. The BD format was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association, a group representing makers of consumer electronics, computer hardware, Sony unveiled the first Blu-ray disc prototypes in October 2000, and the first prototype player was released in April 2003 in Japan. Afterwards, it continued to be developed until its release in June 2006. During the high definition disc format war, Blu-ray Disc competed with the HD DVD format. Toshiba, the company that supported HD DVD, conceded in February 2008. According to Media Research, high-definition software sales in the US were slower in the first two years than DVD software sales, Blu-ray faces competition from video on demand and the continued sale of DVDs. As of January 2016, 44% of U. S. broadband households had a Blu-ray player, the information density of the DVD format was limited by the wavelength of the laser diodes used. Following protracted development, blue laser diodes operating at 405 nanometers became available on a production basis, Sony started two projects in collaboration with Philips applying the new diodes, UDO, and DVR Blue, a format of rewritable discs that would eventually become Blu-ray Disc. The core technologies of the formats are similar, the first DVR Blue prototypes were unveiled at the CEATEC exhibition in October 2000 by Sony. A trademark for the Blue Disc logo was filed February 9,2001, on February 19,2002, the project was officially announced as Blu-ray Disc, and Blu-ray Disc Founders was founded by the nine initial members. The first consumer device arrived in stores on April 10,2003, the Sony BDZ-S77, but there was no standard for prerecorded video, and no movies were released for this player. On October 4,2004, the name Blu-ray Disc Founders was officially changed to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the Blu-ray Disc physical specifications were completed in 2004
14.
Bad Santa 2
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Bad Santa 2 is a 2016 Christmas black comedy crime film directed by Mark Waters and written by Shauna Cross and Johnny Rosenthal. Principal photography began on January 11,2016 in Montreal, and it received generally negative reviews and grossed $23 million worldwide against its $26 million budget, making it a box office bomb. Set thirteen years after the first film, Willie Soke remains depressed as ever, upset his happy ending did not pan out, as he is addicted to sex. After he tries, and fails, to himself, he is visited by Thurman The Kid Merman. Thurman delivers to Willie a package containing an amount of cash. Willie reluctantly agrees, unsuccessfully trying to help Thurman lose his virginity before he leaves for Chicago, Willie reluctantly agrees, since Sunny is suffering from early stages of Parkinsons Disease, though he secretly makes a deal with Marcus to cut Sunny out when the time comes. Forced to don the Santa suit once more, Willie is arrested when he beats up another Santa but is bailed out by one of the charitys founders, though she wants to fire Willie for his behavior, she relents when he agrees to attend AA meetings with her. Bonding over their haul afterward, Sunny gives Willie a gun so he can betray, Thurman soon arrives in Chicago, having followed Willie to the city. Willie at first considers leaving him at a laundromat but soon takes him to the shelter at the charity, Thurman ends up joining the childrens choir, which is set to have a concert on the night of Willie, Sunny and Marcuss heist. Willie soon encounters Gina, who, thanks to Sunnys prodding and they end up having sex in the bathroom of a bar, and Willie obtains the keys. On the night of the show/robbery, Willie catches Thurman singing, as Willie cracks the safe, Marcus is about to betray them again, but they escape just as Regent and Dorfman discover the con. However, Sunny reveals she is betraying them both, telling Willie the bullets in the gun she gave him are blanks before shooting Marcus and she drives and attempts to make a get away at a Santa Con Event. Willie, Regent and Dorfman chases her, despite her blending in, Willie catches her and he then shows her the flier of the Santa Con event proving he was on to her. Sunny threatens to shoot him if he doesnt let go, but she shoots anyway, in the final struggle, Sunny kicks the bag accidentally releasing the money. Enraged, Sunny attempts to him again, but an oblivious Thurman ends up taking the bullet for him. Both Sunny and Willie are arrested, but Willie is not charged due to his help in catching Sunny, while he recovers, he is visited in the hospital by Diane. Willie soon takes a job as a janitor at the charity, the film ends with Willie visiting an injured Marcus, proceeding to tea bag him, as revenge against Marcus for doing the same thing to him. On December 16,2010, it was announced that Miramax, on March 18,2011, TheWrap reported that Weinstein confirmed the sequel and negotiations had begun with Thornton to return for the lead role
15.
