#MeToo Campaign Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon, But Now What?

S.H.E. Speak.Heal.Empower (via sharikarney.com)

After the recent Harvey Weinstein sexual allegations have come to light, the floodgates have opened with celebrities using the hashtag #MeToo creating a social-media viral sensation. Many of us have seen and are shocked to hear of female family members, friends and co-workers coming forward publicly on-line with personal sexual abuse and harassment stories. Karney believes, "If men stand with us too, we can stop the sexual assault of women."

"An NBC movie, 'Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story' starring Melissa Gilbert, was written based on the abuse that happened when I was a child. People in my inner circle who never confided in me are using social media now to find their voice but we can't do it alone," said Shari Karney, attorney and legal pundit.

Shari Karney led the charge of changing the laws in California in 1991 and didn't stop there. Karney worked with 40 other states so that survivors across the nation now have legal rights as well. Karney successfully lobbied and testified in Washington D.C. for a Children's Bill of Rights.

"Now what? Men stand with us too! If you are sickened and shocked at what you are reading and hearing about through the #MeToo campaign, be the voice of honor and reason. You can be the ones to hold bosses, co-workers, family members, coaches and churches' feet to the fire. Men listen to other men. Please, be the good man you are and stand with us #MenWithYouToo," said Shari Karney. 

"Basic civil rights laws must be enacted to hold perpetrators accountable and give victims justice. We need to remove statutes of limitations for criminal and civil actions so survivors of sexual violence can have their day in court," said Karney.

Shari Karney (via sharikarney.com)

About Shari Karney :
Shari Karney is an attorney, on-air legal pundit, author, speaker, entrepreneur and activist for victims' rights. A widely respected legal expert, analyst and commentator on breaking news cases, she has appeared on hundreds of television and radio news programs. 

• Visit sharikarney.com. 
• Follow Shari on Facebook facebook.com/Shari Karney or Twitter @sharikarney .

SOURCE: Shari Karney

Bonus Videos:

The Asian World Film Festival Announces the World Premiere of Finding Julia Starring Vietnamese Actor/Singer, Ha Phuong, October 28

Actress Ha Phuong

The Third Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced the world premiere of Vietnamese superstar Ha Phuong's film Finding Julia. The film is scheduled to screen at the Arclight in Culver City on October 28 at 7:00 PM.

Finding Julia stars Ha Phuong, Andrew McCarthy (Dir: Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin), Richard Chamberlain (Twin Peaks, Thorn Birds, Shogun) and Kieu Chinh (The Joy Luck Club). The film was conceived by Ha Phuong, based upon her experience of immigrating to the US and trying to live the American way of life during her younger years.

The red-carpet event will be attended by Ha Phuong, co-star Richard Chamberlain, actress and screenwriter Kieu Chinh, director Igor Sunara, actresses Minh Ngoc Nguyen and Lauren Pham (young Julia), Susan Batson (co-producer and acting coach), Leyna Nguyen (CBS anchor), producer Alan VoFord, costume design Bao Tran Chi, make-up artist Gordon Banh, editors Gil Choi and David Van and film attorney George Rush.

Asian Film Festival

Film Synopsis [Short Version]: 

In Manhattan, Eurasian acting student Julia Chamonix (Ha Phuong) is unable to enjoy the privileged life she shares with her doting father (Andrew McCarthy). Haunted by the tragic early death of her mother-a former star actress and singer in Vietnam-and likewise haunted by a secret desire she must hide from the world, her only confidante is her Vietnamese grandmother (Kieu Chinh). 

Caught between two very different cultures, East and West, Julia questions if she will ever fit in anywhere. As she attempts to understand who she is, Julia begins to forge a more confident identity from both parts of her birthright.

Film Synopsis [Longer Version]: 

(Via Ha Phuong World)

Beautiful, rich and sad. In Manhattan, Eurasian acting student Julia Chamonix (Ha Phuong) is unable to enjoy the privileged life she shares with her doting father (Andrew McCarthy). Haunted by the tragic early death of her mother–a former star actress and singer in Vietnam–and likewise haunted by a secret desire she has to hide from the world, Julia struggles in her acting studies under renowned coach Igor (Richard Chamberlain).

However, her ambitions to emulate her mother’s success are thwarted by her severe difficulties with the English language. Her only confidante is her wise Vietnamese grandmother (Kieu Chinh), but even with her she limits what she confides. Meanwhile she begins to experience recurrent nightmares in which she relives the car accident that killed her mother.

Caught between two very different cultures, East and West, Julia questions if she will ever fit in anywhere. As she attempts to understand who she is and how to forge a more confident identity from both parts of her birthright, her father falls in love with an American woman, Jennifer (Paula Devicq). Fearing abandonment, Julia’s secret obsession spirals out of control as she hears voices berating her and playing into her darkest fears.

When her grandmother suddenly dies, and an accident causes another unexpected death, Julia is brought to the edge of madness. Will her life also end tragically, or will she be able to overcome her terrible duality? Where will she go and how will she finally find peace?

