#r.j. stewart

[girl4music]

I’ve had enough of people referring to ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ as queerbaiting and claiming that the creators of the show were committing it so I’ve gone on an extensive Google search and pulled up this AftenEllen article written all the way back in 2008 and I’m transcribing the full thing right here because if people don’t want to voluntarily do their research when they make their insulting claims then I’ll provide the source for them and force them to read it because I refuse to allow them to disrespect the creators/cast/crew like this in making their completely off-base assumptions about a TV show that I’ve been watching since I was 5 years old.

This is an interview with the creators/cast/crew of ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ where they express their opinion on what they think would happen with the lesbian subtext between Xena and Gabrielle if the show was made for today. It’s why many of us don’t want a remake or reboot or revival of it of any kind.

Do not ever come for ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ and the incredible people that either made the show or were involved in the making of it around me. You have absolutely no chance in winning the argument!

[Viewers never had to look too hard to find the lesbian subtext in Xena: Warrior Princess, but that’s still what it was: subtext. And while lesbian fans in the 1990s might not have had any choice but to settle for that, would things be different if the show were being made – or remade – today? When I attended the Xena convention in Burbank, Calif., at the end of January, I asked the show’s creators, producers, writers and stars if the world is ready for an openly lesbian relationship between Xena and Gabrielle.

“To me it was main text,” said Renee O’Connor, who played Gabrielle, in an exclusive interview with AfterEllen.com. “And even if it was subtext, it was very clear that we were together. They are so in love with each other, they love each other so dearly; there’s no way you can say that’s not true. Anyone can see that from watching the show.”

I asked her if she thought that relationship could be openly acknowledged if the series were being made today. “I don’t know,” O’Connor answered. “Maybe there’s a little bit more hint of acceptance today. Maybe, maybe not. You can only put it up and see what would happen. I guess we could do anything, just get it out there and see how it affects people.”

In a lot of ways, Xena flew under the radar during the ’90s. Viewers who didn’t perceive (or didn’t like) the lesbian subtext could see it simply as a story about heroic friends righting wrongs and battling villians. If the show were being produced in today’s post—L Word television landscape, it’s hard to believe that audiences would be quite as oblivious.

But O’Connor doesn’t think that a more overt presentation of Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship would have changed the moral heart of the series. That’s because she sees those two things – the love between Xena and Gabrielle and the series’ focus on the fight against evil – as inextricably combined.

“If we were just starting Xena right now, I know what the relationship of the two characters is,” O’Connor said. “So even though we wouldn’t blatantly talk about all the issues involved, because I don’t think that’s what the show is about, it’s still about defeating oppressors and wanting to do the right thing for the world. And that comes down to these people and how they love each other.”

Lucy Lawless, who played Xena, isn’t sure how acknowledging a romantic relationship between the two women would affect the show’s reception if it were being made today, but it could have changed the way audiences perceived it in the past.

“There might have been more general discussion about whether the characters were lesbian or not out in the mainstream,” Lawless said. “In the 1990s, when this was all new, people like Ellen [DeGeneres] and k.d. lang and all these people who are out were blazing a trail. And you might hope that it’d be done long ago. But in a lot of the world, it’s still incredibly painful to come out, even today.”

Then she laughed. “But let’s have a go. Let’s do it. Why don’t we make a Xena movie? Just tell a bloody good story and let the fires and torpedoes be damned.”

A Xena movie doesn’t seem any more likely today than it did a year ago, but I asked Lawless if she thought the sexual relationship between Xena and Gabrielle might be brought more into the forefront if a movie were made.

“I think that’s a good question for Rob,” she said, referring to Rob Tapert, the series’ co-creator and her husband. “I know he’s been thinking about this for a long time, mulling it over in the back of his mind. He’s got a great feeling of where the world’s at and what he can make that’s progressive and gutsy and still have it be financially successful.”

Backstage at the convention, Tapert considered the possibility of a more openly queer Xena and Gabrielle. “It’s a tricky question,” he said, “because if Xena were being made today, well, there’s two different Xenas. There is the one [in which] people could read between the lines, and that played to one audience.

“Then there’s one that played to kids, or that played to 9—17-year-olds. And they didn’t understand the subtext, nor did they get it. So like the finest of Disney films, that plays to all audiences; that was a balance we tried to find. Making it today, I don’t know what would happen.”

He called series co-creator, producer and writer R.J. Stewart over to ask his opinion. “Could there be more commitment to the subtext?” Stewart said. “Well, I think if it was a cable show, absolutely. But if it was the same kind of broader market, I think you have to be more inclusive. But yes, absolutely, I think that a cable version of it could work that way.”

What if a film were made today, based on the series? That would be a different proposition, Stewart said. “When you make a movie you always try to stay pretty close to the original in feeling.” Then he laughed. “Now, if you could just get Oxygen to order some episodes …”

However much fans might wish for another season of their favorite show, not even out lesbian Xena producer and writer Liz Friedman (pictured left, and currently a producer on Fox’s House) thinks it would come back as an ancient Greek action-adventure version of The L Word.

“As much as I would love to see it – and I’m speaking as somebody who watches The L Word obsessively – there was something really wonderful and romantic about the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle,” she told AfterEllen.com. “And I think it’s actually easier to have romance without sex. You don’t then get into issues about ‘Will this relationship last?’ There was never – well, until they started killing each other’s children – the question of a breakup.”

