The Mystery Superhero In Wonder Woman Is…

EUGENE BRAVE ROCK

EUGENE BRAVE ROCK

Eeeeeeeeeeee, much excitement!

Eugene Brave Rock is the mysterious Native American hero in the highly-anticipated Wonder Woman movie to be released in 2017. But who will he be playing? Sadly, we still don’t know because Brave Rock isn’t allowed to tell us…at least not yet.

[…]

Back in March, ICTMN revealed a key moment in the Batman vs. Superman movie in which Bruce Wayne sees a photograph on his computer with Wonder Woman standing next to a mysterious Native American man (and three other soldiers) in an image from World War I. (See :57 seconds into below video)

To date, there is little to no information online about the character. We can only speculate that he might be one of the the characters either Apache Chief or Lone Shadow which has appeared in Justice League comics and cartoons.

Eugene Brave Rock spoke with ICTMN, and shared one bit of information. “I am only allowed to say I was in London for five months filming the Wonder Woman movie. That is all I am allowed to say,” said Brave Rock. He does add, “It was an amazing experience.”

That’s it. No spoilers, no character name, no insider news … that’s all Eugene Brave Rock could tell us. He says everything about his part is top secret. “When I was auditioning, they didn’t even tell me it was for Wonder Woman.”

Brave Rock did say that director Patty Jenkins — the first female director of a major DC franchise movie — and DC Comics were extremely respectful of Brave Rock’s Native heritage.

“DC really let me have a voice. Usually movies have a lot of do’s and dont’s and they tell you you have to do things a certain way, but in this case, even with wardrobe, it was awesome. In the end, they let me decide a lot about my character. Previously, movies have even told me how I had to braid my hair, and you don’t have a choice – but this was not the case.”

Vincent Schilling at ICTMN has the full story.

Real NDNZ Re-Take Hollywood.

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In an effort to dismantle the film industry’s historically stereotypical portrayal of Native actors in buckskin, feathers and painted faces, Los Angeles-based media professional and photographer Pamela J. Peters (Navajo) has created a series of photographs entitled Real NDNZ Re-Take Hollywood, in which contemporary Native American actors recreate classic Hollywood portraits of movie stars such as James Dean and Audrey Hepburn.

[…]

The seven Natives involved in the project include actors from the Dakota, Cherokee, Crow, Blackfeet, Shoshone, and Seminole nations. They are Noah Watts (Crow /Blackfeet), Shayna Jackson (Dakota / Cree), Deja Jones (Shoshone), Kholan Studie (Cherokee), Krista Hazelwood (Seminole), JaNae Collins (Dakota) and Brian Vallie (Crow).

“All participants have a passion to work in the film industry, but they also have ties to their tribal communities and enjoy sharing their respective backgrounds with each other,” says Peters.

“I would like people to think critically about my photos, and hear the young performers’ stories about how they navigate an extremely competitive field of entertainment.  Furthermore, I want society to know that we are many nations, with many stories, and that we can make a conscious choice to reshape perceptions of modern Indians today.”

The showcase will take place at These Days LA at 118 Winston Street, Los Angeles, 90013 from Aug 4th to 7th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information about the show can be found online. Her exhibit will showcase 24 images and a short video of her project. On Saturday, Aug 6th live art and drumming will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

More information about Pamela J. Peters can be found on her website: www.PamelaJPeters.com.

Via ICTMN.

Oscars Diversity: 5 Natives Invited.

According to an announcement by Sundance, five of the institute’s Native American and Indigenous Program alumni have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This is a positive change for Oscars diversity as the Native artists become a part of the nominating and voting body of the Oscars, each within their own branches and on larger voting sections for the awards.

The five artists and program alumni – as well as a few of their production credits – are listed on the Sundance Institute website:

Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur D'alene)

Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur D’alene)

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Adam Beach (Saulteaux of Dog Creek First Nation)

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Cliff Curtis (Te Arawa, Ngāti Hauiti)

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Heather Rae (Cherokee)

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Taika Waititi (Te Whanau A Apanui)

ICTMN has the full story.

