#Why I Boycotted Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

[delightful-mystery]

Why I Boycotted Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Before I begin, I want to start by saying that the word “boycott” obviously means that I haven’t seen the film. It’s kind of unusual for me to argue about something without fully informing myself of the facts first, but this is something I had to write about. 

(and I will watch Once Upon a Time in Hollywood once I can source it for free…)

Okay, so now that we have the disclaimer out of the way, I want to begin by saying I used to be a massive Tarantino fan. I still am, to some extent. I love violent films and gore, and I am never one to shy away from anything because it is too weird or too violent (I’m not saying I class Tarantino as particularly weird, but I think he wants to be, and for mainstream films, he’s not the most basic). 

But, looking back on his films now from the perspective of someone who knows a little bit more about the world than the 15-year-old girl who persuaded her dad to watch Pulp Fiction with her, I feel uncomfortable. Not about the violence inherently, not even about the violence against women inherently, but about the fact that every punch in the face that a pregnant Uma Therman received was directed by a man. 

Obviously, feeling uncomfortable is kind of Tarantino’s end game here. But how much power over our emotions should be demanded by a white man who has never come up against societal oppression in his life? It’s weird. And that’s even before you start thinking about how many N-words you hear in his films. He does pay homage to the blaxploitation film trend with Jackie Brown, but… he’s not black? So is it his trend to reclaim?

Moving on from Tarantino himself, I next wanted to talk about why it was Once Upon A Time in Hollywood which particularly spiked my annoyance. And this is where I get to nerd out about one of my favourite true crime stories of all time – the Manson Murders. In a way similar to Tarantino reclaiming a narrative which is not his to reclaim, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the true crime story of the Manson Murders is a story which, I believe, should be reclaimed by women. 

The Manson Murders are one of the most widely talked about true crime stories out there. It’s also my personal favourite, another reason why I got so annoyed about this film being made. Charles Manson was a very troubled man who wanted to be a rockstar. Towards the end of the sixties, after a troubled childhood and adolescent spent in and out of prison, he began to gather a cult around him, known as “The Family”, convincing vulnerable young women who had run away from home that he was the messiah and would save them from the imminent apocalypse. What he really wanted was to record and release an album in response to the Beatles’ White Album, which he believed held the secret to surviving the apocalypse and was calling for him, in secret messages, to respond with his own music. When his demos were rejected by the music moguls of Hollywood, Manson told his followers that they had to enact revenge on those who wronged him, leading some of his right-hand women to kill an 8-month pregnant Sharon Tate and some of her friends who were in the house with her. 

[This is a very condensed version of what happened. For an in-depth version, I recommend the podcast ‘You Must Remember This’ and its series named ‘Manson’s Hollywood’.]

Creepy Manson is creepy.

Manson used a variety of methods to ensure that, once in the cult, the members were not able to leave. They felt they depended on him, and he constantly fed them lies about being the chosen one, how special they were to him, as well as giving them tabs of acid and talking to them whilst they were tripping. This sort of tactic obviously includes a lot of manipulating, brainwashing, gaslighting and more, even before we get to the illegal drugs. This sort of operation could only have happened on this scale at this time – i.e. the late sixties, where it was commonplace to “turn on, tune in, drop out” (a.k.a. running away from home to practice free love and take lots of acid) – meaning that there were plenty of young women and men roaming the streets. Manson’s “commune” on his ranch must have seemed like the perfect opportunity for them to find like-minded people who also believed in a new world. Charles Manson gathered followers over the years and told them of ‘Helter Skelter’ (so named after the Beatles’ song) – the apocalypse led by black people who would kill all the whites. This obviously sounds crazy written on paper, but after leaving their whole lives behind and being brainwashed instead by a guy who had smooth-talked his way into living in one of the Beach Boy’s homes (seriously, he did that), his followers were primed to believe anything. 

The Manson Murders are a gendered issue. And this is where I have a problem. It’s literally a tale of how one man manipulated a bunch of women. Vulnerable women, at the hands of one man who, after years of coercion and brainwashing, were manipulated into carrying out one of the most bizarre and bloodthirsty crimes that the States have ever seen. 

“Hold up now, weren’t there men in Charlie’s cult as well?”

