Entertainment - page 3

Everyone knows “My dog is smarter than your dog”.  This is not a competition just some things that makes it plain that some animals can think and have reason. We know they can be taught to sit, roll over, shake hands etc. but to think almost like a human doesn’t happen to often.

When I was a little girl I lived on a huge farm. We had animals of almost every kind. We had hunting dogs, sheep dogs (that would stay in a field all day moving the sheep to new grass but keeping them all together). One dog we had was named Laddy. A mixed breed but close to the real Laddy in the stories. My Dad was almost blind. He could barely tell light from dark and couldn’t recognize people or see any distance. Our mail box was about a mile from the house. There was rose bushes on each side of the road to the mail box so my Dad could go get the mail. He could feel the roses if he went a little to far to the left or right. We had little creeks with cattle crossings over them so animals could drink and people could cross without opening a gate. My Dad went to the mail box every day and old Laddy went with him. One day Dad was screaming and Laddy was holding on to his pant leg and would not let my Dad get up. My brothers thought Laddy must have gone crazy and took a gun with them to rescue my dad, but NO that was not the problem. The cattle crossing had washed out. Had my dad stumbled along like he did he would have fell about 4 feet in a ditch. Most likely killed himself or for sure would have really been injured. Laddy figured out somehow that that was not a good idea to let my Dad do that and he grabbed my Dad and held on for dear life. That was sure nothing he had been taught or saw another dog do. He figured out how to save my Dad’s life all on his own. He was a hero for sure and I don’t know if every dog would have done that but Laddy did. We always wondered how he knew to do it.  This was in approximately 1933. I was about 10 and I remember it well.

Fast forward to the same farm about 70 years later. My brother John lived on the farm alone, and was very hard of hearing. He always relied on his watch dog to alert him if anyone came on the property. If a car drove up the dog greeted it and made it very plain it would not be a good idea to try to get out of their car. One guy tried and really got bit bad. But the man knew it was his fault. The dog stayed right with John and as soon as he got the signal it was OK then people were welcome. If John was in the house there was no need for anyone to get out of their car. But the dog was a mean character. My brother got sick and needed open heart surgery. A neighbor would take care of all the animals but no one could take care of the dog. My brother was even considering having to have the dog put down, could not let it just starve to death. Finally the neighbor that was going to come in and feed the other animals said put the dog on a long chain. He had a dog house and a little stream he could drink from. The neighbor would come with a long handled shovel and feed the dog twice a day from the shovel. Well this dog was not thinking like my brother thought at all. The dog was so sad when my brother left to go to the hospital.  The first morning the neighbor came with his shovel and food and inched his way to the end of the chain the dog was wagging his tail and greeting him like an old friend. The neighbor went closer and the dog was super friendly.  The second day the dog was really glad to see the neighbor, didn’t bark or growl or a thing so the neighbor took him off his chain and the dog went along as they did the chores. Then he chained him up for the night and so it went til the day John came home from the hospital. The dog was so glad to see his master and went right back into his really mean actions to anyone including the guy that had been feeding him. It finally dawned on my brother that he did not have a watch dog that gave a darn about the property it was my brother that he had been guarding with his life all those years. So unlike the story about Laddy, this dog had figured out that his job was to protect my brother only. His mind could reason beyond “sit, stay, roll over”. The dog had thought it all out as to what he thought his duty was. I found that interesting.

Now I was not the little girl on the farm anymore and I had two little boys about 9 and 10 who loved animals like I do although we lived right here in Georgetown in Seattle. It was probably around 1953. No leash laws, all dogs got together to play, fight and whatever dogs do all day when parents are at work and kids are in school. This is about a dog named Frisky. Big mixed breed. The boys put their bikes out close to the alley and a neighbor was supposed to come and do some work on them. Frisky stood straddle of them and no one was going to touch those bikes unless Cliff and Joe were home. lol  But the story I want to tell is the boys would walk to the river to fish and play. They found a duck with an injured wing and it could not fly so they brought it home. I made a little wire pen, put in a little plastic wading pool and shelter. Was not sure how Frisky was going to accept that. He sure was interested but did not try to chase it of get in the pen, but laid by the pen as if protecting it. He would not let other dogs come in our yard at all.  We named her Daisy and after quite awhile another duck would fly down into her pen to visit. We called him Donald. Well Daisy laid a bunch of eggs and they must have all hatched and those babies could get through the wire in the pen and we sure watched Frisky close then. One day he had one in his mouth and I was just sick about it but he was taking the baby back to Daisy. As the babies left Mama, Frishy took them back. So I just removed her little fence from around her. They didn’t need a fence between them anymore. Other people had chickens and Frisky started bringing little chickens home to Daisy. lol I told people just come in and get their chickens. the dog seemed to think that any baby anyone had belonged to Daisy. It was nothing he was taught, but he took the roll of duck protector. It got a little crowed in our yard and I knew another batch of eggs would be laid so we found a friend that lived near a little pond and they took the ducks. Frisky was pretty lonesome for awhile but went back to visiting his dog neighbors. How did he know to help Daisy raise her family? Not anything he was taught. I always thought it was kind of interesting.