I asked if she thought that times had changed enough that a series could now be made with two legendary female heroes shown unambiguously as romantic partners.

“If you look at the lesbian relationships that are on TV now, it’s either niche-market stuff like The L Word, or it’s Cashmere Mafia that gets you all excited because there’s a kiss in the pilot, and then by Episode 3 she’s hitting on boys again,” Friedman said. “Certainly in a single-lead action show we’re not ready for an openly gay heroine yet. Well, I think we’re ready for it. I don’t think the networks are going to let us do it.”

Then she laughed. “Look, obviously I’m biased. I loved the show the way it was, so it’s like, don’t talk about messing with my Xena. It worked pretty well, thanks very much. … If I were doing the Xena movie I would try to get there to be a kiss, but there are plenty of ways that you can do that without changing what the relationship is.”

That raises the question of just how much would have to change in order to bring the subtext into the forefront.

It’s undeniable that there are some scenes – and even whole episodes – where it’s hard to make sense of what happens without believing that Xena and Gabrielle are at least a little bit more than friends. Most of the time, these moments occur in the more humorous episodes, but as series writer Steven Sears told AfterEllen.com, “We didn’t cross the line completely but … these are two women who live together, travel together, had domestic duties together, die for each other, fought for each other, continually say how much they loved each other, but no. They’re not in a loving relationship.”

Steven Sears talking with Christie Keith

He shook his head. “Excuse me?”

Writer Katherine Fugate (currently executive producer of Army Wives) sees it much the same way. She is the author of “When Fates Collide,” widely considered one of the most subtext-friendly – and romantic – episodes in the entire series.

Katherine Fugate

Set in an alternate universe where Xena’s old enemy, Julius Caesar, has imprisoned the Fates and used their loom to undo the events that led up to his assassination, “When Fates Collide” is about the inevitability of both destiny and love.

In Caesar’s new reality, Xena is his empress. A famous Greek playwright named Gabrielle comes to present her latest work to the Romans, and in the greatest romantic tradition, she and Xena are struck with what can only be called love at first sight.

They gaze at each other across crowded rooms. Xena casts tortured glances at Gabrielle when she is called away by her husband. They stare longingly at each other from their balconies in the moonlight. Xena gives her life to save Gabrielle, and Gabrielle risks destroying the entire world to save Xena’s.

Caesar calls Gabrielle Xena’s “girlfriend,” and his violent jealousy would make absolutely no sense if Xena and Gabrielle weren’t being depicted as lovers.

And, in fact, that’s just how they were being depicted. Fugate appeared at this year’s convention and spoke with AfterEllen.com backstage. “The paradigm in my episode was that they find each other in any lifetime and they were meant to be, no matter what body they were in or what gender they were,” she said. “These souls were entwined somehow. And that, to me, almost has more a spiritual connotation than a sexual one, although I personally believe that they were lovers and had a committed relationship.”

She added: “I think we touched people, and it was multifaceted with all the spiritual components as well as the love. But the love was so intense, and ‘We’ll find each other in any lifetime,’ I think, is profound. I don’t know many shows that say that, period, heterosexual or homosexual.”

Given that, it’s surprising there wasn’t a kiss in the episode, something that had been played with both teasingly and tenderly (if briefly) in earlier episodes.

“There was a kiss written in which was more definitive, and it’s in the script that they sell here [at the convention],” said Fugate. “So my intention was actually to push that envelope, and I was really supported by Rob and R.J. and everyone. But ultimately they pulled it, because they wanted to maintain it for the finale.”

The finale is, of course, a sore spot for Xena fans; mention of it during R.J. Stewart’s appearance triggered the only boos of the convention weekend. He took them in stride, defending his decision to kill Xena at the series’ end, but there’s no question it took the shine off the climactic kiss the two women shared in “A Friend in Need.”

Fugate, who announced at the convention that Renee O’Connor will play a lesbian on Army Wives later this year, is optimistic about the possibility that a show about two female heroes who are openly lovers could be made today.

“This may sound like a writer’s answer, but I think anything works if it’s well-written,” she said. “If you have respect for the subject and if you can find a universal theme, anything will work.”

She said she feels that doing that would be easier today than it was in the ’90s. “We probably couldn’t push the envelope as much then as we could now,” she said.

“The subtext issue gets asked a lot; I think everyone here has been asked about it. And I think that’s because it obviously touches people, and we had an opportunity to dignify these relationships. And everyone felt it did that. I think both the lead actors have come forward and said this is how they view their characters and how they played them. We did what we could.”

If they did what they could in the ’90s, what could they do now? Sears said he’s thought a lot about that question, and he’s not optimistic. “As far as the marketing mind is concerned and the studios,” he explained, “if a movie came out they would play with it, they would toy with it, they would try to appeal to the male heterosexual audience, because in their minds that’s who’s attracted to these kinds of films, these action films. They don’t want to turn those people off.”

Then Sears pointed out the dark side of main text. “The horrible thing that might be done is that they would then say, let’s go completely commercial with this thing,” he said. “They would have the characters kiss, have the characters imply that they had a sexual encounter, and then have them realize, well, that was just an experiment. Now let’s go back to men. That’s the worst possible thing that could happen. But it’s also one of the most possible things that marketing could do.”