Well yes, anonymous keyboard-owner, there were. And I’m glad you asked. There were indeed men involved in Charles Manson’s cult, but it was only the women who were subjected to the sexual manipulations, coercion and rape which Manson inflicted on his followers. He also predominantly targeted women to join The Family. Men were collateral damage in this instance, people he just picked up along the way. His main priority was finding women to follow him, and for him to have sex with. 

The crime itself was carried out by Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Kenwinkle and Linda Kasabian. It was predominantly women who committed the best-known act of Tate’s murder (and the murder of the LaBiancas which I’m going to guess isn’t given as much screen time in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood because by this point Margot Robbie isn’t around?) and the murder of Tate’s unborn child in a perversion of motherhood which many see as a complete rejection of her femininity. Again, this story is a gendered crime. The manipulation which led up to it was gendered. It’s an extreme case of gaslighting and manipulation, sure, but it wouldn’t be the first time a woman has been manipulated by a narcissistic man. 

And somehow, I don’t think Tarantino would take all of this into account when directing his film. 

I have yet to watch it, of course (and I will post a follow-up review once I have and we can see if any of these predictions were right). But what I have done is read The Girls by Emma Cline. One of the best books I have ever read, The Girls is an occasionally overwritten but nonetheless a beautifully hazy and melancholic look at the end of the sixties, and loosely based on Charles Manson and The Family. It’s such a good read, whether you know about the Manson Murders or not (I have read it once before, and once after, becoming a nerd about this subject matter). What it’s especially good at, however, is bringing in the context of being a woman in this society. I have a few passages highlighted in this book. One of them is as follows; “All that time I had spent readying myself, the articles that taught me life was really just a waiting room until someone noticed you – the boys had spent that time becoming themselves.” She recognises that the fiendish acts of Manson would not have been able to occur had patriarchal inequality not existed. There are other examples of this being recognised, Charlie Says being one of them – a slightly underwhelming film by Guinevere Turner and directed by Mary Harron, the team behind American Psycho. This film uses the art-rehabilitation program in the Santa Cruz Prison Project – aimed to rehabilitate female inmates with feminist praxis and reading, and other art-based creative projects designed to give them more of a sense of self, independent from Manson – to frame the narrative and explore deeper the characters of the Mason murderesses. Unfortunately, it’s a great idea carried off without much success, but this is only one drop in the ocean of Manson-related media.

Matt Smith, Marian Rendon, Kayli Carter and Merritt Weaver in the sadly lacklustre feminist take on the Manson murders, Charlie Says.

We as a culture are obsessed with him. There’s countless films about this guy – Helter Skelter,  The Manson Family, Summer of Love (which was never actually finished). He has almost 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. I see Once Upon as a film which panders more towards the status of Manson and examines his crimes in the way that Tarantino tends to look at violence – with curiosity, and without moral judgement. I’m not saying you can’t make a fun film about the late sixties but I guess I would feel more comfortable if it was guaranteed that these issues would be explored sensitively by someone who understands them. 

But hey, I guess I could be wrong. I haven’t seen it after all. The film, from what I can tell, does not focus so much on “The Family” and instead chooses to follow at Leo and Brad as a failing actor and his stunt double. Does that make it better or worse? Does Margo Robbie get the well-rounded character development she deserves before Tate is brutally murdered by the women of The Family? And that’s another thing – Tarantino’s history of woman-on-woman action and fighting is not the most reassuring thing for me to base this essay on. It’s fetishistic and bloody – take again the scene of pregnant Uma Therman being beaten up by her co-workers in Kill Bill. It’s not to say his scenes in which he depicts violence against men are not completely horrible as well (the rape in Pulp Fiction, for example), but – as far as I’m aware – that scene was not based on a true story.

Tarantino has also, in his personal life, defended both Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski (also weirdly caught up in the story of the Manson Murders as he was married to Sharon Tate at the time). He has also caused Uma Therman permanent injuries of her neck and knees due to what she describes as “criminal negligence” during a dangerous driving scene in Kill Bill, which he insisted she did, instead of a stuntwoman. I’m just saying, he may not have the best understanding of how violence against women, and women’s issues in general, should be portrayed onscreen.

Then again, I haven’t watched the film. But after reading this piece, I would hope that you understand why I chose not to.

from Why I Boycotted Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

[only-johnny-deppp]

“Whatever I’ve gone through, I’ve gone through. But, ultimately, this particular arena of my life has been so absurd...” 

