1.
Dallas
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Dallas is a major city in the U. S. state of Texas. It is the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the citys population ranks ninth in the U. S. and third in Texas after Houston and San Antonio. The citys prominence arose from its importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries. The bulk of the city is in Dallas County, of which it is the county seat, however, sections of the city are located in Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties. According to the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 1,197,816, the United States Census Bureaus estimate for the citys population increased to 1,300,092 as of July 1,2015. In 2016 DFW ascended to the one spot in the nation in year-over-year population growth. In 2014, the metropolitan economy surpassed Washington, D. C. to become the fifth largest in the U. S. with a 2014 real GDP over $504 billion, as such, the metropolitan areas economy is the 10th largest in the world. As of January 2017, the job count has increased to 3,558,200 jobs. The citys economy is based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research. The city is home to the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation. Located in North Texas, Dallas is the core of the largest metropolitan area in the South. Dallas and nearby Fort Worth were developed due to the construction of railroad lines through the area allowing access to cotton, cattle. Later, France also claimed the area but never established much settlement, the area remained under Spanish rule until 1821, when Mexico declared independence from Spain, and the area was considered part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. In 1836, the Republic of Texas, with majority Anglo-American settlers, in 1839, Warren Angus Ferris surveyed the area around present-day Dallas. John Neely Bryan established a permanent settlement near the Trinity River named Dallas in 1841, the origin of the name is uncertain. The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, Dallas was formally incorporated as a city on February 2,1856. With construction of railroads, Dallas became a business and trading center and it became an industrial city, attracting workers from Texas, the South and the Midwest. The Praetorian Building of 15 stories, built in 1909, was the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi and it marked the prominence of Dallas as a city
2.
Sean Penn
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Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, filmmaker, and political activist. He has won two Academy Awards, for his roles in the mystery drama Mystic River and the biopic Milk, Penn began his acting career in television with a brief appearance in episode 112 of Little House on the Prairie, directed by his father Leo Penn. He became known as a prominent leading actor with the drama Dead Man Walking, for which he earned his first Academy Award nomination, Penn made his feature film directorial debut with The Indian Runner, followed by the drama film The Crossing Guard and the mystery film The Pledge. Penn directed one of the 11 segments of 110901 September 11 and his fourth feature film, the biographical drama survival movie Into the Wild, garnered critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations. In January 2016, Penn published an interview with Mexican drug lord Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán in Rolling Stone, Penn was born in Los Angeles County, California, to actor and director Leo Penn, and actress Eileen Ryan. His older brother is musician Michael Penn and his younger brother, actor Chris Penn, died in 2006. His paternal grandparents were Ashkenazi Jewish emigrants from Lithuania and Russia, while his mother is a Catholic of Irish, Penn was raised in a secular home and attended Santa Monica High School. He began making films with some of his childhood friends, including actors Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. Penn appeared in a 1974 episode of the Little House on the Prairie television series as an extra when his father, Leo, Penn launched his film career with the action-drama Taps, where he played a military high school cadet. A year later, he appeared in the hit comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High, in the role of surfer-stoner Jeff Spicoli, next, Penn appeared as Mick OBrien, a troubled youth, in the drama Bad Boys. The role earned Penn favorable reviews and jump-started his career as a serious actor, Penn played Andrew Daulton Lee in the film The Falcon and the Snowman, which closely followed an actual criminal case. Lee was a drug dealer by trade, convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union and originally sentenced to life in prison. Penn starred in the drama At Close Range which received critical acclaim and he stopped acting for a few years in the early 1990s, having been dissatisfied with the industry, and focused on making his directing debut. The Academy Awards first recognized his work in nominating him for playing a racist murderer on death row in the drama film Dead Man Walking and he was nominated again for his comedic performance as an egotistical jazz guitarist in the film Sweet and Lowdown. He received his nomination after portraying a mentally handicapped father in I am Sam. Penn finally won for his role in the Boston crime-drama Mystic River, in 2004, Penn played Samuel Bicke, a character based on Samuel Byck, who in 1974 attempted and failed to assassinate President Richard Nixon, in The Assassination of Richard Nixon. The same year, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, next, Penn portrayed governor Willie Stark in an adaptation of Robert Penn Warrens classic 1946 American novel All the Kings Men. The film was a critical and commercial failure, named by a 2010 Forbes article as the biggest flop in the last five years, the film also earned Penn his fifth nomination and second win for the Academy Award for Best Actor
3.
Golden Globe Award
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Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. The annual ceremony at which the awards are presented is a part of the film industrys awards season. The 74th Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film, the 1st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best achievements in 1943 filmmaking, was held in January 1944, at the 20th Century-Fox studios. Subsequent ceremonies were held at venues throughout the next decade, including the Beverly Hills Hotel. In 1950, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association made the decision to establish an honorary award to recognize outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. Recognizing its subject as a figure within the entertainment industry. The official name of the award became the Cecil B. In 1963, the Miss Golden Globe concept was introduced, in its inaugural year, two Miss Golden Globes were named, one for film and one for television. The two Miss Golden Globes named that year were Eva Six and Donna Douglas, respectively, in 2009, the Golden Globe statuette was redesigned. It was unveiled at a conference at the Beverly Hilton prior to the show. The broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, telecast to 167 countries worldwide, generally ranks as the third most-watched awards show each year, behind only the Oscars, gervais returned to host the 68th and 69th Golden Globe Awards the next two years. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the 70th, 71st and 72nd Golden Globe Awards in 2015, the Golden Globe Awards theme song, which debuted in 2012, was written by Japanese musician and songwriter Yoshiki Hayashi. On January 7,2008, it was announced due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The ceremony was faced with a threat by striking writers to picket the event, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was forced to adopt another approach for the broadcast. In acting categories, Meryl Streep holds the record for the most competitive Golden Globe wins with eight, however, including honorary awards, such as the Henrietta Award, World Film Favorite Actor/Actress Award, or Cecil B. DeMille Award, Barbra Streisand leads with nine, additionally, Streisand won for composing the song Evergreen, producing the Best Picture, and directing Yentl in 1984. Jack Nicholson, Angela Lansbury, Alan Alda and Shirley MacLaine have six awards each, behind them are Rosalind Russell and Jessica Lange with five wins. Meryl Streep also holds the record for most nominations with thirty, at the 46th Golden Globe Awards an anomaly occurred, a three way-tie for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
4.
Santa Barbara (TV series)
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Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera that aired on NBC from July 30,1984 to January 15,1993. The show revolves around the lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara. Other prominent families featured on the soap were the rival Lockridge family, the serial was produced by Dobson Productions and New World Television, which also served as distributor for the show in international markets. Santa Barbara was New World Televisions first series, Due to the buyout of New World by News Corporation in 1997, current rights to the series reside with the old News Corps successor, 21st Century Fox, and its syndication arm, 20th Television. Santa Barbara aired in the United States at 3,00 PM Eastern on NBC in the time slot as General Hospital on ABC and Guiding Light on CBS. Santa Barbara aired in over 40 countries around the world and it became the longest-running television series in Russia, being aired there from 1992 to 2002. Santa Barbara won 24 Daytime Emmy Awards and was nominated 30 times for the same award, the show also won 18 Soap Opera Digest Awards, and won various other awards. In 1993, NBC replaced Santa Barbara with game shows Scrabble, shortly before the program was canceled by NBC, New World Television tried to shop Santa Barbara to other broadcast and cable networks, but failed to find one that would air the show. Santa Barbara is notable for having a plot around which many of the others revolve. Santa Barbara began on an unsteadily with one reviewer deeming the series the worst program on television, mark Dawidziak claimed in August 1984 that Santa Barbara was a serial full of hammy acting, predictable story lines and atrocious dialogue. The original plotline surrounded conflicts between the wealthy Capwell and Lockridge families, when the Lockridges staged a comeback in the early 1990s, the much younger Broadway and movie veteran Janis Paige assumed the part. She would return later on a basis and signed a contract when the Lockridges were written back in as regular characters. When a major earthquake hit Santa Barbara, core character Danny Andrade slept through the whole thing, Minx Lockridge was unfazed, saying that the 1984 Santa Barbara earthquake was nothing like the one in 1925. She was later locked in an empty sarcophagus, luckily, her grandchildren were around to let her out and she escaped with merely a bruised ego. By concentrating on such characters as Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo. The show was famous for its style and offbeat writing. Despite an irate letter-writing campaign by the fans, Kozak was reported as saying that she had no desire to return to SB, or in fact. Another example from 1989 involved Greg Hughes having a dream while unconscious about Mason and Julia being aliens, in 1988, the Dobsons were locked out of NBC studios after repeated attempts to fire the head writer
5.
