Cord Jefferson’s Insightful Satire Of Race And Media, ‘American Fiction,’ Lights Up TIFF
TORONTO, Ontario — Cord Jefferson wanted to turn Percival Everett’s “Erasure” into a film script after 50 pages. Halfway through, he noticed Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, the book’s intellectual protagonist. He knew he wanted to direct it by the time he was completed.
Cord Jefferson, the 41-year-old TV writer of “Succession,” “Master of None,” and “Watchmen,” began work on his directorial debut, “American Fiction,” almost immediately. Similarly, following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, “American Fiction” quickly became the festival’s breakout smash, establishing Jefferson as a prominent new voice in film.
Monk (Wright) is a disgruntled author whose agent (John Ortiz) tells him his writings — the most recent of which is a rewriting of Aeschylus’ “The Persians” — aren’t “Black enough.” “I’m Black,” he says, “and this is my book.”
Monk, played by Wright with sardonic precision and amusing contempt, writes as a drunken lark, a book meant to spoof the kinds that sell and appeal to white audiences’ perceptions of Black people. Under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh, he scribbles a thug life trauma porn named “My Pafology” that, surprise, sells and is bought for movie rights.
“All of the conversations that the book was having were conversations I was having with my friends and had been having for decades,” Jefferson, who worked as an editor for Gawker before shifting to TV, explained in an interview.
“I worked as a journalist for eight or nine years before working in television,” he explained. “I was having the same conversations with Black colleagues in both professions: Why are we always writing about Black misery, trauma, violence, and pain?” Why do people expect this from us? “How come this is the only thing we have to offer culture?”
Cord Jefferson wanted to turn Percival Everett’s “Erasure” into a film script after 50 pages.
“American Fiction,” which will be released in theatres on November 3 by MGM, is a humorous, jazzy take on Black representation in books and films that delights in criticizing clichés and identity politics while yearning for something more nuanced — something like “American Fiction.”
“One of the main themes is how we see ourselves as unique, specific individuals, and how the world tries to put us into little boxes and sand away all the things that make us unique and special,” Jefferson explained.
Jefferson mentioned during the TIFF premiere that he enjoys films like “12 Years a Slave” and “New Jack City.” However, Jefferson, citing “a lack of imagination when it comes to what Black life looks like,” believes that other films on the spectrum should also exist.
“I feel like Jewish people get ‘Schindler’s List’ and ‘Annie Hall,'” Jefferson explained.
While Woody Allen’s film is a nod to “American Fiction,” clear analogies are more difficult to find for such a lighthearted but cutting satire. Tracee Ellis Ross, s also appear, as does Issa Rae, who plays the author of “We’s Lives in Da Ghetto.”
“One of the most exciting things has been in the test screenings when we ask people, ‘What does this film remind you of?'” Jefferson adds. “Several people have said that it reminds them of a comedy or a film.”
Cord Jefferson wanted to turn Percival Everett’s “Erasure” into a film script after 50 pages.
Jefferson, who grew up in Tucson, Arizona, wrote on some issues addressed in his video in a 2014 article titled “The Racism Beat.” In it, he discussed the significance of authors from marginalized groups contributing their unique perspectives to journalism and the difficulties of not being defined by them. Jefferson, who authored essays about donating a kidney to his father and being biracial, began his career as a writer for “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” before moving on to drama and comedy programs. He received an Emmy for co-writing the “Watchman” episode “1921 Tulsa Race Massacre” with Damon Lindelof.
Jefferson claims that directing a picture was not a lifetime desire. He hadn’t attended film school, so he didn’t think it was possible until he spoke with a friend directing an episode of “Master of None” who had studied business rather than film.
“I realised that all you need to do is have a vision and be able to articulate it to other people,” Jefferson adds.
He believes that “American Fiction” is difficult to categorize, indicating he is on the right track.
“This is my first film, and I’m excited to find my voice,” Jefferson adds. “I don’t know my voice yet, but I’m working on it.” People mentioning that the film feels unique makes me think I’m on my way to finding my voice.”
SOURCE – (AP)
President-elect Donald Trump has named Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, 42, his attorney general. This position doubles as the country’s top prosecutor and the director of the Department of Justice.
Trump announced the nominee in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, noting Matt Gaetz’s experience as a lawyer and member of the House Judiciary Committee.
He also stated that Gaetz’s nomination would be part of his strategy to rid the government of perceived opponents. Trump has frequently accused Democrats of “weaponizing” the Justice Department against him, a charge he reiterated in Wednesday’s statement.
Matt will halt weaponized government, secure our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ severely eroded faith and confidence in the Justice Department, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Donald Trump has sent shockwaves across Washington by appointing former Democratic congressman Tulsi Gabbard as the new director of national intelligence.
The moves sparked quick criticism that the president-elect ignores qualifications to put his most fervent followers in charge of the country’s most important government agencies.
Even before Gaetz and Gabbard were named, Trump aroused eyebrows by naming Pete Hegseth, an army veteran and Fox News commentator, as his contender for defense secretary.
Trump has also made more conventional picks for prominent jobs, such as choosing Florida Senator Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State.
Gaetz’s planned appointment as attorney general comes as President Trump threatens to restructure the US Department of Justice in retaliation for criminal investigations and indictments initiated against him by federal prosecutors in recent years.