Santa Claus
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Some maintain Santa Claus also absorbed elements of the Germanic god Wodan, who was associated with the pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, childrens books, films and he accomplishes this feat with the aid of his elves, who make the toys in his workshop at the North Pole, and his flying reindeer, who pull his sleigh. He is commonly portrayed as living at the North Pole and saying ho ho ho often, Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Empire, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In continental Europe he is portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. The remains of Saint Nicholas are in Italy, in 1087, the Italian city of Bari mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Saint. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was conquered by Italian sailors, a basilica was constructed the same year to store the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout. Sailors from Bari collected just half of Nicholas skeleton, leaving all the fragments in the grave. These were collected by Venetian sailors during the First Crusade and taken to Venice, where a church to St. Nicholas, the patron of sailors, was built on the San Nicolò al Lido. This tradition was confirmed in two important scientific investigations of the relics in Bari and Venice, which revealed that the relics in the two Italian cities belong to the same skeleton. Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a saint of many diverse groups, from archers, sailors. He is also the saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow. During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before his day of 6 December. So Saint Nicholas changed to Santa Claus, martin Luther first suggested the Christkind as the bringer of gifts. But Nicholas remained popular as gifts bearer for the people, Father Christmas dates back as far as 16th century in England during the reign of Henry VIII, when he was pictured as a large man in green or scarlet robes lined with fur. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, bringing peace, joy, good food and wine, as England no longer kept the feast day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December, the Father Christmas celebration was moved to 25 December to coincide with Christmas Day. The Victorian revival of Christmas included Father Christmas as the emblem of good cheer, in the Netherlands and Belgium the character of Santa Claus has to compete with that of Sinterklaas, Santas presumed progenitor
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Christmas Eve
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Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day, together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society. Many churches still ring their bells and hold prayers in the evening, for example. Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night, Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, roman Catholics and high church Anglicans traditionally celebrate Midnight Mass, which begins either at or sometime before midnight on Christmas Eve. This ceremony, which is held in churches throughout the world, celebrates the birth of Christ, Midnight Mass is popular in Poland. In recent years churches have scheduled their Midnight Mass as early as 7 pm. In Spanish-speaking areas, the Midnight Mass is sometimes referred to as Misa de Gallo, in the Philippines, the custom has expanded into the nine-day Simbang Gabi, when Filipinos attend dawn Masses from 16 December, continuing daily until Christmas Eve. In 2009 Vatican officials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at 10 pm so that the 82-year-old Pope Benedict XVI would not have too late a night. Whilst it does not include any kind of Mass, the Church of Scotland has a service beginning just before midnight, the Church of Scotland no longer holds Hogmanay services on New Years Eve, however. The Christmas Eve Services are still very popular, on Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath is traditionally lit in many church services. In candlelight services, while singing Silent Night, each member of the congregation receives a candle, lutherans traditionally practice Christmas Eve Eucharistic traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia. Krippenspiele, special music for organ, vocal and brass choirs. A nativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors, and is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger, Mary, other figures in the scene may include angels, shepherds, and various animals. The figures may be made of any material, and arranged in a stable or grotto, the Magi may also appear, and are sometimes not placed in the scene until the week following Christmas to account for their travel time to Bethlehem. While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter, Christmas Vespers are popular in the early evening, and midnight services are also widespread in regions which are predominantly Lutheran. The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil in the morning hours of Christmas Day can still be found in some regions. Methodists celebrate the evening in different ways, some, in the early evening, come to their church to celebrate Holy Communion with their families. The mood is very solemn, and the visible light is the Advent Wreath
17.
Cloris Leachman
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Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film, and television. In a career spanning seven decades she has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy Award. As Miss Chicago, Leachman competed in the 20th Miss America pageant, in the 2000s, Leachman had a recurring role as grandma Ida on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, and appeared as a roaster in the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget in 2008. She was a contestant on the season of the ABC reality competition series Dancing with the Stars in 2008. She was 82 at the time and is the oldest contestant to have danced on the series, from 2010-14, she starred as Maw Maw on the Fox sitcom Raising Hope. Leachman was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the eldest of three sisters and she attended Theodore Roosevelt High School. Her parents were Berkeley Claiborne Buck Leachman, who worked at the family-owned Leachman Lumber Company, the youngest sister, Mary, was not in show business. Middle sister Claiborne Cary was an actress and singer and her maternal grandmother was of Bohemian descent. As a teenager, Leachman appeared in plays by local youth on weekends at Drake University in Des Moines and she began appearing on television and in films shortly after competing in Miss America in 1946. After winning a scholarship in the Miss America pageant, Leachman studied acting under Elia Kazan at the Actors Studio in New York City and she was cast as a replacement for the role of Nellie Forbush during the original run of Rodgers and Hammersteins South Pacific. Leachman appeared in live television broadcasts in the 1950s, including such programs as Suspense. She made her film debut as an extra in Carnegie Hall. Leachman was several months pregnant during the filming, and appears in one scene running down a darkened highway wearing only a trench coat, a year later, she appeared opposite Paul Newman and Lee Marvin in The Rack. She appeared with Newman again in a role as a prostitute in Butch Cassidy. She continued to work mainly in television, with appearances in Rawhide, during this period, Leachman appeared opposite John Forsythe on the popular anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents in an episode titled Premonition. She later appeared as Ruth Martin, Timmy Martins adoptive mother, jon Provost, who played Timmy, said, Cloris did not feel particularly challenged by the role. Basically, when she realized that all shed be doing was baking cookies and she was replaced by June Lockhart in 1958. That same year, she appeared in an episode of One Step Beyond titled The Dark Room, in 1960, she played Marilyn Parker, the roommate of Janice Rules character, Elena Nardos, in the Checkmate episode The Mask of Vengeance
18.
