type here...
Home Blog Page 86

Is Netflix Racist or Mo’Nique Misguided?

Common Sense Contributors
-
3
Is Netflix Racist or Mo’Nique Misguided?

Two of our journalists give us their views on Mo’Nique. Join in on the debate over twitter. Who do you agree with? Emmabelle Nwadikwa or Busayo Twins

The Woman Who Cried Wolf

by Emmabelle Nwadikwa

Comedian and actor Mo’Nique seems to be on a mission to sabotage her own career. Mo’Nique has recently done a string of interviews discussing not only the issues that she claims have halted her career for the past few years, but she’s also been talking about her newest feud with Netflix.

Mo’Nique has claimed for years now that her refusal to promote “for free” a movie that she starred in led to her being blackballed by Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels and Tyler Perry. Now, Mo’Nique’s latest industry issue is the Netflix gender-based payment inequalities. Now, whilst equal pay is something I believe that we should all be campaigning for, Mo’Nique’s passive aggressive nature makes it hard to support her in anything she does.

Last year when these claims were addressed on The Real, Adrienne Houghton commented that keeping it real didn’t always have to mean being loud and she said that it could also involve keeping it classy and moving on. When fans tweeted Mo’Nique for her opinion she tweeted that Adrienne was a baby that couldn’t begin to understand, then went on to tweet Adrienne three more times since she chose not to respond.

This is the typical behaviour we’ve come to expect from Mo’Nique and it’s the same behaviour we’ve seen in the recent interviews she has done on The View and The Breakfast Club. When someone doesn’t agree with her, she’s automatically on the defensive no longer actually listens to what’s being said. It’s time for her to stop and consider the fact that the reason she isn’t paid as much is because, quite frankly, she isn’t that funny anymore.

For arguments sake, let’s say that Mo’Nique’s claims about being blackballed are true, surely another scandal will only make her career worse? Maybe Mo’Nique herself knows that the only way to make herself appear relevant is to cry wolf.

 

We hear you Mo’Nique, we are just indifferent                        

by Busayo Twins

You’d think at a time like this, when society claims to be committed to taking a hardline on any allegations of discrimination that Oscar winner, and comedian, Mo’Nique would automatically receive an infinite amount of support and solidarity. And despite racism and sexism being a poison that all people should detest it’s normally women and minority ethnic communities that take the more firm and immediate stance. Well, in the case of Mo’Nique it seems as though people are more concerned about proving how their emotions aren’t easily triggered into battle than the sentiments being shared. Truth is people don’t actually care about Mo’Nique enough support her recent pleas to boycott Netflix despite it being on the grounds of alleged racial and gender bias.

In January when she compared the stark difference of her £500,000 Comedy Special offer to that of fellow comedians Amy Schumer (£13 million), Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle (both £20 million) few flinched at this revelation. Where Mo’Nique may have attempted to use her misfortune to shed light on how a fairly obscure comedy industry also operates within prejudicial structures much of the attention was quickly redirected at her personality and character flaws. As of now, Netflix have not even provided an official explanation pertaining to the logic behind her offer, yet commentary online seems to be so sure that it’s rooted in fair reason.

Charlamagne tha God, ⅓ of the co- hosting trio of The Breakfast Club radio station, when interviewing Mo’Nique last week, admitted he suspected from a business point of view Schumer would be offered more money because her recent body of work was more impressive. Though appearing to make great business analysis his focus indicated that others like him do not understand how systemic discrimination can even impact a black woman’s portfolio. Let’s even put Mo’Nique’s situation aside for a second. To have a resume that competes with a white counterpart is often obstructed due to the lack of opportunity in the first place. Sexism platforms male talent whilst racism would disadvantage a black woman even further. Applying financial modelling to race and sex related scenarios is quite inappropriate as it will almost always serve to belittle the claims of the victimised. Money goes to where demand is yes but demand is conditioned by ideology. So the least that industries can do to mitigate against the perpetual cycle of discrimination is to keep an eye on the relative income of people within the same profession. If you listen to the full episode Mo’Nique and her husband articulate their thoughts well.

It becomes increasingly obvious that all the hoops people have been jumping through to discredit Mo’Nique simply stem from a personal indifference to her situation. Perhaps it’s a case of wrong person right message. But are we so prideful that we allow the former to muffle society’s need for a more progressive industry? Black people get few opportunities to grab the attention of the world in this way so how we handle this conversation should take priority. Yes, we are right to be diligent of her agenda but let us also be cautious not to conflate issues together and undermine our society objectives or the intersectionality theory altogether.

 

Stormzy’s Message To Theresa May

Emmabelle Nwadikwa
-
0
Stormzy’s Message To Theresa May

Stormzy’s final performance at the Brit awards may have been shocking to some, but those who have been genuine fans for a while know that it is also true to form.

In September 2017, when receiving a GQ award presented to him by Jeremy Corbyn, Stormzy went as far as calling the Prime Minister a “paigon” (a slang term for someone considered fake or a liar) which was met by giggles from Mr Corbyn behind him.

Rapper Stormzy and Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn

Funny though it may be, the rapper has never been one to shy away from politics and social issues. Time and time again, we’ve seen him call for change whether it’s within the music industry, the media or the government itself.

We’ve seen him speak publicly in interviews with Channel 4 on his battle with depression and recently he’s proven himself to be a man who takes accountability for his actions,.When tweets were brought up from years ago showing things that he had said, instead of running from them he apologised and displayed growth.

All in all, Stormzy has quickly become a young man that people find themselves drawn to and find it easy to listen to. This meant that a lot of people were listening during his Brit Awards performance when he rapped the words:

“Yo Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell? What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell? You criminals.”

