July 7, 2015

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Entertainment July 7, 2015

Netflix Sets Dates For 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday,' 'Crouching Tiger' Sequel and More Original Movies

Netflix has been doubling down on its original content this year, but since so much of the focus is on TV shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, it’s easy to forget that they’re also expanding on the movie front, too. But now the upstart studio has announced a bunch of release dates, so go ahead and mark your calendars so you won’t need a reminder later.

In chronological order, we’ve got:

Beasts of No Nation
Release Date: October 16
Directed by: Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre)
Starring: Idris Elba
Why it’s a big deal: This is Netflix’ first major bid for some serious drama glory, and they may very well find it thanks to this also being Fukunaga’s first project since directing all of the first season of True Detective. Elba stars as an African warlord who mentors a child soldier. If this we’re being put out by any of the traditional Hollywood studios, people would already be placing bets on its Oscar potential.

The Ridiculous Six
Release Date: December 11
Directed by: Frank Coraci (Click)
Starring: Adam Sandler, Terry Crews, Jorge Garcia, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson
Why it’s a big deal: Adam Sandler comedies haven’t been doing great at the box office, but that doesn’t mean they need to go extinct. Netflix committed to making four movies with the actor’s Happy Madison banner, so if this does well for the company, you can expect three more just like it. And if it does terribly, at least it won’t be taking up precious space at the multiplex.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend
Release Date: First quarter of 2016
Directed by: Yuen Wo-Ping (True Legend)
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen
Why it’s a big deal: This is perhaps the most high profile film on Netflix’ slate purely because it’s the only one that will be getting a simultaneous global release, while also getting released wide theatrically in China and in IMAX to boot..

Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
Release Date: March, 2016
Directed by: John Lee
Starring: Paul Reubens
Why it’s a big deal: Because it’s a new Pee-wee Herman movie. But if that’s not enough for you, Judd Apatow is producing it.

If you don’t happen to have a Netflix subscription, they are planning to give some of these theatrical releases on those same dates, but the trouble is a lot of the major theater chains have refused to play the films since they will also be available on streaming at the same time. So either hope an arthouse near you embraces the new distribution model, or just go ahead and get a Netflix subscription.

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Business July 7, 2015

Carnival Expects to Begin Cruising To Cuba Next Year

Carnival Cruise Lines' main entrance of their office building in Miami. Carnival says it would become the first American cruise company to visit the Caribbean island nation since the 1960 trade embargo.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ main entrance of their office building in Miami. Carnival says it would become the first American cruise company to visit the Caribbean island nation since the 1960 trade embargo. Alan Diaz/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Alan Diaz/AP

Carnival Corp. says it has received permission from the U.S. government to begin travel to Cuba, to provide “cultural, artistic, faith-based and humanitarian exchanges between American and Cuban citizens.” The cruises will operate under Carnival’s new “fathom” brand, which is dedicated to “social impact travel.” The Wall Street Journal reports Carnival is still working with Cuban authorities for approval of the plan.

In a statement, Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corp., said, “We look forward to working with the Cuban authorities for their approval to help make the social, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between U.S. citizens and the people of Cuba a reality.” He continued, “We know there is strong demand from travelers who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, so this is a historic opportunity for us to enable more people to experience Cuban society.”

The trips won’t be traditional cruises. As NPR’s Greg Allen reported on All Things Considered, the guidelines allowing Carnival to conduct trips to Cuba say U.S. citizens aren’t allowed to travel there purely as tourists. “Travel must fall under one of 12 categories — for the purpose of journalism, education, religious activities, arts events and so forth,” Allen said. The Department of the Treasury has posted a full list of those 12 categories here.

Allen says Carnival’s trips to Cuba will try to “appeal to purpose-driven millennials, families with a social conscience and philanthropically-minded retirees.” And, the trips will be more expensive than traditional cruises, with seven-day itineraries starting at $2,990 per person, excluding taxes and other fees.

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Carnival’s fathom brand, which will operate the Cuba trips, will also host seven-day voyages to the Dominican Republic starting in April 2016, focusing on social impact and cultural and educational exchanges.

As we’ve previously reported, the U.S. approved ferry service from Florida to Cuba this May, and in April, Airbnb, which allows customers to rent private rooms and homes, launched its service in Cuba. Earlier this month, President Obama announced the formal resumption of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba, with both countries agreeing to reopen embassies in Washington and Havana.

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Sports July 7, 2015

U.S. Women's Soccer Team Kicks Off Victory Tour In L.A.

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Fans gathered in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday to cheer the U.S. women’s national soccer team. They’ve returned home after defeating Japan on Sunday to win the World Cup.

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

Now to a victory tour that kicked off today in Los Angeles. The U.S. women’s soccer team is back from Canada, gold trophy in hand, after dominating Japan in the World Cup final on Sunday. NPR’s Nathan Rott took in the scene at the LA rally.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: Welcome, to the U.S. Women’s National Team World Cup champions.