In light of those fears, a dozen intimate moments in the hot tub, soulful glances and fireside nights spent in each other’s arms don’t seem so bad. And neither do Renee O’Connor’s final thoughts on how Xena might best be made today.

“I always wanted people to look at it as unconditional love,” she said, “especially people from the conservative side who didn’t want to see anything like that. Just watch the show, and see what you want to see. I still think that today that would be the best way to put the series on.”]

SOURCE: https://afterellen.com/bringing-out-the-warrior-princess/

[recentlyheardcom]

R.J. Cutler's Martha Stewart Doc for Netflix

From teenage mannequin to upper-crust caterer to home doyenne to media-spanning billionaire to scapegoated convict to octogenarian thirst lure fanatic and Snoop Dogg chum, Martha Stewart has had a life that defies perception, or a minimum of congruity. It’s an unlikely journey that has been carried out largely within the public eye, which supplies R.J. Cutler a selected problem along with his…

[beesnutz]

CLEOPATRA 2525 (2000-2001) created by R.J Stewart & Rob Tapert

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 5.20

Beer Birthdays

John Adam Lemp (1798)

Louis de Luze Simonds (1852)

Eduard Buchner (1860)

Louis Hemrich (1872)

Lord "Benjie" Iveagh (1937)

Judy Ashworth (1942)

Oliver Hughes (1959)

David Walker (1964)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Emile Berliner; inventor of flat phonograph record (1851)

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole; Hawaiian singer (1959)

John Stuart Mill; English philosopher (1806)

Timothy Olyphant; actor (1968)

James Stewart; actor (1908)

Famous Birthdays

Danny Aiello; actor (1933)

Emile Berliner; German/US inventor (1851)

Cher; pop singer, writer (1946)

Joe Cocker; rock singer (1944)

Christopher Columbus; explorer (1451)

Mindy Cohn; actor (1966)

William Congreve; English inventor (1772)

Francis Cotes; English artist (1726)

Henri-Edmond Cross; French artist (1856)

Moshe Dayan; Israeli general (1915)

Honore de Balzac; French writer (1799)

Aleksandr Deyneka; Russian artist (1899)

Alfred Domett; English/NZ poet (1811)

Patrick Ewing Jr.; basketball player (1984)

William Fargo; banker (1818)

Gardner Fox; author (1911)

George Gobel; comedian (1919)

Tony Goldwyn; actor (1960)

John M. Harlan; US Supreme Court justice (1899)

William Hewlett; H-P Founder (1913)

Nick Heywood; UK pop singer, guitarist (1961)

Guy Hoffman; rock musician (1954)

Levinus Lemnius; Dutch writer (1505)

Shorty Long; musician (1940)

Dolley Madison; first lady of James Madison (1768)

Hector Malot; French author (1830)

Hans Meerwein; German chemist (1879)

R.J. Mitchell; English engineer (1895)

Bobby Murcer; baseball player (1946)

Sumitranandan Pant; Indian poet (1900)

Bronson Pinchot; actor (1959)

Busta Rhymes; rapper (1972)

Michele Roberts; UK author (1949)

Louis Smith; jazz trumpeter (1931)

Tony Stewart; automobile racer (1971)

Jewel Styles; pornstar (1988)

Dave Thomas; Canadian comedian, actor (1949)

William Thornton; architect (1759)

David Wells; baseball player (1963)

Jane Wiedlin; pop singer (1958)

Anthony Zerbe; actor (1936)

[awardswatcherik]

32nd annual Hamptons International Film Festival Announces Early Lineup: R.J. Cutler’s Martha Stewart Doc to Open Fest

[ulkaralakbarova]