Maybe you readers have a story to submit about your dog.

– Lilly

When you think of the Night Market, what comes to mind? Is it the mouth-watering food, neon lights with dark sky, challenging games, or friends enjoying food together? The night market tradition has been around since the Tang Dynasty and has hosted all over Taiwan that attract large numbers of tourists for the food and lively ambience. Instead of having to fly all the way to Taiwan to experience this great experience and delicious food, the Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) at the University of Washington has got you covered, we will bring the Night Market to you! TSA is a non-profit student-led organization that aims to share the beauty of Taiwan’s culture, and every year since 2001, they have held a yearly night market in the Spring, which has become known as the UW Night Market. This year the 20th annual Night Market is right around the corner which will be happening on May 9th 2020! 

The UW Night Market started in 2001 and has been growing more and more each year. It occupies all of Red Square and the Quad at the UW Seattle campus. And as last year, it attracted over 9000 attendees! There were 30 vendors at our 19th Night Market, and some of which include Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea, Boiling Point, Seattle Best Tea, and new vendors every year are added onto the list. If you would like to be a sponsor or a vendor, you can email us at tsauw1@gmail.com. The UW Night Market this year will be an evening you don’t want to miss out on, so mark your calendars for May 9 (at Red Square + the Quad)!

Check out the following links for more information! http://www.uwnightmarket.com

If you would like to be a Vendor: Download Google Doc

Ricky Gervais has been selected to host the 77^th Golden Globes ceremony on January 5, 2020 at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel. Gervais has agreed to host the Golden Globes for “the very last time” and has promised attendees and viewers alike an enjoyable experience. Long time client of the PR firm, 42West, Gervais is the perfect fit as the host of the Golden Globes.

Ricky’s History With the Golden Globes

The Golden Globes was a host-less affair for many years. In 2010, event organizers decided to try something new by asking a renowned comedian to take the reigns and bring a new kind of levity to the annual awards ceremony. For the next three years, Ricky Gervais was the host of the Golden Globes, delighting viewers and attendees with his trademark irreverent comedic flair and lampooning Hollywood with an inimitable stage presence.

After 2012, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey took over hosting duties for the Golden Globes for three years. Gervais, who had stated his 2012 hosting appearance would be his last, agreed to return for the 2016 Golden Globes. In 2017, Saturday Night Live actor Jimmy Fallon took over as the host, and Andy Samberg of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Sandra Oh of Killing Eve assumed hosting duties for 2018. Ricky Gervais has agreed to return for his fifth and final appearance as the Golden Globes host for the 77^th ceremony for the 2019 awards.

The chief of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Lorenzo Soria, has stated, “when Ricky Gervais is at the helm of the Golden Globes Awards, we can always expect the unexpected.”

Predictions for the 77^th Golden Globes

Many incredible films and television shows have aired in 2019, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take the awards for the top categories at the next Golden Globes ceremonies. When it comes to the Motion Picture Drama category, the frontrunners include Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, Marriage Story, and 1917, but many consider the dark comic-influenced drama of Todd Phillips’ Joker to be a strong contender as well.

In the category of Lead Drama Actress, the contenders include:

• Renée Zellweger, Judy
• Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
• Helen Mirren, The Good Liar
• Charlize Theron, Bombshell
• Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

While many consider Joker to be a longshot for Best Motion Picture Drama, Joaquin Phoenix is perhaps the strongest contender for Lead Drama Actor due to his remarkable powerhouse performance as the titular character. Helen Mirren is a strong choice for Lead Drama Actress and a win would be her 15^th award from the Golden Globes.