 Johnny Depp’s NEW INTERVIEW!

Last saturday, August 14, The UK Times, released a new interview with Johnny for the Sunday Times section. It was realized sometime earlier this month, in London, probably on the same day he and Andrew Levitas were recording for the Q&A for the “Minamata” release in UK. This is Johnny’s first interview since the UK trials in London last year, and released three years after Johnny’s major interview for the British GQ Magazine. Here Johnny and Andrew Levitas speaks about “Minamata”, his future as actor and a thing or two about his personal life, although he cannot talk about the court case.

For those who couldn’t read yet, here is the FULL interview:  Enjoy.

***

“I’M BEING BOYCOTTED BY HOLLYWOOD”

Johnny Depp has a new film out this week. In the opening scene his character, the real-life photographer W Eugene Smith, says, “I’m done. I’m tired. My body is older than I am. I’m always in goddam pain. I can’t trust my f***ing dick any more. Constantly in a foul mood. Even the drugs bore me.”

I ask Depp if Smith’s despair resonated with him. Depp stops. Rocks back and forth. “That’s interesting,” he replies with painful hesitation.

“I didn’t approach playing Smith in that way… Although you bring your toolbox to work and use what is available. Having experienced...” He stops again. Depp takes any questions that might refer to his calamitous libel case last year slowly, in a mumbly, croaking drawl. “A surreal five years…”

In the film Smith needs to revive his reputation. In real life Depp’s task is even more daunting. Thanks to the judgment, everyone can call him a “wife-beater”. Now he must convince a Hollywood still convulsed by #MeToo that he’s not toxic — and that any attempt to rebuild his career is a risk worth taking. This is Depp’s first interview since the case.

We are speaking over Zoom, Depp in his London home, in front of a gold-framed painting. The 58-year-old is wearing a lot of clothes. Earrings. Floppy hat. Sunglasses. Bandana. Scarf. Checked shirt over a T-shirt with an indiscernible slogan. If you saw him on the Tube*, you might think he was off to work at the London Dungeon*, to play most of the characters.

PS. For those who are not familiar with British words: * Tube = British slang for London Underground, the subway trains. * London Dungeon = is a walk-through experience that recreates scenes from London's scary history in a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides.

Depp resumes, talking in broken sentences about the new film, Minamata, in which Smith, via Life magazine, exposes the brutal mercury poisoning of Japanese villagers in the early 1970s.

“How do we do this?” he asks rhetorically, meaning how to speak about the elephant in the Zoom. “Well, there’s no way one can’t recognise the absurdity of the mathematics.” He grins. “If you know what I mean?” No. “Absurdity of media mathematics.” He talks in riddles. “Whatever I’ve gone through, I’ve gone through. But, ultimately, this particular arena of my life has been so absurd...”

He trails off again. He is holding a big brown roll-up of some sort. “What the people in Minamata dealt with? People who suffered with Covid? A lot of people lost lives. Children sick...Ill. Ultimately, in answer to your question? Yeah, you use what you’ve got. But what I’ve been through? That’s like getting scratched by a kitten. Comparatively.”

Last July, I went to the High Court in London to watch Depp on another screen — a video from the socially distanced court where the Hollywood star was losing a libel action against The Sun after it called him a “wife-beater”. It was the grottiest showbiz trial of the century. There were photos of the actor passed out in a foetal slump, socks on show. One lengthy exchange involved faeces. Another urination, inside or outside a house, after a violent night with his ex-wife Amber Heard.

This had all been going on for a while. In 2016 Heard applied for a temporary restraining order against him. The couple had long endured a narcotic, booze-filled, childish relationship, but that does not matter — 12 incidents levelled against Depp were proved, said the judge, and abuse is abuse, regardless of how badly they both behaved. Depp wanted to appeal, but the court said no. Next April in the US he has a $50 million defamation case against Heard relating to an opinion piece she wrote about being the victim of domestic abuse. It may be his last roll of the dice.

In the 1990s Depp was a sensitive heart-throb. Cooler than DiCaprio, edgier than Pitt. In this past year he has been stripped of his status and dignity. On day three of the trial Sasha Wass QC, representing The Sun, asked Depp about daubing a penis on a painting. He could not remember. “That would be quite a big thing, painting a penis on a picture?”  Wass asked. “Quite a big thing?” Depp asked.