The eccentric new manager of a UHF television channel tries to save the station from financial ruin with an odd array of programming. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: George Newman: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic R.J. Fletcher: Kevin McCarthy Stanley Spadowski: Michael Richards Bob: David Bowe Harvey Bilchik: Stanley Brock Philo: Anthony Geary Raul Hernandez: Trinidad Silva Kuni: Gedde Watanabe Noodles MacIntosh: Billy Barty Richard Fletcher: John Paragon Pamela Finklestein: Fran Drescher Esther Bilchik: Sue Ane Langdon Head Thug: David Proval Killer Thug: Grant James Teri: Victoria Jackson Joe Earley: Emo Philips Gandhi: Jay Levey Cameraman: Lou B. Washington Bum: Vance Colvig FCC Man: Nik Hagler Bartender: Robert K. Weiss Spatula Husband: Eldon G. Hallum Spatula Wife: Sherry Engstrom Spatula Neighbor: Sara Allen Sy Greenblum: Bob Hungerford Crazy Ernie: John Cadenhead Blind Man: Francis M. Carlson Earl Ramsey: Ivan Green Joel Miller: Adam Maras Billy: Travis Knight Little Weasel: Joseph Witt Teri’s Father: Tony Frank Teri’s Mother: Billie Lee Thrash Fletcher Cronie #1: Barry Friedman Fletcher Cronie #2: Kevin Roden Phyllis Weaver: Lisa R. Stefanic Big Edna: Nancy Johnson Betty: Debbie Mathieu Little Old Lady: Wilma Jeanne Cummins Animal Deliveyman: Cliff Stephens Band: Guitar: Jim West Band: Bass Guitar: Steve Jay Band: Drums: Jon Schwartz Band: Keyboards: Kim Bullard Whipped Cream Eater: Barry Hansen Thug #3: Bob Maras Thug #4: George Fisher Guide #1: Tony Salome Guide #2: Joe Restivo Yodeler: Charles Marsh Mud Wrestler: Belinda Bauer Satan: Patrick Thomas O’Brien Conan the Librarian: Roger Callard Timid Man: Robert Frank Boy with Books: Jeff Maynard Promo Announcer (voice): M.G. Kelly Promo Announcer (voice): Jay Gardner Promo Announcer (voice): John Harlan Promo Announcer (voice): Jim Rose Film Crew: Production Manager: Gray Frederickson Original Music Composer: John Du Prez Editor: Dennis M. O’Connor Producer: Gene Kirkwood Producer: John W. Hyde Writer: Jay Levey Director of Photography: David Lewis Production Design: Ward Preston Set Decoration: Robert L. Zilliox Costume Design: Tom McKinley Makeup Effects: Allan A. Apone Special Effects Makeup Artist: Douglas J. White Sound Recordist: Ara Ashjian Sound Editor: Christopher Assells Sound Editor: Charles R. Beith Jr. Sound Recordist: Gregory Cheever Sound Editor: Clayton Collins Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Andy D’Addario Sound Editor: Dino DiMuro Sound Editor: G. Michael Graham Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Jeffrey J. Haboush Sound Mixer: Bo Harwood Sound Editor: Dan Hegeman Sound Editor: A. David Marshall Sound Editor: Diane Marshall Supervising Sound Editor: Dave McMoyler Sound Recordist: Art Schiro Sound Editor: Scott A. Tinsley Visual Effects Producer: John Coats Visual Effects Supervisor: William Mesa Visual Effects Art Director: Richard Kilroy Visual Effects Art Director: Ron Yates Post Production Supervisor: Susan Zwerman Production Supervisor: Bill Carroll Stunt Coordinator: George Fisher Stunts: Bob Maras Stunts: Brent Stice Stunts: T. Alan Kelly Stunts: J. Granville Moulder Stunts: Michael Steven Howl Stunts: Richard Drown Executive In Charge Of Production: Kate Morris Associate Producer: Becki Cross Trujillo Associate Producer: Joe M. Aguilar First Assistant Director: John R. Woodward Second Assistant Director: Benita Allen Casting Assistant: Gregory Raich Casting Assistant: Sandi Black Local Casting: Barbara Brinkley Henry Local Casting: Laurey Lummus Key Hair Stylist: Lynne K. Eagan Makeup & Hair: Roseanne McIlvane Wardrobe Supervisor: Ainslee Colt de Wolf Wardrobe Assistant: Phil O’Nan Boom Operator: Joel Racheff First Assistant Camera: Ed Giovanni Second Assistant Camera: Tiffanie Winton Second Assistant Camera: Brett Reynolds Second Assistant Camera: Cindi Pusheck Production Coordinator: Bonnie Macker Script Supervisor: Carol Stewart Second Second Assistant Director: Lorene M. Duran Third Assistant Director: Pam Whorton Additional Editing: Steve Polivka Assistant Editor: Lewis Schoenbrun Supervising ADR Editor: Karla Caldwell Music Supervisor:...

[bookshelfmonkey]

January reading wrap-up

This is very late, but I'm still doing it.

The Bone Ships- R.J. Barker- 2/1/24- 9/10 To me, this is one of the staples of 21st century fantasy. It has the feel of classic fantasy novels, but is original in its worlbuilding and plots. The characters are all complex and compelling and the relationships between them are equally so and work really well within the plot. Also there are boats and dragons (sort of).

Sea Dragon Heir- Storm Constantine- 5/1/24- 6/10 I really wanted to love this book but there was just so much incest. I tried to ignore it or excuse it or just move past it but it was impossible.

Fool's Errand- Robin Hobb- 11/1/24- 8/10 I was hooked from the first few chapters. Someone needs to give Fitz a break though.

Babel- R.F. Kuang- 14/1/24-10/10 It broke my heart but it was so good that I couldn't even be mad about it. This was such an interesting way to explore the relationship between academia and imperialism.

Life, the Universe, and Everything- Douglas Adams- 17/1/24- 8/10 I appreciate Douglas Adams' dedication to parodying sci-fi and taking the genre down a few notches.

The Witch in the Wood- T.H. White- 19/1/24- 6/10 A lot of the bits of this were good, but it felt like it was just trying to cover too much in too few pages.

Stormchaser- Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell- 21/1/24- 8/10 This is such a cool and creative series. I love all of its adventures.

The Incomplete Book of Dragons- Cressida Cowell- 21/1/24- 10/10 This isn't necessarily a book in its own right but it's a great addition to the series.

The House of Always- Jenn Lyons- 30/1/24- 9/10 The stakes were so high but somehow it also found a way to be funny. Now that I have a sense of how the world works and who the characters are, this series is actually really exciting and engaging.