The other major film category includes Motion Picture Comedy/Musical with nominees including Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Dolemite Is My Name, Knives Out, and Jojo Rabbit. For Drama Series, the nominees are Succession, The Crown, Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, and The Morning Show. Comedy Series candidates are Fleabag, Barry, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, The Politician, and Russian Doll.

Many expect Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood to be the frontrunner for the best comedy film of the year. When it comes to Drama Series, the popularity of Game of Thrones makes it an undeniable contender, but the lackluster writing and even worse reception of the final season left many fans bitter about the ending of one of the most watched television series in history.

What to Expect at the 77^th Golden Globes

No matter who takes the awards for all the categories at this year’s Golden Globes, the audience can rest assured knowing that host Ricky Gervais is sure to please with his stage presence, remarkable wit, and uncanny ability to roast the major players of Hollywood in the most imaginative and unexpected ways. Gervais is sure to delight the audience with his witty and acerbic sense of humor. Gervais is a long time client of 42west co-CEO Leslee Dart.

As far as the upcoming television season goes, there is nothing that is garnering more buzz than the musical dramedy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Since the ending of the popular musical comedy-drama show, Glee, there has been a hole for viewers that love musicals. Glee was a standout show amongst the formulaic shows that dominated the television screens. Since it went off the air in 2015, viewers have been asking for something to fill that gap and Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts are set to deliver a brand new spin on the musical show.  

Popular shows like Law and Order, The Office, and Survivor had been capturing viewers for years but this was a time when shows where either comedies or dramas and there were no musical shows in existence. Glee was not only a comedy and a drama, otherwise know as a dramedy, but also it was also musical show. A musical show, outside of the reality television competition shows, was nonexistent at the time. Glee set the stage for future shows like Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and there was no better writing team than Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts to help bring this extraordinary show to life.

The show, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, is a musical light drama starring Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, Mary Steenburgen and Peter Gallagher. Jane Levy plays the character of Zoey, an incredibly intelligent computer coder living in San Francisco. Without spoiling the show, Zoey experiences an unusual event that grants her the ability to hear the innermost thoughts and desires of those around her. The twist? Zoey hears these desires through song. When she first hears people singing songs about what they want and desire, she questions whether she is losing her mind. Soon she realizes that instead of viewing this as a burden, she begins to see it as a gift that she can use to help others.

This show marks the first broadcast series for Lionsgate since Nashville. The series, directed by Richard Shepard, was picked up by NBC and each episode will be an hour long. The show is set to premier mid-season 2019/2020. Jane Levy is an actress who has played a wide variety of characters in everything from comedy show to horror films. Coming off of her current role of Jackie Torrance in Hulu’s Castle Rock, this new show will be another opportunity for Levy to flex her incredible acting skills. During an interview with Dailyactor.com, Levy said, “This is obviously a career that’s in a visual medium. It’s all about the human face, but I am not interested in roles that are going to necessarily make me look good. I also have a kind of a perverted sensibility, so that’s why I’ve veered towards horror films and comedies and things that push boundaries.”

Berg and Harberts are two veterans of the entertainment industry. As writers and producers, they have worked on multiple popular shows since their rare break into the industry.  The two have known each other since college but their working relationship came later. Since reconnecting in 1995, they have become one of the most sought after teams in the entertainment industry. They have worked on a wide variety of shows and have had the opportunity to write a wide variety of themes, characters, and topics.

When Berg and Harberts met in college at Northwestern University, little did they know that this chance meeting would lead to a successful career in the entertainment industry. They were both enrolled in the Creative Writing for Media Course at the college and they worked together on a student film. She was the director and he was her PA. Although they worked together on projects in college, it wasn’t until a few years later did their relationship really blossom into a fruitful career for both of them.

After she graduated, Gretchen Berg moved west like all young creative types looking to break into the industry. She landed in Los Angeles and hit the ground running but it was uphill battle. She was working hard but had a difficult time finding her groove. It was not until Aaron Harberts appeared back in her life that these two joined forces to create a writing team that would propel them into the industry. [Gretchen Berg official Website]

Aaron Harberts was a few years younger and once he graduated, he also came out to LA. He had a living situation fall through and was put in contact with Berg who offered Harberts a place to stay. When he first arrived, Berg was in the middle of working on a sitcom spec but was facing some issues with revisions before she presented it to studio executives. She asked Harberts for help, he jumped right in and they realized that their creative flow combined worked well with their individual writing styles. [Aaron Harberts official Website]

As they finished the revisions, they realized that they had a really good creative chemistry. Six months later they had their first script but neither of them loved it so it got tossed. At that point they knew they had something good going on, so they worked hard to get their big break. They hustled in Hollywood, working to get their screenplays in front of the right people. All their efforts paid off and they got their first break writing for the popular teen drama, Beverly Hills 90201. The rest as they say, is history.