Octavia Spencer
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Octavia Lenora Spencer is an American actress and author. She made her debut in A Time to Kill. She had an acclaimed performance in Ryan Cooglers drama Fruitvale Station. Recently, Spencer has received acclaim for her work in the films Get on Up, Black or White, Smashed, Snowpiercer, The Divergent Series, Insurgent, and Zootopia. In 2017, she received Academy Award, Golden Globe, octavia Lenora Spencer was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and has six siblings, including sisters Rosa and Areka. Her mother, Dellsena Spencer, worked as a maid, Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1988. She studied drama for two years, and received a degree in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. At nineteen, Spencer worked as an intern on the set of The Long Walk Home, in 1997 she moved to to Los Angeles on the advice of her friend Tate Taylor, the future director of The Help which Spencer would star in. Spencer made her debut as a nurse in Joel Schumachers A Time to Kill. She was originally hired to work on casting, but asked Schumacher if she could audition for a part, other film credits include, Never Been Kissed, Big Mommas House, Bad Santa, Spider-Man, Coach Carter, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. She is best known for her roles as Serenity Johnson on Comedy Centrals Halfway Home, and Constance Grady. In 2003, Spencer made her debut in Los Angeles, in Del Shores play, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife. It was her first and only play, as, she once explained, later that year, she starred opposite Allison Janney in Tate Taylors critically lauded short feature Chicken Party. In 2008, Spencers brief appearance in Seven Pounds as Kate, Rosario Dawsons home care nurse, garnered her high praise, in April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer as among its 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood. In August 2009, Spencer appeared in Rob Zombies Halloween II and she also had a role in the American remake of the Danish classic Love at First Hiccup, opposite Scout Taylor-Compton. Spencer starred in the feature film Herpes Boy, alongside Beth Grant, Ahna OReilly and she played the voice of Minny on the audio version of novel The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Later that year, Spencers short film The Captain was honored by the CICFF as a finalist for the coveted REEL Poetry Award, in August 2010, Spencer joined Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard in The Help, an adaptation of the novel. She played the feisty and unflappable Minny Jackson, the film was written, produced and directed by Tate Taylor, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe
19.
Alex Borstein
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Alexandrea Alex Borstein is an American actress, voice actress, writer, producer, and comedian. She has performed the role as Lois Griffin on the animated television series Family Guy. A native of Deerfield, Illinois, Borstein is a graduate of San Francisco State University, Borstein was born in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb north of the city of Chicago, in 1973, though some sources still say 1971. She was raised in Deerfield, Illinois and her parents, Irv and Judy Borstein, are both mental health professionals. Her mother was raised in Budapest, Hungary, and moved to the United States after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Borstein attended San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California. Borstein trained in improv at the ACME Comedy Theater, where she met her writing partner, in 1996, while still writing for Casper, Borstein worked on the show Power Rangers Zeo as the voice of Queen Machina, the queen of the Machine Empire. In 1997, Borstein became a cast member on the season of the sketch comedy show MADtv. She originally joined the cast as a player, but was upgraded to the repertory mid-season. Borstein was best known on MADtv for her character Ms, when Seth Green made recurring appearances on the show as mean boss Mr. Brightling, Borstein would play his mother, Mama Brightling. While working on MADtv, Borstein met Seth MacFarlane, who was preparing to launch the animated sitcom Family Guy on FOX. MacFarlane cast Borstein as the voice of character Lois Griffin and she has made at least three guest appearances, once as Lois Griffin, on the Comedy Central animated program Drawn Together. In 2000, Borstein was cast as Sookie St. James in the WB drama Gilmore Girls and she portrayed Sookie in the pilot, but her MADtv contract prevented her from continuing in the role, which was recast with Melissa McCarthy. Borstein made recurring appearances on Gilmore Girls throughout the run, first as the harpist Drella. As an actress, she has made appearances in films as Killers. She played the principal in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, the best friend of Halle Berrys character in Catwoman, and an employee at CBS News in Good Night. She also had a cameo in the Will Ferrell movie Kicking & Screaming as an obnoxious coffee shop patron. She also had a role in the movie Bad Santa. On some commercials, she sometimes voices Olive Oyl from Popeye and she also had a minor role in the film Ted, in 2012
20.