Tulsi Gabbard at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Tulsi Gabbard was the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Vice-Chair from 2013 to 2016 when she resigned to support Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential candidacy.
Tulsi is an Iraq War veteran and Army reservist. Three years ago, she received the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve.
“As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!” According to Trump’s remarks.
“I am confident that Tulsi will bring the courageous attitude that has distinguished her remarkable career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength. “Tulsi will make us all proud!”
Once confirmed, Tulsi Gabbard will advise Trump, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on national security issues.
US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Pete Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and Fox News broadcaster, as his defense secretary. The announcement sent shockwaves across the Pentagon and defense industry.
Many in Washington expected the nominee to be a seasoned legislator or someone with defense policy experience. Trump’s choice of Hegseth caught them completely off guard.
In his first political post, 44-year-old Pete Hegseth will be in charge of the world’s most powerful military. He previously served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When he announced his decision on Tuesday, Trump praised it as “tough, smart, and a true believer in America First.” He also emphasized the former soldier’s schooling at Princeton and Harvard institutions and his combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” the president wrote on Facebook.
The president-elect also highlighted Hegseth’s work as a published novelist. He stated that The War on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence.”
Hegseth was a major in the Minnesota National Guard who worked as a prison guard in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and Iraq and Afghanistan and has been an outspoken critic of what he calls “woke” policies inside the US military and its leadership.
“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth stated on a webcast last month.
One of his responsibilities as defense secretary could be to carry out Trump’s campaign vows to remove US generals accused of supporting progressive agendas within the military.
Trump stated that entrepreneur Elon Musk, another political novice, would help the administration decrease costs.
Trump’s government is taking shape following his victory in last week’s presidential election. Hegseth was part of a flurry of security appointments, including Trump’s selection of John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Hegseth will arrive at the Pentagon with decisions to make on topics such as military aid to Israel during its fight in Gaza and backing for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.
Trump wants the United States to distance itself from foreign conflicts in general. During the election campaign, he criticized the Biden administration’s spending to aid Ukraine.
Also on Tuesday, Trump stated that he wanted South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to play a key role as homeland security secretary. Trump appointed another military veteran, Michael Waltz, as national security advisor, which means he will counsel the president on international dangers.
According to sources at the BBC’s US partner CBS News, Senator Marco Rubio, who shares Waltz’s strong views on China, is anticipated to be Trump’s future secretary of state. However, the selection has not yet been verified.
Republicans have regained control of the Senate and the upper chamber of Congress and are closing in on a majority in the House and the lower chamber as vote counting continues.
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(VOR News) – It has been said by Blizzard that it does not intend to remake Warcraft 1 and 2 since the company believes that these games are “just not that fun any longer.”
When the corporation first made this declaration, it has been almost exactly eight years since it was delivered.
However, the firm has only recently made the news that it will be doing precisely that, and as part of the celebrations for Warcraft’s 30th anniversary, both of the remastered versions are now available to play. The celebrations did not start until today.
The public first played Warcraft in 1994.
This game played a significant role in Blizzard’s rise to the top of the competition. In the year that followed, Warcraft 2 was hastily created in order to suit the requirements of the burgeoning fanbase that the first Warcraft had established.
Additionally, the company has just disclosed that they will be remastering the games, and these remasters will contain a variety of additions to the traditional real-time strategic action that is included in the games.
The initial stage of these enhancements to the development process consists of a new collection of hand-drawn pictures that may be toggled on and off in real time. The artistic style of the originals has been said to be completely captured by these photos, according to the assertions made.
Specifically, Blizzard has implemented “modern controls” for Warcraft 1, which include the option to move with a right click, the ability to pick bounding boxes, and a faster progression rate.
These features are all present in the Warcraft game.
The alterations that have been made include these, however they are not the only ones. It is important to note that these changes have been introduced in addition to the user interface and user experience enhancements that have been implemented throughout both games.
Tool tips, health bars, mission decision screens, and increased unit selection are some of the enhancements that have been introduced in this version of the game. As an additional feature, the multiplayer mode that was included in the first version of Warcraft 2 is still included in the remastered version of the game.
As an additional point of interest, each and every one of the legacy custom maps is entirely compatible with the new edition and may be played in the same capacity.
Despite the fact that there is currently no information regarding whether or not Warcraft 1 Remastered and Warcraft 2 Remastered will eventually be made available on other markets, both of these remastered versions of the game are currently available for purchase on Battle.net for personal computers at prices of $9.99 and $14.99, respectively.
Both of these versions of the game are remastered versions of the original game. A Battle Chest bundle is also available for purchase, and it can be purchased for the price of $39.99. All of the titles that have been remastered are included in this bundle, in addition to Blizzard’s Warcraft 3: Reforged, which has been met with a considerable deal of criticism.
Blizzard has been making continual efforts to improve the game ever since it was first made available to the public in the year 2020.
This is despite the fact that the game was met with poor reviews practically immediately after it was released. An entirely new upgrade, version 2.0, is currently being made available to all gamers without delay.
One of the numerous enhancements to the quality of life that are included in this is “much, much more,” in addition to a wide range of options for personalizing the hockey experience within the game and a new ladder.
In addition to the high-definition versions of all of the older Warcraft assets, these upgrades also include new environments and lighting, a redesigned user interface, and a variety of other enhancements.
SOURCE: EG
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