It was a well-delivered line, but Depp was on show. Performing. Now he is more timid, less lucid. His people say he cannot talk about the court case given the looming US trial, yet it hangs over everything. The director of Minamata, Andrew Levitas, is also on our call — as a pub trivia aside, Levitas is married to the Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins.

The two men clearly get on. “With regards to journalism, it was important for us to put across in the film the power of truth,” Levitas says. Depp nods. “The responsibility of journalists to look after citizens of the world. [Our film] coincided with the moment important publications had to put Raquel Welch on a cover to get enough eyeballs to sell enough ads in order to put something meaningful inside. A result of that is clickbait — it’s destroying the purpose of journalism,” Levitas continues.

“You said it beautifully,” says Depp, one of the world’s most pinned-up men, who built a career on magazine covers. “I couldn’t say it better than that.”

Last month Levitas wrote to MGM, which bought Minamata for the US market but decided not to release it. He accused MGM of being concerned that “the personal issues of an actor in the film could reflect negatively upon them”. Then the letter got really strong. Levitas accused MGM of failing in its “moral obligation” to release the film and said it needed to explain to the victims “why you think an actor’s personal life is more important than their dead children”. He then attached Smith’s photos of ghastly deformities that shocked the world 50 years ago.

“It’s important that the movie gets seen and supported,” Levitas says. “And if I get an inkling it’s not going to be, it’s my responsibility to say so. Where it goes from there? I don’t know. But we have responsibility to these victims . . .”

You can see why he’s passionate. The film is good. MGM bought the film because it is good. Depp is good too. He disappears into the role, far from his more recent pantomime parts. It’s being released worldwide, just not in the actor’s homeland.

Depp, who also produced the film, interrupts. “We looked these people in the eyeballs and promised we would not be exploitative. That the film would be respectful. I believe that we’ve kept our end of the bargain, but those who came in later should also maintain theirs.”

“Some films touch people,” he adds. “And this affects those in Minamata and people who experience similar things. And for anything…” He pauses, as he does. “For Hollywood’s boycott of, erm, me? One man, one actor in an unpleasant and messy situation, over the last number of years?” He trails off. “But, you know, I’m moving towards where I need to go to make all that…” Again, he trails off. “To bring things to light.”

The fact, as I think Depp knows, is that for his career, the court that matters is not one of law, but public opinion. On social media, where a lot of minds are made up, Depp’s good reputation will always outweigh the bad, thanks to his frequently blinkered fans.

Outside the High Court, as Heard arrived, I saw Natasha, 30, yell: “Get hit by a truck, Amber!” She is extreme, but the persistent way his fans demand that others think their idol is a saint shows a career revival will happen. After all, most filmgoers do not follow his private life at all. To them, he is Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands. To them, he is a star — and a star can take an awful lot of heat before it burns out.

“They have always been my employers,” Depp says of his fans. “They are all our employers. They buy tickets, merchandise. They made all of those studios rich, but they forgot that a long time ago. I certainly haven’t. I’m proud of these people, because of what they are trying to say, which is the truth. The truth they’re trying to get out since it doesn’t in more mainstream publications. It’s a long road that sometimes gets clunky. Sometimes just plain stupid. But they stayed on the ride with me and it’s for them I will fight. Always, to the end. Whatever it may be.”

Depp will talk like this for ever — about his “truth”. Minamata is the last film Depp has listed on the industry site IMDb, where actors usually have half a dozen in development. So, yes, fans of the actor can see Depp in a new role now — it is a return, but is it a relaunch? The film was finished in 2019, way before last year’s court case. Is that it? His last film? He thinks and looks off to his bookshelves, at biographies of Betjeman and Olivier.

“Er...no,” he says, eventually. “No. No. Actually, I look forward to the next few films I make to be my first films, in a way. Because once you’ve...Well, look. The way they wrote it in The Wizard of Oz is that when you see behind the curtain, it’s not him. When you see behind the curtain, there’s a whole lot of motherf***ers squished into one spot. All praying that you don’t look at them. And notice them.”

I would ask him to explain, but I am not sure he is an explainer. Watch this space, I guess, but he is already taking a first step back. After we speak, it is announced Depp is getting the coveted Donostia award at the San Sebastian Film Festival next month. Some people are just too famous to fail.

