Author Archives: Frostie

24’s Back! New Series Announced

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24 fans can start getting excited: Jack’s back and this time he is in London.

Star Kiefer Sutherland said: “I’m about as anxious and wound up as I’ve been in a long time. There’s a great impetus for all of us to create something new with the show.”

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Dexter star Yvonne Strahovski, Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe), Kim Raver (Audrey) and William Devane (James Heller) will all star alongside Sutherland. The series will air in the states from May 5 2014 with a two-hour special to start.

A movie is also in the works. Sutherland said: “If this ends up rebooting the show or causing a film to be made, so be it, The film is sort of an ongoing situation.”

The Good Wife Season Five: Julianna Margulies Interview

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the good wife series 5 interview How does it feel to be on Season 5 of The Good Wife?

Julianna Margulies: It doesn’t feel like the fifth season. I have more excitement about this season than I have any season. The first season I was so overwhelmed by it all and the second season you’re trying to keep the momentum going, and then all of a sudden you’re in year five and the writing is even better. I feel like I just landed in a pot of gold.

What was your reaction to the Season 4 finale?

When I read the script of the season finale I was like, oh, we’re still doing this triangle and then all of a sudden you realize how smart they are, these writers are just so smart.

How does the Season 4 finale set the stage for Season 5?

Basically what happens is Alicia chooses to leave her firm because she knows as long as she is there, her heart will always be with Will and she can’t live like that – not after recommitting to her husband. And she starts her own firm or talks about starting her own firm with Cary.

More on setting the stage for Season 5?

It picks up on the exact same night. We open up the episode and you see Alicia and Cary on their second bottle of wine – in her kitchen, getting a little drunk and realizing this could be the best thing that’s ever happened.

Are Alicia and Cary the new Will and Diane?

Cary sells it to her by saying we’re the new Will and Diane. She starts watching how Will and Diane work because when Season 5 starts they’re still there, they have to transition, they have to get offices, they have to figure this all out before they abandon and she’s watching Will and Diane work on a death row case with her and then she’s watching how Cary conducts himself and she is realizing this ain’t no Will and Diane.

What challenges does Alicia face at the start of Season 5?

Her husband is elected governor, so she is now the first lady, and is going to figure out how to leave the firm. They have to steal some clients, it’s ugly and it gets really ugly, and it’s going to be a very tense season because of it.

Are there advantages to being the Governor’s wife?

Being the governor’s wife gives her tremendous status as a lawyer and it has completely opened the door for her. It made her partner at Lockhart & Gardner. They could have chosen anyone, however she was much more valuable to them as the governor’s wife.

What damage will Alicia’s new firm create for Will and Diane?

The three biggest clients that she is taking with her are a blow to Lockhart & Gardner. She takes Chumhum, the drug kingpin Lemond Bishop and Sweeney. That’s at least $44 million a year in business for Lockhart & Gardner. So it’s not just that she is leaving the firm to start her own, she is stabbing them in the back and, even though I truly believe that Alicia doesn’t have a mean bone in her body, it’s the cruellest thing she could ever do to two people who were there for her when she had no-one.

More on the damage Alicia’s new firm creates…

It’s a bloodbath. If we were Game of Thrones, there would be a lot of actual blood, but because we’re lawyers in pretty clothing, there are just a lot of really smart words and emotions.

How will Alicia’s move affect her relationship with Diane?

It’s going to get horribly tense and it’s going to be pretty devastating, but then, and I can’t express it because it will ruin it for everybody – in fact no-one on the show knows except for me and the Kings, Brooke Kennedy and David Zucker – but we take a very big turn and through an event that happens Diane and Alicia are brought closer. This is what I’ve always wanted because they’re two such strong women that women connect to, and I hated that the two strong women on the show weren’t friends.

Why is Alicia’s relationship with Eli important?

The only people that know about Alicia and Will are Eli Gold and Diane. Then Eli becomes Chief of Staff of the governor’s office and as he knows all my secrets, it elevates their friendship as well. I think it’s going to be pretty beautiful and pretty devastating.

How does it feel to reach 100 episodes in Season 5?

It’s a milestone to shoot that many episodes and I remember the feeling on ER thinking a 100 episodes, that’s crazy. We’re talking 84-page scripts, so if you look at a feature length film, they’re usually about 125 to 130 pages, and we shoot that amount in eight days -and it’s quality writing and work. It’s definitely something to be proud of and I’m over the moon that we’ve made it this far. I think that audiences really have responded in an incredibly positive way to the show and I do think it’s just getting better and better.

Interview thanks to Channel 4.

An interview with the creators of The Good Wife is here.

One In Three In The UK Can’t Afford To Eat Healthily

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appleMore than a third (39 per cent) of people in the UK – around 25 million – say they do not eat healthily because it is too expensive to do so.   One in seven people (14 per cent) said they do not have time to prepare healthy food, and one in ten (10 per cent) said they do not know how to eat healthily.