Bryan Callen
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Bryan Christopher Callen is an American actor, comedian, and podcaster. He studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and got his start as one of the original cast members on the comedy series MADtv. Callen is co-host of the independent podcast The Fighter & The Kid. Callen was born in Manila, Philippines to American parents of Irish, Italian and his father was an international banker, so Bryan lived overseas until he was 14 years old in various countries including, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Greece and Saudi Arabia. He graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon High School in Gill, Massachusetts in 1985. He also currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Callen was one of the eight original cast members when MADtv debuted in 1995. Callens characters included Pool Boy from Cabana Chat with Dixie Wetsworth, motivational speaker Al Casdy, Callen played Rickys sexually abusive father on The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family. He also makes frequent appearances on Chelsea Lately and he hosted the E. show Bank of Hollywood, and currently appears as a commentator of The Smoking Gun Presents, Worlds Dumbest. on truTV. In November 2016 news emerged that ABC and Sony Pictures TV have produced a pilot and are looking to turn The Goldbergs into a franchise with an offshoot series. The network has handed a script commitment to the comedy project set in the 1990s centered around the recurring character Coach Mellor played by Bryan Callen. Callen co-wrote and co-starred in Dream Crushers with Will Sasso, Sara Rue, the series was shot in 2009 but unaired until 2011. He appeared with Melinda Hill in an episode of the 2012-13 web series Romantic Encounters, beginning 20 February 2012, Callen and fellow actors Will Sasso and Chris DElia began the Ten Minute Podcast. Tommy Blacha and Chad Kultgen have since replaced Callen and DElia, the Fighter and the Kid podcast has charted in multiple countries across the world, and garners over three million downloads per month. The dynamic duo are known for their comedic perspectives, not only in the realm of mixed martial arts, Schaub and Callen performed the podcast live to sold out crowds on a national tour in 2016. The tour included such venues as The Vic Theatre, Gramercy Theatre, in 2016 Schaub and Callen released The Fighter and the Kid 3D. The twelve episode digital download series features sketch comedy pieces spawned from the duos podcast personas. The series was ranked the #1 Comedy TV show on iTunes when it debuted in May 2016, surpassing the likes of Inside Amy Schumer, Key And Peele, and Tosh.0 on the charts. The Fighter and the Kid 3D also ranked #3 most downloaded TV show overall on the charts, topping hits series such as Game of Thrones. Schaub and Callen regularly appear alongside Joe Rogan during live event broadcasts, such as the UFC and Glory kickboxing and they also appeared on the MTV show Ridiculousness, hosted by Rob Dyrdek, in June 2016
21.
Ethan Phillips
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Ethan Phillips is an American actor and playwright. He is best known for his roles as Neelix on Star Trek, Voyager. Phillips was raised in Garden City, New York and he received a bachelors degree in English literature from Boston University and a Master of Fine Arts from Cornell University. He plays the saxophone in the Alan Wasserman Jazz Band. Ethan Phillips received an MFA from Cornell University, in 1979–80, Phillips appeared as Utrillo in the premier of Dennis McIntyres Modigliani at the Astor Place Theater It ran for 208 performances. Based on his experiences at Sundance, Phillips helped found First Stage, Phillips has appeared in over thirty films, beginning with Ragtime. Other features include For Richer or Poorer, Jeffrey, The Shadow, the Man Without a Face, Green Card, Lean On Me, Critters, Bloodhounds of Broadway, The Island, Bad Santa, and The Babysitters. More recent films include Shadow Witness, Audrey, and the Coen Brothers Inside Llewyn Davis, Woody Allens Irrational Man, in 1980, Phillips joined the cast of the hit sitcom Benson, playing Pete Downy, PR man to Governor Gatling. Deadbeat, The Good Wife, and Veep and he went on to play Neelix on Star Trek, Voyager in 1995, and stayed with the series through its entire seven-season run. He also cameoed as a holographic nightclub maître d in the 1996 film Star Trek, First Contact, the Star Trek Cookbook - Ethan Philips and William J. Birnes Ethan Phillips at the Internet Movie Database
22.
Matt Walsh (comedian)
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He also previously starred in short-lived comedy programs such as Dog Bites Man on Comedy Central and Players on Spike TV. He also starred in the 2014 disaster movie Into the Storm, Walsh was born in Chicago, the fourth of seven children of Dick and Audrey Walsh. He graduated from Hinsdale South High School in 1982, while in high school he played on the football team as a backup tight end. He attended Northern Illinois University, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology, in 1991, he met comedian Matt Besser, with whom he began performing stand-up comedy. Before the show, the UCB comedy foursome had already been doing shows at their theatre in New York. To date, they have founded four successful Upright Citizens Brigade comedy theaters located in New York at UCB Chelsea and The East Village UCB, Walsh also wrote and starred in the cult indie-comedy Martin & Orloff, which had a limited theatrical run in 2002 and 2003. Walsh has the distinction of having appeared in several Todd Phillips comedy films, in 2010, Walsh created the improvised comedy series Players for Spike TV. Walsh stars in the series alongside his Upright Citizens Brigade partner Ian Roberts, the show aired for one season, concluding on August 14,2010. The podcast has featured appearances by comedians such as Horatio Sanz, Ian Roberts, Joseph Nunez. In 2010, Walsh had recurring roles on the NBC comedy series Outsourced, in 2012, he began co-starring as Mike McLintock in the HBO series Veep, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2016. During that year, Walsh portrayed J. R. R. Tolkien in The Dead Authors Podcast, walshs directed his first feature film High Road, an indie-comedy he co-wrote with Josh Weiner. The film was released on March 6,2012 and he is currently in post-production for his second directed film, A Better You, which he co-wrote with Brian Huskey, who stars in the film. In the movie Into the Storm, Walsh stars as Pete Moore and he will be appearing in the MyCareer mode in the upcoming basketball simulation game, NBA 2K17. Walsh lives in Valley Village, California, with his wife Morgan and they have three children, Jude, Emmet, and Celia, and a dog named Roger. Walsh confirmed on the May 20th,2016 episode of the Dan Patrick Show that along with the Bears he is also a fan of the Chicago White Sox. Matt Walsh at the Internet Movie Database Audio interview on The Sound of Young America, MP3 Link Interviewed by Josh Fulton on Improv Resource Center
23.