This strong message didn’t end there. Stormzy also took to twitter to help raise the signatures for a petition that had been started by a victim of the Grenfell Tower incident. In doing so he raised enough signatures for the petition to be discussed and to force the government to respond.

71 people died in the Grenfell Tower fire of June last year

The performance caused a backlash from Tory MP’s who have written a letter to Sir Peter Bazalgette, the ITV chairman, saying they have been “saddened to hear Stormzy’s unfounded Grenfell Tower allegations go unchallenged.”

There has also be a reaffirmation that Theresa May and the government as a whole are “making every effort to establish the truth of what happened, support the survivors of the fire and ensure that such a terrible tragedy will never happen again.”

For the most part though, the performance has been met with outstanding support in the artist’s favour, including from other popular celebrities campaigning for social justice issues, such as Lily Allen.

Whether you agree or disagree with the way in which Stormzy went about it, his call for action has certainly roused questions, not only for Number 10 but also the rest of us.

His message has always been clear: where you can stand up for others in need, you should. Consequences be damned.

You can watch the full performance here:

What Have We Learnt from Rana Plaza?

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Lauren Martin.

On 24th April 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka District, Bangladesh, the eight storey Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing 1138 people. It has become a painful symbol of the grave tragedy encountered by garment workers that was entirely preventable.

The day before the devastating collapse large structural cracks were discovered in the Rana Plaza building; the shops and banks below the garment factory immediately closed. However, despite advice to close the factory, workers were told it was safe to work. Only hours after workers arrived, the entire building collapsed.


​
So, whose fault was it?

Media reports suggest that workers at Rana Plaza saw the cracks in the building the day before the collapse but no precautionary steps were taken. The building owner, Sohel Rana, allegedly told local reporters that the cracks were “nothing serious” and most horrifically, workers were forced to work and threatened with a month’s salary cut if they did not comply. When these facts began to emerge, it became easy to place all the blame on the managers who neglected the welfare of the workers. Of course, they are responsible, but there was definitely more at play here.

Emdadul Islam of the state-run Capital Development Authority told media that the owner of the building had not received the proper building consent; he had only obtained a permit for a five-story building. The building was, however, illegally extended by a further three stories to a total of eight. All eight stories collapsed.

In recent years, as a result of globalisation, the ready-made garment industry has rapidly increased in Bangladesh. This has meant that there is a much higher demand for large factories that can produce more product. As a result of this demand, owners have illegally expanded their factories, as was the case in Rana Plaza. Various authorities seem to neglect their duty to monitor and inspect illegal buildings, allowing such tragic events to take place.

Rana Plaza was a high-profile disaster, so what has changed?

In short, not much.

There have been few changes since the tragedy, but it is worth noting the progress that has been made. The collapse prompted safety checks that led to many factory closures and global brands such as H&M, Gap and Walmart have contributed $21.5million to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund, which was set up to help victims and their families. 38 people have been charged with murder.

Despite this, much remains the same. The Bangladesh government has failed to crack down on illegal buildings, and global brands still use sweatshops elsewhere in the world. In 2016, it was discovered that H&M, despite donating to victims of Rana Plaza, used clothing factories in Myanmar where children as young as 14 worked for 12 hours a day.
It appears as if the garment industry continues to go unregulated.

What can we do to prevent more tragedies?

The Clean Clothes Campaign aims to improve working conditions in the garment industry. One of their focuses since Rana Plaza has been the need for supply chain transparency; without this workers’ rights are hampered and Rana Plaza may just be the first of many more disasters.

You can help support the Clean Clothes Campaign here: https://cleanclothes.org/action/get-involved

 

Lauren is a student in her last year of A-Levels studying Sociology, Government and Politics and English Literature. She hopes to continue her studies at the University of Sheffield where she will study Politics and International Relations. With a keen interest in social justice and global politics, Lauren hopes to raise awareness of global issues.

The rise of the Five-Star Movement

Alex Davenport
-
0
The rise of the Five-Star Movement

As election day in Italy moves ever closer, the most popular single party according to polls is one which was originally founded on a comedian’s blog, and is currently led by the 31-year-old son of a neo-fascist local councillor. With its unconventional origins and its eclectic support base, the Five-Star Movement (M5S) has emerged as a major player on the Italian political scene over the previous decade.

M5S was originally founded by the comedian Beppe Grillo. Grillo was frustrated with status quo of Italian politics and particularly with politicians from other major parties, many of whom had been mired in misconduct or corruption scandals. His own approach to politics, expressed in a regular blog, was paradoxically fiercely ideological in its lack of ideology. He argued that Italian politics could be best improved with the implementation of direct democracy, which had become a more realistic possibility with technological progress, enabling people to vote on issues more easily than going to a ballot box. Rather than having a party or political leader (himself included) deciding which directions to take the country in, Grillo argued that the people themselves could have that responsibility. Grillo and his colleagues hoped that this would cut out the corrupt and self-interested middleman in the form of politicians and parties, and let the will of the people be expressed most purely.

M5S’ founder Beppe Grillo (Source: Ensemble)

From Grillo’s blog formed a social movement of like-minded citizens from across the political spectrum, which morphed eventually into a political party through the election of members of the movement in regional and national polls. This momentum carried through to the 2013 election, in which M5S, standing on a platform promoting direct democracy, as well as environmentalism and Euroscepticism, won the most votes as an individual party, but still ended up behind centre-left and centre-right coalitions overall. While M5S was then offered the opportunity to participate in government, the party rejected the possibility of working with other parties as playing into the hands of the political elite they were trying to break up.