Their combined impressive resume includes working on some of the most popular television shows of the last two decades. Starting with Beverly Hills 90201, they later went on to work on Roswell, Wonderfalls, Pepper Dennis, Pushing Daisies, Mercy, Revenge, Reign and Star Trek Discovery. They worked as producers for some of these shows as well. With this type of experience, they were posed and ready to start writing for the upcoming show Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

This much anticipated upcoming show is already being hailed as a must see in the 2019/2020 viewing season.  As the buzz surrounding the show continues to grow, more people are getting excited to watch Jane Levy bring her A game to her latest show.  Her talent combined with the writing skill set of Berg and Haberts is a recipe for a surefire hit.

Representation matters in the media. Although, there has been a push for more diversity and inclusion in films and television, Hollywood still has a long way to go. Breakout movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Call Me By Your Name, and Get Out with their diverse casts have opened the door to more films being made with different types of casts, themes and characters. Doors are starting to open but it has been such a slow, uphill battle and there are still a lot of changes that need to be made. Hollywood has a diversity problem that isn’t being fixed fast enough but there are individuals working to make a difference.

Currently, there are a few individuals in the entertainment industry who are making noise and disrupting the norm in Hollywood. These people are working hard to bring diversity front and center.  Talented individuals like Aaron Harberts, one half of the dynamic writing duo of Berg and Harberts, and Jordan Peele, the extremely talented actor/director have brought diverse issues and recognition to minority groups around the world in their work.  

The Hollywood Diversity Report 2018 completed by the UCLA’s Division of Social Sciences is an annual study that reviewed the staffing both in front of and behind the camera in the top theatrical and television releases of 2016. The study, titled “Five Years of Progress and Missed Opportunities”, had three main goals. The first of which was to create comprehensive research that analyzes the inclusion of diverse groups of people in film and television. The second goal is to identify best practices for inclusion and the appropriate way to disseminate those best practices. Finally, the report looks to provide the broader implications of diverse industry access.

The report examined 174 theatrical releases and 1,251 television shows either airing or streaming during the 2015-2016 season.  2016 did include some award wining movies with diverse casts like “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures”, but the report acknowledged that there is still a long way to go. The authors of the report say that diversity does sell but the industry is leaving money on the table by not providing more representation in film and television. One of the study’s authors, Ana-Christina Ramón, said, “Our reports have continually shown that diversity sells, but the TV and film product continues to fall short. So audiences are left wanting more representation on screen that reflects the world they see in their daily lives.”

Research has shown that people not only want a diverse cast but also that when the media depicts minority groups it can have a power educational impact on audiences. When a wider audience gets the opportunity to learn about a minority group through a movie or a television series, it broadens the knowledge that a person has about another group of people. Much of pop culture is what influences and sets the tone for what people are interested in and so by introducing diverse and different cultures into pop culture, people can learn more about others that are different from them. It is also very impactful for different cultures and ethnicities to see themselves represented in the media.

Jordan Peele is a prime example of an individual leading the charge for a change in Hollywood. He is an American actor, comedian, director, writer and producer known for his hit movie “Get Out”. His current horror film “Us” has hit the theaters and the reviews are amazing. The film celebrated the highest-grossing first weekend for an original horror film and his films are proving that an all black main cast can be a moneymaker for any studio.  His contributions to the film industry over the last few years have greatly helped to open the door to minority actors and actresses becoming the main in a movie. His movies have proven that the world wants to see a black main cast along with themes that are important to the black community. He is proving that the average moviegoer is interested in seeing diverse films and casts.

Aaron Harberts is a very well known name in the entertainment industry. The openly gay screenwriter has been working in Hollywood for a long time as a writer and producer for some of the most popular and impressive television shows over the last few decades alongside his long time collaborator, Gretchen J Berg.  Berg and Harberts have made quite the name for themselves over the span of their careers. Out of the many contributions that Aaron Harberts has made in Hollywood, his inclusion of a realistic depiction of a small-sex romance is one that he is very proud of. This type of LBGTQ representation resonated with viewers because it exemplifies an authentic experience.  Harberts is an openly gay man and has been with his spouse for over two decades. He wanted to share his experience and to increase LGTBQ representation in the media by introducing characters that are in LGTBQ relationships.