The surprising conclusion to the heart-pounding drama makes it not only an unforgettable story, but also, on the deepest subconscious levels, speaks to the plight of millions of men, women, young adults and teens who are caught between cultures, who likewise feel “different,” and who are struggling to find a place in the world.

• All films at the Festival will be screened at the Arclight Cinemas in Downtown Culver City (9500 Culver Blvd.) Sponsors include Presenting Partner Ha Phuong Foundation, as well as the city of Culver City, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Variety, East West Bank, RK Media (Radio & TV Korea), the Arclight Theatres, Emporium Thai Restaurant (Los Angeles) and AWFF host venue, the historic Culver Hotel.

SOURCE: Asian World Film Festival   

The Trailers:

Bonus Video:

"Dog Park" Director Jade Jenise Dixon Says #MeToo

Director Jade Jenise Dixon

As Director Jade Jenise Dixon's feature film, Dog Park, enjoys a limited theatrical run and is released to high praise on both Amazon Video and Google Play, Jade has been closely watching the news about the sexual abuse of power in Hollywood with her eyes wide open.

Director, Jade Jenise Dixon

"I've been watching all of this unfold with tears in my eyes because I never thought Hollywood's 'dirty little secret' would come to light," says Jade. Like countless other women in Hollywood, Jade can finally speak freely about the subject. "You just couldn't speak about this stuff openly before. Now I can stand with countless other women and say, 'Me Too.'"

Now that the dirt is coming out from under the rug, Jade is hopeful that things will continue to get better, and is thankful for the people who work with her based on her talent. "There are also the 'good guys' who just want to make great movies or TV shows and truly value everyone equally for what they bring to the table. And for those people, I am truly grateful."

Jade Jenise Dixon on set with cinematographer

The Los Angeles Times says that in Jade's latest feature film, Dog Park, "Dixon displays a solid point of view with a refreshing perspective centered around women's success and choices."

A Romantic Comedy about a man who uses his ex-girlfriends dog to pick up women at the dog park, Dog Park, also won "Best Ensemble Cast" at the 2017 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival. 

Dog Park movie poster

Dog Park, is now available on Amazon Video and Google Play. More video platforms will be added in the coming months via distributor, Indie Rights and sales agent, California Pictures.

• Dog Park on Amazon Video
• Dog Park on Google Play 
• IMDB

SOURCE: Parker Street Productions

The Trailer:

National Press Club Examines 2016 Russian Election Hacking at a Headliners Book Rap Featuring Donna Brazile on December 12th

Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House

As investigations in Congress and by Special Counsel Robert Mueller continue, one of the targets of the hacking into the Democratic National Committee's computer network, Donna Brazile, is telling her story. The former DNC chair and longtime Democratic Party strategist shares her personal account of the 2016 Presidential election.

Brazile will appear at a National Press Club Headliners Book Rap on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. in the Club's Conference Rooms to discuss

Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, which will be published next month on the one-year anniversary of the 2016 election.

Publisher, Hachette Books, calls the book "equal parts campaign thriller, memoir and roadmap for the future." And Brazile adds, "At a moment when our democracy is in crisis, it's time to tell the truth about what went wrong in 2016. Our nation is under unprecedented assault, and if we don't get the facts out, it will happen again."

Donna Brazile

This event will feature a discussion with the author, an audience question-and-answer session, and a book signing. Tickets are $5 for National Press Club members and $10 for the general public. 

• To purchase tickets and copies of the book, please click here. Books will also be available for purchase at the event, no outside books or memorabilia are permitted.

Proceeds from this event benefit the non-profit affiliate of the Club, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, which offers innovative, practical training to journalists and communications professionals working in a rapidly-changing media environment.

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB LOGO.  (PRNewsfoto/National Press Club)

SOURCE: National Press Club

Book Cover Created by 99designs Designer Honored at Prestigious 31st Annual New York Book Show

"Havenwood"

99designs, the world's largest online graphic design marketplace, today announced that a book cover created by a designer from its global design community was named a winner in the prestigious 31st Annual New York Book Show Awards.

"Havenwood," a self-published novel by Eric Slade whose cover was created by 99designs designer Andrei Bat, received first place honors in the "Self-Published Cover" category in the "Young Adult" genre of the awards, which were presented at a ceremony in New York City last week.

According to Slade, who commissioned designer Andrei Bat to work on the cover design through the 99designs online graphic design platform, "Havenwood's cover included 19th century decorative elements to convey a sense of history to prospective readers. Andrei Bat's digital painting style is both luminous and moody."

Hosted by the Book Industry Guild of New York (BIGNY), the New York Book Show is an annual event that offers publishing and printing professionals an opportunity to mingle while honoring the best examples of quality book design and production from the previous year. The show's aim is to showcase the best books as judged by a panel of industry professionals who evaluate manufacturing, production, and design qualities of entries in six main and a myriad of subcategories. The winners (which are featured in an online gallery here) are selected from hundreds of entries sent in by publishers and suppliers from around the country.

"This award is further validation of the creativity and high quality of our designer community," said 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn. "99designs has from its earliest origins been a champion for great design from talented individuals around the world. In recent years, we've dedicated even greater resources in tools and processes to further help our community to produce their best work. We commend Andrei on this award and for his contributions to 99designs." 