Kelly Capwell
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Kelly Capwell is a fictional character from the American soap opera Santa Barbara. She was one of the characters on the show, and was one of three characters on the show that was recast three times. She was first portrayed by American actress Robin Wright from July 30,1984 to June 24,1988, having played the character for the longest amount of time, Robin was the favorite Kelly of the audience. The second actress, Kimberly McArthur portrayed the role from June 27,1988 to February 10,1989, the third actress, Carrington Garland, played the role from March 23,1989 to September 27,1991. The final actress to portray the role was Eileen Davidson, from November 8,1991 to the end on January 15,1993. Kelly Capwell, the daughter of rich businessman C. C, Capwell, appeared in the very first episode of the series. Although in a relationship with Peter Flint, Kelly was still in love with her childhood sweetheart, Peter, a dangerous gigolo, tried various schemes to separate Joe and Kelly, but was unsuccessful. Peter turned into a killer, murdering 4 women who looked like Kelly. Peter eventually attacked Kelly, but she was rescued before her wedding to Joe, after the wedding, however, Peter took Joe hostage. Peter shot Joe, causing him to out of a window. Peter also tried to kill Kelly, but Cruz Castillo managed to shoot Peter down before he could get to her, Kelly moved away from Santa Barbara for a while, but upon her return she fell in love with Nick Hartley, a promising photographer. Kelly and Nick had a series of amazing adventures together, realizing that she had made a mistake, Kelly told Dylan that it was over between them and that she loves Nick, but Dylan could not let her go. He attacked her, and in self-defense, Kelly pushed Dylan through a window, gina DeMott accidentally found a videotape showing Kelly pushing Dylan and Kelly was put into an asylum. If it hadnt been for Pearl Bradford, the asylums Dr. Rawlings might have kept Kelly there forever, Kelly escaped to Switzerland, where she fell in love with Jeffrey Conrad, a man sent by her father to take care of her. Kelly and Jeffrey returned to Santa Barbara, where Kelly announced that she was pregnant, C. C. was, at the time, unaware that Jeffrey was actually the son of his ex-wife Pamela Capwell Conrad. Kelly then sought comfort in the arms of T. J, daniels, a lover of her mothers. Pamela, jealous of Kellys and T. J. s closeness, Jeffrey decided to get rid of Kelly with T. J. s help, but he eventually reconsidered, and the couple divorced. Kelly then fell in love with Robert Barr, an ex-lover of her sister Eden Capwell, Kelly worried that Robert and Eden would fall in love again, but eventually she came to accept that Robert loved her
6.
The Princess Bride (film)
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The story is presented in the film as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson, thus effectively preserving the novels narrative style. In 2016, the film was inducted into the National Film Registry, in the framing story, a man reads a book, The Princess Bride, to his sick grandson. Scenes of the reading occasionally interrupt the story, for example. Buttercup has grown up on a farm in the Renaissance Era and she mercilessly orders around the farmhand, Westley, but he only replies As you wish to her every whim. Buttercup eventually comes to understand that this is his expression of love, Westley leaves to seek his fortune so that they might marry, but Buttercup learns that Westleys ship was attacked by the legendary Dread Pirate Roberts, who is infamous for leaving no one alive. Five years later, Buttercup reluctantly agrees to marry Humperdinck, the Crown Prince of Florin and these three are in Humperdincks employ and have been ordered to kill Buttercup once in Guilder, Florins enemy, as a pretext to start a war. The four are soon followed by a man dressed in black, Fezzik sobers up Inigo, they stumble upon the Albino, and Fezzik inadvertently knocks him unconscious when trying to receive information on Westley and Rugen. Max notes that Westley is only mostly dead, but sustained by true love, outside the castle gate, Inigo and Fezzik give Westley the pill, he quickly begins to recover, and comes up with a plan to defeat the castle guards and get into the castle itself. Hearing the commotion outside, Humperdinck panics and orders the priest to declare him, Rugen beats a cowardly retreat with Inigo in pursuit, leaving Westley in the hallway, Fezzik runs to help Inigo, who ultimately confronts Rugen. Rugen injures Inigo multiple times, but strengthened by his determination to exact revenge, Inigo overpowers, in the framing story, the grandson allows the grandfather to read on about Westley and Buttercup sharing a passionate kiss. As the grandfather finishes the story and prepares to leave, the boy asks him to read the story again the next day, the grandfather smiles and replies, As you wish. Billy Crystal as Miracle Max Carol Kane as Valerie, Maxs wife Peter Cook as The Impressive Clergyman and he cannot pronounce Rs or Ls. In 1973, 20th Century Fox paid Goldman $500,000 for the film rights, richard Lester was signed to direct and the movie was almost made, but then the head of production at Fox was fired and the project was put on hiatus. Goldman subsequently bought back the rights to the novel with his own money. They actually performed all of the fencing in the fight scene. For the wrestling scene, when Elwes was pretending to hang on Andrés back, for the wide shots, a stunt double took the place of André. When he was apparently carrying Wright, she was suspended by cables. The original soundtrack album was composed by Mark Knopfler, and released by Warner Bros. Records in the United States, the album contains the song Storybook Love, performed by Willy DeVille and produced by Mark Knopfler
7.
Forrest Gump
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Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, the film differs substantially from Winston Grooms novel, including Gumps personality and several events that were depicted. Principal photography took place in late 1993, mainly in Georgia, North Carolina, extensive visual effects were used to incorporate the protagonist into archived footage and to develop other scenes. A comprehensive soundtrack was featured in the film, using music intended to pinpoint specific time periods portrayed on screen and its commercial release made it a top-selling soundtrack, selling over twelve million copies worldwide. In 1995 it won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Robert Zemeckis, Best Actor for Tom Hanks, Best Adapted Screenplay for Eric Roth, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. It also garnered other awards and nominations, including Golden Globes, Peoples Choice Awards. Since the films release varying interpretations have made of the films protagonist. In 1996, a restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. The scene of Gump running across the country is referred to when real-life people attempt the feat. In 2011, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The plot is delivered in a number of flashbacks in the narrative of Forrest Gump as he sits at a bus stop with a suitcase full of mementos in Savannah. He initiates conversation with a stranger and recalls his childhood in Greenbow, Forrest is raised by a single mother who runs a bed and breakfast for travelling folk including at one point a young Elvis Presley, and has to wear leg braces to fix a crooked back. Despite having a diminished intellect, Forrest is admitted to school after his mother agrees to have sex with the principal. On his first day of school, Forrest meets Jenny Curran, the children bond, finding in each other a confidante and kindred spirit. With Jennys encouragement, Forrest runs away from a group of bullies, struggling until his leg braces break off and he features in the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door and listens to George Wallace. He then meets President John F. Kennedy as a member of the NCAA All-American team and they are sent to Vietnam under Lieutenant Dan Taylor. After four months of patrolling in rain, Bubba is killed during their first encounter, Lieutenant Dan sustains major injuries and loses both his legs. Forrest is wounded in the buttocks while saving members of his platoon—including Lieutenant Dan—and is awarded the Medal of Honor, while recovering from his wounds, Forrest discovers an aptitude for ping-pong, eventually playing against the Chinese in ping-pong diplomacy
8.