 

These are the findings of new research out today from UK health charity Nuffield Health, who questioned more than 3,100 UK adults.  The figures provide a snapshot of the UK’s views on obesity and healthy lifestyle choices.  Experts say the findings are concerning, and show poor understanding about healthy living and an acceptance that obesity has become the norm in society.

 

The research, carried out to support National Obesity Awareness Week, highlights the urgency for effective obesity prevention strategies.  Of those polled, a third of people said they had noticed a rise in obesity in the area they live.  40 per cent of people said that seeing obese adults in the area they live in is common, with almost the same number – 38 per cent – saying that childhood obesity is now the norm.

 

The figures back up research released this week by the National Obesity Forum which shows that current strategies are failing to halt the rise in obesity, and a 2007 prediction that more than half of people in the UK will be obese by 2050 will in fact be exceeded.

 

Of the respondents, a further 550 people who were measured as obese – with a Body Mass Index of more than 30* – were questioned about their views on weight management.

Of this group:

  • Nearly half (48 per cent) are resigned to remaining obese due to a lack of willpower
  • 17 per cent said they had never attempted to lose weight
  • One in five (20 per cent) would rather be overweight than watch what they eat.

 

When questioned about attitudes towards exercise, the figures showed:

  • 40 per cent said they find exercise boring
  • A quarter (25 per cent) do not have time to exercise
  • One in seven (14 per cent) would rather be overweight than have to exercise.

 

When questioned about the Government’s response to tackling the problem, almost half (45 per cent) said that GP referrals for exercise should be considered. 40 per cent would like to see increased funding for recognised weight management programmes, 43 per cent want stricter regulations on ‘unhealthy’ food and drink chains from sponsoring high profile events and 40 per cent said that school meals should be regulated as a matter of urgency.

 

While the majority of respondents (81 per cent) said obesity is the fault of the individual, when questioned about contributing factors to the UK’s obesity epidemic, more than half (55 per cent) said the blame lies with the food industry.

 

Jackie Donkin, Nutritional Therapist at Nuffield Health, said; ”People who are trapped in the rut that is obesity need to take a step back and really think about the food they are eating.   As a nation, if we continue in this way we are heading for not only an obese population of children and adults, but a chronically ill population.  The key to success is not just dieting, it is long-term lifestyle changes that people need to adopt and which will only work if taken in small steps over a long period of time.

 

Eating more fruit and vegetables, cutting down on takeaways, or eating food in its natural state, rather than covered in rich sauces, will drastically reduce the amount of fat and sugar we eat.  Increasing day-to-day activity; walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift; walking those short distances instead of taking the car; going for a walk around the block in the evening, will all contribute to a healthier lifestyle, which once adopted will become much easier to maintain over time.”

 

Crystal Fairy Trailer | Film

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mza_4756234407815082883Prepare to have your mind bent and uncover a tale of hedonistic, ego-clashing college students on the road to self-discovery… with the help of the fabled San Pedro cactus brew.

Starring Michael Cera (Juno, This is The End, Superbad) and Gaby Hoffmann (13, Field of Dreams) as you’ve never seen them before, in a take on the classic road trip movie… with a twist. Directed by Sebastian Silva (The Maid, Magic Magic) in his signature maverick style, Crystal Fairy reminds us of what we can discover about ourselves when we stop looking. Described as ‘culminating in a profound audience experience’ (-Sundance Guide, 2013), Crystal Fairy features music from

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Basement Jaxx and Manu Chao. Jamie (Michael Cera) is a boorish, insensitive college student travelling in Chile who leaves a path ofchaos wherever he goes. He and his friends are planning on taking a road trip north to experiencea legendary shamanistic hallucinogen called the San Pedro cactus. In a fit of drunkenness at a wild party, Jamie invites an eccentric woman – a radical spirit named Crystal Fairy (Hoffmann) – to comealong. What is meant to be a devil-may-care journey becomes a battle of wills as Jamie finds himself locking horns with his new travelling companion. But on a remote, pristine beach at the edge of the desert, the magic brew is finally imbibed, and the true adventure begins.

 

Crystal Fairy is available on DVD, Download and On-Demand from January 27 2014.

 

Pitchup.com Launches Interactive Tour de France Map

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cyclingFollow the Tour de France route and stay in holiday parks and campsites along the way using Pitchup.com’s new interactive route planner
Outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com is gearing up for this year’s Tour de France with a new interactive Tour route planner on its website. The planner details the 2,000-mile route the Tour de France will take, as well as a comprehensive list of bookable campsites, holiday parks and lodges for every stage of the race.

 

The route planner covers all 20 stages of the Tour, beginning with the Grand Départ in North Yorkshire, on Saturday July 5, right through to the finish at Périgueux, on Saturday, July 26.