Yet five years on the party appears to have taken a toned-down approach to politics. The young and more pragmatic Luigi Di Maio, whose father represented the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement at a local council, assumed the party leadership from Grillo in late 2017. Under Di Maio’s leadership, the party has articulated a more extensive manifesto than simply doing away with political elites and promoting direct democracy. Instead M5S has stated that if it assumes office it will introduce a universal basic income, in order to appeal to left-leaning voters, as well as offering tax cuts and pledging to crack down on illegal immigration, to win over those on the right. Whether the party has the ability to implement all these policies certainly remains to be seen, but their potential appeal across the political spectrum cannot be denied.

Di Maio, who will be M5S’ candidate for Prime Minister (Source: Reuters)

This increased pragmatism begs the question of whether M5S’ attitudes on working with other parties has similarly softened. Despite being apparently the most popular single party, M5S trails the overall support for the right-leaning coalition led by Forza Italia, with a resurgent Silvio Berlusconi at its helm. It may be the case that if Di Maio’s party wants to take its place in government, it must hold its nose and work with the other parties it previously swore to dismantle. Di Maio has discussed the possibility of working with his rivals in one way or another, although whether this is a decision he and his party will have to make remains to be seen. Either way, M5S remains an intriguing player in the race for power culminating in early March.

Black Panther is Changing Black Representation

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Tanya Mwamuka.

“Who do you see when you picture a superhero?” I was once asked this question, and a few of the classic names sprung to mind: Superman, Spiderman, Thor, and Wonder Woman, the list went on.

I had always admired their bravery their superhuman abilities and their popularity but there was always a thought that lingered at the back of my mind. None of them looked like me. When thinking of various cultural icons; actresses, models, TV hosts etc. I noticed the same trend was present.

Increase in Diversity

As I’ve aged I’ve come to realise representation is key. Western countries such as the US and the UK have seen a shift from homogenous societies to increasingly more diverse and mixed demographics. In the US in the 1970s, the minority share of the population was relatively low at approximately 30 million. However, by 2010, this figure was at 170 million, meaning that nearly 40% of the US population is characterised as belonging to a minority group according to the US Census Bureau. In the UK, minorities make up a smaller proportion but it still shares this same trend, with people from Asian backgrounds increasing by 400,000 since 2001.


Institute of race and religion UK demographics

Representation in the Fashion Industry

Despite this, it seems that the mass media cannot, or in many people’s views simply will not, show narratives which provide inclusivity.This lack of representation is seen in various aspects from film, fashion and even the makeup industry. These industries have made weak attempts to resolve this issue.

The fashion industry has been a repeat offender of its use of the “token black girl” as a tool to silence critique. And too right that they should be criticised. Featuring one black girl amongst a sea of Eurocentric featured models on a runway just simply isn’t inclusivity. Fortunately, recent events and changes have shown us that it’s a fault which has been noticed even by those working within the industry. Take musician Rhianna’s new line of make for “all shades” for example, which not too soon after ensured top brands attempted to follow suit.

Fashion blogger Aimee Song (of Korean descent) has been advocating for representation for a long time. In a recent YouTube vlog she talks about unfollowing a denim brand (once her favourite) who again failed to be representative by sharing photos featuring only white models. “Where is the girl that looks like?” she said women of colour have been asking many times. Aimee also featured a more in-depth video on her channel talking about the issues of diversity in the fashion industry featuring Shiona Turini and Nicole Chapoteau.

Song of Style: How We Started a Career in Fashion ft. Shiona Turini & Nicole Chapoteau

Representation in the Film Industry

The film industry has also been the topic of controversy in terms of representation of black people. You might say that this is a losing argument since there have been plenty of films with black lead actors. 12 Years a Slave, Straight Outta Compton and The Help are just a few which jump out. And, considering The Help gained 7 nominations at the Academy Awards in which Octavia Spencer was nominated for best performance by an actress in a supporting role, it’s understandable why someone would be inclined to overlook the problem.

But there’s a key issue with films like that. The problem is less so the lack of representation but rather the type of representation. The portrayal of black people in many major blockbuster films has fallen under three main stereotypical themes; violence and “thug” life, rags to riches and systematic oppression and racism. It is seemingly uncommon to portray black people as normal and even less common, in a positive light.

Black Panther and Representation

But all hope isn’t lost. The rise of social media has allowed normal people to have reach and a bigger platform to voice their concerns and certainly the demand of representation is rising. As I’m sure you’ve heard the film Black Panther has taken steps to meet those demands.


Image source: Marvel

Black Panther is all about representation and is so much more than just a film. Featuring a nearly all black cast it centres the story on strong women and people of colour. What really separates it from classic “black films” is this type of representation.

Being of African descent, I have grown up with the portrayal of my homeland as one of poverty and inferiority. Black Panther reverses that stigma and showcases the vibrant cultures of Africa. Wakanda, with its “Afro-futuristic” landscape, is a polar opposite to the stereotypes of postcolonial corrupted African countries. Whilst this is still a reality of many nations on the continent, what Black Panther showed us is that those are not its only defining features.

The casual use of the word “coloniser” allowed the acknowledgment of racism and oppression without seeming resentful and bitter. It also succeeded in its representation of gender. Black women were placed in positions of power and seemed strong without being oversexualised or deemed the overly aggressive “angry black girl”. The last scene was particularly profound and my friend highlighted the fact that when empathy, rationality and thought were used, they CHOSE to share their resources and knowledge with the world, which of course is in deep contrast to our. This was such a beautiful and meaningful sentiment.