Chief David Beautiful Bald Eagle Walks On at 97.

David Bald Eagle - Facebook.

Cheyenne River Sioux Chief David Beautiful Bald Eagle, Waniyetu Opi, walked on July 22 surrounded by family. Facebook/Richard Bullock.

Lakota Chief David Beautiful Bald Eagle, who was a military hero, champion dancer, professional baseball player and stunt double, walked-on at his home last Friday.

Chief Bald Eagle was born in a traditional teepee in 1919 in Cherry Creek, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. His name in Lakota translates as Wounded in Winter Beautiful Bald Eagle. He  spoke only Lakota until the age of 12.

His grandfather, Chief White Bull, a relative of Sitting Bull,was one of the leaders who fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Bald Eagle underwent the traditional sundance ceremony at age 15. At 17 he enlisted in the Army’s Fourth Cavalry and eventually went from riding a horse to riding a motorcycle to deliver messages. After serving for several years, he was honorably discharged, but re-enlisted into the 82nd Airborne after hearing the news of that Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

As a sergeant, Bald Eagle parachuted into the battles fought at Anzio, Italy, for which he was awarded the Silver Star. He then parachuted into the fighting at Normandy, was injured by German soldiers and was left for dead. British commandos discovered him lying on the enemy grounds with a pulse.

After returning from the war, he met an English teacher named Penny Rathburn and married her. They became competitive ballroom dancers. She was killed in a car crash when she was pregnant with their first child.

In an interview with the Wo Lakota project, Bald Eagle says he was nearly suicidal after that double tragedy, and decided to take on daredevil pursuits. He became a stunt double, took up skydiving, started racing cars and became active in the rodeo circuit.

Bald Eagle appeared in over 40 Hollywood films. He served as a stunt double for Errol Flynn, and even met and danced with Marilyn Monroe.

[…]

In an memorial post on Facebook, Richard Bullock‎ wrote that though Chief Bald Eagle encountered many forms of prejudice and discrimination, “he never showed bitterness, and met adversity with invincible courage and humour.”

“It was tougher back then,” Bald Eagle told Bullock. “I’ve had a rough life. But I can remember everything. From horse and cart days right up until today; jet planes and computers. When I was a boy, there weren’t even any fences. No electricity lines or phone lines. No roads, nothing. You could just head out across country and you wouldn’t have to open any gates or anything like that. All just open prairie. The world has changed so quickly in just one lifetime. It’s so short a time. I’ve had a long life but it just seems like yesterday”.

David William Bald Eagle / Wounded in Winter Beautiful Bald Eagle born 8th April 1919, walked on 22nd July 2016. He is survived by his wife Josee, and his many children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

The full article is at ICTMN. David Rooks also has an article up. Thank you for a life not only well-lived, but a life which was a gift to us all, Chief Beautiful Bald Eagle.

Comic-Con Trailers!

So much fun stuff!

Justice League:

Aquaman is lookin’ rather hot.

Kong: Skull Island.

I don’t want to see this, I hated King Kong when I was a kid, and here we go again, Giant ape, guns, explosions, napalm, all that shit. But, Tom Hiddleston…

Suicide Squad – Comic-Con First Look.

Waiting, waiting waiting. So looking forward to this one.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Comic-Con Trailer.

Oh, I am such a sucker for this kind of thing.

Wonder Woman!

YES! Yes, yes, yes.

Aaaaaaaaaaand, a sequel to The Blair Witch Project (we’re going to pretend that 2nd flick never happened):

Blair Witch.

And PZ picked up one I missed: Marvel’s Luke Cage!

Cool Stuff Friday.

bubbletree

In the I wish I was filthy rich department, Bubble!

French designer Pierre Stephane Dumas has created a range of portable transparent huts, offering a quiet space to retreat to. The idea behind his Bubble collection was to create a temporary leisure accommodation that had the least impact on the surrounding environment, whilst also giving the impression of being amongst nature.

“I designed this eccentric shelter with the goal to offer an unusual experience under the stars while keeping all the comfort of a bedroom suite,” says Dumas. “Bubble huts are for me like an ataraxic catalyst, a place apart where getting rest, breathing and standing back”.

