SAG-AFTRA Welcomes new union members for New Mexico 2016

(Welcome Recent New Members and Transfers into SAG-AFTRA)

New Members: "Ramsey Scott, Lisa Lucas, Augusta Allen-Jones, Jahan Khalili, Frank Sandoval, Howard Ferguson, Cory J. Broussard, Ruth A. Ward, Matt Timmons, Jordan Rivers, Lucas Hogue, Liam Ruggles, Heather Gonzales, Eric Martinez, Conrad Dahlstedt, Filippo Guardione, Saneh T. Boothe, John Nussbaumer, Justin Marmion, Brennan Foster, Megan Pribyl, Santiago Campos, Benjamin Hall, Miles Hall, Jackie Carter Jones, Andy Kastelic, Lalo Flores, Matthew Van Wettering, Bau T. Duong, Isaac Vallie-Flagg, Kyle Segura, Aurora Antonio, Annittra Atler, Julia Harris, Clay M. Space, Victoria Pham-Gilchrist, Orchid Kim Phan, Le Hai Dang, Julian Bonfiglio, Ramona King, Victoria Walker, Chuck Kauffman, Adonis H. London, Douglas Christian, Allie Sundstrom, Jim Sea, David Devereaux, Harrison Sim"

Transfers in: "Lynn Sellers, Ross Clay, Jonelle S. Anderson, Douglas C. Metzger, Scot Henderson Jones, Doris Hargrave, Carolyn Wickwire, Jack Forcinito, Laura Trew, Patrick Gozur, Conrad R. Padilla, Brian McLain, Norm Lee, Victor Montoya, Beverly Sartain, Bobby Andrew Burns, David Tollardo"

All the best to all performers who have joined SAG-AFTRA at New Mexico. - RP

"Dateline" Two hours of Synthetic drugs & a double murder

DATELINE on NBC. Did you watch the 2-hour episode on Sunday? They were called, "One small dose" & "The collector." The first hour followed a vibrant teen who took a synthetic drug that is smaller than her fingernail. She put it on her tongue, swallowed & during the night she died. This is the drug that is killing high school teens across the U.S. It is cheap to buy, but drug dealers are making a lot of money.

Click photos for TV recap over at Examiner News.

TV Preview "The Mysteries of Laura" The sister of Laura becomes murder suspect

THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA on NBC. Tomorrow night's episode is called, "The Mystery of the Unknown Caller." I was asked by fans of the TV show to add in my preview the "sneek peak" clips from the NBC website. I usually just recap and write about the TV promo, but here goes...,

Click photo for TV Preview over at Examiner News.

(NBC Photo: Laura lunges at her sister)

An all new "Elementary" on Thursday Feb. 25, 2016

ELEMENTARY on CBS. (S04E14). The upcoming Thursday episode is called, "Who is that Masked Man?." Morland Holmes returns & someone he cares about is killed. Sherlock told his dad he would try to find out who shot him several years ago. Sherlock also never talked to Watson about his mother, but will do so now. 

(YouTube: "Dreamer" recorded the TV promo below which runs at regular speed first. Then, it runs in slow motion on second viewing).

A new Sunday night mystery on "Dateline" Feb. 28, 2016

DATELINE on NBC. The Sunday night episode is called, "Deadly Game."

NBC says, "When a woman goes missing in a small town in rural Michigan, her husband becomes the primary suspect. But eyewitnesses and surveillance cameras support his alibi that he was in Virginia the day she disappeared - more than 700 miles away. Dennis Murphy reports Sunday February 28 at 7p/6c."

Click photo for TV Preview.

A 2-hour "Dateline" coming Friday Feb. 26, 2016

DATELINE on NBC. The upcoming 2-hour special is called, "Over the Edge."

NBC says, "In an all-new two-hour Dateline, Andrea Canning tells the story of a woman who falls to her death while hiking with her husband in Rocky Mountain National Park. Rangers question if her death was an accident or a heinous act of violence. Will a buried secret soon be revealed? Airs Friday, February 26 at a special time 9p/8c."

Click photo for TV Preview.