(APPLAUSE)

NATHAN ROTT, BYLINE: Waving flags, red, white and blue face paint, Taylor Swift songs, USA chants and thousands of soccer jersey-wearing fans, some who had arrived as early as 7 in the morning to get a front row spot. And loud, loud cheers as each of the 23 women on the U.S. team were introduced to the gathered, including a hometown hero, Alex Morgan.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: Any Alex Morgan fans?

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: She’s a SoCal girl, and we want to bring her up here right now.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: Go Alex. We love you Alex.

ROTT: Fifteen-year-old Alexia Maciel was one of the many screaming fans.

ALEXIA MACIEL: She’s my favorite player and everything, and I just want to be like her when I grow up.

ROTT: You want to be just like Alex Morgan?

ALEXIA: Yeah.

ROTT: Maciel plays soccer too. She’s a forward.

ALEXIA: Same as Alex Morgan.

ROTT: Are you number 13 too?

ALEXIA: Yes. I’m lucky. I got number 13 this year. I was like, what the heck?

ROTT: Away from the crowd and farther from the screaming, a group of younger soccer players dressed in their West Coast football club uniforms are walking with their moms. Eight-year-old Maddie Heineki is their unofficial spokeswoman.

MADDIE HEINEKI: It’s just cool to have your own country win. You just have all that spirit and it inspires you.

ROTT: Do you want to be a professional soccer player someday?

MADDIE: Yeah, I want to make it to the World Cup.

ROTT: Do you think you could score three goals in a game?

MADDIE: Probably.

ROTT: You’re not lacking for confidence.

MADDIE: I don’t know.

ROTT: Kelley de la Fuente from Long Beach brought her daughter Giada de la Fuente to the rally to introduce her to some potential role models. She says that the assembled crowd and the fact that the final was the most-watched soccer game in U.S. history is inspiring.

KELLEY DE LA FUENTE: I think it’s amazing. I think – go girls. Yeah. It’s not women’s soccer, it’s soccer.

ROTT: It is soccer. And as the women’s team is happy to remind everyone, they are World Cup champions.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Chanting) I believe that we – I believe that we just won. I believe that we just won.

ROTT: Nathan Rott, NPR News, Los Angeles.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Chanting) I believe that we – I believe that we just won. I believe that we just won.

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Health July 7, 2015

Lacking Votes, California Assembly Shelves Aid In Dying Bill

A photo of Brittany Maynard, who moved to Oregon to end her life as she was dying of brain cancer, sits on the dais of the California Senate's health committee in March.

A photo of Brittany Maynard, who moved to Oregon to end her life as she was dying of brain cancer, sits on the dais of the California Senate’s health committee in March. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Recognizing they lacked votes in a key Assembly committee, authors of legislation that would have allowed terminally ill Californians to legally end their lives pulled the bill Tuesday morning.

Senate Bill 128, the End of Life Option Act, had already cleared the state Senate, but faced opposition in the Assembly Health Committee. That included a group of southern California Democrats, almost all of whom are Latino, after the archbishop of Los Angeles increased its advocacy efforts in opposition to the bill.

“We continue to work with Assembly members to ensure they are comfortable with the bill,” said a joint statement from Sens. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, and Bill Monning, D-Monterey, and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, D-Stockton. “For dying Californians like Jennifer Glass, who was scheduled to testify today, this issue is urgent. We remain committed to passing the End of Life Option Act for all Californians who want and need the option of medical aid in dying.”

Under the bill, mentally competent adults who are terminally ill with less than six months to live could request lethal medication from a physician.

Last month, a poll found that 69 percent of Californians overall and 70 percent of Latinos supported the bill. The poll was conducted by the advocacy group Compassion and Choices. “The bill is still alive and well,” Patricia Gonzalez-Portillo, a spokeswoman for the organization, said in an interview. “We will continue to work with Assembly members until they are comfortable with this bill.”

The bill had received a boost after the California Medical Association changed its stance from opposed to neutral.

The bill is modeled after a 1994 Oregon law which permits aid in dying. Four other states — Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico — have authorized it as well.

In California, 29-year-old Brittany Maynard brought the issue to light after she moved to Oregon to utilize the state’s death with dignity law. She was terminally ill with brain cancer and died last November. A posthumous video she had recorded was shown at a Senate hearing in March.

This story is part of a reporting partnership with NPR, KQED and Kaiser Health News.

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Entertainment July 7, 2015

Chicago to begin taxing online entertainment

Chicago officials have found a way to tax the cloud. Digital media companies and Chicagoans will now be slapped with a 9 percent cloud tax on streaming services, including popular entertainment outlets such as Netflix,…