This is not to say that films like 12 Years a Slave aren’t needed. They are undeniably heart-breaking and beautiful films and a reminder of a world we should try our best to never return. They teach us the strength and courage that people of colour had in unimaginable times. But unfortunately the problem is that sometimes, they are simply too heart-breaking.

Despite it being one of my favourite films, I cannot bring myself to watch it a second time. Black Panther gives me hope. Hope that when the younger generation look for inspiration, they are represented in richness, happiness and strength rather than an anguish they have to overcome.

As I’m sure many will say that Black Panther’s storyline was somewhat too simple, but there’s a reason I don’t care and it comes down to the fact it’s the first time I’ve watched something and felt unequivocally proud, proud of my blackness, and proud of my African heritage. Representation is everything.

Tanya is currently studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Manchester and hopes to get into science journalism and media after her degree. She is a lover of fashion and travelling and enjoys learning languages in her spare time. Right now she is learning French and Swahili.

NBA: All-Star Weekend Round Up

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Jireh Antwi

The 2018 NBA All-star weekend did not disappoint fans. Los Angeles’s sunny weather never fails to elevate people’s moods and energy. The event is always a great opportunity for the players to engage with the NBA fanbase, unwind and show more of their personalities.

The Celebrity All-star game was the first installment of the weekend. It involved the likes of Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx, one-third of the Migos – Quavo. The match also included former NBA players, Nate Robinson and Paul Pierce. For a celebrity All-star game, it was a good watch. Quavo received the MVP trophy for the game as he scored 19 points and secured 5 rebounds with 3 assists. His performance was somewhat surprising and proved to be great entertainment for fans.   

The NBA Rising Stars Challenge game

The World NBA players vs the USA NBA players against each other, which proved to be another spectacle. It was a showcase of amazing dunks from the likes of Dennis Smith Jr, Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtics’ Jalen brown, with the inclusion of All-star starter Joel Embiid for the world team. The game ended with Team World winning 155 –124.  With Bogdan Bogdanovic scoring 26 points and hitting seven three-pointers, in a blowout victory.

 

The Verizon Dunk contest

Donovan Mitchell won this one with a tribute to Vince Carter by doing a 360-windmill dunk wearing Carter’s former Toronto Rapture Jersey. Larry Nance Jr. was this runner’s up. Nance Jr. is the son of Larry Nance, the winner of the inaugural dunk contest in 1984.   

All-star game

The main event of the weekend was the showdown between Team Lebron and Team Steph. It was a game which lived up to its expectations. It was thoroughly competitive match-up, with both teams scoring over 100 points. Once again, the notorious Lebron James proved why he is an all-time great. He received the MVP award for scoring 29pts, gaining 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Despite this dominating performance, the game still provided some drama.  In the final seconds, Stepehen Curry had an oppurtunity to tie the game. All were expecting the Golden State man to drain the three. However,  Kevin Durant and Lebron James heavily guarded and denied him the chance to take it to overtime.

One of the most memorable moments of the whole weekend was Fergie singing the national anthem. The players and celebrities in attendance reactions towards the performance, said it all.

Overall the step up from last year’s All-Star games was very noticeable. With the NBA being a progressive league and having active player involvement it will only get better.

 

Black Panther: More Than A Movie

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

Black panther, a film portraying a black country (‘Wakanda’) that is one of the most self-sufficient, technologically advanced civilisations from the Marvel Comic Series, has hit our screens and has been explosive!

Dashikis were worn with pride as the movie hit the screens across the UK, US and other parts of the world. (There are no spoilers, you can breathe easy if you haven’t seen it!)

Now for some, it is a surprise as to why black panther has been so popular.

Let me explain.

The fact that the cast was predominantly black, with African culture being intertwined with modern themes, is something that is not often witnessed in the Western movie industry.

Wakanda is a fantasy depiction of Africa (without interference from external sources). The movie focused on the wealthy aspects of the continent and the rich culture and resources that exist within it, compared with the ‘starving African child’ theme that is often pervasive in the minds of those who are not familiar with African countries, even amongst the African diaspora.

Whilst poverty exists in African countries, we should not dispel the fact that Africa is a continent with abundant resources, hardworking, wealthy people and cultures that have existed for thousands of years. Black panther does justice to this whilst effortlessly incorporating tasteful humour.

The younger generation of black and ethnic minority children can now look and see a depiction of themselves in contemporary western culture, not as subservient stereotypes or criminals, but as protagonists with an accurate depiction of their own culture from their own perspectives.

Credit: Marvel Studios

It serves as a sense of achievement and pride within oneself. The fact that something that represents your culture without over-exaggeration or ridicule is successful on a global scale and can help boost the self-esteem of youth and encourage the younger generation to pursue that which resonates with their reality.

Furthermore, minority ethnic actors, directors and producers can be confident to engage in productions that showcase different cultures without the worry of it not garnering enough revenue. Black panther generated £137 million in the first weekend of its release, demonstrating that there can be successful films about other ethnic cultures in Western Film.

The movie took inspiration for costume designs from the Turkana tribe in Kenya, Himba tribe in Namibia, Suri tribe in Ethiopia, Zulu in South Africa and for names from Yoruba culture in Nigeria. This element was impressive in incorporating all parts of the continent in various ways and exploring topics that are relevant within the diaspora.

That said, the film did seem to have a romanticised Western view of Africa and somewhat exaggerated view of African countries. Even though it is fantasy, it would perhaps have been better to have both African-American and African actors playing parts in the main roles to highlight the true essence of African culture alongside the diaspora culture.

Black Panther, in all its brilliance, was a great movie and one that has caused waves in Hollywood. It is, however, at most the first step in a thousand-mile journey. Looking forward, it would be great to see actual black historical figures (both African and African-American) depicted as they naturally are in Hollywood blockbuster movies. This will help shed light on African and African-American history from a perspective other than, for example, Trans-Atlantic slavery, in the Western film industry.

