Entertainment
Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84
Gordon Lightfoot, Canada's legendary folk singer-songwriter known for “If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown” and for songs that told tales of Canadian identity, died on Monday. He was 84.
Representative Victoria Lord said the musician died at a Toronto hospital. His cause of death was not immediately available.
Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot went on to record 20 studio albums and pen hundreds of songs, including “Carefree Highway," “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
In the 1970s, Lightfoot garnered five Grammy nominations, three platinum records and nine gold records for albums and singles. In the more than 60 years since he launched his career, he performed in well over 1,500 concerts and recorded 500 songs.
He toured late into his life. Just last month he cancelled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues
“We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.
“Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.”
Once called a “rare talent” by Bob Dylan, dozens of artists have covered his work, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane’s Addiction and Sarah McLachlan.
Most of his songs are deeply autobiographical with lyrics that probe his own experiences in a frank manner and explore issues surrounding the Canadian national identity. “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the construction of the railway.
“I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from,” he once said. “I take situations and write poems about them.”
Lightfoot’s music had a style all its own. “It’s not country, not folk, not rock,” he said in a 2000 interview. Yet it has strains of all three.
“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” for instance, is a haunting tribute to the 29 men who died in the 1975 sinking of the ship in Lake Superior during a storm.
While Lightfoot’s parents recognized his musical talents early on, he didn’t set out to become a renowned balladeer.
He began singing in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a jazz musician. At age 13, the soprano won a talent contest at the Kiwanis Music Festival, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall.
“I remember the thrill of being in front of the crowd,” Lightfoot said in a 2018 interview. “It was a stepping stone for me...”
The appeal of those early days stuck and in high school, his barbershop quartet, The Collegiate Four, won a CBC talent competition. He strummed his first guitar in 1956 and began to dabble in songwriting in the months that followed. Perhaps distracted by his taste for music, he flunked algebra the first time. After taking the class again, he graduated in 1957.
By then, Lightfoot had already penned his first serious composition — “The Hula Hoop Song,” inspired by the popular kids’ toy that was sweeping the culture. Attempts to sell the song went nowhere so at 18, he headed to the U.S. to study music for a year. The trip was funded in part by money saved from a job delivering linens to resorts around his hometown.
Life in Hollywood wasn’t a good fit, however, and it wasn’t long before Lightfoot returned to Canada. He pledged to move to Toronto to pursue his musical ambitions, taking any job available, including a position at a bank before landing a gig as a square dancer on CBC’s “Country Hoedown.”
His first gig was at Fran’s Restaurant, a downtown family-owned diner that warmed to his folk sensibilities. It was there he met fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins.
The singer was living with a few friends in a condemned building in Yorkville, then a bohemian area where future stars including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell would learn their trade at smoke-filled clubs.
Lightfoot made his popular radio debut with the single ”(Remember Me) I’m the One” in 1962, which led to a number of hit songs and partnerships with other local musicians. When he started playing the Mariposa Folk Festival in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario that same year, Lightfoot forged a relationship that made him the festival’s most loyal returning performer.
By 1964, he was garnering positive word-of-mouth around town and audiences were starting to gather in growing numbers. By the next year, Lightfoot’s song “I’m Not Sayin’” was a hit in Canada, which helped spread his name in the United States.
A couple of covers by other artists didn’t hurt either. Marty Robbins’ 1965 recording of “Ribbon of Darkness” reached No. 1 on U.S. country charts, while Peter, Paul and Mary took Lightfoot’s composition, “For Lovin’ Me,” into the U.S. Top 30. The song, which Dylan once said he wished he’d recorded, has since been covered by hundreds of other musicians.
That summer, Lightfoot performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the same year Dylan rattled audiences when he shed his folkie persona by playing an electric guitar.
As the folk music boom came to an end in the late 1960s, Lightfoot was already making his transition to pop music with ease.
In 1971, he made his first appearance on the Billboard chart with “If You Could Read My Mind." It reached No. 5 and has since spawned scores of covers.
Lightfoot’s popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album, “Sundown,” topped the Billboard charts, his first and only time doing so.
During his career, Lightfoot collected 12 Juno Awards, including one in 1970 when it was called the Gold Leaf.
In 1986, he was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame, now the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He received the Governor General’s award in 1997 and was ushered into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001.
MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo’s sudden death shocks culinarily world
Jock Zonfrillo, MasterChef Australia host and award-winning chef, has died at the age of 46.Before starting his own restaurant in Australia, the Scotsman worked with acclaimed chefs in renowned restaurants around the world, reports BBC.Network 10 confirmed his death on the day the 2023 season premiere of MasterChef Australia was set to air.Zonfrillo is survived by his wife and four children, who stated their hearts were "shattered" in a statement."So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told... for those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky," it said.Zonfrillo was found dead at a Melbourne home in the early hours of Monday morning. According to Victoria Police, the death is not being investigated as suspicious.Gordon Ramsay, Jimmy Barnes, and Zonfrillo’s colleague chef Colin Fassnidge have all paid tribute to the popular TV show host and chef’s unexpected demise, said the report."Saddened by the devastating news... I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia," Ramsay wrote on Twitter."Jock was like a brother to me and we made each other laugh and cry," Barnes said.Zonfrillo's charisma, passion, and sense of humour, according to Network 10, inspired a nation of home chefs.MasterChef, which is pre-recorded, will not run this week as planned, according to the network.Zonfrillo, who was born in Glasgow in 1976, began working in kitchens at the age of 12 and, at the age of 15, became one of the youngest-ever apprentices at the luxury Scottish resort, The Turnberry Hotel.He began working with Michelin-starred British chef Marco Pierre White at his iconic Hyde Park Hotel two years later, added the report.Despite his promising career, Zonfrillo claims he was destitute, homeless, and addicted to heroin as a teenager. In his 2021 memoir, Last Shot, he spoke extensively about his drug addiction issues.He stated he started a new chapter in his life when he moved to Australia in 2000, and he went on to open many restaurants, the most successful of which being Adelaide's award-winning restaurant, Orana, which opened in 2013.In 2019, the presenter was confirmed as part of an all-new MasterChef Australia host lineup.Zonfrillo's career, however, was not without controversy. Orana closed in 2020 with millions of dollars in debt, and former colleagues, notably Marco Pierre White, criticized Last Shot as inaccurate.
Corden addresses divided America in final ‘Late Late Show’
James Corden used part of his farewell speech on Thursday’s final episode of CBS’ “ The Late Late Show” to address the deep rift in America over hot button issues including politics and ideology.
“We started this show with Obama, then Trump and a global pandemic. I’ve watched America change a lot. I’ve watched divisions grow and I’ve felt a sense of negativity boil over,” said the host. He implored his audience to “remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life it has always been a place of optimism. ... Yes, it has flaws but show me a place that doesn’t. Show me a person that doesn’t.
“Just because somebody disagrees with you it doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it’s out there. That’s all this show has ever been about,” he said.
Corden announced one year ago that he would be ending his late-night show after eight seasons, citing a desire to return to his native UK to be closer to family and loved ones. His parents were seated in the audience for the final taping, and his sisters, he joked, were in town too —- but at a bar instead.
Also Thursday CBS aired a primetime special called “The Last Last Late Late Show Special” featuring taped segments with Tom Cruise (where they performed stunts and sang a duet of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”) and Adele, where they taped a final Carpool Karaoke segment.
Corden reminded the singer that she has an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar and wondered if she would ever actively pursue a Tony Award. “You have the EGO” he said.
“I really don’t think that that is ever gonna happen. I would never write a musical or anything like that because I (expletive) hate musicals,” said Adele to laughter. “I also think the EGO suits me better.”
Harry Styles and Will Ferrell were Corden’s final guests. Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show, and has even guest-hosted twice. He’s been game for a number of taped bits with Corden including the time the host directed a music video for Styles’ song “Daylight” for just $300 and when the musician took part in a more than 11-minute segment featuring a UK Vs. US dodgeball game where Corden, Styles, “Games of Thrones” actor James Bradley and Benedict Cumberbatch faced off against players including Michelle Obama, Mila Kunis, Kate Hudson, Lena Waithe, and Melissa McCarthy.
“As a friend, I’m so incredibly proud of you,” Styles told Corden. “On a personal note, you’ve been a safe space to me always as a friend.” He added that he was ’“selfishly very excited that you’re coming home.” Styles, Corden and Ferrell then embraced in a group hug.
There were also goodbyes from the other late night hosts. Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman all appeared in a pre-taped segment with Corden. They joked that since Corden was ending his show, they could each call dibs on one of his segments.