Message in a Bottle (film)
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Message in a Bottle is a 1999 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki and based on Nicholas Sparks 1998 novel of the same name. It stars Kevin Costner, Robin Wright and Paul Newman, and was filmed in Maine, Chicago and Wilmington, the film was released on February 12,1999 by Warner Bros. Theresa Osborne, a reporter, works as a researcher for the Chicago Tribune. On a trip to Cape Cod, she finds a mysterious, intriguing love letter in a bottle in the sand and she is fascinated by it and comes into possession of two more letters by the same person, eventually tracking down the man who wrote them, Garret Blake. He refurbished a boat called Happenstence with his wife before her death and he lives quietly on the Outer Banks of North Carolina near his father, Theresa and Garret become better acquainted, but she does not reveal her knowledge of the love letters. Along with the distance between them — they live hundreds of miles apart — there is another problem, Garret cannot quite forgive Catherine for dying and leaving him. Theresas career flourishes as the message in a bottle tale is told in print. Garret makes a trip to Chicago to visit Theresa and her young son and their new love grows, until one day Garret finds his letters in a drawer in Theresas apartment. Garret angrily confronts Theresa and, after a night of explanations, a year later, Dodge tracks down Theresa. He informs her that his son Garret has died at sea in a storm while attempting to rescue someone else, a bottle with a message inside was found on his boat. Theresa realizes that it was written the night before Garretts last sailing, in it, he apologizes to Catherine and says that in Theresa he has found a new love, a love he must fight for. Warner Bros. Beach scenes were filmed at Popham Beach in Phippsburg, the fog-bound harbor near the end is New Harbor, Maine. Carolina tides average about 5 feet, irish music group Clannad wrote the song What Will I Do for the film. Singer Richard Marx also composed the song One More Time, sung by Laura Pausini, Message in a Bottle has grossed $52,880,016 in North America and $66,000,000 in other territories for a worldwide total of $118,880,016. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $18,852,976, finishing first at the box office, the film received negative reviews from critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 32% rating, based on 38 reviews, Metacritic reports a 39 out of 100 rating, based on 23 critics, indicating generally unfavorable reviews. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, praising the actors, particularly Newman steals every scene hes in. Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter called it a dreary, lachrymose and incredibly poky tear-jerker, Message in a Bottle was released on DVD on August 3,1999
9.
Unbreakable (film)
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In the film, a security guard named David Dunn survives a horrific train crash. After the incident, with the help of a manipulative disabled comic book shop owner named Elijah Price, he learns that he possesses superhuman powers and skills. As Dunn explores and reluctantly confronts his powers while trying to navigate a difficult life, he begins to fight crime. Shyamalan organized the narrative of Unbreakable to parallel a comic books traditional three-part story structure, after settling on the origin story, Shyamalan wrote the screenplay as a speculative screenplay with Bruce Willis already set to star in the film and Jackson in mind to portray Elijah Price. Filming began in April 2000 and was completed in July, Unbreakable was released on November 22,2000. It received positive reviews, with praising its aesthetics, the performances. The film has gained a strong cult following. Many regard it as one of Shyamalans best films, and in 2011 Time listed the film as one of the top ten movies of all time. After years of development for a film, a thematic sequel entitled Split. Shyamalan has stated his desire to release a movie as well. In Philadelphia in 1961, Elijah Price is born with Type I osteogenesis imperfecta, years later, another Philadelphia man, security guard David Dunn, is also searching for meaning in his life. He had given up a football career during his collegiate days to marry Audrey after they were involved in an auto accident. Now, however, their marriage is dissolving, to the distress of their young son Joseph, as he returns home from a job interview in New York City, Davids train crashes, killing the other 131 passengers, while he is the only survivor, sustaining no injuries. At the memorial for the victims, he finds a card on his cars windshield. Although Elijah unsettles him, David begins to test himself, while lifting weights with Joseph, he bench presses about 350 pounds, well above what he had thought he could do. Joseph begins to idolize his father and believes he is a superhero, David challenges Elijah with an incident from his childhood when he almost drowned. Elijah suggests that the incident highlights the common comic trope whereby superheroes often have one weakness, David used the accident as an excuse to quit football because Audrey did not like the violence of the sport. At Elijahs suggestion, David stands in the middle of a crowd in Philadelphias 30th Street Station, David follows the janitor to the victims house and frees the children, but the janitor ambushes him and pushes him off a balcony into a swimming pool
10.
The Conspirator
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The Conspirator is a 2010 American mystery historical drama film directed by Robert Redford based on an original screenplay by James D. Solomon. It is the film of the American Film Company. The film tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only female conspirator charged in the Abraham Lincoln assassination and the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government. It stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Jonathan Groff, Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Kevin Kline, John Cullum, Toby Kebbell, and James Badge Dale. Another premiere screening was held on April 10,2011 at Fords Theatre in Washington, the United States theatrical release took place on April 15,2011, the 146th anniversary of the death of President Lincoln. The film was released in Canada on April 29,2011 and was released in the UK on July 1,2011, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released the DVD and Blu-ray on August 16,2011. Later that same night, Southerner Lewis Payne unsuccessfully attempts to kill Secretary of State William Seward, german immigrant and carriage repair business owner George Atzerodt is assigned to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson but becomes afraid and runs away. Meanwhile, actor John Wilkes Booth enters Fords Theatre and sees his target, Booth sneaks into the Presidents box and shoots Lincoln, mortally wounding him. Booth stabs diplomat and military officer Henry Rathbone who was a guest in Lincolns box, a crowd, including Aiken, Hamilton and Baker, watch in horror as the unconscious President is taken to a nearby boarding house where he dies early the next morning. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton orders all suspects, including Mary Surratt, Booth and David Herold manage to evade capture for some days, but Union soldiers find a barn where they suspect the conspirators are hiding and set it on fire. Herold is arrested, while Booth is shot and killed by sergeant Boston Corbett, Maryland Senator Reverdy Johnson is Mary Surratts lawyer. Her son, John Surratt, had escaped with hundreds of agents looking for him, feeling unable to defend Surratt because hes a Southerner, Reverdy asks Aiken, a Northerner, to take over, but he tries to refuse. He is ordered to defend her and tells Sarah and his friends, Aiken visits Mary in her cell to question her. Mary asks Aiken to look in on her daughter Anna, Aiken does so and searches the boarding house for clues. He finds a ticket with the initials LJW, at the court, Weichman - a seminary friend of Marys son John, is the first witness and describes John Surratts meetings with Booth. Aiken incriminates Weichman, making him appear as guilty as the rest of the conspirators, Aiken again tries to give up defending Mary, believing her guilty. He meets with her, intending to get evidence of her guilt and she explains that John and the others conspired to kidnap Lincoln, not to kill him. They were about to attack a carriage but were stopped by Booth who reported that Lincoln was elsewhere and she says John left town and went into hiding after this, two weeks before the assassination
11.
Moneyball (film)
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Moneyball is a 2011 American sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller from a screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Columbia Pictures bought the rights to Lewiss book in 2004, Moneyball was featured at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and was released on September 23,2011 to box office success and critical acclaim. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Actor for Pitt, Best Supporting Actor for Hill, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane is upset by his teams loss to the New York Yankees in the 2001 postseason. During a visit to the Cleveland Indians, Beane meets Peter Brand, Beane tests Brands theory by asking whether he would have drafted him, Beane having been a Major League player before becoming general manager. Though scouts considered Beane a phenomenal prospect, his career in the Major Leagues was disappointing, after some prodding, Brand admits that he would not have drafted him until the ninth round and surmised that Beane would probably have accepted a scholarship to Stanford instead. Impressed, Beane hires the inexperienced Brand to be the Athletics assistant general manager, Oakland team scouts are first dismissive and then hostile towards Brands non-traditional sabermetric approach to scouting players. Most notably, Grady Fuson aggressively confronts Beane, causing him to be fired, Grady then takes to the radio airwaves and doubts the teams future. Rather than relying on the experience and intuition, Brand selects players based almost exclusively on their on-base percentage. Beane signs the ones Brand suggests, such as unorthodox submarine pitcher Chad Bradford, past-his-prime outfielder David Justice, Beane also faces opposition from Art Howe, the Athletics manager, who does not agree with the new philosophy. With tensions already high between the two due to a dispute, Howe disregards Beanes and Brands strategy and plays a lineup he prefers. Early in the season, the Athletics fare poorly, leading critics to dismiss the new method as a failure, Beane convinces the owner to stay the course. He trades away the traditional first baseman, Carlos Peña, to force Howe to use Hatteberg at that position. The As win 19 consecutive games, tying for the longest winning streak in American League history, like many baseball players, Beane is superstitious and avoids games in progress, but upon hearing how well the game is going on the radio, he decides to go. Beane arrives in the inning, only to watch the team falter. Finally, the As do win, on a home run by Hatteberg. After celebrating that, however, the As again lose in the postseason, Beane is disappointed, believing nothing short of a championship should be considered a success. He is contacted by the owner of the Boston Red Sox, Beane declines an opportunity to be GM of the Red Sox, despite the $12.5 million salary, which would have made him the highest-paid general manager in sports history. He returns to Oakland, while an epilogue reveals that two later, the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, using the model pioneered by the Athletics
12.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 Swedish-American psychological thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. This film adaptation was directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, it tells the story of journalist Mikael Blomkvist s investigation to find out what happened to a woman from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years prior. He recruits the help of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, Sony Pictures Entertainment began development on the film in 2009. It took the company a few months to obtain the rights to the novel, while recruiting Zaillian, the casting process for the lead roles was exhaustive and intense, Craig faced scheduling conflicts, and a number of actresses were sought for the role of Lisbeth Salander. The script took six months to write, which included three months of analyzing the novel. Pre-release screenings occurred in London, New York City, and Stockholm, Critics gave the film favorable reviews, praising its bleak tone and lauding Mara and Craigs performances. With a production budget of $90 million, the film grossed $232.6 million over its theatrical run. In addition to being included in several publications best-of lists, the film was a candidate for numerous awards, in Stockholm, Sweden, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, co-owner of Millennium magazine, has lost a libel case brought against him by businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but troubled investigator and hacker, compiles an extensive background check on Blomkvist for business magnate Henrik Vanger, who has a special task for him. In exchange for the promise of damning information about Wennerström, Blomkvist agrees to investigate the disappearance and assumed murder of Henriks grandniece, after moving to the Vanger familys compound, Blomkvist uncovers a notebook containing a list of names and numbers that no one has been able to decipher. Salander, who is under legal guardianship due to diagnosed mental incompetency, is appointed a new guardian, lawyer Nils Bjurman. Bjurman, a sexual sadist, abuses his authority to extort sexual favors from Salander and violently rapes her, not realizing she has a hidden video camera on her bag. At their next meeting she stuns him with a gun, rapes him with a dildo. Threatening to disclose the video recording, she blackmails him into writing a glowing progress report, Blomkvists daughter Pernilla visits him and notes that the numbers from the notebook are Bible references. Blomkvist tells Vangers lawyer, Dirch Frode, that he help with his research. Blomkvist hires Salander to investigate the notebooks content and she uncovers a connection to a series of murders of young women from 1947 through 1967, with the women either being Jewish or having Biblical names, many of the Vangers are known antisemites. During the investigation, Salander and Blomkvist become lovers, Henriks openly national socialist brother Harald identifies Martin, Harriets brother and operational head of the Vanger empire, and Blomkvist marks Martin as a possible suspect. Salanders research uncovers evidence that Martin and his father, Gottfried, committed the murders
13.