Curtis Taylor
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Curtis Trishton Taylor is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University and he played high school football at Frankliinton High School in Franklinton, Louisiana. He also played for the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Sacramento Mountain Lions, Taylor was drafted in the seventh round, 219th overall pick, by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was released by the 49ers on September 3,2011, on January 5,2012, Taylor signed a future/reserve contract with the Oakland Raiders. The 49ers re-signed Taylor to the practice squad on December 26,2012. Taylor signed with the Arizona Cardinals on April 3,2013 and he was released on August 30,2013. After re-signing with the team and spending time on the squad, Taylor was elevated to the active roster on December 10,2013. The Cardinals released Taylor on August 30,2014 and his younger brother is former San Diego Chargers safety, Brandon Taylor, who was selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft after also playing for Louisiana State. San Francisco 49ers bio LSU Tigers bio
24.
Crumb (film)
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Crumb is a 1994 documentary film about the noted underground cartoonist Robert Crumb and his family. Directed by Terry Zwigoff and produced by Lynn ODonnell, it won widespread acclaim and it was released in the USA on April 28,1995, having been screened at film festivals the previous year. Jeffery M. Anderson placed the film on his list of the ten greatest films of all time, Crumb is about the experiences and characters of Robert Crumb and his family, particularly his brothers, Maxon and Charles, as well as Roberts wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb and his children. The movie chronicles Crumbs career, highlighting his creations Keep On Truckin and Fritz the Cat, portraits emerge as well of older brother Charles, who committed suicide before the film was released, and youngest brother Maxon, a panhandler who painted to assuage his inner demons. Though filmmaker Zwigoff had the consent of the Crumb brothers, some questioned the ability of the more disturbed brothers to provide that consent. The involvement of Charles and Maxon, which Zwigoff felt was just as important to Roberts story as anything else, Robert Crumb initially did not want to make the film, but eventually agreed. There was a rumor, accidentally created by Roger Ebert, that Terry Zwigoff made Crumb cooperate by threatening to shoot himself, Ebert later clarified this in the audio commentary of the films Criterion Collection re-release. Ebert notes that “it may be true that Zwigoff’s life was saved because he did make the film. ”Crumb was met with acclaim from critics. Gene Siskel rated Crumb as the best film of the year, Roger Ebert gave the film four stars, writing that Crumb is a film that gives new meaning to the notion of art as therapy. In The Washington Post, Desson Howes review was similarly positive, the San Francisco Chronicle rated the film as wild applause, as critic Edward Guthmann called the film one of the most provocative, haunting documentaries of the last decade. He also noted that Robert Crumb and wife Aline had drawn a cartoon about the film in The New Yorker. Critic Jeffrey M. Anderson called it one of the most brave and honest films Ive ever seen, despite strong reviews, Crumb was not nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Zwigoff stated in an interview that, “The Academy Award thing had much more to do with the fact that at the time, the rules have changed since then. But they would just vote for the films they distributed because it was in their financial interest to do so. ”He continued, in 2008, Entertainment Weekly named Crumb the 14th best film of the last 25 years. In 2012 Slant Magazine ranked the film #74 on its list of the 100 Best Films of the 1990s, morgan Spurlock named it to his list of 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die. Best Nonfiction Film 1995, National Society of Film Critics Official site Crumb at the Internet Movie Database Crumb at AllMovie Crumb review, The Washington Post
25.