NBC "The Mysteries of Laura" An all new episode Wednesday Feb. 24, 2016

THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA on NBC. (S02E15). The upcoming episode is called, "The mystery of the unknown caller." I will write a TV preview for Examiner News on Tuesday Feb. 23, 2016. I will include a recap of what's been happening to Laura outside of her police work. "Laura" received a 16 episode order from NBC. Wednesday's episode is number 15 for the 2015-16 TV season. The show is garnering some steady TV ratings. (Below is a TV preview).

Oregon: More indictments to come in March 2016 of Refuge take over

News from my home state of Oregon. Here is the latest as Federal investigators continue to gather evidence against the militia who took over the Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge for 41 days. The FBI has announced that there will be new indictments coming in March of 2016. They're still canvassing the Refuge & have already found explosives, firearms & human feces inside a trench. Defense lawyers of the 25 militia who were charged, want to be part of the investigation. (Gee, all they have to do is check out YouTube. All the evidence against their clients is right there).

Sandy Anderson has claimed she was unaware that FBI wanted her to leave. She spent 41 days with her husband Sean squatting at the Refuge. A judge will let her go home to Utah, but cannot have contact with her husband or the others indicted. She cried in court as the judge handed down his orders. Sandy says she never knew Ammon Bundy, but check out YouTube. There she is talking and engaging with the "Bundy Brothers" during the take over. Also, listen to her on that phone call with Michele Fiore. She's screaming & says she's carrying a rifle at her side. (She is so caught up in the whole take over. It's laughable how she now claims her innocence).

Click photo for OREGON LIVE updates.

(YouTube Screen Capture of Sean & Sandy Anderson).

USC study shows that Hollywood studios is dominated by white males

I usually don't do this, but this new study on Diversity in Hollywood is interesting. The University of Southern California has come out with an analysis that shows Hollywood Studios are dominated by White Males.

"The study, titled the Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity, examined the 109 films released by major studios (including art-house divisions) in 2014 and 305 scripted, first-run TV and digital series across 31 networks and streaming services that aired from September 2014 to August 2015. More than 11,000 speaking characters were analyzed for gender, racial and ethnic representation and LGBT status. Some 10,000 directors, writers and show creators were examined, as was the gender of more than 1,500 executives."

"In the 414 studied films and series, only a third of speaking characters were female, and only 28.3 percent were from minority groups — about 10 percent less than the makeup of the U.S. population. Characters 40 years or older skew heavily male across film and TV: 74.3 percent male to 25.7 percent female. Just 2 percent of speaking characters were LGBT-identified. Among the 11,306 speaking characters studied, only seven were transgendered (and four were from the same series)."

"USC’s study, which the school has been publishing in various forms for the last 10 years, also seeks to add a new metric in the conversation. The “inclusivity index” is a report card for the performances of 21st Century Fox, CBS, NBC Universal, Sony, the Walt Disney Co., Time Warner, Viacom, Amazon, Hulu and Netflix. Those companies encompass all the broadcast networks, most major cable channels, all of the major movie studios and three of the dominant streaming services."

Click photo for complete USC Study.

(White Males dominate film studios in Hollywood)

"Downton Abbey" Lady Edith finally tells Lady Mary what she thinks of her

DOWNTON ABBEY on PBS. (S06E08). Well, it's about time Lady Edith tells off her sister Lady Mary. For years, Mary spent her time putting down Edith who just takes it because they're sisters. Mary finally goes too far & ruins Edith's engagement to Bertie. She unearths that Marigold is Edith's real daughter & Bertie leaves Downton. Boy, Edith finally lets loose on Mary and it was great to watch. 

Miss Patmore was being followed by a news reporter. She let a married man stay inside her bed & breakfast along with his mistress. The police assume that Miss Patmore might be the head of a Brothel. Everyone laughs, but Patmore nearly faints over it. And poor Thomas Barrow. He is ill & decides to commit suicide by slitting his wrists. 

Lady Edith flees to London & finds out that "Spratt" writes a column under a female name. He is the butler for the Lady Dowager. He has the funniest scenes with the Dowager's maid, Miss Danker, who wants him to get fired. 