BAFTA 2018 Complete List of Winners

Emmabelle Nwadikwa
-
0
BAFTA 2018 Complete List of Winners

 

The 2018 Bafta awards took place last night and we’ve got the all-important list of what you really want to know!

Who are the nominees?

Leading Actor

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour – WINNER

Daniel Day Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Jamie Bell, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name

Supporting Actor

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri -WINNER

Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Hugh Grant, Paddington 2
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Leading Actress

Annette Bening, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool – WINNER

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Supporting Actress

Alison Janney, I, Tonya – WINNER

Kristin Scott Thomas, Darkest Hour
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best Film

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – WINNER

Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
The Shape of Water
Dunkirk

Outstanding British Film

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – WINNER

Darkest Hour
The Death of Stalin
God’s Own Country
Lady Macbeth
Paddington 2

Director

Guillermo Del, The Shape of Water – WINNER

Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049
Luca Guadagnino, Call Me By Your Name
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Outstanding Debut by a British Director, Writer or Producer

Rungano Nyoni (writer/director), Emily Morgan (producer), I Am Not a Witch – WINNER

Gareth Tunley (writer/director/producer), Jack Healy Guttman & Tom Meetman (producers), The Ghoul
Johnny Harris (writer/producer), Thomas Napper (director), Jawbone
Lucy Cohen (director), Kingdom of Us

EE Rising Star

Daniel Kaluuya – WINNER

Florence Pugh
Josh O’Connor
Tessa Thompson
Timothée Chamalet

Original Screenplay

Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – WINNER

Jordan Peele, Get Out
Steve Rogers, I, Tonya
Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird
Guillermo Del Toro, Vanessa Taylor, The Shape of Water

Adapted Screenplay

James Ivory, Call Me By Your Name – WINNER
Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, David Schneider, The Death of Stalin
Matt Greenhalgh, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Aaron Sorkin, Molly’s Game
Paul King, Simon Farnaby, Paddington 2

Animated Film

Coco – WINNER
Loving Vincent
My Life as a Courgette

Cinematography

Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049 – WINNER
Bruno Delbonnel, Darkest Hour
Hoyte van Hoytema, Dunkirk
Dan Laustsen, The Shape of Water
Ben Davis, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Costume Design

Mark Bridges, Phantom Thread – WINNER

Jacqueline Durran, Beauty and the Beast
Jacqueline Durran, Darkest Hour
Jennifer Johnson, I, Tonya

Luis Sequeira, The Shape of Water

Make Up & Hair

David Malinowski, Ivana Primorac, Lucy Sibbick, Kazuhiro Tsuji, Darkest Hour – WINNER

Donald Mowat, Kerry Warn, Blade Runner 2049
Debora La Mia Denaver, Deruitha Lee, I, Tonya
Daniel Phillips, Victoria & Abdul
Naomi Bakstad, Robert A. Pandini, Arjen Tuiten, Wonder

Documentary

I Am Not Your Negro – WINNER

City of Ghosts
Icarus
An Inconvenient Sequel
Jane

Editing

Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss, Baby Driver – WINNER
Joe Walker, Blade Runner 2049
Lee Smith, Dunkirk
Sidney Wolinsky, The Shape of Water
Jon Gregory, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Original Music

The Shape of Water – WINNER

Blade Runner
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Phantom Thread

Production Design

Paul Austerberry, Jeff Melvin, Shane Vieau, The Shape of Water – WINNER

Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Beauty and the Beast
Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola, Blade Runner 2049
Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Darkest Hour
Nathan Crowley, Garry Fettis, Dunkirk

Film Not in the English Language

The Handmaiden – WINNER

Elle
First They Killed My Father
Loveless
The Salesman

Sound 

Dunkirk – WINNER

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Special Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049 – WINNER
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

British Short Film

Cowboy Dave – WINNER

Aamir
A Drowning Man
Work
Wren Boys

British Short Animation

Poles Apart – WINNER

Have Heart
Mamoon

 BAFTA Special Award

Ray Merrin

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

National Film and Television School

The Academy Fellowship

Sir Ridley Scott

Boxing: Groves Schools Eubank Jr

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Akwasi Appiah

George Groves defeated Chris Eubank in a unanimous points decision. For fight’s duration,  Groves dominated Eubank, other than the last round in which the former dislocated his shoulder.

The Build Up

Eubank entered the ring to Dr. Dre’s ‘Still D.R.E’ with determination on his face. His confidence and brashness were met with a series of boos from the crowd, but many of the fans watching from home were pleased with his song choice. On the other hand, Groves’ gave little away during his walk. His demeanour was a stark contrast to the younger Groves, who before fighting Carl Froch showed signs of nerves. This bout was going to be another test of his emotional temperament. Could Groves keep his cool and not panic?

From when the fight was announced Eubank’s confidence tricked us all into believing in his ability to beat George Groves. His exuberance, physique, and spectacular Instagram videos made sure that he became the bookies favourite.

https://twitter.com/EditinKing/status/960286693252153344

However it was not to be. The experienced Groves used his long left-hand jab to keep Eubank at a distance. Eubank tried to close this space, but too often he was pulled in tightly by Groves into a hold and the cycle repeated itself. Eubank had some success at points, but it wasn’t frequent enough to stop the negative reception he received throughout the fight. 

Groves cut Eubank with an accidental clash of heads and this played a significant part in the drama of the fight with blood constantly gushing from Eubanks eye turning the referees white shirt pink in a number of places.