Everest (2015 film)
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It stars an ensemble cast of Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. It began a wide release in the United States on 25 September 2015, the film was a commercial blockbuster, grossing $203 million worldwide over a $55 million budget and received positive reviews from critics. Kormákur, Universal, Walden Media, Cross Creek and Working Title dedicated the 3D film to the late British actress Natasha Richardson, in May 1996 several commercial expeditions at base camp of Mount Everest prepare for a climb to the summit. Rob Hall, who popularized commercial Everest missions, leads Adventure Consultants, Scott Fischer is chief guide for Robs rival, Helen Wilton manages Robs base camp. A month earlier in New Zealand, Rob says goodbye to his pregnant wife Jan, at base camp Rob receives a fax from her, informing him their baby is a girl. He wants to name her Sarah, but Jan disagrees, worried about climber crowding, Rob persuades Scott to cooperate to reduce delays. On the summit attempt, Robs group departs Camp IV before dawn, planning to complete the ascent and turn around by 2 PM, the group is delayed over an hour after discovering guide ropes are not installed on upper reaches of the climb. Beck has eyesight problems and stops, Rob tells him to return if his condition does not improve in a half-hour. Scott hurries back down to camp to help another climber, Rob reaches the summit on time and is joined by other climbers including Yasuko, who jubilantly plants her Japan flag in the snow. Descending, Rob encounters Doug struggling just above the Hillary Step, Doug insists on continuing, saying he wont get the chance again. Rob reluctantly agrees and they reach the two hours later, well past safe return time. At the summit Scott is exhausted and increasingly suffering from altitude sickness, as Rob helps Doug descend, a blizzard strikes the mountain and Dougs oxygen bottle runs out, causing him to suffer hypoxia. No extra bottles are stored on the route where Rob asked, Doug, left alone briefly by Rob, semi-consciously unclips himself from the guide rope and walks unsteadily along the narrow path. He silently topples to his death a moment later and he tells fellow climbers to continue descending without him. He lies down and later dies, returning climbers reach Beck, his vision still impaired, but they all become lost as the blizzard obliterates the trail. Three climbers go for help, leaving Beck and Yasuko behind, guide Andy Harold Harris reaches Rob with spare oxygen, but it is frozen shut. They huddle in place in the storm, while Rob sleeps, Andy hallucinates, a danger the camp doctor warned of. He strips off his clothing and slides off the mountainside to his death
14.
Wonder Woman (2017 film)
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Wonder Woman is an upcoming American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. It is intended to be the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe. In Wonder Woman, after American pilot Steve Trevor crashes on the island of Themyscira and tells Diana Prince about World War I, Diana leaves her home to try to stop the war, principal photography began in late November 2015 and wrapped in May 2016. Wonder Woman is scheduled to be released on June 2,2017, in 2D, 3D, in the early 20th century, the Amazon princess Diana, who is living on the island of Themyscira, meets American military pilot Steve Trevor when he is washed ashore. After learning from him about the events of World War I. Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, The Amazon princess, daughter of Zeus, Gadot described her character as having many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day shes a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence. Very different to the experienced, super-confident, grown-up woman youve seen, Gadot underwent a diet and training regimen, practiced different martial arts and gained 17 pounds of muscle for the role. Élodie Yung and Olga Kurylenko had also auditioned for the role, Gadot was previously offered the role as Faora Hu-Ul in Man of Steel but declined because she was pregnant at that time, this allowed her to be later cast as Wonder Woman in the films sequel. Gadot signed a deal and debuted in Batman v Superman. Emily Carey portrays the young Diana, chris Pine as Steve Trevor, A captain from the United States Army Air Service and love interest of Diana Prince. Pine described his character as a rogue-ish, cynical realist whos seen the awful nature of modern civilization and added he is a worldly guy. Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, The Amazon queen of Themyscira, Nicole Kidman was in negotiations for the role but was forced to drop due to scheduling conflicts with Big Little Lies. Nielsen had previously considered for the role of Supermans mother, Lara Lor-Van. Robin Wright as General Antiope, The sister of Hippolyta and Dianas aunt, david Thewlis as Ares, The treacherous Greek god of war, and son of Zeus who poses as Sir Patrick Morgan, an advocate for peace on the war council. Danny Huston as General Erich Ludendorff, An ambitious general of the German Army during World War I, elena Anaya as Maru / Doctor Poison, A mad scientist who specializes in chemistry such as poisons. Lucy Davis as Etta Candy, Steve Trevors comical but loyal, Saïd Taghmaoui as Sameer, A secret agent who is a master of disguise, an ally of Steve Trevor. Ewen Bremner as Charlie, A heavy-drinking sharpshooter, who’s already had a tour of duty and has post-traumatic stress disorder, mayling Ng, Florence Kasumba, Madeleine Vall, and boxer Ann Wolfe play the Amazons Orana, Senator Acantha, Egeria, and Artemis, respectively. Dutch model Doutzen Kroes will also portray an Amazon, samantha Jo, who played Car-Vex in Man of Steel, was cast as Euboea
15.
Blade Runner 2049
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Blade Runner 2049 is an upcoming American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. The film is set for release in the United States on October 6,2017, in 2D, 3D, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, discovers a dark secret that might bring an end to humanity. Ks discovery leads him to find Rick Deckard, a former runner who disappeared thirty years ago. Stuart Hazeldine had written a sequel to the film based on The Edge of Human, titled Blade Runner Down, however, Ridley Scott considered developing a sequel, tentatively titled Metropolis, and again announced his interest in developing the project while attending the San Diego Comic Con. Eagle Eye co-writer Travis Wright worked with producer Bud Yorkin for several years on the project, in June 2009, The New York Times reported that Scott, along with his brother Tony Scott, were working on a Blade Runner prequel, set in 2019. The prequel, Purefold, was planned as a series of 5–10 minute shorts, aimed first at the web, due to rights issues the proposed series was not to be linked too closely to the characters or events of the 1982 film. On February 7,2010, it was announced production on Purefold had ceased. On March 4,2011, io9 reported that Yorkin was developing a new Blade Runner film and it was also reported that month that director Christopher Nolan was the desired choice to make the film. It was announced on August 18,2011, that Scott was to be at the helm of a new installment, indications from producer Andrew A. Kosove were that Ford was unlikely to be involved in the project. Scott later said that the film was liable to be a sequel but without the previous cast, to be clear, what we are trying to do with Ridley now is go through the painstaking process of trying to break the back of the story. The casting of the movie could not be further from our minds at this moment, when Scott was asked about the possibility of a sequel in October 2012, he said, Its not a rumor—its happening. Well, he was a Nexus-6 so we dont know how long he can live, and thats all Im going to say at this stage. Scott said in November 2014 that he would no longer direct the film, Scott also revealed that filming would begin sometime in late 2014 or 2015, and that Fords character will only appear in the third act of the sequel. On February 26,2015, the sequel was officially confirmed, Ford was confirmed to return as Deckard, as was original writer Hampton Fancher, with the film expected to enter production in mid-2016. On April 16,2015, Ryan Gosling entered negotiations for a role, Gosling confirmed his casting in November 2015, citing the involvement of Villeneuve and Deakins as factors for his decision to join the film. On May 20, Roger Deakins was hired as director of photography, principal photography was set to begin in July, with Warner Bros. distributing the film domestically and Columbia Pictures handling international release. An official release date of January 12,2018, was announced on February 18,2016, when interviewed at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, Villeneuve disclosed that the plot would include the ambiguity of whether or not Deckard is a human or a replicant. On March 31,2016, Robin Wright entered final negotiations for a role in the film, Bautista and Wright were confirmed to be joining the cast on April 4, and a filming start date of July was established
16.