Click photo for DOWNTON ABBEY website.

   (Lady Mary & Lady Edith)

SAG-AFTRA & "Actors Fund" seeks performers for side employment at Albuquerque

Sideline Work Opportunity in Albuquerque

"A market research company is seeking part-time researchers in Albuquerque for a temporary project in civil rights. The actors will role-play (based on the training they will be provided) and report their findings to the market research company."

When: "The work must be completed during variable hours on your choice of weekdays during normal business hours beginning April 4, and ending approximately in June."

"Must be available for a three-hour training session on Saturday, April 2."

Where: "Position requires a personal vehicle to travel to various locations in the Albuquerque metropolitan area and proof of car insurance."

Compensation: "Pay is $45 per research assignment and mileage is compensated at $0.50 a mile round-trip from your home to research sites."

Other details:

• "The job requires accurate and clear writing skills, strong attention to detail and a basic knowledge of Microsoft Word."

• "Qualified candidates must undergo a criminal background check."

To Apply: "Please email a resume and cover letter describing your interest and qualifications by Friday, March 11 to: sikon@actorsfund.org. Include the title: 'Market Research Project' in the subject line of your email."

"The Revenant" director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu talks to "Deadline Hollywood"

THE REVENANT climbs to $165 million at the U.S. box office as of Feb. 21, 2016. It has grabbed $216 million at the international box office. The world wide total has garnered $381 million. The film's director -- Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu -- talks to DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD.

Click poster for DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD interview.

"Embrace of the Serpent" opens in 3 theaters grabbing $50,000 over weekend

EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT is the last Foreign Language Oscar nominee 2016 to open in U.S. theaters. It rolled out in 3 theaters at New York plus L.A. It will continue to expand over the next few months. The Colombian film reached an average of $16,000 in the 3 movie theaters over the weekend. The Academy Awards will air live on ABC-TV Sunday Feb. 28, 2016.

Click photo for DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD Box Office news.

(Colombia's "Embrace of the Serpent")

"48 Hours" A husband returns home to find his wife dead on Valentine's Day

48 HOURS on CBS. Did you watch last night's episode called, "What did the children see?" I don't know. I'm on the fence with this one. Did Curtis smother his wife to death? Did she die of natural causes? Did the children see their mom alive before they went to school? Or did prosecutors bring in too many medical examiner's - a decade after the wife died? I think when you have too many opinions, it muddles everything up. I believe the kids though even when prosecutors say the mom died the night before.

Click photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

 

(Curtis Lovelace arrested)

"Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes" is a Netflix original backstory

It is without a doubt one of the best 30 minutes you will ever watch on the origins of the character "One Hundred Eyes" from "Marco Polo." This special premiered on "Netflix" last December 2015 & it is Spectacular. (I've watched it 4 times). Season 2 will premiere June 2016.

The Kublai Kahn captures a martial arts monk after he killed 25 soldiers. The monk is tested & also kills a high ranking officer among Kahn's armed forces. He loses his sight & is renamed "One Hundred Eyes." He will be used to train the son of Khan plus his soldiers. There is purpose in life even through torture & pain. "Eyes" finds peace of mind & can see everything without his sight. He is given a temple to train Marco Polo later on. (I'm a big fan of this show).

Michelle Yeoh will have a recurring role in the second TV season.

Click Poster to sing up with "Netflix."

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny" comes to "Netflix" Feb. 26, 2016

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny" will open in select IMAX theaters on Feb. 26, 2016. It will also launch on "Netflix" that same day. It will only be released in China this weekend to the frustrations of fans in all of Asia. There was a Western film made & an Eastern film made. (English & Mandarin languages). It is the sequel to the Oscar winning first film directed by Ang Lee (2000). Michelle Yeoh is the only cast member returning for this sequel - 20 years later. (Below is the second trailer recently released).