Image result for groves eubank

Groves’ left jab proved to be a vital component of his arsenal. (Source: World Boxing Super Series) 

“He didn’t lie when he said he would grit it out,” 

“He didn’t bring pressure because I was hurting him. I dropped him at least once but it didn’t count, which was dubious.”

Groves told ITV Box Office.

Eubank was ever-defiant to reality and he raised his hands in attempt to show confidence in performance. As were his words at the end of the fight

“I thought I did enough in the later rounds to win,” Eubank Jr told ITV Box Office.

“I thought I pressured him the entire fight. I didn’t get hit clean. He cut me, and I couldn’t see. Did I underestimate him? Maybe.”

Eubank Jr told ITV Box Office.

The post-fight commentary from ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed proved to be a highlight of the evening. The former featherweight champion explicitly suggested that Eubank Jnr should retire. This amused many fight fans, leading Naseem to trend on Twitter.

What next for Groves? Could Eubank get another shot?

The future isn’t so clear from George Groves and is very much dependent on how severe his shoulder injury is. Should he manage to recover in time, he will fight the winner of Callum Smith and Jurgen Braemher, for the WBC Diamond Belt in the O2 Arena in May. If he doesn’t manage to recover the Smith vs Braemher fight may become the final. Or rather more intriguingly Eubank may fight the winner in the final despite losing to Groves.

 

Henry Who? – UKIP’s Fourth Leader in 18 Months Sacked

The Common Sense Network
-
1
Henry Who? – UKIP’s Fourth Leader in 18 Months Sacked

Henry Bolton, leader of the UK Independence Party, has been sacked after party members backed a no-confidence motion at their general meeting in Birmingham this Saturday. This news has come as a surprise to some who weren’t even sure UKIP were still alive and kicking.

Henry Bolton took over from acting leader Steve Crowther after Paul Nuttal quit following the general election results. Nuttal took over from Nigel Farage after his exit following the EU referendum results and has only been in post for five months.

The party have already announced an interim leader, Gerard Batten MEP. Batten, at the EGM said : “We have had many crises in UKIP and I think this one today was about whether we have a future or not. I believe you have made the best decision that you could in the circumstances.”

UKIP currently has no MPs and controls only one council in Britain. Following the last general election, which saw their vote share fall from 12.6% to 1.8%, many had thought that UKIP were finished. Bolton was the party’s fourth leader in 18 months.

There will be a fresh election at UKIP within 90 days and speculation has begun as to whether Farage will return. Farage has also hinted at a ‘momentum of the right’ party, which he may announce on Monday, as his old party becomes a sinking ship.

Corbyn, Jeremy Corbyn – Secret Agent?

Alex Davenport
-
0
Corbyn, Jeremy Corbyn – Secret Agent?

On Thursday morning The Sun published startling allegations against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he made contact with a Czechoslovakian spy in the 1980s. According to the article, Corbyn met Lt. Jan Dymic at least three times in 1986, with two of those meetings at the House of Commons. In these meetings, Corbyn is supposedly providing information to Dymic about the arrest of an East German spy by MI5. The paper also claims to have documents in which Corbyn is listed as official source by Czech authorities, and is even given his own nickname, ‘COB’.

A Labour spokesperson has strongly denied the allegations, calling them an “entirely false and ridiculous smear”. He went on to state that while Corbyn, along with many other MPs, held meetings with diplomatic staff from various countries, he has never knowingly met with a spy, nor anyone called Jan Dymic.

A Czechoslovakian file obtained by The Sun outlining supposed meetings with Corbyn (Source: The Sun)

It is important to remember that these allegations have the potential to be particularly damaging to Corbyn by tying him to left-wing extremism. Czechoslovakia was of course a communist country, and a member of the Warsaw pact, with close ties to the Soviet Union. Evidence of collusion between Corbyn and Czechoslovakian agents would further fuel criticisms levelled at the Labour leader by those accusing him of being a far-left radical with links to authoritarian regimes. This is a weakness that Corbyn’s political rivals have taken advantage of before, one which has certainly set back his popularity among older voters with strong memories of the Cold War and the ideological struggle it entailed.

However, in the long run this story is unlikely to have much traction, particularly with Labour-leaning voters, when its explosive allegations are unpacked. It is definitely plausible that Corbyn met with a Czechoslovakian spy, yet if this is the case it would almost certainly have been one posing as diplomatic staff. As the Labour party statement pointed out, it was not uncommon for MPs to meet diplomatic staff, and there would likely have been no way to know the background of these so-called diplomats for sure.

Jeremy Corbyn’s office has responded angrily to the allegations (Source: The Spectator)

It is also hard to imagine what useful information Corbyn could possibly have given a foreign agent. He was a left-wing backbencher who had only recently been elected, representing a party that had long been in opposition. We must ask how and why anyone with important and sensitive information about national security would share it with him of all people. Indeed, The Sun’s article states the information he provided on the arrest of the East German spy was through an article he showed them from the Sunday People newspaper – hardly giving away state secrets. Among the other revelations levelled against him in this story is the Czechoslovakian report’s description of Corbyn’s views as – hold on to your hats – “negative towards USA, as well as the current politics of the Conservative government”, at a time when Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were at the peaks of their respective political careers. You probably didn’t need a secret dossier to work out Corbyn wasn’t a fan of theirs.

There may be a case to be made that Corbyn was naïve to hold these meetings at all. As some have pointed out, meeting any embassy staff below the position of ambassador, particularly from countries with an uneasy relationship with the UK, ran the risk of being caught out. This may prove to be valid, depending on whether more information about the nature of these meetings comes to light. Yet the point is that at present all this story will do is make those already hostile to Corbyn become even more so. While failing to unsettle his supporters. In such a strongly polarised country as the UK is at present, it will take more than vague rumblings of espionage to sway the Labour-sympathetic electorate.

