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Oscar Glory for ‘Oppenheimer’ rewards Studio Chief’s vision

Sabir Ansary — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:33:56 +0000

“Queen!”

It was a Friday night in January, and Snoop Dogg had just entered a cocktail party hosted by Donna Langley, NBCUniversal’s chief content officer and studio president. His shouted greeting, combined with a cheerful, reverent dance, seemed to embarrass her a little. “We’re here to celebrate filmmakers and films,” Langley told the audience a few minutes later. “This isn’t about me.”

For an executive who prefers to stay in the background — she declined to be interviewed for this article and sent a lieutenant to try to kill it — the 2024 Oscar stretch has been tricky. Like it or not, this moment in Hollywood history is largely about her.

It was Langley who, in a wild bet on a three-hour period drama about a physicist, gave Christopher Nolan the money to make “Oppenheimer.” The film won seven Oscars on Sunday, including director and best film. Nolan began his acceptance speech for best director by saying, “Donna Langley – thank you for seeing the potential in this.”

Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the supporting actress Oscar for her performance as a grieving mother and boarding school cook in “The Holdovers,” which was released by Focus Features, a specialty film studio that Langley also oversees.

In a rare feat, Universal’s creative dominance coincided with commercial supremacy: the studio hit No. 1 at the worldwide box office in 2023, sold nearly $5 billion in tickets and ended an eight-year Disney reign. Moreover, Universal reached the audience the old-fashioned way: by offering films from a mix of genres, without a superhero to be found. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($1.4 billion) led the way, followed by “Oppenheimer” ($958 million), “Fast

Other Universal successes included Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’, the comedy ‘Cocaine Bear’ and the horror-comedy ‘M3gan’. Over the weekend, “Kung Fu Panda 4” arrived to a solid $58.3 million in the United States and Canada. (There have been failures, of course, including “The Exorcist: Believer,” which bombed in the fall, putting a planned trilogy in jeopardy.)

Sometimes your luck is great in the casino called Hollywood. But Universal’s strength is also a testament to the 56-year-old Langley, who has doggedly tried to make her studio the home of choice for Hollywood’s top filmmakers and producers. As ticket buyers begin to push back on superhero thrillers and franchise sequels, Universal’s first-look deals and partnerships with talent like Jason Blum, James Wan, Jordan Peele, Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Phil Lord and Chris Miller position the studio for continued prosperity.

“Donna is a spectacular studio executive,” Steven Spielberg, who returned to Universal in 2015 after a stint on his own, said in a telephone interview. “The relationship between directors and studios has historically been them versus us. There are exceptions and Donna is one of them. She is with us.”

Spielberg added that he showed Langley “a very early draft” of his 2022 cinematic memoir “The Fabelmans,” which was nominated for seven Academy Awards. “Not because I was obliged to,” Spielberg said. ‘Not because I was trying to get approval or fish for compliments. I needed Donna’s ideas on how to make the movie better.”

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, whose ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ won seven Oscars last year, including for director and best picture, signed a five-year exclusive deal with Universal in 2022.

“We were immediately impressed with Dame Donna Langley and the culture she has fostered in her studio,” Kwan and Scheinert wrote in an email. “She is a deeply feeling and creative human being who really listens to you when you speak. The first time we had dinner, we talked about integrating gut biome science into criminal justice, climate change, interior design, and the hunt for the perfect shade of yellow. We knew immediately that we had found our people.” (Langley, who grew up on the Isle of Wight, became one Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2020.)

Talent may feel comfortable with Langley, but she also makes it clear that the studio is her priority. She was one of four executives (the others came from Disney, Netflix and Warner Bros.) who engaged in bare-knuckle union negotiations with writers and actors last year, resulting in strikes. She recently lost a bidding war with Warner Bros. for a new film from Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”), in part because she refused to budge on a highly unusual deal point: Coogler wanted the copyright to revert to him after a certain period of time. . Warner agreed.

Universal, which is releasing 19 films this year, has also benefited from competitive instability.