 

The interactive planner is in the form of a map, with the Tour route stages clearly marked. Users can click the map anywhere along the route to find details of each stage, the dates they take place, the nearby towns and the route itself. Clicking on the map will also give details of up to 10 nearby holiday parks and campsites along the way, which can be booked on Pitchup.com.
Users simply need to click the name to go to its listing page, add in the dates they want to stay, pick their accommodation and book – all done!
The map also has a ‘Find out more’ section for a lowdown of other attractions in the vicinity.
Stage No 1: Leeds/Harrogate. Saturday July 5

Campsite directly on the route – £12 per person per night

 

Spen House is a family-run site in the village of Minskip, two miles from Boroughbridge, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire and is directly on the Tour de France route. Bookings are coming in quick, but there is still plenty of space on the farm’s second field, for caravans, motorhomes and tents not requiring electricity. The owners will charge batteries at no cost. Dogs are welcome and there’s an off-lead exercise area. There is a combined shower/toilet block with hairdryer and shaver sockets, ladies-only shower, separate washing-up area with hot water and a fridge/freezer for campers’ use.

Price: £72 per pitch for three nights (July 4-7), based on two adults, which works out at £12 per person per night.

 

Stage No 20: Périgueux. Saturday July 26

Holiday lodge with swimming pool and breakfast delivery – from £19 per person per night.

Camping L’Hermitage des 4 Saisons is set in four acres of countryside, surrounded by the forest and farmlands of Périgord Vert in the Dordogne, 13 miles from the Tour de France’s finish town, Périgueux. Accommodation is in two-bedroom holiday lodges, which sleep up to six. There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, pétanque court, table tennis, archery and pony rides on site. During high season the owners organise Perigoudin meals, barbecues and local produce tasting sessions. As an added bonus, breakfast is delivered to your door.

Price: Two weeks in a two-bedroom lodge for four people costs £1,069 (£133.75 per person per week/£19 per person per night).

 

Hazardous Chemicals Revealed In Children’s Clothing

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toptipskidsbathtimefunChildren’s clothing and shoes by brands including Disney, Burberry and adidas have been shown to contain hazardous chemicals which could pose risks to adults and children when released into the environment, as revealed in a study released today by Greenpeace East Asia. [1]

Tests were carried out on 82 items sold by leading clothing brands including adidas, American Apparel, C&A, GAP, H&M, Li-Ning, Nike, Primark, Puma and Uniqlo and the findings revealed in the the report entitled “A Little Story About the Monsters in Your Closet”.

Chih An Lee, Toxics Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia said:.

“As the starting point of the global clothing supply chain, the world needs to be aware of the dangerous corners being cut in manufacturing processes in regions like East Asia. Parents in particular should know the risks these brands are posing to future generations as they use and release these toxic hazardous monsters into our environment.”

More than half of the products tested contained nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a group of chemicals that break down in the environment to form toxic, hormone disrupting nonylphenol (NP). High levels were found in products made by brands including Burberry, Disney and American Apparel. Meanwhile, every item tested specifically for per / polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) was found to contain one or more examples from this group of chemicals. [2] For example, an adidas swimsuit contained the highly persistent, PFOA at a concentration higher than the brand’s own limit in its Restricted Substance List. [3]

Though all products tested were intended for children and infants – a group particularly vulnerable to exposure to hazardous chemicals in the environment [4] – there was no significant difference between the range and levels of hazardous chemicals found in this study and those in previous studies looking at adults clothes [5].

“We need the brands to take a good hard look at their supply chain and the monsters they are using to make our children’s clothing. We also need people to recognise the power they have in bringing about change, by joining the growing movement making the industry Detox its supply chain and clean out clothes”, said An Lee

China remains the world’s largest textile producer and chemicals consumer and Greenpeace is calling on the government to help stop the use of hazardous chemicals in the textile industry. It is critical they publish a chemical blacklist to be acted upon immediately and urge factories to disclose chemical information, in order to facilitate chemical elimination and supply chain transparency and create a level playing field for the industry.

 

Cameras At The Ready – Last Call For Short Film Competition Entries

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film festival Less than two weeks remain to enter the UK’s fastest growing short film competition and have work judged by industry experts – including actress Jaime Winstone and producer Lisa Bryer.

Now in its fifth year, the reed.co.uk Short Film Competition invites all filmmakers to create a three minute film for a chance to win a top prize of £10,000, an exclusive mentoring opportunity and bespoke skills training.

Entrants are tasked to write, shoot and edit a funny, artistic or thought-provoking short film around the theme of ‘family business’. The calibre of entries is expected to be high thanks to the expert panel of judges and partners, which includes BAFTA, Channel 4, British Council, Creative England and Total Film.

This year’s competition features more opportunities to win than ever before with four prizes being awarded:

·         Grand Prix – decided by the panel of expert judges, one filmmaker will win £10,000 plus funding,  training and  expert mentoring

·         Judges’ Commendation – also decided by the judging panel, £1,000 prize plus skills training

·         People’s Choice Award – chosen by the public via an online vote, £1,000 prize plus skills training

·         Best Young Filmmaker – entrants who are 25 or under on the 22nd of January 2014 will be eligible to win £1,000, skills training  and a six-week paid internship

 

The deadline for entries into the competition is 22nd January 2014. Visit www.reed.co.uk/film for more information.