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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 1 august 2018

Film inclusion report says rhetoric doesn't equal results

By LINDSEY BAHR concept, which advocates
Associated Press for adding five speaking
LOS ANGELES (AP) — De- roles for women in every
spite enthusiastic discourse script to achieve gender
around diversity in film, a equity by 2020, or the inclu-
report from the University sion rider, which is a con-
of Southern California's An- tract addendum requiring
nenberg Inclusion Initia- studios to hire a diverse
tive released Tuesday says crew and cast for a proj-
when it comes to the num- ect. Frances McDormand
bers, little has changed. popularized the term by
The most popular movies mentioning it in her Oscars
are still largely the domain acceptance speech.
of white, straight, able- Although many in the in-
bodied men, both in front dustry have embraced the
of the camera and behind. concept of inclusion riders,
The percentage of female This image released by Lucasfilm shows Daisy Ridley as Rey in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." like Michael B. Jordan, Matt
characters with speaking Associated Press Damon, Ben Affleck and
parts in the top 100 films Paul Feig and others who
has remained largely un- alized, which the report ourselves in another year affected every level of the run production companies,
changed at or around 30 calls an epidemic of invis- where almost nothing has entertainment industry over some have criticized the
percent over the past de- ibility. In 2017, 64 of the top changed." said Dr. Stacy the past nine months, any idea saying it is potentially
cade, according to the 100 films did not include a L. Smith, Founding Director statistically significant im- illegal. Smith says that the
report released Tuesday. single Latina character, 65 of the Annenberg Inclusion pact will likely not be seen critics misunderstand the
And in survey of the top were missing Asian females, Initiative. "In the aggregate, on screen for another year concept and should speak
100 films of 2017, a year in and 43 were devoid of any Hollywood isn't embracing or more. to employment attorneys
which the top three were black female characters. any solution. It's business as "As Time's Up focuses on to understand how to ex-
the female-led "Star Wars: 78 films were without a fe- usual or embracing the sta- safety, equity and dignity, ecute it.
The Last Jedi," ''Beauty and male character with a dis- tus quo as usual." we need to be looking to "The spirit of the inclusion
the Beast" and "Wonder ability and 94 absent of an The Annenberg Inclusion 2019 and 2020 for the major rider was to get people
Woman," only 33 featured LGBT female. The report Initiative has been tracking changes where Time's Up to realize that the world
women in a lead or co- calls it an epidemic of invis- and examining the top 100 exerts its influence and we we see on screen is imbal-
lead. Four of those were ibility. films every year since 2007 see a shift in hiring practices anced and there are ways
from an underrepresented "It was an unprecedented leading to a database of for the first time," Smith said. to address this," Smith said.
group, and five were over year where you had the 1,100 films and 48,757 char- "Until hiring changes, these "The solution is to hire differ-
the age of 45. top spots at the domestic acters. numbers will not move." ently. An inclusion rider isn't
Women of color are still box office driven by female And while the Time's Up and The report suggests solu- needed to do that."q
among the most margin- leads, and yet we find #MeToo movements have tions like the "just add five"

Review: On 'Vicious,' Halestorm rides on elevated thrash-pop

By PABLO ARAUZ PENA Lzzy's vocals really dazzle to a catchy chorus. It's an
Associated Press on this one. The front- easy head-banger that
Halestorm, "Vicious" (At- woman's ferocity seems to doesn't lose intensity even
lantic) embody the vocal stylings during its more pop-heavy
"Vicious" comes five years of metal legends like Ron- parts.
after Halestorm's Grammy- nie James Dio and Lemmy But the band also knows
winning hit "Love Bites (So from Motorhead only with how to change a pace
Do I)" became the group's her truly distinct Halestorm when it comes down to it.
standing claim to main- touch. "Conflicted" is an ode to
stream fame. Produced The four-piece starts it out indecision, set by a grind-
by Nick Raskulinecz, who even-handed by summon- ing mood in a slower tem-
has worked with bands like ing the forces of nature in po while emphasizing the
Foo Fighters and Alice in "Black Vultures," painting a cleaner, rootsy-rock gui-
Chains, "Vicious" is a jump sonic picture of flying scav- tars. Lzzy gets outwardly
in sonic variety since the engers circling the sky. The sensual on "Do Not Disturb,"
band's third full-length al- song rotates between its while the final track, "The
bum, "Into the Wild Life," flashy modes of thrash to Silence," ends the album
topped the rock charts in more melodic sensibilities on an audibly lighter note
2015. while Lzzy unabashedly as an acoustic ballad to
The new album stays true wails words of survival. a love lost.While "Vicious"
to the band's long-stand- "Uncomfortable" may be does contain a share of
ing creative elements. The one of the album's stron- fillers, it doesn't fall short of
cryptic but assertive atti- This cover image released by Atlantic Records shows "Vicious," gest tracks. The song starts what a solid metal album
tude of Lzzy Hale's diverse the latest release by Halestorm. out as a shredder with a should do — beat the heck
vocal range and raunchy Associated Press rhythm that chugs behind out of traditional musical
guitar riffs team up well tar work and Josh Smith's sive guitar sound up a chunky guitar riffs before niceties with powerful son-
with her brother Arejay's thumping bass walks. notch with more polished, Lzzy spits her spiel like fire ic blasts and metaphorical
locomotive percussion, On "Vicious," the group virtuoso axe-playing. following an illuminated fists of tough, lightning-fast
Joe Hottinger's sharp gui- takes their raw and abra- It's also worth noting that bridge that adds nuance rock 'n' roll.q