Disney’s film operations have struggled with quality, causing the company to cut back on production; it will release 10 films this year. Warner Bros., which has a dozen films on its 2024 release calendar, has been divided among its owners and its parent company is widely seen in Hollywood as a merger candidate. (Possibly with NBCUniversal.) Paramount will release nine films as its parent company struggles with a rapidly crumbling cable TV business and streaming costs.

Universal is owned by Comcast, which has been relatively stable. “Film has always been a priority for Comcast and under Donna’s leadership we wanted to ensure she had the resources to invest in the talent and creators who would want to call Universal their home,” wrote Brian L. Roberts, CEO of Comcast, in an email. .

Langley came to Hollywood in 1991 and worked as an unpaid intern at a literary agency while working at a nightclub on the Sunset Strip. At the club she met Michael De Luca, then director of New Line Cinema, and he hired her as his assistant. (De Luca is now co-chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.) She climbed the ladder at New Line until joining Universal in 2001.

“Sometimes in our industry there is a sense of being afraid to operate – let me take the path of least resistance, let me do the thing that is least risky because the environment is tough,” said Will Packer, Universal based producer of hits. such as ‘Girls Trip’ and ‘Ride along’.

“I don’t get that feeling from the team at Universal,” he continued. “And for the creative community that makes the difference.”

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Retail chains are scrapping rewards programs and shoppers have weeks to use points

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:38:11 +0000

A MAJOR high street retailer has announced it is scrapping its loyalty card scheme and requiring customers to use up their points quickly.

The Works has confirmed that customers will no longer be able to collect points with its ‘Together Rewards’ loyalty program after March 30.

The Works has confirmed that customers will not be able to collect points with its ‘Together Rewards’ loyalty program last MarchCredit: supplied

An email was recently sent to all loyalty customers to let them know that the loyalty program will soon be discontinuedCredit: supplied

An email was recently sent to all loyalty customers to let them know that the loyalty program will soon be discontinued.

Shoppers have until 11:59 PM on March 30 to collect points and until 11:50 PM on June 29 to redeem vouchers for reward points.

The retailer said it is committed to making savings across the business, prompting the decision.

Gavin Peck, CEO of The Works, said: “After careful consideration, we have decided to end our ‘Together Rewards’ loyalty programme.

“Against a challenging economic backdrop, we have had to find ways to maintain the most important thing for our customers – affordable prices every day – while delivering savings across our business.

“This was not an easy decision and we recognize that this will be disappointing news for our customers and colleagues who use the program.

“We are exploring other ways to reward our customers, both in-store and online, but for now our focus is on continuing to offer fantastic value to customers across our range.

“We are maintaining prices on hundreds of our key products and will continue to offer great deals, such as our 3 for £6 on adult fiction books, 10 for £10 on children’s picture books and two for £12 and three for £15 on toys, games, arts and crafts.

“We would like to thank everyone who has taken advantage of the ‘Together Rewards’ program for their loyalty to The Works over the years.

“We will continue to provide them with the products that inspire them to read, learn, create and play at the same great value.”

Shoppers took to Facebook to share news and fans were devastated.

One user said: “Aww, no way.”

Another said: “Oh no, that’s disappointing….”

“I was literally offered yesterday and signed up,” someone else shouted.”

How does the Together Rewards Customer Card work?

The Together Rewards Loyalty scheme allows shoppers to get five points for every £1 they spend in The Works stores.

Each point would be worth 1 cent, so 50 points equals 50 cents.

Every three months, Together Rewards Loyalty members received vouchers based on the number of points they earned on their card.

Together Rewards Loyalty members also received exclusive offers, gifts and bonus points during promotions.

What should I do if I have points on my Together Rewards loyalty card?

If you collect 50 points or more between January 1 and March 30, you will receive a new voucher at the beginning of April and you can spend it normally until June 29.

If you do not collect the minimum of 50 points between January 1 and March 30, they will not transfer after March 30.

The retailer has also said it will no longer sign up customers for the program starting February 27.

If you purchased something with a Togethers Rewards loyalty voucher and wish to return it, you must bring proof of purchase with you and return the item within 28 days. The staff will then issue you a gift voucher.