[conversationpoint]

R.J. Stewart’s “Crazy Hawk”: A Riveting Futuristic Tale of Global Ruin and Rescue

http://dlvr.it/T8lrsG

[entomoblog]

En tant que véritables sentinelles de l'environnement, les papillons sont des indicateurs précieux de la santé des écosystèmes

Une des principales raisons de leur sensibilité inouïe est leur relation directe avec leur habitat qui représente leur principale source de nourriture : quand l’habitat est modifié, la disponibilité des ressources alimentaires l’est aussi, impactant directement le développement des papillons. Que ce soit au stade d’œuf, de chrysalide, de chenille ou encore d’imago, la survie des papillons est mise en péril. En effet, chaque stade du cycle de leur vie peut rencontrer des difficultés et ainsi avoir des problèmes pour se développer, se reproduire, ainsi que migrer.

  Le papillon : un indicateur de la santé de l’environnement /

Les papillons, des sentinelles de l’environnement /

Les papillons sont des alliés face aux changements environnementaux

  Noé Actualités

14 septembre 2023

  "Au-delà de la nécessité de la disponibilité des ressources alimentaires, les papillons ont d’autres besoins cruciaux comme la présence de plantes-hôtes spécifiques pour la ponte et reproduction ainsi que des températures précises pour leur développement. Certaines espèces sont également inféodées à un habitat bien particulier, et sont donc particulièrement menacées quand celui-ci est perturbé, comme le Mélibée (Coenonympha hero), classé en « Danger critique » par l’UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature). Ce papillon des prairies humides a vu son aire de répartition diminuée de 50 % en 20 ans. Aujourd’hui, il ne persiste plus que dans le massif du Jura, entre 500 et 1 000 m d’altitude.

  Leur réactivité rapide aux changements environnementaux est ce qui fait également d’eux des indicateurs précieux pour les scientifiques. Celle-ci s’explique par leur cycle de vie court, qui leur permet une adaptation rapide. Par conséquent, en observant les papillons, des informations essentielles sur les conditions environnementales actuelles d’une région donnée telles que la qualité de l’écosystème, la disponibilité des ressources alimentaires et l’état de la végétation peuvent être collectées. Par exemple, les modifications de la couverture végétale due à la déforestation ou à l'urbanisation peuvent entraîner la disparition de plantes nécessaires à la survie des papillons, comme certaines plantes-hôtes pour les œufs et chenilles. C’est le cas de l’Hespérie du barbon (Gegenes pumilio), qui a disparu depuis plus de 10 ans du littoral méditerranéen, victime de l’urbanisation. Elle est aujourd’hui classée en « Danger critique » en France par l’UICN."

(...)

  [Image] Mélibée (Coenonympha hero); Crédit : Jordi Strijdhorst / Buiten-beeld / Minden Pictures / Biosphoto

  Sources

Braak, N., Neve, R., Jones, A.K., Gibbs, M. et Breuker, C.J. (2018) The effects of insecticides on butterflies - A review. Environmental Pollution. 242(A), 507-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.100 (Consulté le 10 mai 2023)

Fenberg, P.B., Self, A., Stewart, J.R., Wilson, R.J. et Brooks, S.J. (2016) Exploring the universal ecological responses to climate change in a univoltine butterfly. Journal of Animal Ecology. 85(3),739-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12492 (Consulté le 10 mai 2023)

National Geographic (2021) Ces 450 espèces de papillons sont menacées par le réchauffement climatique. nationalgeographic.fr (Consulté le 10 mai 2023) 

Papilys – Focus : Moro-Sphinx. papilys.fr/focus-moro-sphinx (Consulté le 24 mai 2023)

Science et Vie (2021) L’effet papillon du changement climatique. science-et-vie.com (Consulte le 24 mai 2023)

Swaay, C., Van Strien, A., Julliard, R., Schweiger, O., Brereton, T., Heliölä, J., Kuussaari, M. Roy, D.B.  Stefanescu, C., Warren, M. et Settele, J. (2008) Developing a methodology for a European Butterfly Climate Change Indicator. Wageningen: De Vlinderstichting.  

UICN France, MNHN, OPIE & SEF (2014). La Liste rouge des espèces menacées en France - Chapitre Papillons de jour de France métropolitaine. Paris, France. uicn.fr/wp-content/uploads

UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme – Butterfly as indicators. ukbms.org/butterfly-indicators (Consulté le 24 mai 2023)

Vickery, M. (2008) Butterflies as indicators of climate change. Science Progress. 91(2),193-201. https://doi.org/10.3184/003685008X327927 (Consulté le 10 mai 2023)

  Bernadette Cassel's insight:

  "Les papillons sont des alliés face aux changements environnementaux"

[rabiosass]

My FAB FIVE Fancast 😛

I will start with Dick and Donna since I've fancasted them before.

I decided I wanted to cast actors in a similar age range (mid-late 20s).

Mena Massoud as Dick Grayson

Naomi Scott as Donna Troy

R.J Cyler as Wally West

Booboo Stewart as Garth

Gavin Leatherwood as Roy Harper

[roysexton]

VIDEO: State Bar of Michigan 2022 Business Law Symposium: Building Your Brand & Protecting It - #lmamkt

VIDEO: State Bar of Michigan 2022 Business Law Symposium: Building Your Brand & Protecting It – #lmamkt

Quotable moment: “Attorneys, please don’t treat your marketing team like they are Kinko’s. Give them the chance to strategically collaborate with you and to explore new channels and approaches that will put you in your best light.” View here: youtu.be/nDETen-Xbuw Thank you, State Bar of Michigan and wonderful Mark Rossman for inviting me to be a presenter at the 2022 Business Law Symposium. It…

[girl4music]

Madman/Viavision AU DVDs

Cheapest you will find this box set anywhere online. This is where I bought it.