Additionally, the unique design and geometry of the Bubble creates a silencing acoustic effect. “Noises coming from the outside are reduced and noises coming from the inside echo towards the sphere’s hub. This echo drives people to speak quietly bringing about a feeling of appeasement favorable to have a nap,” explains Dumas.

You can read about and see more here.

An 8-year-old boy dug up this fossilized turtle that scientists believe helps explain the turtle's earliest uses of its shell (Credit: Wits University)

An 8-year-old boy dug up this fossilized turtle that scientists believe helps explain the turtle’s earliest uses of its shell (Credit: Wits University)

Every young boy has spent at least one afternoon digging a hole in the ground looking for some kind of treasure. An eight-year-old from South Africa was doing just that when he unearthed a turtle fossil that could help scientists understand the original purpose and evolution of the turtle’s shell.

A group of scientists from parts of the world including South Africa, Switzerland and the United States conducted a study on several early turtle fossils including a fossil discovered by an 8-year-old Kobus Snyman on his father’s farm in the Western Cape of South Africa. The study that took place at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg found that early turtles may have used their shells for burrowing instead of for protection from potential predators.

The 5.9 inch (15 cm) long turtle fossil discovered by Snyman contains a preserved skeleton with articulated hands and feet. The study published in the journal Current Biology also examined several turtle fossils found in the Karoo Basin of South Africa including a partially shelled proto-turtle that’s 260 million years old.

Full story here.

Last, but not least, Tooooooooooooooys! Oh, the toys. Want. Seriously want Iron Giant, because if anyone brings the cool, it’s Iron Giant:

sideshow-irongiant-withs-closeup

and Groot! GROOT.

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And Deadpool. Hulk vs Wolverine. Catwoman. And So. Much. More. 3 pages of toys. See them all here.

LGBTQ Guide to Comic-Con 2016.

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Every year for the past 29 years, the Gays in Comics panel has graced a stage at Comic-Con International, the annual celebration of pop culture held in San Diego. During this time the convention has expanded from a comic books-only focus to include other mediums like TV, film, and games. And the presence of LGBT people, once relegated to that single panel, has exploded to a point where every day offers a variety of queer content and the breadth of topics continues to grow. Here are some of the best things about 2016, Comic-Con’s queerest year yet.

[…]

You Don’t Even Have to Be in the Convention Center: One of the best things about this year’s Comic-Con? You don’t need a ticket to take advantage of some events and panels. Organizers have long recognized that the demand for Comic-Con tickets far exceeds availability (as does demand for space for exhibits and presenters). Over the years there’s been a growing number of events outside of the convention hall — including in local bars and even the public library (see above for examples). This year Comic-Con has launched this access into hyperspace by introducing a new premium digital network, ComicConHQ. In association with Lionsgate, the service will live-stream select Comic-Con panels and make others available later; it will also offer classic sci-fi and fantasy titles, and it reportedly has original programming in the works, including scripted series and news shows.

This is a long list, people! Stuffed with great events and panels. Wish I was there. Click on over to The Advocate for the full scoop.

Losing That Little Blue Checkmark. Permanently.

Conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos (Screenshot)

Conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos (Screenshot)

Yesterday, it was noted that Leslie Jones had been harassed off Twitter by a torrent of racist shit, and of course, asshack Milo Yiannopoulos was leading the charge. Milo is a remarkably untalented person, who has relied on Twitter to make hay for him, thanks to their rather nonchalant views about harassment. Not that Milo has any idea of how to actually do anything, but he’ll have to make do without Twitter.

Twitter has permanently banned a rightwing writer and notorious troll for his role in the online abuse of Leslie Jones over her role in the Ghostbusters reboot.

Milo Yiannopoulos, the technology editor for Breitbart.com, tweeted as @Nero. Before he was banned, he had more than 338,000 followers and called himself “the most fabulous supervillain on the internet” for his provocations online.

No, Cupcake. You aren’t fabulous at anything.