In Honour of the Political Gaffe

Alex Davenport
-
0
In Honour of the Political Gaffe

There really is nothing like having a good laugh at a politician’s expense. A large portion of their job includes having to be on their best and most respectable behaviour at all times, in order to win people’s support, whilst constantly in the public eye. Yet this just means their mistakes (and subsequent attempts to backtrack from them) are all the more amusing, and can remind us that deep down, they can be idiots like the rest of us.

However, in the age of President Donald Trump, the glorious art of the political gaffe has sadly become an increasingly rare thing. Ironically, this is because he makes so many mistakes, and acts with such a lack of decorum so often, that we have all become completely desensitised to them. He doesn’t worry about the mask of professionalism slipping, because it was never really there in the first place. So the following list of political errors highlights how much has changed in what we have come to expect from our politicians since Trump took power. But mostly it just gives us a good chuckle.

 

Neil Kinnock – “We’re alright!”

Holding a massive festival-style rally celebrating your party and its leading members in the days following an election victory would be cringeworthy enough. Neil Kinnock’s Labour party, though, decided to hold their big election party before the actual election in 1992. What was presumably expected to drum up support and make the party seem like a credible government in the final days before the vote was widely mocked for its premature triumphalism. This was best summed up by Neil Kinnock bellowing “We’re alright!” (or “well alright” depending on who you ask) at a confused audience, like a tipsy dad trying his rock star act on karaoke night. The rest is history as Labour ended up losing to the Conservatives and staying out of power for another five years.

Howard Dean – the scream

Despite being the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 2004, Howard Dean had just suffered a disappointing third-place defeat in the first primary in Iowa. After this setback, he reassured his supporters that together they would travel around the country, fighting back and winning. He listed all the states they would visit, until his speech reached a climax as he promised to go to Washington D.C. to take back the White House. So far, so good. But then, inexplicably: “YAAAAaaaahhh”. An unsettling cross between a roar and a squeal, it made him the party’s laughing stock – safe to say he did not win the Democratic nomination that year.

Gordon Brown – bigoted woman

This is by far the most excruciating mistake of the bunch. Try to put yourself in Gordon Brown’s shoes here – imagine trying to respectfully listen to a woman complain about immigrants when you strongly disagree with her but can’t say so, then grumbling about her while your microphone is still on, having the footage played back to you on live TV, and finally having to go back to apologise to the enraged woman. As well as being horribly cringeworthy in itself, it was another career blow to an already unpopular Prime Minister, and losing working-class voters like Gillian Duffy, the woman in question, ended up costing him his job within a month of the scandal.

Rahul Gandhi – ‘potato factory’

On the surface, India’s Rahul Gandhi has it all going for him. He is the beneficiary of good looks, a world-class education and most importantly, is part of a dynasty that includes several Prime Ministers, such as Jawarharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Yet one minor issue stands in his way: he clearly doesn’t want to be there. Despite being essentially the leader of the opposition in India, he doesn’t seem particularly bothered about politics, and makes plenty of careless, high-profile mistakes. One of the best of many such mistakes is his apology to his audience during a speech that “you all are demanding a potato factory in your area, but you should understand I am an opposition leader. I cannot open a potato factory.” Expect to see potato factories spring up all over the country if he gets in at the next election, then.

Memes abounded after Rahul Gandhi’s ‘potato factory’ comment (Source: whatsappstuffs.in)

Dan Quayle – potato(e)

Gandhi will be relieved to hear that his is not even the most infamous potato-based gaffe on this list. That dubious honour goes to former US Vice President Dan Quayle, who, during an election campaign, convinced a 12-year-old that his correct spelling of ‘potato’ was wrong, and needed an ‘e’ on the end. He later claimed he was relying on cards provided by the school, which he questioned but decided not to challenge, as though having a Vice President who lacks the confidence to know whether he can actually spell potato correctly is that much better than one who just can’t spell it. At least Trump in the same situation would have the conviction to follow it through, and argue that his is the right spelling and that the English dictionary’s version is fake news.

Angela Merkel – Berlin in Russia

At a time of instability in Europe, many see Merkel as a safe pair of hands. She has been Germany’s chancellor for over 12 years, and has developed a reputation for quietly and determinedly getting things done without any real drama or controversy – yet this video is a great reminder that no matter how much prestige or respect you accrue while in power, you can always make a pillock of yourself by having no idea where your country is on a map, to the delight of giggling teenagers.

John Redwood – Welsh national anthem

We’ve all been in that situation where you don’t know the words to a song you should, whether it be through missing a hymnbook in church or not knowing Africa by Toto as well as everyone else seems to in a nightclub. Not knowing the Welsh national anthem when you’re the Welsh Secretary is definitely worse than either of these, but in any case, trying to mime lyrics you clearly don’t know just doesn’t work. It has never worked and it never will, John Redwood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzBq0n8dxFQ

Jeb Bush – whole 2016 campaign

Last, but certainly not least, we have John Ellis Bush Sr. It’s very easy to forget that at one point Jeb Bush was supposedly a Republican frontrunner for the 2016 election, one who would surely beat outsiders like Donald Trump. Yet his campaign’s trajectory was the exact opposite of Trump’s. If Trump was a ‘Teflon man’, with no scandal ever sticking to him, Jeb was a Velcro man. Strictly speaking he never did anything wrong, particularly compared to Trump’s antics, but a succession of minor yet bizarre and embarrassing mistakes turned him from a credible candidate with significant political experience into a tragic figure of almost Shakespearean proportions. Whether it was his regular mauling by Trump in TV debates, getting kicked out of a venue half way through making a speech, or having to ask his audience to clap him, it seemed as though not only was his campaign futile, but he was fully aware it was. The video below, in which Jeb fully embraces the hopelessness of it all, sums up perfectly why, particularly in the age of the scandal-proof politician, we may never see his like again.