"Hawaii Five-0" A bank heist might lead to the corrupt Gabriel

HAWAII FIVE-0 on CBS. (S06E15). Did you watch last night's episode? We finally get to see Chin Ho meet up with his corrupt brother-in-law Gabriel. And it is a fight to the death. The last 10 minutes is all action. Danno's brother Matthew was murdered by a drug lord and he left behind $100,000 to his mom. The FBI questions her in front of Danno. Action is what I like because Kono is a sniper. - Wahoo!

Click on photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

(Steve & Neil)

"Dateline" a popular woman disappears off the island of Florida

DATELINE on NBC. Did you watch last night's episode called, "A place on the sand?" A woman is involved with a younger man who is a supposed artist. She runs a motel off the coast of Florida & then one day she disappears. All her friends told her they didn't like this man 10 years her junior. He "snaps" when she tells him their relationship is over. 

Click photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

All new 2 separate hours of "Dateline" Sunday Feb. 21, 2016

ONE SMALL DOSE Sunday Feb. 21, 2016 at 7/6 p.m.

DATELINE on NBC. "During a sleepover in Woodbury, Minnesota, 17-year-old Tara Fitzgerald decides to experiment with drugs. She dies just hours later. Police discover her death was a result of a new class of synthetic drugs. Kate Snow reports on this growing nationwide epidemic affecting young people. Airs Sunday, February 21st at 7p/6c."

Click photo for TV Preview.

THE COLLECTOR Sunday Feb. 21, 2016 at 8/7 p.m.

DATELINE on NBC. "A coin collector and his wife are found dead in their Springfield, Missouri home. With no signs of forced entry and the house full of valuables left seemingly intact, detectives suspect an inside job. But who would want to kill the beloved couple? Dennis Murphy reports Sunday, February 21st at 8p/7c."

Click photo for TV Preview.

"Elementary" A professor and his students are poisoned by mushrooms

ELEMENTARY on CBS. (S04E13). Did you watch last night's episode called, "A study of Charlotte?" A professor & his students are poisoned after drinking a tea with mushrooms in it. Sherlock & Watson track down what kind of mushroom is poisonous or - was poisoned. Meanwhile, their neighbor rents out weekly to people who like to party and play loud music. All because Sherlock worked on his loud experiments which forced the neighbor to move out.

Click on photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

(Sherlock & Watson find special mushrooms)

An all new "48 Hours" Saturday night on Feb. 20, 2016

48 HOURS on CBS. The upcoming episode this Saturday at 10/9 p.m. is called, "What did the Children see?" The Sneak Peek says, "What happens when a former hard-charging prosecutor is prosecuted in his old courtroom? Maureen Maher investigates."

Jay Leno returns to "Tonight" for some rough comedy zingers

"The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" on NBC. Jimmy faked a hamstring pull during one of his opening monologues. Jay Leno stepped in & took aim at the Clinton's, Bernie Sanders, Trump & of course Bill Cosby. He didn't go easy on any of them either. - Hah!

"The Darkness" Spirit guardians of Native American tribe opens May 13, 2016

THE DARKNESS is a new Horror film starring Kevin Bacon. Here is the synopsis, "A family unwittingly brings a supernatural force home with them from vacation. The evil presence feeds off their fears and secrets." 

What it doesn't tell you completely is that a kid brings back a Native American artifact from Grand Canyon. What comes with that artifact is spirits who are guardians of a Native Tribe. It reeks havoc on the family.

"The Mysteries of Laura" Jake & Laura protect a Cuban diplomat from assassination

THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA on NBC. (S06E14). Did you watch last night's episode called, "The mystery of the political operation?" Well, everyone likes Jennifer who has been seeing Jake. She is a district attorney & Laura is perturbed by "Jen" at first. Laura steps aside to see Jake happy & she hasn't told anyone that she broke up with Tony. 

Meanwhile, Jake & Laura are saddled with protecting a Cuban diplomat who is going to speak to the United Nations at New York. 

Click Photo for TV recap over at Examiner News.

(Laura & Jake arrest a protester)

An all new "Hawaii Five-0" Friday Feb. 19, 2016.

HAWAII FIVE-0 on CBS. (S6E15). Danno's mother returns & she is questioned by the FBI. It looks like an action packed episode this Friday at 9/8 p.m. - Wahoo!