Yiannopoulos has been suspended from Twitter several times in the past for violating its terms of service, and had his verified status revoked earlier this year, prompting the hashtag #JeSuisMilo among his supporters.

But claims that he had fanned the flames of the harassment of Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones on Twitter led to a “permanent suspension” from Twitter on Wednesday.

Yiannopolous told Breitbart.com his suspension was “cowardly”, and evidence that Twitter was a “no-go zone for conservatives”.

“Like all acts of the totalitarian regressive left, this will blow up in their faces, netting me more adoring fans. We’re winning the culture war, and Twitter just shot themselves in the foot.

“This is the end for Twitter. Anyone who cares about free speech has been sent a clear message: you’re not welcome on Twitter.”

[…]

Before he was banned, he told Heat Street that “of course” he had no regrets about his behaviour towards Jones. “But feminists, on the other hand, should have regrets that they have taught strong women that they are victims and attacked people for having different opinions to them on Twitter.”

A spokesman for Twitter said in a statement that “permanent suspension” was one of a number of steps that had been taken to address the uptick in offending accounts since Jones began rallying against her abusers.

There’s more at The Guardian. Okay, Twitter. This was a good first step. Don’t stop now, please.

Twitter, Oh Twitter.

I keep telling myself I need to activate my twitter account, rather than let it sit and molder. I did tell myself that. Today, I’m more than happy to let it sit an molder. Banal bigots who think they are clever have gleefully harassed actress Leslie Jones away. Twitter makes a lot of noise about harassment, but it seems they never bother to actually do anything about it.

…a Twitter spokesman told the Daily Mail, “This type of abusive behaviour is not permitted on Twitter, and we’ve taken action on many of the accounts reported to us by both Leslie and others. We rely on people to report this type of behaviour to us but we are continuing to invest heavily in improving our tools and enforcement systems to prevent this kind of abuse. We realise we still have a lot of work in front of us before Twitter is where it should be on how we handle these issues.”

I don’t think you are trying enough. The article notes that asshack Yiannopoulos was right back on Twitter, joining in the harassment and encouraging others to do the same. The tweet I included above is one of the mildest. If Twitter ever decides to grow the fuck up and be responsible, I might consider doing something with my account.

Via Raw Story.

Hollywood Is So Biased…

gods_not_dead_2_still

against Christians! I guess the God’s Not Dead 2 people are not so happy with the result of their latest flick, because they can’t stop yelling Persecution! It’s persecution that their gigantic ad wasn’t draped on a building, so much so that a congresscritter has vowed to hunt down the person responsible, and apparently, this is the only way Pat Boone can get any publicity anymore.

Christianity is getting a bad rap in movies and TV shows, say 32 percent of Republicans, an opinion shared by only 5 percent of Democrats, according to a scientific poll released on Sunday.

I think we can drop the intended weight of scientific here.

The results of the poll from the Barna Group were shared with The Hollywood Reporter at a screening of God’s Not Dead 2 in Cleveland, ahead of the Republican National Convention, which gets underway Monday. GOP Faith, an arm of the party, co-hosted the screening.

The poll asked consumers: “What is your opinion of Hollywood’s treatment of Christianity?”

Ooooh, opinions! How scientific.

The 32 percent of Republicans who answered that it generally portrays it “negatively” was more than six times the number of Democrats who answered similarly. This result didn’t surprise Pat Boone, one of the stars of the film.

Can we say confirmation bias?

“Christianity imposes restrictions on behavior, even in movies,” Boone told THR. “Hollywood doesn’t like it when people tell them to stick to moral rules because it makes a lot of money breaking those rules. Orgies, vampires, zombies, debauchery of all forms. Anything goes, and it is liberal Democrats who are making these films. Depravity is profitable.”

Yes, depravity is profitable, Pat. It’s profitable everywhere. Where would Christianity be without it? Nowhere at all. Take away your darling devil, and you have nothing.

Boone offered an example from his own career, saying he was recently offered a role in a TV pilot where he’d play a Christian book publisher as “a heathen, money-grubbing hypocrite.”

“This happens all the time,” said Boone. “They tried to utilize my good image to skewer people of faith. They portray us as dunces.”