If you’re a fan of loyalty programs, we’ve revealed the best times to shop in stores and get rewards.

Plus, we’ve looked at the best grocery store loyalty programs you can join.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

You can also become a member of our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.

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The glittering rewards of chivalry – rarely seen diamond-encrusted royal regalia of the Order of the Garter on public display

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:56:45 +0000

By Claudia Jozef

Published: 08:17 EST, February 24, 2024 | Updated: 08:23 EST, February 24, 2024

THEY are priceless regalia, worn by Knights Companion and Ladies Companion of Britain’s highest Order of Chivalry, the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

They were returned to the Sovereign after the knight’s death and are rarely displayed in public, except during the annual Garter Day procession at Windsor Castle.

But two rare Stars of the Order of the Garter – worn on the left breast – and a unique Garter Belt will go on display at the Tate Gallery in London this week.

The late Queen Elizabeth II shows off her star in Windsor for the 1986 Order of the Garter ceremony

The coronation of King Edward VII on June 26, 1902 – with Garter regalia in full view

Regalia from the Orders of the Garter, the Bath and Saint Patrick and the Thistle shown in rows from the top

Two of the badges – the Star and Garter band – were given by King George III to the 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, Robert, Viscount Castlereagh, in 1814, after he fought in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington.

The blue silk and diamond garter belt was worn (around the leg) by the 6th Marquess of Londonderry at the 1902 coronation of Edward VII at Westminster Abbey.

It was later borrowed by his great-nephew Sir Winston Churchill for his own investiture into the Order of the Garter in 1953.

The other star, made of gold and silver, with diamonds, rubies and enamel, was presented by Queen Victoria to the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry on Wellington’s death in 1853.

Peter Lauritzen, who is married to The Hon Rose Keppel, great-granddaughter of the 6th Marquess, and lives at the ancestral home of Mt Stewart, said: ‘I don’t know how rare the Garter Stars diamonds are.

“But I suspect the Garter Belt is very rare, if not unique. Stars and Garter Belts of the Order of the Garter are to be returned to the Sovereign upon the death of the Knight, unless the King exceptionally permits the insignia to be made in diamonds.

‘The Prince Regent – later King George IV – was Castlereagh’s close personal friend and is said to have made him the offer to have the star made in diamonds.’

The exhibition, which opens on February 22, also features the Beetle Wing Dress, which actress Ellen Terry wore during her performance as Lady Macbeth at the Lyceum Theater in London.

Winston Churchill depicted in his robes as Knight of the Garter.

The Beetle Wing dress worn by actress Ellen Terry for her performance as Lady Macbeth at the Lyceum Theater in 1899

Artist John Singer Sargent attended the opening night on December 29, 1888, and was inspired to paint her portrait the following year.

The dress, made of velvet, silk damask, cotton, metal and glass, was designed by costumer Alice Comyns-Carr, made by seamstress Ada Nettleship, and is located in her former home Smallhythe Place, now owned by the National Trust.

Sargent and Fashion is on view at Tate Britain until 7 July

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Grand Theft Auto fans are rushing to get their hands on these great free rewards worth £5

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 01:28:32 +0000

THERE are millions of Grand Theft Auto fans, making it one of the most lucrative franchises in the world.

If you are one of the active GTA players, you can get some excellent freebies as part of the latest event.

This week you can grab free in-game money and some cosmeticsCredit: Rockstar Games

This week is Lunar New Year and to celebrate, Rockstar is offering some great benefits to Grand Theft Auto Online players.

Players can receive a red envelope containing $188,888 in GTA Online currency, as eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture.

If you purchase the in-game currency with real money, it will cost approximately £5/$5.

Starting this week, you can also claim a number of cosmetics, including the new Regal Dragon Mask and the Midnight Dragon Mask.

Players can also collect last week's rewards, including the Wooden Dragon Mask, a red New Year's dress and a black New Year's T-shirt.

If you head to the in-game tattoo shop, you can also grab some dragon tattoos for free.

Any Grand Theft Auto Online player can receive these rewards by simply logging into his or her account.