BUY: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Xena-Complete-Series-Ultimate-Collection-DVD-New-Sealed-OFFICIAL-AU-RELEASE/332766132434?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

This is a breakdown of all the special features and additional footage that comes with this box set. There is a lot so I thought I’d make a post about it. The discs come in 9 parts which represent the 9 cases. 2 of the audio/video commentaries from season 2, ‘A Day In The Life’ & ‘Destiny’, are not in my box set. This may be because the audio/video commentaries and cast/crew interviews are taken from the old Anchor Bay releases. However, you might get them because not all the Anchor Bay releases missed them out. Please check with the seller before buying the box set!

Part 1 - Season 1 - Disc 1

- Still gallery

Part 2 - Season 1 - Disc 7

- “What You Didn’t Know About Xena” - 60 minute featurette from the directors of season 1

Part 2 - Season 2 - Disc 1

- Still gallery

- Weblink

Part 2 - Season 2 - Disc 2

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor - ‘Return Of Callisto’ audio/video commentary

Part 3 - Season 3 - Disc 1

- Rob Tapert & Liz Friedman - ‘The Furies’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The Furies’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Been There, Done That’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘The Dirty Half Dozen’ cast/crew interviews

- Still gallery

- Weblink

- Credits

Part 3 - Season 3 - Disc 2

- ‘The Deliverer’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Gabrielle’s Hope’ cast/crew interviews

- Rob Tapert & Lucy Lawless - ‘The Debt (Part 1)’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The Debt (Part 1)’ cast/crew interviews

Part 3 - Season 3 - Disc 3

- ‘The Debt (Part 2)’ cast/crew interviews

- Ted Raimi - ‘The King Of Assassins’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The King Of Assassins’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Warrior...Priestess...Tramp’ cast/crew interviews

Part 3 - Season 3 - Disc 4

- ‘The Quill Is Mightier’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Maternal Instincts’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘The Bitter Suite’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The Bitter Suite’ cast/crew interviews

Part 3 - Season 3 - Disc 5

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘One Against An Army’ audio/video commentary

- ‘One Against An Army’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Forgiven’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘King Con’ cast/crew interviews

Part 4 - Season 3 - Disc 6

- Steven L. Sears - ‘When In Rome...’ audio/video commentary

- ‘When In Rome...’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Forget Me Not’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Fins, Femmes & Gems’ cast/crew interviews

Part 4 - Season 3 - Disc 7

- ‘Tsunami’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Vanishing Act’ cast/crew interviews

- Hudson Leick - ‘Sacrifice (Part 1)’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Sacrifice (Part 1) cast/crew interviews

Part 4 - Season 3 - Disc 8

- Season 3 revisited - 30 minute featurette with cast/crew

- Season 3 bloopers

- ‘Sacrifice (Part 2)’ (alternative/extended scenes)

- ‘Sacrifice (Part 1 & 2)’ - A retrospective

- Hudson Leick - 'Sacrifice (Part 2)’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Sacrifice (Part 2)’ cast/crew interviews

Part 4 - Season 4 - Disc 1

- ‘Adventures In The Sin Trade (Part 1)’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Adventures In The Sin Trade (Part 2)’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘A Family Affair’ cast/crew interviews

- Still gallery

- Weblink

- Credits

Part 4 - Season 4 - Disc 2

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘In Sickness & In Hell’ audio/video commentary

- ‘A Good Day’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘A Tale Of Two Muses’ cast/crew interviews

Part 4 - Season 4 - Disc 3

- ‘Locked Up & Tied Down’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Crusader’ cast/crew interviews

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 4

- ‘If The Shoe Fits...’ cast/crew interviews (this is actually just Lucy and Renee)

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 5

- Rob Tapert & Chris Manheim - ‘Paradise Found’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Paradise Found’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Between The Lines’ cast/crew interviews

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 6

- ‘The Way’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘The Convert’ cast/crew interviews

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 7

- ‘Endgame’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘The Ides Of March’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The Ides Of March’ cast/crew interviews

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 8

- Season 4 bloopers

- Bringing Monsters To Life At K.N.B. EFX Group (Part 1) featurette 

- “Cabin Fever” (with Bruce Campbell & Ted Raimi)

- Renee O’Connor - ‘Déjà Vu All Over Again’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Déjà Vu All Over Again’ cast/crew interviews

Part 5 - Season 4 - Disc 9

- “Adventures In The Sin Trade” - An Exploration

- “Between The Lines” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- “A Good Day” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- “Locked Up & Tied Down” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 1

- R.J. Stewart & Eric Gruendemann - ‘Fallen Angel’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Fallen Angel’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Chakram’ cast/crew interviews

- Still gallery

- Weblink

- Credits

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 2

- ‘Animal Attraction’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Them Bones, Them Bones’ cast/crew interviews