• For more information on the winning design and winning designer, Andrei Bat, visit here.

SOURCE: 99designs

Eric Slade (Image via eric-slade.com)

More About Havenwood:

(via Eric Slade's Site)

Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1914 — Tanna Cravens boards an airship bound for a colony in Fairyland… But a magical frontier ruled like the Old South isn’t the best home for a woman ahead of her time.

Abandoned by her husband on a failing farm atop an ancient fairy hill, Tanna finds herself in the middle of a war between the human plantation owners and the indigenous elven tribes who want them gone.

With her farm in flames and a dark fairy hoard descending on the colony, Tanna must secure a safe place for those she loves before the paths between the worlds are closed forever.

In an alternate history where Shades of Milk & Honey and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell might have taken place in England, Havenwood is found just beyond the door between Fairyland and the American South.

Bonus Video:

The Thing: Dread Fears And The 'Other' In The Polar Environment

A scene from John Carpenter’s The Thing from 1982 (IMDB/Universal/JohnCarpenter)

By John Ash, University of Cambridge

John Carpenter’s celebrated 1982 film The Thing is a science fiction classic. Although not an initial commercial success, it has achieved cult status and traditionally is screened (with its 1951 and 2011 counterparts) on the first full night of winter by crews staying at the Scott-Amundsen Base in Antarctica. It may seem a strange choice at first, yet the links between the polar regions and science fiction are strong.

From the pursuit by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein of his creation into the frozen north, to Ripley’s fruitless call to Antarctica traffic control in Alien, writers have used the remoteness and novelty of the poles to enhance the menace and drama of their work. Carpenter capitalises on the dark polar nights and the claustrophobic confines of an Antarctic base to ratchet up the tension and paranoia as an alien infiltrates the outpost.

Inspired by John Campbell’s 1938 novella, Who Goes There?, The Thing follows the crew of an Antarctic base who discover an alien life form that can assimilate and perfectly mimic the appearance of other organisms. Operating at the cellular level, the alien tissue invades by gradually supplanting the original cells until what remains is an exact copy of the now consumed host.

The station personnel fight a desperate battle against the invader, devising a technique for testing blood samples for infection and struggling against the distrust that grows up in the group when they realise its ability to copy and replace their colleagues.

The Thing is a polar film. Not only is it set in a polar environment, but its characters exemplify the strains of living in extended close proximity in the isolation and climatic extremes of an Antarctic base. It is also a film that speaks to the subject of “The Other” – a theme in the humanities that examines how a society identifies itself, not by defining the laudable characteristics to which it aspires, but by reviling others as exemplars of that which it rejects.

The eponymous alien constitutes an iconic Other. It defies description and therefore order. Having no fixed form other than the organisms it assimilates, it morphs – like a deceitful trickster god – into different shapes. Sometimes that shape is an incomplete transition phase, a chaotic mismatch of biological structures that affronts the logical processes of evolution (in one famous shot we see a detached human head that becomes mobile by growing arthropod legs). The assimilation process both frightens and disgusts, and the subversion of the base personnel’s own bodies into instruments of human destruction adds an extra touch of terror to the whole invasion process.

Kurt Russell, Richard Masur, and Donald Moffat in The Thing.(IMDB/Universal/JohnCarpenter)

Why planet Earth?
But why would an alien come to our planet in the first place? The problem receives consideration in the work of Dr Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiologist who argues persuasively that Earth possesses no property or resource that an advanced civilisation would want to acquire. Reassuring though these arguments are, there remain nagging doubts.

The alien may be a survivor of a convict group condemned to exile on a distant planet. Recalling the First Fleet expedition to establish a colony in Australia in 1788, Commodore Arthur Phillip was under instruction as commander to maintain good relations with the indigenous people. Nonetheless, the effects of colonisation on the first nations living in Australia were devastating.

Kurt Russell in The Thing. (IMDB/Universal/JohnCarpenter)

Stephen Hawking has made similar observations on the meeting of alien and Earth cultures and the lessons of history. And HG Wells famously made the same point in The War of the Worlds. They may be understating the case. In terms of existential risk, subjugation by an alien race may expose humanity to cruelty and misery that exceeds even annihilation.

The second reason why a seemingly illogical alien visit might not be comforting is the unexpected. The alien might simply have developed engine failure and made a forced landing. (Perhaps it was shot down). But in any event, improbability does not provide the same degree of comfort as impossibility, and that mathematical certainty eludes us.
Carpenter’s alien is an imaginative analogue of the many creatures in the natural world with the ability to change appearance for competitive advantage – from cephalopods that adapt skin cells to the colours of the seabed to insects that undergo the widespread process of metamorphosis.

Its lack of fixed form and its physical pollution of human tissue exemplify Otherness, as its calculating ruthlessness epitomises its inhumanity. In the end, the humanity of the base personnel is defined not so much by their difference from the alien as their willingness to sacrifice themselves to defeat it – which is perhaps why the movie remains so popular among crew members who have to rely on each other every single day as they live through their own polar adventures.

About Today's Contributor:
John Ash, Associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

This article was originally published on The Conversation.