Claire Underwood
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Claire Hale Underwood is a fictional character in House of Cards, played by Robin Wright. She is the wife of the shows protagonist Francis J. Frank Underwood, Underwood made her first appearance in the series pilot episode, Chapter 1. The character is based on Elizabeth Urquhart, a character from the British miniseries from which the current series is derived, unlike the original character, however, Claire has her own storylines. The role has been critically acclaimed and she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for this role at the 65th, 66th and 67th Primetime Emmy Awards. Claire Hale Underwood is originally from the exclusive Highland Park enclave of Dallas, Texas and her late father was a major Texas Republican. While at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, she met Francis J. Underwood and she is of wealthy background and the show characterizes her as a Dallas Debutante and Lily White. She recounts her father taking her to Dealey Plaza, where John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and that she felt “so sad, so angry. ”She has a relationship with her mother, Elizabeth Hale. Brian Stelter of The New York Times described her as Frank Underwoods conniving wife and described the Underwoods as the scheming husband and she is a woman who will stop at nothing to conquer everything. Hank Stuever of The Washington Post describes her as an ice-queen wife, the Independents Sarah Hughes echoes this description, saying she is so dedicated to the couples schemes that it is clear she will execute them herself if Frank wavers. Following season 4, Robin Wright stated that she felt Claire Underwood was the equal of Frank Underwood, while Frank is Machiavellian, Claire presents a woman urging on her husbands assertion of power in the image of Lady Macbeth. She encourages his vices while noting her disapproval of his weaknesses and this gives a credibility to their symbiosis. Nancy deWolf Smith of The Wall Street Journal describes Claire as a blonde who manages to be masculine. Los Angeles Times critic Mary McNamara makes the case that House of Cards is a story on many levels. She leaves him in the finale, but comes back in the fourth season. When he is shot during an event, Claire privately admits that she feels nothing for him. Throughout the season, she works behind the scenes to undermine Franks election campaign and she also has an affair with her speechwriter Tom Yates, with Franks approval. Claire is a lobbyist who runs a group while serving as her husbands primary accomplice. After President Garrett Walker goes back on his promise to make Frank Secretary of State, Frank enlists Claire to help him get revenge and she and Frank scheme nightly over a cigarette, and together they maneuver their way into Walkers inner circle
17.
Netflix
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Netflix is an American entertainment company founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph on August 29,1997, in Scotts Valley, California. It specializes in and provides streaming media and video-on-demand online and DVD by mail, in 2013, Netflix expanded into film and television production, as well as online distribution. As of 2017 the company has its headquarters in Los Gatos, Netflixs initial business model included DVD sales and rental, although Hastings jettisoned DVD sales about a year after Netflixs founding to focus on the DVD rental by mail business. In 2007, Netflix expanded its business with the introduction of streaming media, while retaining the DVD, Netflix entered the content-production industry in 2013, debuting its first series, House of Cards. It has greatly expanded the production of film and television series since then, offering Netflix Original content through its online library of films. Netflix released an estimated 126 original series or films in 2016, in January 2017, Netflix reported having over 93 million subscribers worldwide, including more than 49 million in the United States. Netflix was founded on August 29,1997, in Scotts Valley, California, by Marc Randolph, Randolph worked as marketing director for Hastings company, Pure Atria Corporation. Randolph was a co-founder of MicroWarehouse, a mail order company. Hastings, a computer scientist and mathematician, sold Pure Atria to Rational Software Corporation in 1997 for $700 million in what was then the richest acquisition in Silicon Valley history. Hastings, Randolphs mother and Integrity QA founder Steve Kahn invested $2.5 million in cash for Netflix. Randolph admired the fledgling e-commerce company Amazon and wanted to find a category of portable items to sell over the internet using a similar model. He and Hastings considered and rejected VHS tapes as too expensive to stock and too delicate to ship. When they heard about DVDs, which were available in only a few markets in 1997, when the disc arrived intact, they decided to take on the $16 billion home video sales and rental industry. Netflix introduced the monthly subscription concept in September 1999, and then dropped the model in early 2000. Since that time, the company has built its reputation on the model of flat-fee unlimited rentals without due dates, late fees, shipping and handling fees. In 2000, Netflix offered to be acquired by Blockbuster for $50 million, Netflix initiated an initial public offering on May 29,2002, selling 5.5 million shares of common stock at the price of US$15.00 per share. On June 14,2002, the company sold an additional 825,000 shares of stock at the same price. After incurring substantial losses during its first few years, Netflix posted its first profit during fiscal year 2003, in 2005,35,000 different films were available, and Netflix shipped 1 million DVDs out every day
18.
House of Cards (U.S. TV series)
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House of Cards is an American political drama web television series created by Beau Willimon. It is an adaptation of the BBCs mini-series of the name and is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs. The thirteen episode first season premiered on February 1,2013, thirteen episode seasons followed on February 14,2014, February 27,2015 and March 4,2016. Netflix announced a season due for release on May 30,2017. Willimon has stated plans for the shows future are decided after each season. House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood, a Democrat from South Carolinas 5th congressional district and House Majority Whip. After being passed over for appointment as Secretary of State, he initiates a plan to get himself into a position of greater power, aided by his wife. The series deals primarily with themes of pragmatism, manipulation. House of Cards has received reviews and several award nominations. It is the first original online-only web television series to receive major Emmy nominations, the show also earned eight Golden Globe Award nominations, with Wright winning for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2014 and Spacey winning for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2015. However, Underwood soon learns that he is no longer being considered for the position, Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez tells Underwood that the president wants him to promote his agenda in Congress and will not honor their agreement. Inwardly seething, Underwood quickly gains control of his anger and hides his disappointment to present himself as a lieutenant to the president. In reality, Underwood begins a plan behind the presidents back. Franks wife Claire runs an NGO, the Clean Water Initiative, using the charity to cultivate her own power and influence, yet its ultimate purpose remains unknown. Despite the success of the operation, Claire seeks to expand its scope to the international stage and they both work with Remy Danton, a corporate lobbyist and former Underwood staffer, to secure funds for their operations and further their influence. Underwood begins a highly intricate plan to obtain a cabinet position, meanwhile, he manipulates Peter Russo, a troubled alcoholic and congressman from Pennsylvania, into helping him undermine Walkers pick for Secretary of State, Senator Michael Kern. Underwood eventually has Kern replaced with his own choice, Senator Catherine Durant, Underwood also uses Russo in a plot to end a teachers strike and pass an education bill, which improves Underwoods standing with President Walker. Because the new Vice President is the governor of Pennsylvania
19.