Prior to the screening was a worship service, the first time the RNC has held such an event at one of its presidential conventions. Among those who spoke was former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who also appears in God’s Not Dead 2. He told the 300 attendees that a billboard advertising the movie was deemed too “incendiary” to be hung near the convention venue. A pro-atheist sign, though, is here, and so is a giant billboard showing Donald Trump and Ted Cruz kissing, with the text: “Love Trumps Hate. End homophobia.”

“If you’ve never had a reason to watch this film, you’ve got one now,” Huckabee said prior to the start of God’s Not Dead 2, which stars Melissa Joan Hart as a teacher in trouble for citing scripture in the classroom. 

“It’s harder today than ever to truly live as a person of faith because you’re subjected to ridicule and scorn and contempt,” he said.

I am so sick and tired of this shit. Ridicule. Scorn. Contempt. Those things, while bad, aren’t happening because you’re a Christian. They’re happening because you’re bigoted asswipes with a vast need to control the lives of every single person on the planet according to your personal values. Bit of a difference there. Besides, Christians are supposed to rejoice in persecution, that’s why you all keep trying to pretend you’re being persecuted all the time. Wanting to have your cake and eat it too.

…Said Medved: “It’s not so much that Christians are lampooned all the time — though that certainly happens — it’s that they’re ignored, and they shouldn’t be. In any given week, four times more Americans go to church than go to the movies.”

So, if Christians are in churches, and not movie theaters, no problem, right? Right?

…The poll, commissioned by the God’s Not Dead 2 filmmakers, indicated that most moviegoers had mixed feelings about Hollywood’s treatment of Christianity, but 4 percent of Republicans said Christians are portrayed “positively” compared with 18 percent of Democrats.

Oooh, how sciencey that all is! I’m so not impressed.

Via Hollywood Reporter.

Sunday Facepalm

vanished-left-behind-next-generationLeft Behind: Next Generation. Are you excited yet? If you remember those awful, never ending books by Tim LaHaye, then you already know how awful this will be. For those who aren’t familiar with those awful ’90s books, they can be found in dusty, remaindered stacks just about everywhere.

The new faith-based film “Vanished: Left Behind – Next Generation,” is expected to make waves in cinemas this September. The movie tells the story of Jesus Christ’s second coming through the eyes of young adults.

Make waves? I have some doubts here. One thing about young people? They grow older, and generally, they have a good, long time in front of them. I had a fevered moment as a Jesus Freak in my teens (tent days at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. Yeah, Chuck, Romaine, Lonnie, all that.) I lived at Mansion Messiah in Newport Beach. I believed in the rapture. I waited. And that right there is the whole problem – people have been waiting. Everyone thinks it’s going to happen in their generation, because of course, it’s the worst one yet! It would have saved me some time, and got me back to reality quicker if anyone had bothered to point out that the whole ‘Jesus is coming back’ business was supposed to be in the apostles’ lifetimes, and it had zero relevance all these centuries later, and that the whole rapture gig was made up fairly recently.

The movie is inspired by The New York Times bestselling book series “Left Behind,” which is written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, according to The Christian Post. The series was translated into film by Kirk Cameron 16 years ago. Another movie based on the same book series was made in 2014 starring Nicholas Cage.

Really? Huh. Well, glad I missed that one.

It might seem like there’s nothing new to add to “Vanished: Left Behind – Next Generation.” But the film still managed to put a unique spin to the tale of the apocalypse by presenting it through the perspective of millennials.

No, that’s not a unique spin. That’s not even out of the ordinary in any way.

The film’s synopsis reads: “When a billion people around the globe suddenly vanish and chaos engulfs the nation — headstrong 15-year-old Gabby (Amber Frank) is thrust into adulthood way too soon. The event forces Gabby, along with her younger sister Claire (Keely Wilson) and the two teen boys vying for Gabby’s affection, Josh (Mason Dye) and Flynn (Dylan Sprayberry) — to try to figure out what has happened and how they fit into this dangerous new world.”

Minus the Jesus juice, this sounds like every other teen / coming of age flick ever made.

Full story here.