They all chose Carpool Karaoke, referencing Corden’s most popular sketch where he drives around Los Angeles with celebrities and sing songs. Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Chris Martin are a few of his Carpool Karaoke passengers. The segment was such a hit that it spun-off into its own series for Apple. Corden only appeared in the debut episode with Will Smith in the car.
Corden closed out the night by playing a piano and singing a song with the crew and staff gathered around the stage. “Part of me thinks I should stay here forever but deep in my heart I just know,” Corden sang. “No more shows to be showing, it’s time I was going, It’s time. Thanks for watching, that’s our show.”
Summer Movie Guide: What to watch from May through Labor Day
There is something for everyone at the movies this summer, both in theaters and streaming at home. In May, audiences can bid farewell to the Guardians of the Galaxy, go to Italy with Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen, or under the sea with Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy.
June brings “Indiana Jones 5,” a “Spider-Verse” sequel, “The Flash” a new Pixar pic and one film many have already called the best of the year (“Past Lives”).
And things get really exciting in July with the highly anticipated debuts of “Oppenheimer,” “Mission: Impossible 7,” “Barbie,” while August promises a new take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and introduces a new DC superhero, Blue Beetle.
Here’s a month-by-month guide of this summer’s new movies.
May 5
“ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ” (Disney/Marvel, theaters): Nine years after the non-comic obsessed world was introduced to Peter Quill, Rocket, Groot and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the misfits are closing out the trilogy and saying goodbye to director James Gunn, who is now leading rival DC.
“ What’s Love Got to Do with It? ” (Shout! Studios, theaters): Lily James plays a documentary filmmaker whose next project follows her neighbor (Shazad Latif) on his road to an arranged marriage in this charming romantic comedy.
Prosecutors dismiss Alec Baldwin charge, citing new evidence
Prosecutors on Friday formally dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western film “Rust, ” citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.
In a stunning turnaround for the 65-year-old A-list actor, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis filed the notice to dismiss the only remaining criminal allegation against Baldwin in state District Court in Santa Fe. Prosecutors say the investigation of the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza is ongoing.
An involuntary manslaughter charge against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the film, is unchanged.
Friday's court filing echoed early statements from prosecutors that new facts had been revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis.
On Thursday, after Baldwin's attorneys announced the decision, the special prosecutors said the “decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.” They have declined further comment and only vaguely addressed the matter during a virtual status conference Friday in Gutierrez-Reed's case.
Also read: 'Rust' movie reboots after Alec Baldwin shooting
Los Angeles-based entertainment litigator and defense attorney Kate Mangels, who is not involved in the “Rust” case, said opportunities for further charges against Baldwin are narrowing.
“If they don’t have the evidence now, I don’t see what evidence they could obtain or that could develop. …It looks like they already had 30 people on a witness list, a cooperative (codefendant) witness, investigations done by various law enforcement agencies. It seems like this has already been pretty well investigated. I can’t imagine what would arise to bring new charges.”
Authorities have not determined how live ammunition found its way into the .45-caliber revolver made by an Italian company that specializes in 19th century reproductions.
Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the gun fired.
An August FBI report on the agency’s analysis of the gun found that, as is common with firearms of that design, it could go off without pulling the trigger if force was applied to an uncocked hammer — such as by dropping the weapon.
The only way the testers could get it to fire was by striking the gun with a mallet while the hammer was down and resting on the cartridge, or by pulling the trigger while it was fully cocked. The gun eventually broke during the testing.
After reading the FBI report, retired Seattle police Detective Donald Ledbetter said it was unlikely the gun would have gone off without the trigger being pulled.
In March, “Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest to a conviction for unsafe handling of a firearm and received a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the fatal shooting.
A defense attorney for Halls said Friday that he is happy for Baldwin and also wishes the best for the Hutchins family.
“Mr. Halls never believed Mr. Baldwin should be charged with a crime. It was a tragic accident that is best resolved out of criminal court,” defense attorney Lisa Torraco said in an email.
When the manslaughter charges were announced in January, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said the case was about equal justice under the law and accountability in Hutchins’ death, regardless of the fame or fortune of those involved. She said the Ukrainian-born cinematographer’s death was tragic — and preventable.
A new legal team took over prosecution of Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in late March, after the original special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned.
When word of the dismissal came, Baldwin was at Yellowstone Film Ranch on the set of a rebooted “Rust” production, a representative for Rust Movie Productions said. Preparations for filming were underway at the film's new location in Montana, 18 months after the shooting shut it down.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys said they fully expect her to be exonerated in the judicial process. A preliminary hearing scheduled in May was pushed back to August on Friday after prosecutors said they need more time.