San Diego
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San Diego is a major city in California, United States. It is in San Diego County, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, approximately 120 miles south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico. With an estimated population of 1,394,928 as of July 1,2015, San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California. It is part of the San Diego–Tijuana conurbation, the second-largest transborder agglomeration between the US and a country after Detroit–Windsor, with a population of 4,922,723 people. San Diego has been called the birthplace of California, historically home to the Kumeyaay people, San Diego was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain, the Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá, founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California. In 1821, San Diego became part of the newly independent Mexico, in 1850, California became part of the United States following the Mexican–American War and the admission of California to the union. The city is the seat of San Diego County and is the center of the region as well as the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. San Diegos main economic engines are military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, the presence of the University of California, San Diego, with the affiliated UCSD Medical Center, has helped make the area a center of research in biotechnology. The original inhabitants of the region are now known as the San Dieguito, the area of San Diego has been inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. The first European to visit the region was Portuguese-born explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailing under the flag of Castile, sailing his flagship San Salvador from Navidad, New Spain, Cabrillo claimed the bay for the Spanish Empire in 1542, and named the site San Miguel. In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno was sent to map the California coast, in May 1769, Gaspar de Portolà established the Fort Presidio of San Diego on a hill near the San Diego River. It was the first settlement by Europeans in what is now the state of California, in July of the same year, Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Franciscan friars under Junípero Serra. By 1797, the mission boasted the largest native population in Alta California, with over 1,400 neophytes living in, Mission San Diego was the southern anchor in California of the historic mission trail El Camino Real. Both the Presidio and the Mission are National Historic Landmarks, in 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain, and San Diego became part of the Mexican territory of Alta California. In 1822, Mexico began attempting to extend its authority over the territory of Alta California. The fort on Presidio Hill was gradually abandoned, while the town of San Diego grew up on the land below Presidio Hill. The Mission was secularized by the Mexican government in 1833, the 432 residents of the town petitioned the governor to form a pueblo, and Juan María Osuna was elected the first alcalde, defeating Pío Pico in the vote
20.
La Jolla High School
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La Jolla High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9–12 located in La Jolla, California, a community within the city limits of San Diego. Opened in 1922, La Jolla High School is San Diego Unified School District’s second oldest campus, the site encompasses 12 acres with 14 permanent buildings. LJHS, one of the 16 high schools in the district, is located in La Jolla, modernization of the school has been funded through Proposition MM, The Foundation of La Jolla High School, the ongoing efforts of the PTA, and other community partnerships. LJHS has been cited as one of the top schools in the nation and is also recognized as an Achievement via Individual Determination School of Distinction. In addition, LJHS was the first public high school west of the Mississippi to earn a chapter in the Cum Laude Society, in 2003, LJHS was named a California Distinguished School. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the PTA also aims to bring the home and the school together, so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth. In 1997, the controversial PTA Volunteer Hours program was discontinued under former principal Dana Shelburne, the program, which was reportedly not put in writing until 1996, allowed PTA parents who volunteered over 75 hours to exercise specific control over their students schedule and teachers. A PTA brochure stated that the program allowed parents to create a schedule for their child. Under heavy criticism from VEEP parents, Shelburne said that the program was shut down due to the burden on the PTA. The Foundation is the organization for LJHS. The Site Governance team meets on the first Monday of each month, agenda items, which can be submitted by anyone, are turned in to the elected chair prior to the meeting. The role of the Governance Committee is to provide a forum for examination of issues relating to LJHS, the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies of LJHS fall within the purview of the Governance Committee. The School Site Counsel meets after Site Governance, and some members are in both groups, the La Jolla Cluster Association, established in April 2010, meets every third Thursday of the month. The LJCA is an organization that serves the five La Jolla public schools, La Jolla High, Muirlands Middle, and Birdrock, La Jolla, the executive board consists of 10 parents,10 teachers, and five principals. The current LJHS population stands at approximately 1,500 students in grades 9-12, all LJHS teachers have a valid credential for the subjects they teach and SDUSD has certified that the site is 100 percent No Child Left Behind compliant. Caucasian students make up a more than one half of the student population with Hispanic students comprising the largest minority population. LJHS is made up of 61% residential students and 39% nonresidential, of the approximately 1,500 students currently enrolled at LJHS, 24% are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Various students are enrolled in Voluntary Ethnic Enrollment Plan, CHOICE, Program Improvement School Choice, NCLB, LJHS does not receive any Title I funds
21.
William Howard Taft Charter High School
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The school gained affiliated charter status beginning with the 2013–2014 school year. Named after former U. S. President William Howard Taft, the school has received local and state recognition for its high quality academic and athletic programs as well as its teachers, staff and administration. Over the past 10 years the school has gone through major renovations to improve its facilities. New paint and landscaping work has been added to areas around the school. Taft won the United States National Academic Decathlon in 1989,1994, in 2008 Taft High School was awarded the SSP NanoTechnology grant from the State of California. The academy was set to start in September 2009, TCHS has seen a significant rise in its standardized test scores. In 2012, API jumped by 43 points to a score of 790, all subgroups met or surpassed their API target score. First time CAHSEE pass rate has increased markedly since 2010, in ELA, pass rate has gone from 82% to 91% with our percent proficient or above rising from 55% to 64%. Math pass rate has increased from 83% to 90% with the percent proficient or above rising from 55% to 68%. Over the last five years, CST ELA proficient and advanced scores have increased from 49. 8% to 60. 9% while BB and FBB percentages have dropped from 25. 2% to 14. 5%, CST math scores improved during the same time period, although less dramatically. Advanced and proficient scores rose over the last five years from 28. 7% to 32. 9% while BB and FBB scores fell from 42. 7% to 41. 2%, Science CST scores significantly improved over the last five years. Advanced and proficient scores rose from 39. 6% to 52. 8% while BB and FBB scores dropped from 30. 8% to 19. 4%, social Science scores had similar results. Advanced and proficient scores increased from 39. 1% to 52. 3%, design, implement, and maintain course offering with emphasis on college preparation and career pathways. Develop and implement collaborative protocols for interdisciplinary work in performance task/project-based instruction, in order to achieve this all students meet annually with their counselors to review their academic progress and revise their individualized academic plan. In addition, The Department of Transitions staff assists special education students with career, the school psychologist, school nurse, academic counselors, college counselor, and resource specialists provide support services or referral to outside agencies. TCHS also refers students as needed to other programs offered by West Valley Occupational Center, TCHS provides free, daily tutoring in core subject areas as well as providing extra tutoring and pull out sessions to students who are in danger of not passing the CAHSEE. To further support potential dropouts TCHS will reestablish successful programs and reinstate support positions that have been lost due to budget cuts. To target the incoming ninth grade population, counselors, teachers, students, the school conducts tours for parents of prospective students
22.
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
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Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. Woodland Hills is an affluent neighborhood in the region of the San Fernando Valley which is located east of Calabasas. On the north it is bordered by West Hills, Canoga Park, and Winnetka, some neighborhoods are in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Running east–west through the community are U. S. Route 101 and Ventura Boulevard, the first Europeans to enter the San Fernando Valley were the Portola Expedition in 1769, exploring Alta California for Spanish missions and settlements locations. Seeing it from present-day Sepulveda Pass, the oak savanna inspired them to call the area El Valle de Santa Catalina de Bononia de Los Encinos, the Mission San Fernando Rey de España was established in 1797 and controlled the Valleys land, including future Woodland Hills. Ownership of the half of the valley, south of present-day Roscoe Boulevard from Toluca Lake to Woodland Hills. Moses Sherman and others in 1910, victor Girard Kleinberger bought 2,886 acres in the area from Chandlers group and founded the town of Girard in 1922. He sought to attract residents and businesses by developing an infrastructure, advertising in newspapers and his 300 pepper trees formed a canopy over Canoga Ave. between Ventura Boulevard and Saltillo St. became Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #93 in 1972. The community of Girard was eventually incorporated into Los Angeles, Woodland Hills has a firmly subtropical mediterranean climate. Within the San Fernando Valley, Woodland Hills generally experiences some of the extreme temperature changes season to season than other regions. During the summer, temperatures are very hot, while during the winter. On July 22,2006, Woodland Hills recorded the highest temperature ever in Los Angeles County, the climate is classified as a Csa in the Köppen climate classification, which is characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. This climate is referred to as mediterranean. Precipitation in Woodland Hills averages much the same as most other regions of the west San Fernando Valley, in 2008 the population of Woodland Hills was approximately 63,000. The median age in 2000 was 40, considered old when compared to city and county jurisdictions. As of the 2000 census, and according to the Los Angeles Almanac, there were 67,006 people and 29,119 households residing in Woodland Hills. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 79. 90% White,6. 97% Asian,0. 13% Pacific Islander,3. 34% African American,0. 33% Native American,4. 80% from other races, and 4. 52% from two or more races. 11. 94% of the population were Hispanic of any race, in population, it is one of the least dense neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and the percentage of white people is high for the county
23.