Does America need another Kennedy?

Alex Davenport
-
0
Does America need another Kennedy?

If you thought the Clintons were a dynasty, think again. They pale in comparison to the family that has provided a president, five other members of Congress and two US ambassadors, among many other things. Their most famous son is considered one of the most high-profile presidents of all time, whose life and death are common knowledge not just in the USA but throughout the world, and the very invocation of whose name is shot through with meaning and poignancy (as Dan Quayle learned the hard way in the video below).

Now, the first of a new generation of Kennedys, the grandson of Bobby and great-nephew of John F., has entered the political scene. Joe Kennedy III was chosen by Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to give the party’s official response to Trump’s State of the Union address. In his speech, Kennedy put forward a strong message criticising the Republicans’ rhetoric of making ‘trade-offs’ between different communities, doing harm to some in order to help others, essentially pitting Americans against one another. His vision of the Democratic alternative to this state of affairs, of “choosing both” instead of favouring one side over another will have gone down well among the party’s faithful.

Under normal circumstances, the young Kennedy would certainly be destined for success. He is charismatic, put in a strong performance for his first major showing at a national level, and has the most household of names to remind people of his political pedigree. However, the politics of the last few years has been marked by a sudden move away from a political elite, one which is epitomised by powerful families whose influence spans decades. Hillary Clinton and her shock defeat in 2016 are one example of this, while another is the Greek tragedy of Jeb Bush’s 2016 campaign, memorable only for its utter hopelessness. In these anti-elitist times, a family name like Kennedy’s can prove to be a millstone around the neck for a young political career, loaded as it is with connotations of privilege and advantage. Much onus will be on Kennedy to prove he is not in any kind of elitist bubble, and can relate to the interests and concerns of ordinary voters.

Joe Kennedy III, whose surname still precedes him in American politics (Source: AP)

Despite all this, don’t bet against Kennedy having a long and successful political career – your average dynast, he is not. He currently chairs the Congressional Transgender Equality Taskforce, and invited a transgender veteran as his guest to his State of the Union response in order to protest Trump’s ban on transgender soldiers enlisting in the US military. He has also gained attention for his various international works, such as helping to organise tour guides into effective unions in order to push for higher wages, and serving as an ‘Anti-Poverty Consultant’ to the president of Timor-Leste. If he can continue to show such apparent passion for individual causes and concerns, he may well win over many voters as he rises through the political system.

All this assumes, though, that he wants to rise at all. Since his address, he has told the ‘Off-Message’ podcast that he has no intention of running for the White House any time soon, joking that he would only get directly involved in the 2020 race as Oprah Winfrey’s Vice-Presidential candidate. Instead, perhaps sensibly, he suggested that the leading figures from all factions of his party should run in a “big, messy primary” so that the party can start to work out its ideological standpoint again. Yet even if he does not take centre stage straight away, you get the feeling Joe Kennedy III will be around, waiting to choose his moment.

The New Samsung Galaxy

Common Sense Contributors
-
1
The New Samsung Galaxy

by Jireh Antwi

Samsung’s next flagship phone and probably the most anticipated phone of 2018 is coming soon. The S9 and S9+ is nearly here.

With a rumoured camera upgrade having a dual camera similar to the Samsung Note 8 And iPhoneX, an improvement in low light shots provided by sensors with variable apertures, the new phone also comes with a new colour palette of Lilac Purple and Coral Blue. AND it still retains its headphone jack unlike the new Apple iPhone.

The predecessor of the S9, the S8 so far has been a fantastic and useful phone for the modern consumer, and a huge success for Samsung, being one of the first to be Bezel-less and featuring all screen to edge display. The S9 is expected to have a 5.77-inch display compared to the 5.8-inch display of the S8, nonetheless the reduction in size will surely be made up for in other aspects.

There have been leaks on the new Samsung S9 with reports showing features that the IPhoneX doesn’t have. Whilst the iPhoneX was a top standard performance phone, it is to be believed the S9 will be the new forerunner.

Samsung will only build or as their phrasing it reimagines on the S8 rather than a complete overhaul with the addition of having Android 8.0 as its operating system from the offset and equipping it with Bixby AI.

Unfortunately the concept of the bendable dual screen isn’t yet here on this S9 model but I’m sure Samsung will be on the forefront to make it happen.

Samsung is hoping to release a phone that will be sure to turn heads, a concept like this.

Announcements for the phone will be given at the Mobile World Congress on February 25. With the phone being rumoured to be released early March. Our sources tell us that the new phone is NOT going to be called the S9. Has Samsung found a way to beat Apple on the phone numbering system? iPhone X may have to watch its back. For more updates, be sure to keep checking out the TCS website.

 

Jireh is a Microbiology and Molecular Biology graduate from the Manchester Metropolitan University.  He has a passion for various different sports, scientific discovery and trainer brands.

1...858687...92Page 86 of 92

Editor Picks

Must Read

Hot Topics

About Us

Our mission is to make democracy healthier by creating spaces for people who disagree to have fruitful dialogue.

Contact us: hello@tcsnetwork.co.uk

Follow Us

Echo Break LTD (16487116) is the trading name for The Common Sense Network, registered in England & Wales. © Copyright