Hollywood has an issue with representation. There has been some changes made in the industry but overall, the media at large does not do a very good job of representing diversity. Diversity in the media is so important because it gives minority groups visibility. When movies like “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel” hit the movie theaters, moviegoers were overjoyed with having a female and black superhero as a main character.  People get the opportunity to see different background represented on the big screen and it gives a positive portrayal of different groups of individuals and minorities.

The media teaches a wider audience about minorities, gender representation, societal norms, and LGBTQ issues. When screenwriters and producers like Aaron Harberts, and directors like Jordan Peele are able to draw on their own experiences to educate a wider audience about issues facing minorities and marginalized groups. They are both making a difference in Hollywood by bringing diverse storylines, characters and themes to the big screen. Their future projects will continue to delight, educate and enlighten audiences everywhere.  Follow Berg and Harberts on Twitter.

The Success Story of Berg and Harberts

The success stories behind several powerful Hollywood actors, writers, directors, and producers all have one factor in common: adversity. Like most people in the creative field, these people go through hard times in a very competitive industry to work in entertainment and thrill audiences with their talents.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts fit this exact description. Both halves of the television creative team have gone through their struggles and lived in difficult conditions to stay on the path that could further their careers. However, through their hard work and determination, they have found success in the industry as the writers and producers of several hit TV shows.

Early Life of Gretchen Berg

Gretchen Berg was born on February 8, 1971 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ever since she was young, Berg has been fascinated with creating new worlds and characters, further assisted by her daydreaming when playing with friends in the woods. She was a fan of the series Remington Steele, about a woman struggling to succeed in a man-dominated world, further inspiring her. During her years at North Allegheny High School, Berg was active in drama class and writing. She even used the school’s TV production studio to experiment with filmmaking. [Berg was interviewed on Pittsburgh Magazine]

Gretchen Berg would end up attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to pursue not just a TV/Film education, but also a complete liberal arts experience.

Early Life of Aaron Harberts

Aaron Harberts was born on January 20, 1973 in Waterloo, Iowa. Despite the town’s lack of a creative arts force, Harberts was an imaginative child who loved to daydream. Because of his parents’ nomadic life, he had difficulty settling in a single location as the family moved throughout Iowa, Indiana, and South Florida. Harberts found inspiration in his preacher father’s sermons, which had vivid descriptions that Harberts would use as fuel for his own stories.

After finishing high school, Aaron Harberts wanted to pursue creative writing education. He traveled to Evanston, Illinois and attended Northwestern, where he would have a fateful, life-changing meeting.

How The Creative Duo Meet

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts met at a class called Creative Writing for the Media, and would later collaborate on Berg’s student film, with Harberts as a production assistant (PA). Despite their constant time together and their mutual friendships, they did not develop a friendship at this point. Berg graduated in 1993 and moved to Los Angeles to build her career. Aaron Harberts would follow a couple of years later.

The Struggle of Starting a Hollywood Career

Harberts was supposed to live with other people when moving to LA. However, the plans fell through. Having difficulties finding a place to live, he remembered Gretchen Berg, and asked her if he could live with her. Berg allowed him to crash under her wet bar at her apartment.

Berg and Harberts went through the adversities that many Hollywood hopefuls have when pursuing a career. They spent months working on a comedic spec script that they ended up hating and disposed of it. The duo lived on cheap food and took on low-paying jobs until they became Hollywood assistants. They read and analyzed scripts and wrote a variety of specs and original screenplays, ranging over a variety of genres, such as dramas, sitcoms, and TV movies.

Despite their struggles, Berg and Harberts continued writing and submitting scripts to agencies. Their hard work would pay off when an agent liked one of their scripts and recommended it to a television agency. The rest is history.

Where are they now?

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts thrive these days as an active writing and producing team. They have been involved on series such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Pushing Daisies, Revenge, and most recently, Star Trek: Discovery. They have also written for the movie Valentine and created the show Pepper Dennis. Berg and Harberts are proof that, despite adversity, hard work and initiative can take one from humble beginnings to well-earned recognition.