2009 Toronto International Film Festival
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The 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 10 and September 19,2009. The opening night gala presented the Charles Darwin biography Creation, the Young Victoria, based on the early years of Queen Victoria, closed the festival on September 19. TIFF is an organization whose goal is to change the way people look at the world through film. The festival is Canadas largest film festival, receiving 4,209 submissions in 2008, of this total,312 films were screened coming from 64 different countries. TIFF creates an economic impact of $135 million CAD. Aided by over 2,000 volunteers,100 full-time staff members and 500 seasonal or part-time staff are responsible for organizing the festival, two screenings of each of the invited films are presented to the public and at least one screening is provided for press and industry. The 2009 festival contained 19 different Programmes, or categories of films, after the ten days of film, the Awards reception was held at Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street in Toronto. Perhaps the most prestigious of the awards was bestowed to Lee Danielss Precious and this award was the 2009 Cadillac Peoples Choice Award and is based solely on votes by Festival audiences. This award carries a $15,000 cash prize and also comes with a custom made award from Cadillac and it is widely considered to be the most prestigious because it has had the greatest impact on audiences and inspires film distributors to sign the winning film for larger international releases. Last years winner Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle, went on to huge international spotlight which culminated at the 2009 Academy Awards where it won Best Picture. Lee Daniels Precious was also a big Oscar contender as it was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, however it lost to The Hurt Locker, the First runner-up was Bruce Beresfords Maos Last Dancer and the second runner-up was Jean-Pierre Jeunets Micmacs. The City of Toronto and Astral Medias The Movie Network Award for Best Canadian Feature Film went to Cairo Time directed by Ruba Nadda, sponsored by Astral Medias the Movie Network and the City of Toronto, this award came with a cash prize of $30,000. Future endeavors by the TIFF will be aided by the construction of TIFF Bell Lightbox. Complete with 5 cinemas, learning studios, galleries and a rooftop lounge, the protest leaders emphasized that it is not a call for a boycott. We protest that TIFF, whether intentionally or not, has become complicit in the Israeli propaganda machine, jacobovici asked Why does want to align himself with Holocaust deniers. Others accused those who signed the protest letter as engaging in a boycott of Israel films, rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has stated that it is clear that the script are reading from might as well have been written by Hamas. History long ago proved him right, the same openness should apply to a film festival. In response to the protest, a number of Hollywood stars circulated a counter-protest letter on September 15,2009, blacklisting them only stifles the exchange of cultural knowledge that artists should be the first to defend and protect
24.
Screen Actors Guild
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The Screen Actors Guild was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30,2012, the leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to merge with the American Federation of Television. The Screen Actors Guild was associated with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America, AAAA is affiliated with the AFL–CIO. Internationally, the SAG was affiliated with the International Federation of Actors. C, since 1995, the guild annually awarded the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are considered an indicator of success at the Academy Awards. This award is continued by SAG-AFTRA, in 1925, the Masquers Club was formed by actors discontent with the grueling work hours at the Hollywood studios. This was one of the concerns which led to the creation of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933. A meeting in March 1933 of six led to the guilds foundation. Aubrey Smith, Charles Starrett, Richard Tucker, Arthur Vinton, Morgan Wallace, many high-profile actors refused to join SAG initially. This changed when the producers made an agreement amongst themselves not to bid competitively for talent, a pivotal meeting, at the home of Frank Morgan, was what gave SAG its critical mass. Cantors participation was critical, particularly because of his friendship with the recently elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt, after several years and the passage of the National Labor Relations Act, the producers agreed to negotiate with SAG in 1937. Robinson, Edwin Stanley, Gloria Stuart, Lyle Talbot, Franchot Tone, Warren William, Ten of those summoned, dubbed the Hollywood Ten, refused to cooperate and were charged with contempt of Congress and sentenced to prison. The president of SAG – future United States President Ronald Reagan – also known to the FBI as Confidential Informant T-10, testified before the committee but never publicly named names. He felt that lacking a definite stand on the part of the government, subsequently, a climate of fear, enhanced by the threat of detention under the provisions of the McCarran Internal Security Act, permeated the film industry. On November 17,1947, the Screen Actors Guild voted to force its officers to take a non-communist pledge, none of those blacklisted were proven to advocate overthrowing the government – most simply had Marxist or socialist views. The Waldorf Statement marked the beginning of the Hollywood blacklist that saw hundreds of people prevented from working in the film industry, unfortunately, there are no credits to restore, nor any other belated recognition that we can offer our members who were blacklisted. They could not work under assumed names or employ surrogates to front for them, an actors work and his or her identity are inseparable. The Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minorities Committee was co-founded in 1972 by actors Henry Darrow, Edith Diaz, Ricardo Montalban, the Screen Actors Guild Womens Committee was founded in 1972. In 1998, Naomi Marquez filed suit against SAG and Lakeside Productions claiming they had breached their duty of fair representation, the claim was denied by the Supreme Court
25.
Daniel Defoe
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Daniel Defoe, born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy, most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe. He was also a pioneer of economic journalism, Daniel Foe was probably born in Fore Street in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, London. Defoe later added the aristocratic-sounding De to his name, and on occasion claimed descent from the family of De Beau Faux and his birthdate and birthplace are uncertain, and sources offer dates from 1659–1662, with 1660 considered the most likely. His father James Foe was a tallow chandler and a member of the Worshipful Company of Butchers. In 1667, when he was probably about seven, a Dutch fleet sailed up the Medway via the River Thames and his mother Annie had died by the time he was about ten. Defoe was educated at the Rev. James Fishers boarding school in Pixham Lane in Dorking, during this period, the English government persecuted those who chose to worship outside the Church of England. Defoe entered the world of business as a merchant, dealing at different times in hosiery, general woollen goods. His ambitions were great and he was able to buy a country estate, in 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley, the daughter of a London merchant, receiving a dowry of £3,700 – a huge amount by the standards of the day. With his debts and political difficulties, the marriage may have been troubled, in 1685, Defoe joined the ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion but gained a pardon, by which he escaped the Bloody Assizes of Judge George Jeffreys. Queen Mary and her husband William III were jointly crowned in 1688, and Defoe became one of Williams close allies, some of the new policies led to conflict with France, thus damaging prosperous trade relationships for Defoe, who had established himself as a merchant. In 1692, Defoe was arrested for debts of £700, though his total debts may have amounted to £17,000 and his laments were loud and he always defended unfortunate debtors, but there is evidence that his financial dealings were not always honest. Following his release, he travelled in Europe and Scotland, and it may have been at this time that he traded wine to Cadiz, Porto. By 1695, he was back in England, now using the name Defoe and serving as a commissioner of the glass duty. In 1696, he ran a tile and brick factory in what is now Tilbury in Essex, Defoes first notable publication was An Essay upon Projects, a series of proposals for social and economic improvement, published in 1697. From 1697 to 1698, he defended the right of King William III to an army during disarmament. His most successful poem, The True-Born Englishman, defended the king against the perceived xenophobia of his enemies, satirising the English claim to racial purity. In 1701, Defoe presented the Legions Memorial to the Speaker of the House of Commons, later his employer Robert Harley and it demanded the release of the Kentish petitioners, who had asked Parliament to support the king in an imminent war against France. The death of William III in 1702 once again created a political upheaval, in it, he ruthlessly satirised both the High church Tories and those Dissenters who hypocritically practised so-called occasional conformity, such as his Stoke Newington neighbour Sir Thomas Abney
26.
Moll Flanders (1996 film)
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Moll Flanders is a 1996 film starring Robin Wright and Morgan Freeman. The film was directed by Pen Densham, the original music score was composed by Mark Mancina. The film is based on the novel of the name by Daniel Defoe. The daughter of a thief, young Moll is placed in the care of a nunnery after the execution of her mother, however, the actions of an abusive priest lead Moll to rebel as a teenager, escaping to the dangerous streets of London. Further misfortunes drive her to accept a job as a prostitute from the conniving Mrs. Allworthy and it is there that Moll first meets Hibble, who is working as Allworthys servant but takes a special interest in the young womans well-being. With his help, she retains hope for the future, ultimately falling in love with an unconventional artist who promises the possibility of romantic happiness, a problem many critics had was with the movie largely throwing out the original Defoe story and structuring it like Forrest Gump. Roger Ebert gave the three stars and said of the film its an original, Densham took only the name, the period, and a few notions from Defoe. The film was released in 1996, but still uses a 1995 copyright notice in the closing credits, Moll Flanders at the Internet Movie Database Moll Flanders at AllMovie
27.