All you have to do is log in in between Thursday February 8, 2024, And Wednesday February 14, 2024.

The money should be transferred to your in-game bank account within a few days so you can spend money.

If you're eager to see more from the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game, check out everything we know about GTA 6.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

All the latest PS5 reviews from The Sun

Learn about the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.

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How can you claim the latest Destiny 2 Prime Gaming rewards?

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 12:53:16 +0000

AMAZON Prime has a hidden benefit that most subscribers don't take advantage of.

While everyone knows about benefits like next day delivery and Prime Video, few people know about Prime Gaming.

You can claim a number of rewards for Destiny 2 this monthCredit: Bungie

With Prime Gaming you can not only pick up free games every month, but also in-game items for your favorite games.

Here's everything you need to know about the February 2024 Destiny 2 Prime Gaming Rewards.

How can you claim the latest Destiny 2 Prime Gaming Rewards?

If you are registered for Prime Gaming, you will need to log into your account on the Prime Gaming website.

From here navigate to the Lot 2 pageto claim your rewards.

Next, you'll need to link your Prime Gaming account to your Bungie account and your items will automatically appear in your account.

What are the Destiny 2 Prime Gaming Rewards?

Each month Prime Gaming offers a number of different rewards, with the in-game items changing every month.

Here are the Destiny 2 in-game items currently available from Amazon Prime.

Intense herd exotic emote
Knucklebug exotic ship
Directories Sagitta Legendary Sparrow
Timed Prime Exclusive Legendary Shader

What are Prime Gaming Rewards?

Prime Gaming Rewards can include a range of different things, such as free in-game items for popular live service games.

Most of the biggest live service games have free in-game items like Pokémon Go, Overwatch, and of course Destiny 2.

There are also free games you can pick up, and games you can play if you have Amazon Luna.

What is the Prime Gaming Rewards scheme?

Prime Gaming updates its reward selection every month, during the first week of the month.

The next set of Prime Gaming rewards will be available from Thursday March 7, 2024.

Games are announced at the beginning of the month, but new games are given away every week.

How can you sign up for Prime Gaming Rewards?

All you need to claim Prime Gaming Rewards is an Amazon Prime subscription.

You can then log into Prime Gaming via the website with your Amazon account and claim any reward you want.

You will also need to connect your gaming account to Prime Gaming so that Amazon can send the in-game reward.

There is no limit to the number of rewards you can earn, and you can claim items for as many games as you play.

To read more about Amazon Prime, check out the free games available in February from Prime Gaming.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

All the latest PS5 reviews from The Sun

Learn about the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.

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People from Melbourne queue to get Dyson hair dryers and flights at Virgin 1 Point Rewards Initiative

Albert Elence — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 04:29:46 +0000

Bargain hunters queue for hours to get their hands on Dyson hair dryers, Apple products and flights at Australia’s ‘cheapest store’

Virgin’s 1 point club opened today in Melbourne
The 24-hour pop-up store attracted thousands
Shoppers purchased luxury items for one Velocity point
Matt, 32, was first in line and picked up a Dyson

By Zak Wheeler for Daily Mail Australia

published: 00:02 EDT, Jun 10, 2023 | Updated: 00:06 EDT, Jun 10, 2023

Thousands lined up for entire city blocks in the early hours of the morning for a chance to open Australia’s cheapest store.

Virgin’s 1 Point Club offered Melbourne residents the opportunity to spend one Velocity reward point in exchange for luxury products worth hundreds of dollars on Saturday.

The 24-hour pop-up shop on Chapel Street saw eager shoppers lined up for more than four blocks by the time the opening ribbon was cut and the doors opened.

Matt, 32, was first in line with his dog at 10 p.m. Friday night after promising his mom he’d pick her up a $649 Dyson Supersonic HD07 V3 hair dryer.

Within the store’s first four hours, more than 1,000 people had come to redeem their reward points for products from well-known brands such as Apple, Bose, Weber and Breville, among others.