Ghost World (film)
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Ghost World is a 2001 American black comedy film directed by Terry Zwigoff, based on the comic book of the same name by Daniel Clowes, with a screenplay co-written by Clowes and Zwigoff. The story focuses on the lives of Enid and Rebecca, two teenage outsiders in an unnamed American city, best friends Enid and Rebecca face the summer after their high school graduation. The girls are social outcasts, but Rebecca is more popular with boys than Enid, Enids diploma is withheld on the condition that she attend a remedial art class. Even though she is a talented artist, her art teacher, Roberta, believes that art must be socially meaningful, the girls see a personal ad in which a lonely, middle-aged man named Seymour asks a woman he met recently to contact him. Enid makes a phone call to Seymour, pretending to be the woman. The two girls and their friend, Josh, secretly watch Seymour at the diner and make fun of him, Enid soon begins to feel sympathy for Seymour, and they follow him to his apartment building. Later they find him selling vintage records in a garage sale, Enid buys an old blues album from him, and they become friends. She decides to try to find women for him to date, Enid presents the poster in class as a social comment about racism, and Roberta is so impressed with the concept that she offers Enid a scholarship to an art college. Seymour receives a call from Dana, the intended recipient of his personal ad. Enid encourages him to pursue a relationship with Dana, but she becomes jealous when he does so. Enid and Rebeccas lives start to diverge, while Enid has been spending time with Seymour, Rebecca has found a job at a coffee shop and has become more interested in clothing and boys. Enid also finds a job so she can afford to rent an apartment with Rebecca, the girls argue, and Rebecca abandons the idea of living with Enid. At the end of the summer, Enid and Seymours lives fall apart, when Enids poster is displayed in an art show, school officials find it so offensive they force Roberta to give her a failing grade and revoke the scholarship. Enid turns to Seymour for solace, resulting in a drunken one-night stand, Seymour breaks up with Dana, and is called to account at work when the Coon Chicken poster is publicized in a local newspaper. He unsuccessfully tries to contact Enid, only for Rebecca to tell him about Enids prank phone call, Seymour is upset and ends up in a violent confrontation with Josh, resulting in his being injured and hospitalized. Enid visits him in an effort to apologize, causing him to realize that he has no chance of any kind of future with her, Enid gives in to her childhood fantasy of running away from home and disappearing. She has seen an old man, Norman, continually waiting at a bus stop for a bus that will never come. Enid sits next to him, and Norman boards an out-of-service bus, the next day, while Seymour discusses the summers events with his therapist, Enid returns to the bus stop and boards the out-of-service bus when it arrives
26.
Jack Nicholson
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John Joseph Jack Nicholson is an American actor and filmmaker, who has performed for over 60 years. Nicholson is known for playing a range of starring or supporting roles, including satirical comedy, romance and dark portrayals of antiheroes. In many of his films, he has played the eternal outsider, Nicholsons 12 Academy Award nominations make him the most nominated male actor in the Academys history. Nicholson has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, one for the drama One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and he also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment. Nicholson is one of three actors to win three Academy Awards. Nicholson is one of two actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s. He has won six Golden Globe Awards, and received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2001, in 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institutes Life Achievement Award. He played Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubricks horror film The Shining, the Joker in Tim Burtons superhero film Batman, other films include the legal drama A Few Good Men, the Sean Penn-directed mystery film The Pledge, and the comedy-drama About Schmidt. Nicholson was born on April 22,1937, in Neptune City, New Jersey, Nicholsons mother was of Irish, English, and German descent. She married Italian-American showman Donald Furcillo in 1936, before realizing that he was already married, biographer Patrick McGilligan stated in his book Jacks Life that Latvian-born Eddie King, Junes manager, may have been Nicholsons biological father, rather than Furcillo. Other sources suggest June Nicholson was unsure of who the father was, in 1974, Time magazine researchers learned, and informed Nicholson, that his sister, June, was actually his mother, and his other sister, Lorraine, was really his aunt. By this time, both his mother and grandmother had died, on finding out, Nicholson said it was a pretty dramatic event, but it wasnt what Id call traumatizing. I was pretty well psychologically formed. Nicholson grew up in Neptune City, New Jersey and he was raised in his mothers Roman Catholic religion. Before starting high school, his family moved to an apartment in Spring Lake, nick, as he was known to his high school friends, attended nearby Manasquan High School, where he was voted class clown by the Class of 1954. He was in every day for a whole school year. A theatre and an award at the school are named in his honor. In 2004, Nicholson attended his 50-year high school reunion accompanied by his aunt Lorraine and he served a tour of duty in the Air National Guard. Nicholson first came to Hollywood in 1954, when he was 17 and he took a job as an office worker for animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at the MGM cartoon studio
27.
Bill Murray
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William James Bill Murray is an American actor, comedian, and writer. Murray received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2016, Murray was born on September 21,1950 in Evanston, Illinois, and was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. He is the son of Lucille, a room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II. Murray and his eight siblings were raised in a Roman Catholic Irish-American family, three of his siblings, John Murray, Joel Murray, and Brian Doyle-Murray, are also actors. A sister, Nancy, is an Adrian Dominican nun in Michigan and their father died in 1967 at the age of 46 from complications of diabetes when Bill was 17 years old. As a youth, Murray read childrens biographies of American heroes like Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickok and he attended St. Josephs grade school and Loyola Academy. During his teen years, he worked as a golf caddy to fund his education at the Jesuit high school, one of his sisters had polio and his mother suffered several miscarriages. During his teen years he was the singer of a rock band called the Dutch Masters and took part in high school. After graduating, Murray attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado and he quickly dropped out, returning to Illinois. Decades later, in 2007, Regis awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree, on September 21,1970, his 20th birthday, the police arrested Murray at Chicagos OHare Airport for trying to smuggle 10 lb of cannabis, which he had allegedly intended to sell. The drugs were discovered when Murray joked to the next to him that he was smuggling. Murray was convicted and sentenced to probation, with an invitation from his older brother, Brian, Murray got his start at The Second City in Chicago, an improvisational comedy troupe, studying under Del Close. In 1974, he moved to New York City and was recruited by John Belushi as a player on The National Lampoon Radio Hour. In 1975, an Off-Broadway version of a Lampoon show led to his first television role as a cast member of the ABC variety show Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell and that same season, another variety show titled NBCs Saturday Night premiered. Cosells show lasted just one season, canceled in early 1976, after working in Los Angeles with the guerrilla video commune TVTV on several projects, Murray rose to prominence in 1976. He officially joined the cast of NBCs Saturday Night Live for the second season, following the departure of Chevy Chase. Murray was with SNL for three seasons from 1977 to 1980. S, during the first few seasons of SNL, Murray was in a romantic relationship with fellow cast member Gilda Radner. Murray landed his first starring role with the film Meatballs in 1979 and he followed this up with his portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson in 1980s Where the Buffalo Roam
28.