Woody Allen’s latest rom com, A Rainy Day in New York is slated by Lucky Red Distributors for a debut in Italy on October 3^rd, 2019. This release date finally comes after a year-long delay the film encountered due to a dispute with its original distributor, Amazon Studios. Despite Allen signing a four-year contract with Amazon for four pictures, Amazon shelved A Rainy Day indefinitely based on ties between Allen and the #MeToo movement. Now, however, fans are gearing up to finally see Allen’s latest flick, which he finished in 2017. Hollywood is not ready for this!

About A Rainy Day in New York

A Rainy Day in New York tells the story of two young people (Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet) on an adventure in New York – where they unfortunately meet with bad weather and a series of unexpected events. Selena Gomez, Jude Law, Diego Luna, and Liev Schreiber also star in Allen’s latest flick. Although not much else is known about the plot of the film, it’s sure to be infused with Allen’s signature humor, wit, and complicated romances – along with strong female leads and plenty of sarcasm.

Woody Allen is famous for writing and directing ensemble romantic comedies that check off all the boxes for cinematic excellence, and A Rainy Day is sure to be no different. Some of his most famous films include Midnight in Paris, Annie Hall, and Manhattan. Principal photography for A Rainy Day began on September 11^th, 2017, and ended on October 23^rd. Two years later, the film is finally hitting screens with a delayed international debut. Unfortunately for American viewers, at this moment, A Rainy Day will not be distributed in the U.S.

Why the Wait?

The tumult regarding Woody Allen’s newest film release date happened during the height of the #MeToo movement in 2018. Amazon backed out of its agreement with Allen to distribute four of his films (one each year) in the United States. Amazon Studios had originally planned to debut A Rainy Day in New York in 2018. However, Amazon paused the release date indefinitely, citing sexual assault allegations against Woody Allen as the reason for the fallout. Woody Allen has repeatedly denied the allegations, which came from his then seven-year-old daughter in 1992, and investigations in two states never led to any charges. Many have reported the true story by Woody Allen.

The #MeToo sexual assault awareness movement amplified Allen’s daughter’s voice right when production wrapped on A Rainy Day. Despite no evidence supporting the allegations, this was enough to rehash the old case and sully Allen’s reputation all over again. The subsequent media frenzy apparently pushed Amazon into shelving the project, in spite of having a signed agreement with Allen to distribute the film. Fortunately for Allen and his fans, Lucky Red (a film distributor in Italy) eagerly jumped at the chance to distribute A Rainy Day to overseas audiences instead. Woody has always supported strong women in his films.

Where You Can See Allen’s Latest Film

A Rainy Day in New York will debut in theaters on October 3^rd, 2019, in Italy. The next day, it will appear in Spain. It will then reach theaters in Germany, Austria, Europe, China, Japan, Russia, South America, and South Korea. The managing director for the distribution company said in a statement: “[Woody Allen] is one of the outstanding directors of our time.” He said he was excited to be part of the group of distributors bringing the film to numerous countries.

Parade around downtown Seattle this upcoming December 15th at the annual SantaCon. Bar crawling, spreading holiday cheer, and sporting your best Santa costume will make 2018 SantaCon one to remember. The crawl begins at noon and winds it way through stops at the Showbox Market, Hard Rock Cafe, Pike Pub, and many more Santa filled places until December 16 at 2am. The final itinerary will not be available until the beginning of December, so be sure to check back to find where all the Santa’s will be spreading holiday spirit. With over 2,000 expected guests, make sure you buy your tickets before they sell out. Don’t have a Santa costume?– No worries! Come dressed in the most festive outfit you can make! Throw together some Christmas decorations onto your body and head out the door. Elves from Santa’s workshop, ice prince and princesses, gingerbread men, reindeer, and snowmen are all welcome to take part alongside all the Santas at SantaCon. 2018 Ticket proceeds will be benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of King County.

Because of the popularity SantaCon has gained over the past few years, there is no one venue large enough to hold every participant at once. That means an online costume contest will help determine the winners of this year’s best costumes. Post photos of you and your friends on the Seattle SantaCon 2018 Facebook page, or Instagram your photos using the hashtag #SeattleSantaCon to enter into the contest. To make this holiday festivity the best it can be, a few rules and guidelines have been put in place to ensure participants safety and event efficacy. Bars and restaurants will only be accepting cash, so no cards will be accepted. Simple drink orders must be ordered to be sure bars can tend to every customer quickly. There will be long lines– so dress warm under your Santa suit! See you there! Remember, Santa drinks smart and safe.