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 3

- ‘Back In The Bottle’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘Seeds Of Faith’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Seeds Of Faith’ cast/crew interviews

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 4

- ‘Lyre, Lyre, Hearts On Fire’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘God Fearing Child’ cast/crew interviews

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 5

- ‘Eternal Bonds’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Married With Fishsticks’ cast/crew interviews

Part 6 - Season 5 - Disc 6

- ‘Lifeblood’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst - ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ cast/crew interviews

Part 7 - Season 5 - Disc 7

- ‘Livia’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Eve’ cast/crew interviews

Part 7 - Season 5 - Disc 8

- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor & Rob Tapert - ‘Motherhood’ audio/video commentary

- ‘Motherhood’ cast/crew interviews

- Gabrielle’s wardrobe test

- Bringing Monsters To Life At K.N.B. EFX Group (Part 2) featurette

Part 7 - Season 5 - Disc 9

- Season 5 - Exclusive interviews with cast/crew

- On set: The 100th episode

- “Motherhood” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- “Animal Attraction” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

Part 7 - Season 6 - Disc 1

- ‘Coming Home’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Heart Of Darkness’ cast/crew interviews

- Still gallery

- Weblink

- Credits

Part 7 - Season 6 - Disc 2

- ‘Who’s Gurkhan?’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Legacy’ cast/crew interviews

Part 7 - Season 6 - Disc 3

- ‘The Rheingold’ cast/crew interviews

- Joel Metzger - ‘The Ring’ audio/video commentary

- ‘The Ring’ cast/crew interviews

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 4

- ‘Old Ares Had A Farm’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Dangerous Prey’ cast/crew interviews

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 5

- ‘You Are There’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Path Of Vengeance’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst - ‘To Helicon & Back’ audio/video commentary

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 6

- ‘Last Of The Centaurs’ cast/crew interviews

- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor & Rob Tapert - ‘When Fates Collide’ audio/video commentary

- ‘When Fates Collide’ cast/crew interviews

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 7

- ‘Many Happy Returns’ cast/crew interviews

- ‘Soul Possession’ cast/crew interviews

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 8

- Lucy Lawless, Renee O’Connor & Rob Tapert - ‘A Friend In Need (Part 2)’ audio/video commentary

- ‘A Friend In Need’ - Director’s Cut (this is also included in the bonus footage)

- Bringing Monsters To Life At K.N.B. EFX Group (Part 3) featurette

- “To Helicon & Back” dailies (behind-the-scenes raw footage)

Part 8 - Season 6 - Disc 9

- Season 6 - Exclusive interviews with cast/crew

- “Dangerous Prey” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- “To Helicon & Back” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- “Legacy” - Director’s Cut (alternative/extended scenes)

- Final episode b-roll footage

- Xena convention 2004

- Xena season 1 original series promo

- “In The Beginning” - Original interviews from season 1

- Season 1 & 2 bloopers

Part 9 - Bonus Disc 1

- Lucy Lawless & Renee O’Connor - ‘Sins Of The Past’ (only audio commentary)

- Fan reenactments (narrated by Robert Trebor) (Salmoneus) 

- Comic relief (with Robert Trebor) (Salmoneus)

Part 9 - Bonus Disc 2

-  ‘A Friend In Need’ - Director’s Cut (includes audio commentary with Lucy Lawless, Renee O’Connor & Rob Tapert as an optional watch feature)

- Behind-the-scenes raw footage of “A Friend In Need”

- Still gallery

- Screen saver (if you can access CD/DVD-ROM drive on your PC)

Part 9 - Bonus Disc 3

- Xena’s Hong Kong Origin’s (with Rob Tapert, Liz Friedman, Doug Lefler & David Pollison)

- Mythology vs. Xena (with Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite), Sheila Briggs & Amy Richlin)

- Seeing Double - All about the stunt doubles (Xena’s stunt double; Zoë Bell)

- “Extras” - A Documentary

- “B” is for Bruce

I’m done! Well... not quite yet. @markthexenaaddicted asked me to explain what the ratio looks like on the episodes. It’s a concern because the original ratio for the Anchor Bay DVDs is 4:3. In these DVDs, it’s 16:9 widescreen full height anamorphic. I’m assuming to achieve that, they would have had to knock off some of the image. But the episodes look fine. Season 1 & 2 look a bit grainy but that’s expected considering they were broadcast in 1995-1996. 

I’m afraid I can’t do any screenshots because the 16:9 ratio only shows up on my TV and it doesn’t have a screenshotting feature. You’ll just have to trust me.

[truessences]

Power Rangers Needs a Sequel

Power Rangers Needs a Sequel

I watched Saban’s 2017’s Power Rangers again and I have to say that I still very much enjoy it. I don’t think it’s great but I think it’s good. Check out my review here. I don’t know what the state of a sequel is at the moment but I think there is plenty of room for them to make one. I know it had mixed reviews but I think there were a lot of people who at least thought it was good and would see…

[jenxwp]

‘The Quest’ Shooting Script

Hey guys! So the last shooting script I shared with you was ‘Destiny’ which had some pretty major changes from what we saw in the episode, so it seemed only appropriate to follow on with a closer look at the shooting script for ‘The Quest’. This script was written by Chris Manheim and Steven L. Sears so we know right off the bat that this was going to be a good episode. These writers along with R.J. Stewart are the backbone of the Xena writing team and there is a serious correlation to all the impacting, emotional episodes being headed by one of these three. I don’t know why, but to be honest, I didn’t think this one would have many surprises when comparing screen to script. It seemed like it was a clear follow up to Destiny... but how pleasantly wrong I was! (read: this could be long- get a cup of tea...)