Something's Gotta Give (film)
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Somethings Gotta Give is a 2003 American romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers for Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros. It stars Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton as a successful 60-something and 50-something, keanu Reeves and Amanda Peet co-star, with Frances McDormand, Paul Michael Glaser, Jon Favreau, and KaDee Strickland playing key supporting roles. The film received favorable reviews and was a box-office hit following its North American release, eventually grossing over $266 million worldwide. For her performance Keaton earned a Golden Globe, a Satellite Award, as well as an Academy Award nomination, Nicholson also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. This was Nicholson and Keatons second film together since 1981s Reds, Harry Sanborn is a wealthy New York music mogul who has had a 40-year habit of dating women under 30, including his latest conquest, Marin Klein. The two drive to her mothers Hamptons beach house expecting to be alone, but are surprised by Marins mother, successful playwright Erica Barry, who is there with her sister Zoe. After an awkward dinner, the night turns disastrous when — during foreplay with Marin — Harry has an attack and is rushed to a hospital. The doctor, Julian Mercer, tells Harry to stay nearby for a few days and their personalities clash and make for awkward living arrangements—until they get to know each other. The fact that Harry is dating her daughter and that Julian has fallen for Erica leave the two struggling to deal with relationships, Marin and Harry agree to break up. He and Erica spend more time together and eventually consummate their relationship, Harry discovers that his improving health means that he no longer has to stay with Erica, so he heads home. Although Erica is unaffected by the news, Marin is devastated, Erica is the life of the party until she sees Harry at another table with another woman. Although she is heartbroken, Erica figures that these events would be great to use in a play, Harry hears about it and rushes to the NYC theater where it is being rehearsed. Despite her denials, it is obvious that she has used the most personal details of their affair in the play. Erica coolly rebuffs his every insinuation that he cares about her and he then has another panic attack and is again treated by Dr. Martinez, who warns him that he needs to learn to decompress. Ericas play is a huge success, Harry pays Marin a visit to apologize for anything he ever did to hurt her. She replies that he was nothing but nice to her and happily tells him that she is pregnant and has a new husband, Harry expresses a desire to see Erica. Marin tells him that her mother is in Paris celebrating her birthday, remembering how they had once planned to spend their birthdays together there, he shows up at the Parisian restaurant where she is seated at a table. Harry explains that over the past six months he reached out to all of the women he ever had affairs with and they all had identical harsh stories that helped him learn how I arrived at being me
29.
Lost in Translation (film)
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Lost in Translation is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Sofia Coppola. It was her feature film after The Virgin Suicides. It stars Bill Murray as aging actor Bob Harris, who befriends college graduate Charlotte in a Tokyo hotel, Murray and Johansson each won a BAFTA award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role respectively. The film was a success, grossing $119 million on a budget of $4 million. It is now regarded as one of the best films of the 2000s. Bob Harris, an aging American movie star, arrives in Tokyo to film an advertisement for Suntory whisky, Charlotte, a young college graduate, is left in her hotel room by her husband, John, a celebrity photographer on assignment in Tokyo. Charlotte is unsure of her future with John, feeling detached from his lifestyle, Bobs own 25-year marriage is strained as he goes through a midlife crisis. Each day, Bob and Charlotte encounter each other in the hotel, eventually Charlotte invites Bob to meet with some local friends of hers. The two bond through a fun night in Tokyo, welcomed without prejudice by Charlottes friends and experiencing Japanese nightlife, in the days that follow, Bob and Charlottes platonic relationship develops as they spend more time together. One night, each unable to sleep, the two share a conversation about Charlottes personal troubles and Bobs married life. On the penultimate night of his stay, Bob sleeps with the bars female jazz singer. The next morning Charlotte arrives at his room to him for lunch and overhears the woman in his room. Later that night, during an alarm at the hotel, Bob and Charlotte reconcile. The following morning, Bob is set to return to the United States and he tells Charlotte goodbye at the hotel lobby and sadly watches her walk back to the elevator. In a taxi to the airport, Bob sees Charlotte on a street and gets out. He embraces the tearful Charlotte and whispers something in her ear, the two share a kiss, say goodbye and Bob departs. Bob, a Japanese director, and an interpreter are on a set, in several exchanges, the director gives lengthy, impassioned directives in Japanese. These are invariably followed by brief, incomplete translations from the interpreter, in addition to the meaning and detail lost in the translation of the directors words, the two central characters in the film—Bob and Charlotte—are also lost in other ways
30.