Virgin’s 1-point club offered the Melbourne resident the opportunity to redeem one Velocity reward point in exchange for luxury goods worth hundreds of dollars each on Saturday

Matt, 32, was first in line with his dog at 10 p.m. Friday night after promising his mother he would pick her up a $649 Dyson Supersonic HD07 V3 hair dryer

Matt said he promised his mother he’d pick up the hairdryer months ago after she said she wanted one but didn’t want to spend that much money on the product.

Most other big ticket items sold out in under two hours and by 1pm there were only a few economy flights to cities across Australia left.

Hundreds of people lined up as the doors opened and stock began to sell out.

The most popular items were from Dyson, according to Virgin employees who were in store to welcome the crowd.

While the store was intended to remain open for the full 24 hours, it is unlikely to happen as stocks are running out quickly.

The pop-up store was opened in honor of the Velocity 1 Point Rewards Initiative which kicks off on Sunday, June 11.

New 1-point rewards release every week and allow members to purchase international flights, gadgets and more for just one point each.

According to Virgin employees who were in store to welcome the crowds, the most popular items were from Dyson

The 24-hour pop-up store on Chapel Street saw eager shoppers queuing more than four blocks by the time the opening ribbon was cut and the doors opened

While the initiative seemed too good to be true, Nick Rohrlach, CEO of Velocity Frequent Flyer, assured bargain hunters upfront that there was no catch.

“I expect Saturday to be a scene from the Black Friday sale, with hordes of shoppers trying to get their hands on a Dyson hair dryer or Apple Watch for just 1 Velocity Point. It really is something to be seen to be believed,” Mr Rohrlach said on Friday.

“Most people I’ve spoken to said the initiative is too good to be true, but I assure you we’re serious about fast pay, and this initiative is proof of that.

We know it’s hard to believe a member can go on holiday for just 1 Velocity Point or buy a Dyson hair dryer for the equivalent of a $2 purchase at Coles, but this is the beauty of our 1 Point Rewards initiative and it’s fantastic to be able to launch it in Melbourne.’

What could be won at Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer 1 Point Rewards store?

Virgin Australia one way Economy flights to the Gold Coast, Cairns, Brisbane, Hobart, Launceston, Sydney and Adelaide

Dyson – Supersonic HD07 V3 Hair Dryer – Valued at $649

Dyson Vacuum cleaner (v8) cordless – worth $719

Smeg 1950s style toaster – worth $219

Apple Watch – worth $399

Weber Baby Q – worth $389

Chasseau 12″ Round Solid Casserole (Cherry Blossom) – Valued at $320

Breville Barista Coffee Maker ‘Chrome’ – Valued at $779

GHD Unplugged hair straightener – worth $500

Apple Air Pods 3rd generation – worth $249

Bose Soundlink Micro Bluetooth Speaker – Valued at $175

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Rewards – USMAIL24.COM

Oscar Glory for ‘Oppenheimer’ rewards Studio Chief’s vision

Retail chains are scrapping rewards programs and shoppers have weeks to use points

How does the Together Rewards Customer Card work?

What should I do if I have points on my Together Rewards loyalty card?

The glittering rewards of chivalry – rarely seen diamond-encrusted royal regalia of the Order of the Garter on public display

Share or comment on this article: The glittering rewards of chivalry – rarely seen diamond-encrusted royal regalia of the Order of the Garter on public display

Grand Theft Auto fans are rushing to get their hands on these great free rewards worth £5

All the latest PS5 reviews from The Sun

How can you claim the latest Destiny 2 Prime Gaming rewards?

How can you claim the latest Destiny 2 Prime Gaming Rewards?

What are the Destiny 2 Prime Gaming Rewards?

What are Prime Gaming Rewards?

What is the Prime Gaming Rewards scheme?

How can you sign up for Prime Gaming Rewards?

All the latest PS5 reviews from The Sun

People from Melbourne queue to get Dyson hair dryers and flights at Virgin 1 Point Rewards Initiative

Bargain hunters queue for hours to get their hands on Dyson hair dryers, Apple products and flights at Australia’s ‘cheapest store’

What could be won at Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer 1 Point Rewards store?

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