~ Interview by Jonathan Dean, in London, for The Times UK (released on August 14, 2021)

[rafuuu]

SUFFERING UMMAH

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST

Very important for our ummah.

By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

During a trip to the United Kingdom, I gave a talk in a Masjid in London. In the vicinity of the Masjid, Jews predominantly reside.

In that talk, I mentioned that once, when Haaji Bhai Padia (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) was travelling by air, a Jewish Rabbi was seated next to him. In conversation, the Jewish Rabbi said to Haaji Bhai Padia (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh): “We are not afraid of the Muslims today, because Allah’s help is not with them, nor with us. Today, everything is about power: The one who has more arms and more ammunition, wins. We have more, and we are more powerful. However, when the Mosques (Masaajid) of the Muslims start filling up for the Fajr prayer as the Masjids get full for the Jumu’ah prayer, we will not be able to fight the Muslims, because Allah’s help will be with them, and we can never overcome the one who is assisted by Allah.”

After this talk, a young man came to me and informed me that he is from India (or Pakistan). He said: “I go home once a year. Each time, on my return, my neighbour, who is Jew, asks me: ‘How many people are attending the Fajr prayer?’ …This is the question posed to me every time. Once, I asked him: ‘Why do you always ask me this same question?’ He said: ‘Today, we have no fear for the Muslims, but when their Masjids get full for the Fajr prayer as they do for Jumu’ah, we will not fight them as Allah’s help will be with them and we cannot fight Allah.”

Abdullah S’aud is a brother from South America, whose homeland is Palestine. He related that he was a little child when his family was exiled to South America. At that time, Ariel Sharon mentioned to the father of Abdullah S’aud: “You will come back; but not today and not tomorrow. You will come back when your Masjids are full for Fajr like how they are for Jumu’ah.”

We clamour and we shout and we cry, for the rise of Islam, yet we do not rise for the Fajr Salaah.

Our hypocrisy becomes evident in the light of the Ahadith. There is no doubt of a person’s Nifaaq (hypocrisy) if he is absent from the Fajr and Isha Salaah, in the Masjid.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are ‘Isha and Fajr, but if they only knew what they contain, they would come even if they had to crawl.”[1]

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “A person who does not go for Salaah after hearing the Azaan is committing a great wrong and is doing an act of Kufr (disbelief) and Nifaaq (hypocrisy).”[2]

Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had said: “If you neglect the Sunnah, you will go astray. Verily, I have seen a time when no one stayed away from the congregational prayers except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy or a sick man. I remember that a man would be brought leaning on two men and put in the Saff (row) to attain its reward and escape the sins of missing it.”[3]

If the entire Ummah performed Salaah - established Salaah - the entire Ummah would be in the protection of Allah Ta’ala, the One who is Al-Mighty and All-Powerful. No power on the surface of the earth will be able to overcome or defeat a people in the special protection of Allah Ta’ala.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever prays the dawn prayer (Fajr), then He is under Allah’s protection. So beware, O son of Aadam, that Allah does not call you to account for being absent from His protection for any reason.”[4]

Boycotting, sanctioning and marching may find a place in bringing attention to injustice and crippling an economy but they do not draw the assistance of Allah Ta’ala. The assistance of Allah Ta’ala comes only with obedience to Allah Ta’ala and with conforming to the Sunnah.

Muslims, today, see some kind of solution in marching and boycotting – but sadly, do not see the solution where it is: In practically implementing the teachings of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

We will only overcome the forces of Zionism and the enemies of Islam taking the route of obedience to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

Our condition is that Salaah is neglected; the beautiful Sunnah is disregarded - there is no care and no concern to identify ourselves with Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam), by adopting the Sunnah Libaas (dress/garb), maintaining the beard one fist length and following in his noble footsteps. ...The majority do not want to give up the song and dance, the interest and gambling, the western culture or the Hollywood/Bollywood culture, and all other sins. ...Then how will we invite Allah Ta’ala’s Nusrah[5], in this manner?

Allah Ta'ala has His conditions. These will have to be met first, before we can overcome our enemies.

Allah Ta’ala clearly defines His conditions and His promises:

“Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds, that He will, of surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them…

So establish Salaah (Prayer) and give regular Charity (Zakaah); and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy. ”

[Surah Nur 24 : 55 / 56]

The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were able to overcome the super powers of their time because they were living Islam.