BUT! It is amazing. There is some great omitted dialogue and we find out the middle name of Xenan! 😮 Yes. First. Middle. Last. He has 3 names guys!

Lets get into it. Right from the start there are differences. There is a beautiful scene in the teaser of Gabrielle transporting Xena’s sarcophagus with people lining the road to pay their respects. We then see Xena conversing with M’Lila in the ‘ethereal place’ [remember, ‘Why and Where’ was the draft name of ‘Destiny’].

The dialogue between Gabrielle and Iolaus is also extended.

This next scene was greatly chopped up, and we lose a lot of dialogue. There is so much to pick apart in this! I will contain myself until after you have read it. 😶

Xenan’s middle name is Gabris! HOW is this never included in the show!? AHHH!! so excited! Xenan Gabris Phantes. 😍And he is 3 in this? So between ‘Is There a Doctor in the House?’ and now, 3 years have passed. Xena chronology! 🤯

This next one, I am kind of glad they did omit. Velasca the Poet? ...nahh.

There is some extended dialogue between Autolycus and Xena while they are trying to rescue Xena’s body.

This one was great. Finally we know the truth about why Amazon dance parties were included:

This scene is really interesting to compare how it was written to how it was played out in the episode. And to be honest, it answers a question I have always wondered. Why didn’t Xena just connect with Gabrielle’s mind? Now I know... I wish they had kept this in. There are some very emotive lines here.

There is extended dialogue between Xena and Gabrielle prior to the infamous ‘kiss’ scene. 😘

It’s really interesting. Looking back on both the ‘Destiny’ script and ‘The Quest’ this whole concept of Xena’s acceptance of past and realisation of future really does seem to get left on the cutting floor. We don’t get much of it at all in the aired episodes. It adds a new spin to the whole story arc.

There is a nice little extra scene added at the start of Act IV revolving around Ephiny. I think it is sweet. 🐎

The Autolycus line ‘hey, I paid for an hour!’ was ad-libbed by Bruce Campbell so its not in the script. Fun fact. 😁

The last thing I want to point out is another funny quip from Chris and Steve is a follow-up regarding ratings:

Hey, if you can’t add a bit of humor into your work day, you need a new job. 😎

To be honest, the rest of the script plays out much like it does on screen. 

I suppose I have to look at ‘A Necessary Evil’ next to wrap up this fantastic 3 episode arc so stay tuned.

Until next time. xo

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 5.20

Beer Birthdays

John Adam Lemp (1798)

Louis de Luze Simonds (1852)

Eduard Buchner (1860)

Louis Hemrich (1872)

Lord "Benjie" Iveagh (1937)

Judy Ashworth (1942)

Oliver Hughes (1959)

David Walker (1964)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Emile Berliner; inventor of flat phonograph record (1851)

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole; Hawaiian singer (1959)

John Stuart Mill; English philosopher (1806)

Timothy Olyphant; actor (1968)

James Stewart; actor (1908)

Famous Birthdays

Danny Aiello; actor (1933)

Emile Berliner; German/US inventor (1851)

Cher; pop singer, writer (1946)

Joe Cocker; rock singer (1944)

Christopher Columbus; explorer (1451)

Mindy Cohn; actor (1966)

William Congreve; English inventor (1772)

Francis Cotes; English artist (1726)

Henri-Edmond Cross; French artist (1856)

Moshe Dayan; Israeli general (1915)

Honore de Balzac; French writer (1799)

Aleksandr Deyneka; Russian artist (1899)

Alfred Domett; English/NZ poet (1811)

Patrick Ewing Jr.; basketball player (1984)

William Fargo; banker (1818)

Gardner Fox; author (1911)

George Gobel; comedian (1919)

Tony Goldwyn; actor (1960)

John M. Harlan; US Supreme Court justice (1899)

William Hewlett; H-P Founder (1913)

Nick Heywood; UK pop singer, guitarist (1961)

Guy Hoffman; rock musician (1954)

Levinus Lemnius; Dutch writer (1505)

Shorty Long; musician (1940)

Dolley Madison; first lady of James Madison (1768)

Hector Malot; French author (1830)

Hans Meerwein; German chemist (1879)

R.J. Mitchell; English engineer (1895)

Bobby Murcer; baseball player (1946)

Sumitranandan Pant; Indian poet (1900)

Bronson Pinchot; actor (1959)

Busta Rhymes; rapper (1972)

Michele Roberts; UK author (1949)

Louis Smith; jazz trumpeter (1931)

Tony Stewart; automobile racer (1971)

Jewel Styles; pornstar (1988)

Dave Thomas; Canadian comedian, actor (1949)

William Thornton; architect (1759)

David Wells; baseball player (1963)

Jane Wiedlin; pop singer (1958)

Anthony Zerbe; actor (1936)

[xenanetforum]

Mortal Beloved. Feb. 12, 1996. Written by R.J. Stewart & Directed by Garth Maxwell.