Miracle on 34th Street
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Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 Christmas comedy-drama film written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies. It stars Maureen OHara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn, the story takes place between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day in New York City, and focuses on the impact of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa. The film has become a perennial Christmas favorite, the film won Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Writing, Original Story and Best Writing, Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture, losing to Gentlemans Agreement, in 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. The Academy Film Archive preserved Miracle on 34th Street in 2009, Davies also penned a short novelization of the tale, which was published by Harcourt Brace simultaneously with the films release. Kris Kringle is indignant to find that the man assigned to play Santa in the annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is intoxicated, when he complains to event director Doris Walker, she persuades Kris to take his place. He does so well, he is hired to play Santa at Macys flagship New York City store on 34th Street, ignoring instructions to steer parents to buy from Macys, Kris directs one shopper to a competitor. Impressed, she tells Julian Shellhammer, head of the toy department, Attorney Fred Gailey, Doris neighbor, takes the young divorcées second-grade daughter Susan to see Santa. Doris has raised her to not believe in tales. Doris asks Kringle to tell Susan that he is not Santa, worried, Doris decides to fire him. However, Kris has generated so much publicity and goodwill for Macys that a delighted Macy promises Doris. To alleviate Doriss misgivings, Julian has Granville Sawyer administer a psychological evaluation, Kris passes, but questions Sawyers own mental health. The store expands on the concept, to avoid looking greedy, competitor Gimbels implements the same policy, forcing Macys and others to escalate. Eventually, Kris does the impossible, he reconciles bitter rivals Macy, pierce, the doctor at Kris nursing home, assures Doris that Kris is harmless. Kris makes a pact with Fred – he will work on Susans cynicism while Fred does the same with Doris, when Susan reveals she wants a house, Kris reluctantly promises to do his best. Kris learns that Sawyer has convinced young employee Alfred that he is mentally ill simply because he is kind-hearted, finding Sawyer unwilling to budge, Kris hits him on the head with his cane. Sawyer exaggerates his pain in order to have Kris confined to Bellevue Hospital, tricked into cooperating, and believing Doris to be in on the deception, Kris deliberately fails his examination and is recommended for permanent commitment. However, Fred persuades Kris not to give up, at a hearing before Judge Henry X. Harper, District Attorney Thomas Mara gets Kris to assert that he is Santa Claus and rests his case
31.
The Walt Disney Company
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The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate, headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. It is the second largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue. Disney was founded on October 16,1923 – by brothers Walt Disney, the company also operated under the names The Walt Disney Studio and then Walt Disney Productions. Taking on its current name in 1986, it expanded its operations and also started divisions focused upon theater, radio, music, publishing. In addition, Disney has since created corporate divisions in order to more mature content than is typically associated with its flagship family-oriented brands. The company is best known for the products of its studio, Walt Disney Studios. Disneys other three divisions are Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Media Networks, and Disney Consumer Products. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6,1991, Mickey Mouse, an early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, is a primary symbol and mascot for Disney. In early 1923, Kansas City, Missouri, animator Walt Disney created a film entitled Alices Wonderland. After the bankruptcy in 1923 of his previous firm, Laugh-O-Gram Studios, Disney moved to Hollywood to join his brother, Walt and Roy Disney formed Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio that same year. More animated films followed after Alice, in January 1926, with the completion of the Disney studio on Hyperion Street, the Disney Brothers Studios name was changed to the Walt Disney Studio. The distributor owned Oswald, so Disney only made a few hundred dollars, Disney completed 26 Oswald shorts before losing the contract in February 1928, due to a legal loophole, when Winklers husband Charles Mintz took over their distribution company. After failing to take over the Disney Studio, Mintz hired away four of Disneys primary animators to start his own animation studio, Snappy Comedies. In 1928, to recover from the loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Disney came up with the idea of a character named Mortimer while on a train headed to California. The mouse was later renamed Mickey Mouse and starred in several Disney produced films, ub Iwerks refined Disneys initial design of Mickey Mouse. Disneys first sound film Steamboat Willie, a cartoon starring Mickey, was released on November 18,1928 through Pat Powers distribution company and it was the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon released, but the third to be created, behind Plane Crazy and The Gallopin Gaucho. Disney used Pat Powers Cinephone system, created by Powers using Lee De Forests Phonofilm system, Steamboat Willie premiered at B. S. Mosss Colony Theater in New York City, now The Broadway Theatre. Disneys Plane Crazy and The Galloping Gaucho were then retrofitted with synchronized sound tracks, Disney continued to produce cartoons with Mickey Mouse and other characters, and began the Silly Symphonies series with Columbia Pictures signing on as Symphonies distributor in August 1929