“The truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered,” the lawyers, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion, said in a statement.
Before Friday's dismissal, the case against Baldwin had already been diminishing. In February, a weapons enhancement to the manslaughter charge was dropped, reducing the maximum prison sentence from five years to 18 months.
Baldwin's 40-year career has included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October” and a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” as well as iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross.” In recent years, he was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live."
Baldwin has worked little as an actor since the shooting but hardly went into hiding. He stayed active on social media, making Instagram videos, posting podcast interviews and pictures of his wife and seven children. He and his wife posted pictures on their Instagram accounts Thursday embracing each other.
Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by the cinematographer's widower, Matthew Hutchins, in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer. Souza has said he will return to directing “Rust” to honor the legacy of Halyna Hutchins.
Gloria Allred, attorney for other Hutchins relatives who filed their own lawsuit, and for “Rust” script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who witnessed the shooting and filed the first suit over it, said Friday that her clients will press forward with their civil litigation against Baldwin, regardless of what happens with the criminal charges.
“Mr. Baldwin should know that we remain committed to fighting and winning for our clients and holding him accountable for pointing a loaded gun at Halyna Hutchins, pulling the trigger, and killing her,” Allred said in a statement.
Netflix confirms crackdown on password sharing to start soon
The long-discussed crackdown on password sharing by Netflix is finally going to start, according to the streaming giant.
This means, users who wish to share their accounts with anyone outside of their home must pay an additional fee.
The move, which aims to increase subscribers, has been tested in some countries but has not yet been used in the UK or the US, reports BBC.
The move comes with the company's announcement that it will end the DVD rental service that launched 25 years ago.
As competition intensifies, households struggle with growing expenses, and what analysts perceive as a saturation point in some of its biggest areas, Netflix has been looking for methods to reignite growth.
In the first half of 2022, it lost more than a million subscribers, said the report.
The decline prompted the company to make adjustments, even though it more than made up for those losses later in the year owing to subscriber growth in Asia.
In an effort to encourage more people to join up for its service, the firm last year launched a less priced streaming alternative with commercials and reduced rates in 116 countries in the three months leading up to March.
Also, it was getting ready to greatly expand its paid sharing programme, which it began testing in a few countries last year and expanded in February, it also said.
In a letter to investors on Tuesday, Netflix stated that paid sharing would be widely available, including in the US, by July. This was a few months later than anticipated because Netflix is still making adjustments to the offering in response to user feedback, such as making sure users can access their accounts easily while on the go.
"We're pleased with the most recent launches," the company said in the letter. "We learn more with each rollout and we've incorporated the latest learnings which we think will lead to even better results."
Netflix estimated that more than 100 million homes share passwords. Netflix intends to capitalize on this market to boost income.
Since it began shipping DVDs to customers in the US in 1998, Netflix, a company based in California, has gone a long way.
With more than 232 million customers worldwide, it became a global powerhouse after launching its streaming service in 2007.The DVD programme, which will end in September, was described by Netflix in its investor letter as the "booster rocket that got streaming to a leading position".
"We feel so privileged to have been able to share movie nights with our DVD members for so long, so proud of what our employees achieved and excited to continue pleasing entertainment fans for many more decades to come," the company said.
According to Netflix, overall income increased 3.7% year over year to $8.1 billion. It recorded a $1.3 billion profit down from nearly $1.6 billion last year.
'Rust' movie reboots after Alec Baldwin shooting
Filming on the Western movie “Rust” could resume this week in Montana, the production copany said Wednesday, in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal with actor Alec Baldwin on the original production in New Mexico.
Baldwin will continue his involvement as an actor and coproducer, and Rust Move Productions attorney Melina Spadone said via a representative that filming will restart Thursday at the Yellowstone Film Ranch.
The production company finalized a settlement last month with New Mexico workplace safety regulars over “serious” violations, agreeing to a $100,000 fine to resolve a scathing safety review that detailed unheeded complaints and misfires on set before cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed in October 2021.
Also read: Alec Baldwin to be charged with manslaughter in set shooting
Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by widower Matthew Hutchins in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer on a rebooted “Rust.”
Prosecutors in Santa Fe are pressing forward with involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Baldwin and a weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty.
Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins during a rehearsal when the gun when off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this month signed a new $360,000 allowance for prosecution of the case. Evidentiary hearings are scheduled in early May in state District Court to decide whether to proceed toward trial. Baldwin has indicated that he won't attend those hearings.
Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies says her office is pursuing justice in the death of Hutchins and wants to show that no one is above the law when it comes to firearms and public safety. She says the Ukrainian-born cinematographer’s death was tragic and preventable.
“Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest in March to a conviction for unsafe handling of a firearm and a suspended sentence of six months of probation.
Souza, the director, has said he'll return to the “Rust” production to honor the legacy of Halyna Hutchins.
Parts of a documentary about Hutchins' life will be filmed simultaneously with “Rust.”
Bongo BD releasing south Indian movie ‘Mersal’ in Bangla
Bongo BD is releasing the Bangla dubbed version of the popular South Indian film ‘Mersal’.
‘Mersal’ is an action packed romantic movie featuring Vijay Thalapathy, Samantha, Nithya Menon and Kajal Aggarwal. The movie, which has garnered critical acclaim and mass appeal in the south, is now set to enthrall audiences in Bangladesh with its unique storyline, powerful performances and stunning visuals, according to a Bongo BD media release.
As the leading OTT platform in Bangladesh, Bongo BD has always strived to bring the best entertainment to its viewers. With the release of ‘Mersal’ in Bangla, Bongo aims to further their commitment to providing top-quality content to Bangladeshi audiences, it said.
‘Mersal’ tells the story of a doctor, played by Vijay, who sets out to expose the corruption in the medical industry. With a mix of action, drama and romance, the movie is a complete package of entertainment that will keep you hooked till the very end, it read.
The Bangla dubbed version of ‘Mersal’ will be available exclusively on Bongo BD from April 21, it added.
Bongo BD & Vision making entertainment more accessible
Bongo BD, the largest over-the-top (OTT) platform in Bangladesh, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vision, a leading technology company.
The partnership will provide Vision Smart TV customers with a complimentary three-month subscription to Bongo Premium, reads a press release.
Through this partnership, Bongo and Vision aim to enhance the entertainment experience for Smart TV users in Bangladesh, it said.
Bongo Premium offers a wide range of exclusive content, including Bangla dramas, movies, music videos, and live TV channels. By providing Vision Smart TV customers with free access to Bongo Premium, both companies hope to expand their customer base and enhance their brand visibility.
Vision will promote Bongo from its stores, offering customers a chance to learn more about the OTT platform and its exclusive content. Additionally, Vision will use its digital media channels to create awareness and drive subscriptions to Bongo.
Michelle Yeoh seeks new challenges after Oscar win
Michelle Yeoh says she is looking for new challenges including as a producer, as she credited perseverance, hard work and passion for her historic Oscar win last month.
The 60-year-old became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for best actress for her performance as a laundromat owner in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The movie won a total of seven awards, including best picture.
Returning to her native Malaysia to celebrate her mother’s birthday, Yeoh said she felt a sense of relief after clinching the award.
“It was a roller coaster ride that started last year when the movie first came out. It was a whole year of not knowing, wanting, hoping, wishing,” she told a news conference.
“During the journey, everyone was asking, ‘Do you want the Oscar?’ I said, hell, yes, of course I want the Oscar. Who doesn’t? I am not going to beat around the bush and say no because it represents so much to so many of us.”
Yeoh reiterated that her Oscar victory was a “beacon of hope” for Asian women.
“It shows us it can be done and all of you can do it,” she said.
Yeoh, who started her career in Hong Kong before becoming a Hollywood star, said she was blessed to have been able to work on diverse movies and with “forward thinking filmmakers to fight for what I truly believe in — representation, diversity, especially empowerment of women.” She said she refuses to be boxed in stereotypical roles but believes in pushing the envelope in her career.
While she has no interest in directing, she said she may branch out again as a producer.
“Directors have no life. I love my life too much,” she said in jest. “I love producing. I have produced before and now I can start to do so again ... now I am able to branch out more because people have started to listen, amd appreciate what you can bring forward. As an actor, I love what I can do. I am so lucky to be able to say it’s not a job, it’s really a passion.”
“I am always looking for a challenge,” she said. “I believe there is so much to do in our part of the world. All of us collectively. Don’t isolate yourself. Don’t feel that I must always tell my story. We are collaborators, we are storytellers. Let’s work together and do great things.”