The keys of Masjid-e-Aqsa were willingly handed over to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Ameerul Mu’mineen, whose reign as the Khalifa saw the establishment of justice on the face of the earth. This justice was through the implementation of the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah and standing firm and resolute on its teachings.

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu), himself, said: “We are a people whom Allah Ta’ala elevated with Islam.” – i.e. true and sincere submission to Allah Ta’ala.

We talk about Masjid-e-Aqsa and the violation and desecration of Masjid-e-Aqsa by the Israeli Zionist forces. However, the condition of Masjid-e-Aqsa is only a reflection of the condition of the Ummah at large.

Sheikh ‘Ali Abbaasi, the Imam of Masjid-e-Aqsa, had asked Hadhrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhum), the principal of Madrasah Taleemuddeen, about the sad and distressing condition of Palestine and asked why there is no support from the Muslim countries.

Hadhrat Mufti Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) explained that he had read in the Tafsier of Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) that Allah Ta’ala has different systems for Masjidul Haraam in Makkatul Mukarramah and for Masjidul Aqsa.

Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh) had explained in his Tafsier that Masjidul Haraam is continuously under the protection of Allah Ta’ala. The Kuffaar will not be able to gain control of Baitullah, and the condition of the Muslim Ummah does not affect this protection. This protection has no interruption.

The condition of Masjid-e-Aqsa is centred and based on the condition of the Muslim Ummah.

If the Ummah is obedient to Allah Ta’ala, then Masjid-e-Aqsa would be in their full control. If the Ummah is in the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, then the Muslim Ummah loses control of Masjid-e-Aqsa and the land of Palestine. Control is handed over to our enemies.

This is what we see today. A great majority of the Muslim Ummah are heedless of the Commandments of Allah Jalla Jalaaluhu; even engaging recklessly in sins.

We raise our voices against the Israeli Zionist forces who desecrate our beloved Masjid-e-Aqsa; we march against the injustice, we wave the Palestinian flag everywhere, and we wear its colours in some way or the other - all in solidarity. ...However, if we are not performing Salaah and if, in our lives, there is disobedience to Allah Ta'ala, then let us understand the very, very sad reality: We are instrumental in the desecration and violation of Masjid-e-Aqsa and the oppression of the Palestinian people. Then our role is not constructive; rather it is destructive - because we are a contributing factor to the Israelis having control of Masjid-e-Aqsa.

Imam Maalik (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) had said so aptly, in his time: "The last generations of the Ummah can only be reformed by that which reformed its first generations. What was not part of the religion then, cannot become part of the religion now."

The first step is establishing Salaah in our lives and working towards bringing the whole of Islam into our lives, practically. If we really want to solve our problems, this is the only way.

May Allah Ta’ala forgive us, have mercy upon us, guide us, and grant us the understanding and the Taufeeq of becoming practical on Deen.

http://hameediyyah.blogspot.com/2014/10/deliverance-for-suffering-ummah-gateway.html?m=1

[guidetoenjoy-blog]

Will Modern technology Developments Limit Leisure Options?

New Post has been published on https://entertainmentguideto.com/entertainment-news/will-modern-technology-developments-limit-leisure-options/

Will Modern technology Developments Limit Leisure Options?

Hollywood recently been telling United states about the economic problems the film industry is facing. In reaction, American citizens have questioned Hollywood to start generating videos which are sufficiently good to watch and well worth the 15 money theaters cost! Within the last four years admission revenue for new motion pictures have progressively lowered. How come this taking place? Are film theaters disappearing? Will movie studios get out of company and further limit client decision? This article will make an effort to solution these inquiries by evaluating the difficulties and opportunities faced by both the entertainment buyers and sector.

How come ticket sales declining?

Home entertainment system solutions

Aside from the restricted top quality of movies becoming created, many People in america have create %u201Chome theater%u201D systems inside their properties. The lowering of prices of big display theatre and TVs high quality encircle audio systems has generated a generation of film viewers that have the resources to create a theatre surroundings in their residences. Once you put the benefit of without having to accept a person else%u2019s weeping little one and having the capacity to pause the film when you should get a treat or drink there%u2019s really no question why movie theater attendance is downward.