Screen Actors Guild Award
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The statuette given, a nude male figure holding both a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy, is called The Actor. It is 16 inches tall, weighs over 12 pounds, is cast in solid bronze, SAG Awards have been one of the major awards events in Hollywood since 1995. It is considered an indicator of success at the Academy Awards, the awards have been telecast since 1998 on TNT, and since 2007 have been simulcast on TBS. The inaugural SAG Awards aired live on February 25,1995 from Universal Studios Stage 12, the second SAG awards aired live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, while subsequent awards have been held at the Shrine Exposition Center
28.
She's So Lovely
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Shes So Lovely is a 1997 film directed by Nick Cassavetes, written by John Cassavetes. At the time of its release, it received attention because, eight years after his death. The film stars Sean Penn and John Travolta as the men who bid for the affection of Maureen Murphy Quinn. Harry Dean Stanton costars as a friend of Penns character, Eddie Quinns unruly wife Maureen drinks and smokes to excess, even though she is pregnant. Eddie has troubles of his own, disappearing for days at a time, when she is physically and sexually assaulted by Kiefer, a neighbor, it is more than Eddie can handle. He shoots someone and lands in a psychiatric hospital, Eddie finally returns, only to find Maureen is now a clean, sober, solid citizen, married to a new man, Joey, and a mother of three children, one of whom is Eddies own daughter. Eddies return complicates and endangers all of their lives, Sean Penn won the award for Best Actor at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. Robin Wright received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the 4th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Shes So Lovely at the Internet Movie Database Shes So Lovely at AllMovie Shes So Lovely at Rotten Tomatoes Shes So Lovely at Box Office Mojo
29.
Empire Falls
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Empire Falls is a 2001 novel written by Richard Russo. Set in the decaying, nearly bankrupt, small town of Empire Falls, Maine, this is the story of the manager of the Empire Grill, Miles Roby. The town, and Miles life to a degree, is controlled by the Whitings. Miles is separated and later divorced from Janine, who has become a cocky, selfish person after losing weight and exercising rigorously. This is partly due to encouragement from Walt Comeau, the owner of a local fitness center who visits the Empire Grill daily and has moved into Robys old house. Roby is protective of his teenage daughter, nicknamed Tick. Tick is dealing with Zack Minty, her ex-boyfriend who continues to pursue her, in addition, Tick has a complicated friendship with John Voss, an emotionally disturbed boy at school. The obnoxious jock Zack and his friends constantly bully John, Miles is the seemingly content manager of the Empire Grill in Empire Falls, Maine and is divorced with one teenaged daughter. A blue-collar gentleman with his principles intact, he lives in an apartment over the restaurant he has managed ever since he dropped out of college to look after his dying mother. However, this has left him constantly accountable to Francine Whiting, causing others to him to open a business of his own. She has developed a selfish attitude, damaging her relationship with her daughter and she gained ownership of the house and custody of their daughter, while Miles ended up in an apartment above the Empire Grill. Janine resents Miles and their daughter Ticks close relationship, as the story progresses, Janine finds that tables are turning on her for the worse. Christina Tick Roby—Miles and Janines daughter and she enjoys a loving relationship with both her father and grandmother. Tick is smart, friendly, and more sympathetic than most of her classmates and her mothers engagement has a negative impact on her, Tick despises Walt, who is trying to act like a father figure, and she resents her mother. A former alcoholic, a marijuana plant grower, and a car-crash survivor. His talent brings a considerable amount of business to the diner and he encourages Miles to take risks, having promised their mother to watch after Miles. It is also implied that David is actually Miles half-brother, through flashbacks with their mother, disheveled and constantly defiant of those around him, Max has no problem saying what he thinks of people, even directly to their faces. He is happy to accept any handout, even when it means stealing money from the church, Max has a lifelong affinity for Key West, Florida
30.
2009 Cannes Film Festival
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The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 May –24 May 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury and it was announced on 19 March 2009, that Pixars film Up would open the festival. This marked the first time that a film or a film in 3-D opened the festival. * First animated film ever to open the festival, the following films competed for the Palme dOr
31.
Frank Underwood (House of Cards)
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Francis J. Frank Underwood is a fictional character and the protagonist of the American version of House of Cards. He is portrayed by Kevin Spacey and he is a variation of Francis Urquhart, the protagonist of the British novel and television series House of Cards, from which the American Netflix series is adapted. He is married to Claire Underwood, but also had a relationship with Zoe Barnes in season 1. He made his first appearance in the pilot episode, Chapter 1. Underwood is from Gaffney, South Carolina and he graduated from The Sentinel, a fictionalized version of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and Harvard Law School. Some of Underwoods dialogue throughout the series is presented in an address to the audience. The character speaks with a Southern accent, during season 1, he is the Democratic Majority Whip in the United States House of Representatives. In season 2, he is the newly appointed Vice President of the United States, Frank is described as manipulative, conniving, Machiavellian, psychopathic, and even evil. Spacey has received positive reviews for his portrayal of Frank Underwood, Spacey shared the distinction of being among the first three leading web-television roles to be nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. Spacey has also nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, winning one, and five Screen Actors Guild Awards, including two cast nominations and including two wins, for his performance. Francis J. Underwood was born on November 5,1959 to Catherine and Calvin T. Underwood in Gaffney and he was raised in impoverished circumstances, with the threat of bank foreclosure on the farm they lived on. He entered the The Sentinel, a school in Charleston, South Carolina, loosely based on The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. He graduated in 1980 and was accepted into Harvard Law School that fall, despite poor grades at The Sentinel, he was able to graduate from law school in 1984. He had a relationship with his friend from military school, Tim Corbet. Underwood was raised Christian, but privately holds God in complete contempt and he served at the Bloody Angle on May 12,1864, during the Civil War and was killed by a bludgeon to the back of the head from his own regiment during the middle of the night. Underwood is fascinated by his ancestry, when Underwood falls into a coma following an assassination attempt, Augustus appears in several of his hallucinations. However, he dismisses the Confederacy as weak and calls their cause of preserving the institution of slavery asinine and his great-great grandfather was two when Augustus was killed. His father, Calvin T. Underwood, was a farmer in his home town of Gaffney who died at the age of 43 of a heart attack
32.
Kevin Spacey
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Kevin Spacey Fowler, better known as Kevin Spacey, is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and singer. He began his career as an actor during the 1980s before obtaining supporting roles in film. In Broadway theatre, Spacey won a Tony Award for his role in Lost in Yonkers and he was the artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London from 2004 until stepping down in mid-2015. Since 2013, Spacey has played Frank Underwood in the Netflix political drama series House of Cards, Spacey was born in South Orange, New Jersey, to Kathleen Ann, a secretary, and Thomas Geoffrey Fowler, a technical writer and data consultant. He has two siblings, a sister, Julie, and a brother, Randy. He has English, Swedish, and Welsh ancestry and his family relocated to Southern California when Spacey was four years old. He attended Northridge Military Academy, Canoga Park High School, and then Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, California, where he graduated co-valedictorian of his class in 1977. At Chatsworth, Spacey starred in the senior production of The Sound of Music. He took Spacey as his stage name, several reports have incorrectly suggested that he took his name in tribute to actor Spencer Tracy, combining Tracys first and last names. He had tried to succeed as a comedian for several years, before attending the Juilliard School in New York City, during this time period, Spacey performed stand-up comedy in bowling alley talent contests. Spaceys first professional appearance was as a spear carrier in a New York Shakespeare Festival performance of Henry VI. The following year, he made his first Broadway appearance, as Oswald in a production of Henrik Ibsens Ghosts, then he portrayed Philinte in Molières The Misanthrope. In 1984, he appeared in a production of David Rabes Hurlyburly, next came Anton Chekhovs The Seagull. In 1986, he appeared in a production of Sleuth in a New Jersey dinner theatre, Lemmon in particular would become a mentor to Spacey. He made his first major appearance in the second-season premiere of Crime Story. Although his interest soon turned to film, Spacey remained actively involved in the theater community. In 1991, he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Uncle Louie in Neil Simons Broadway hit Lost in Yonkers, Spaceys father was unconvinced that Spacey could make a career for himself as an actor, and did not change his mind until Spacey became well-known. Some of Spaceys early roles include a widowed eccentric millionaire on L. A. Law, the television miniseries The Murder of Mary Phagan, opposite Lemmon, and he earned a fan base after playing the criminally insane arms dealer Mel Profitt on the television series Wiseguy
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