Find more information here:
SantaCon Website: https://www.santacon.info/Seattle-WA/
Seattle SantaCon Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/seattle.santacon
Seattle SantaCon 2018 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2165363467032882/

The Influence of 90210

Few television shows have made more of an impact on the writing and production of television for teenagers than Aaron Spelling’s Beverly Hills, 90210. Set in the famous Los Angeles suburb, this teen drama followed the lives of two displaced Minnesota siblings navigating the alien world of Beverly Hills. The series grappled with sensitive subjects deemed taboo for television, such as sex, eating disorders, racism, suicide, and domestic violence. In addition, 90210 served as the launching point for several Hollywood stars, including Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, and Shannon Doherty.

In addition to creating a big break for several of the series’ actors, 90210 also served as the introduction to major Hollywood productions for the writing and production team of Berg and Harberts. After years of assistant jobs and living off of cheap meals around Los Angeles, the duo’s 1998 hiring as 90210 staff writers helped propel their talents into the limelight. Since then, Berg and Harberts have gone on to produce and write for award-winning television shows such as Roswell, Pushing Daisies, and Revenge.

Berg and Harberts’ Love of Narrative

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gretchen Berg didn’t quite feel that she fit in. Born in the city in 1971, Berg spent her childhood days playing with friends in the woods near her home. During these play sessions, they would come up with magnificent stories and embark on fantastic adventures. To this day, Berg credits her ability to daydream with helping her write compelling narratives for her television shows.

While Berg is a major Pittsburgh Steelers fan, the emphasis on sports at her high school relegated her to the rank of “loner”. Berg dabbled in poetry and took acting and drama classes in addition to her general studies. She found her creative solace in her high school’s TV studio, where she was able to turn the stories of her daydreams into real screen narratives. Wanting a college experience outside of the heavy industry focus that film and TV programs at UCLA or NYU could provide, Berg decided to attend Northwestern University in 1988.

Aaron Harberts was born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1973, the son of a pastor. He grew up between Iowa, South Florida, and Indiana, listening to his father preaching. During these long sermons, Harberts would feel his mind wander in fantastic directions. Like Berg, Harberts was a daydreamer, and knew he wanted to write. He left his home to attend Northwestern in 1991, where he met Berg when he served as a production assistant for her student film.

Northwestern Chance Meeting

In 1992, Gretchen Berg was ending her third year at Northwestern University. Aaron Harberts was nearing the end of his first year at the Chicago-area university. Both were involved in the institution’s two-year Creative Writing in the Media course. While they didn’t become particularly close at Northwestern, they grew accustomed to one another and each realized that the other was easy to work with.

Berg graduated from Northwestern in 1993 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of television writing. In 1995, Harberts attempted to make the same move, but his plans for housing fell through. Berg offered Harberts a place to sleep while he was figuring his situation out – right underneath her wet bar.

At the time, Berg was trying to write her first sitcom script. Struggling with the difficulty of a script, Berg turned to Harberts for help and a proposal: they were talented writers and worked together well. Why not take a crack at writing a script together?

In six months, they had their first script – an unfunny sitcom that they burned all existing copies of. However, a bigger phenomenon was born: the production team of Berg and Harberts, who would go on to write and produce award-winning television shows on their way to the top.

Breaking Into the Business with 90210

Between 1995 and 1998, Berg and Harberts hustled around Los Angeles, picking up assistant jobs where they could and surviving without landing steady work. They watched endless hours of television and film to analyze for narrative, plot, dialogue, and other structural features to improve their own writing. Most importantly, Berg and Harberts wrote – anything and everything, whenever they could.

An agent came across one of their scripts and forwarded it immediately to a television agent within the same company. Within a few weeks, Berg and Harberts were signed, and in 1998, they were hired as writers for Aaron Spelling’s hit Beverly Hills, 90210. Tasked with re-introducing Luke Perry back into the show’s ninth season, Berg and Harberts quickly made a name for themselves as television writers.

After 90210 ended in 2002, Berg and Harberts were immediately offered production positions on the cult TV show Roswell, and they haven’t had to interview for a job since. From Pushing Daisies to Mercy to Revenge, Berg and Harberts have gone on to write and produce television shows across the genres of drama, science fiction, and comedy. An unbeatable duo with an unbreakable bond, it’s no wonder that Berg and Harberts are ones to watch in the challenging world of Hollywood television.

They are also well known as the initial Star Trek Discovery showrunners who really launched the highly successful show on the CBS Network.