Digital video disc release and rates house windows

For many years, the film business has operated on a series of sophisticated discharge windows:

Initial, films play in theaters, then, six months in the future, the video windowpane starts up, then the starting of your pay TV after which totally free television set home window. (Slate, Accessing for Bucks)

Since the price stage for the DVD is less than having a group of several towards the theater, numerous buyers just wait for a motion picture to become unveiled on DVD. Digital video disc participants have decreased in price a great deal they%u2019re virtually ubiquitous in American homes and so are an important component of any home cinema method.

Hollywood is being pressured monetarily on the movie theaters by these circumstances. An effective opening up weekend is an important part of the viability of your film. Studios spend about $30 mil every video marketing the theatrical relieve. The question several industry specialists are asking means that the studios don%u2019t change the making windows. Otherwise, get rid of them altogether.

Simultaneous Lets out?

Several of Hollywood%u2019s most significant players are testing this theory at the moment, sort of. The film Bubble, instructed by Steven Soderbergh and reinforced financially by tech businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Label Cuban will be the very first of half a dozen motion pictures planned to test Hollywood%u2019s window process. Introduced Jan 27th, Bubble could be observed in movie theaters or pay-per-view on cable television and from satellite suppliers by way of HDNet television. 4 times later, Bubble was published on Digital video disc with additional content material on the DVD edition.

Bubble is a firmly controlled test. The film itself is short (72 minutes or so), starred only inexperienced stars and was largely panned by pundits. Theatrical syndication was limited to Landmark Theaters which Cuban owns plus some independents%u2026other movie theaters boycotted it. Pay out-per-perspective was also dispersed by way of a Cuban possessed business HDNet which includes circulation via numerous significant cable tv satellite and firms suppliers Recipe System and DirecTV.

A few days following the film%u2019s Soderbergh, Cuban and relieve declared glory with their experiment. Although theater income had been only $70,644 on 32 screens, DVD revenue quadrupled anticipations. A profit discussing model offered 1Per cent of DVD revenue to movie theaters that demonstrated Bubble. The motion picture by itself cost about $1.7 zillion to experienced and then make profit projections soon after simply a few days of launch.

Are motion picture theaters disappearing?

How come Hollywood earnings make a difference to Us shoppers?

If you like economics, the declining film ticket sales conundrum may be appealing to you. Most Us citizens nonetheless don%u2019t mind. Hollywood offers a photo of huge spending budgets, costly automobiles, film and mansions legend life styles while many of America is hidden under credit debt and battling to get gas with their Hondas or pay out their home heating bills. But, Hollywood profits need to matter, as if a movie, Television set system, or documentary doesn%u2019t possess a big audience, it receives cancelled and nobody reaches view it.

In The United States, we like our amusement. Even with the quality of a software program, television shows that don%u2019t have adequate enough audiences for community TV undoubtedly get cancelled. During my mind, Arrested Growth is amongst the funniest applications out there at the moment. It offers experienced essential achievement plus a central of visitors, but it won%u2019t be coming back again following time of year. Fox will shed the remaining events in poor and sometimes arbitrary time slot machine games. Even extended operating, %u201Csuccessful%u201D plans like The West Wing and Celebrity Trek: Company eventually get the axe. They could still create a earnings and United states shoppers could get the encoding we desire if Hollywood resorted to different syndication and income designs.

Will shoppers pay for TV encoding?

Hollywood has created an presumption that shoppers won%u2019t buy encoding and have to count on advertisers for profits. But, more than 70Per cent of Americans already sign up for cable television or satellite TV to obtain crystal clear programming. The question isn%u2019t regardless of whether American citizens are prepared to pay out, it really is exactly how much would they pay.

Andy Bowers from Slate gives this theory %u2013

The Western side Wing has about 8 million audiences per week. It costs about $6 million for each episode. To put it differently, if everyone who now wrist watches the display paid $1 a week, TWW would more than pay for alone.

Obviously not all the 8 zillion audiences could or would pay money for the show. But let’s say a quarter of which would. That’s 2 zillion men and women having to pay $3 for each episode (or possibly $4, organizing within a buck for Steve Tasks as well as the cable television organizations). The attacks could possibly be viewed over a PPV channel, delivered electronically to some DVR, or slurped on online video iPods.

If all Tv set coding could be distributed within this style, now, envision! Applications like Arrested Development wouldn%u2019t need to depend upon a high 20 standing to remain about the atmosphere. Coding would develop into a purpose of client demand%u2026American Television set watchers would actually have a lot more decision!

Will advancements in technological innovation lessen consumer selection?

Technologies creates selection

Technology may be the enabler within this case. If there have been no system for people like us to document or playback applications, we may still be at the mercy of Television set broadcasters for the leisure. The Electronic digital Television migration of 2009 will make it easy for every household to permit some sort of spend-for every-look at choice, even though they don%u2019t join cable tv or satellite Television set. Mobile observing options is likewise improving with models like Apple%u2019s video clip ipod device and Recipe Network%u2019s PocketDISH.

Now how do modern technology advancements impact films?

I found myself seeing yesterday following a Shaggy Canine commercial that a majority of new videos which can be advertised greatly are re-helps make, sequels or rewrite-offs of comic guides, video games or Tv programs. Consider the films unveiled currently %u2013 Starsky And Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard, King Kong and Celebrity Wars: Episode III. But Edward Jay Epstein clarifies they are doing it on objective, i think it is due to the fact Hollywood experienced finally exhaust new ideas!

Simultaneous release on multiple websites will lessen the $30 thousand advertising expense studios use to blitz consumers into going out to a brand new motion picture on starting saturday and sunday. In turn, Hollywood will be able to manage to %u201Cgreen light%u201D a lot more movies that can nonetheless change a return even with smaller audiences. If movie theaters are shown a talk about of Digital video disc product sales, the burden of potentially getting a lot less video goers inside their chairs is relieved.

Bubble is only the initial of six films to be introduced concurrently by Soderbergh and Cuban. Soderbergh produced a prescient statement in a latest meet with, %u201CName any large-label film that’s appear within the last 4 years. It really has been for sale in all formats at the time of release. It’s referred to as piracy.%u201D Without a doubt, controlling piracy is a large determination associated with the market large move to digitize Television. Movie piracy can take numerous forms which includes recording the movie inside the theater with a superior quality video camera. Additionally, copying the expert disc from a submit-generation premises.

A conclusion

Bubble was just an exam. I believe another handful of films to get released by Soderbergh and Cuban will have a-checklist celebrities and really send a note to Hollywood they have to alter their enterprise model, or they are often out from company.

Technology is a good enabler of consumer and alter option. For Hollywood studios this is basically the ultimate revenue motor vehicle and maker for %u201Cjust in time%u201D product or service delivery. Simultaneous shipping of brand new films by means of numerous retailers like DVDs, movie theaters and cordsatellite and cord Television pay-for every-perspective allows far more selection for customers plus more option for Hollywood to create progressive, top quality videos. These positive aspects will also trickle as a result of Tv set development too.

Once they will adapt to technological developments instead of preventing them, hollywood often leads just how in driving a car electronic movie content for Television and movies whilst residing in manage. The music industry has recently displayed suing 12 12 months olds for installing pirated tracks is not any remedy for anyone.

Referrals:

http: //www.slate.com/id/2131124/

http: //www.slate.com/id/2135544/

http: //www.slate.com/id/2134933/

http: //media.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060131/ap_en_mo/package_place of work_bubble

http: //the-op.com/saveourbluths/

http: //www.slate.com/identification/2134803/

http: //www.alternet.org/mediaculture/31379/

http: //www.politechbot.com/docs/cbdtpa/hollings.cbdtpa.relieve.032102.web-page coding

http: //www.tv set.com/seinfeld/the-small-kicks/episode/2378/overview.web-page coding

http: //www.theforce.internet/episode3/narrative/Seven_Accept_Copying_Superstar_Competitions_DVD_96736.asp

http: //www.slate.com/id/2134453/

[delightful-mystery]

Why I Boycotted Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

“All that time I had spent readying myself, the articles that taught me life was really just a waiting room until someone noticed you - the boys had spent that time becoming themselves.” - Emma Cline, The Girls

Before I begin, I want to start by saying that the word “boycott” obviously means that I haven’t seen the film. It’s kind of unusual for me to argue about something without fully informing myself of the facts first, but this is something I had to write about. 

(and I will watch Once Upon a Time in Hollywood once I can source it for free…)

Okay, so now that we have the disclaimer out of the…