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PEOPLE & ARTSWednesday 28 October
Hollywood stars align for technology series ‘Breakthrough’
LYNN ELBER “It’s not quite as cinemat-
ic in some ways,” Howard
AP Television Writer said, “but I felt it was some-
thing that we’re all thinking
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As a about. What does it mean
to people in their 80s now?
resident of parched Cali- What does it mean to
younger people?”
fornia, Angela Bassett is Grazer, who detailed
his own questioning ap-
used to playing water war- proach in the book “A Cu-
rious Mind: The Secret to a
den at home. Bigger Life,” said the series
parallels his films with How-
“I’m a mom with (twin) kids, ard, such as “Apollo 13,”
that offer “the experience
9-year-olds, trying to teach of entering a world that
has a problem and has a
them how to wash dishes, solution in it. We like those
thematics.”
how to wash clothes” in a The pair also had towering
figures including Thomas
time of drought, the ac- Edison top of mind with
“Breakthrough.” (GE, cre-
tress said. “And to turn out ated by an 1892 merger of
Edison’s firm with a com-
the lights. I feel like the fa- petitor, joined with Nation-
al Geographic on the se-
ther figure in ‘Long Day’s ries and its scientists’ work is
included in it, although not
Journey into Night,’ saying, exclusively.)
“Looking back, we know
‘Turn that light off!’” who the giants were,”
Howard said, adding that
As the director of “Water “Breakthrough” could end
up “catching one of those
Apocalypse,” she’s talk- giants in action today.”
Although such progress is
ing to a bigger audience more likely to become ap-
parent in retrospect, How-
about water crises here ard said his “Age of Aging”
was lucky to record “sci-
and around the world entists in motion achieve
a goal that is a significant
and the technological ad- part of the challenge.”
No spoilers here; Howard
vances that may help re- didn’t elaborate. The other
episodes and their direc-
solve them. This image provided by National Geographic Channels shows director Angela Bassett on set dur- tors:
The hour-long program is ing the filming of an episode on “Water Apocalypse,” for the new television series, “Breakthrough.” — “Fighting Pandemics,”
part of “Breakthrough,” a Sunday, from Peter Berg
Associated Press (“Ballers,” ‘’The Leftovers”).
Follows those who jump
six-part series on scientific into action when Ebola or
other outbreaks occur and
innovation from filmmaking rector on this year’s TV mov- directors — but Howard ard said. who are searching for tools
partners Ron Howard and ie “Whitney,” was among and Grazer say their cre- Bassett said she’s not pre- to counter HIV, influenza,
Brian Grazer. the Hollywood names invit- ative talents were key. senting herself as an au- malaria and other killer dis-
“Breakthrough” debuts ed to take charge of one The goal was to look at thority. eases.
Sunday (9 p.m. Eastern) topic from an array that in- each subject “in a really “I see myself as going in — “More Than Human,”
on National Geographic cluded energy alternatives personal way. That’s why wide-eyed and trying to Nov. 8, from Paul Giamat-
Channel with “Fighting and brain research. we partnered with these learn something. Going in ti (“Sideways,” ‘’Ameri-
Pandemics” and con- It’s the scientists and oth- storytellers who are very with wonder, going in with can Splendor”), about
cludes Dec. 13 with “Water ers doing innovative work humanistic and passionate questions, and hopefully the merger of biology
Apocalypse.” in those fields that are the and know how to connect we can come away with and technology, including
Bassett, who also turned di- stars here, not the famous with an audience,” How- a bit more understanding,” research that could help
people with traumatic
Actor Olivier Martinez she said. The big-picture spine injuries walk again.
approach of “Water Apoc- — “Energy From the Edge,”
alypse” takes in a remote Dec. 6, from producer Aki-
va Goldsman (“I Am Leg-
files for divorce Ethiopian village where end,” ‘’Fringe”).q
an Italian architect, Arturo
from Halle Berry Vittori, is trying to help resi-
dents conquer a lack of
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hal- cus of what is best for our In this June 13, 2013 file accessible, safe drinking
le Berry and actor Olivier son. We wish each other photo, actor and president water by building a unique
Martinez are ending their nothing but happiness in of the Champs-Elysees Film water-collecting tower.
two-year marriage and say life and we hope that you Festival Olivier Martinez, left, “Decoding the Brain,”
they want to proceed with respect our and, most im- poses with Actress Halle Berry the Nov. 15 episode from
the best interests of their portantly, our children’s pri- prior to the screening of the director Brett Ratner (“X-
young son in mind. vacy as we go through this film “Things We Lost in the Men: The Last Stand,” the
The actors released a joint difficult period.” Fire” with the french title “Nos “Rush Hour” franchise), in-
statement announcing Berry and Martinez met Souvenirs Brules” during the cludes Dr. Steve Ramirez’s
the divorce Tuesday, hours while making the 2012 film Champs-Elysees Film Festival, study of how to implant
before Martinez filed a di- “Dark Tide.” They married in at the “Publicis Cinema” in or erase memories to po-
vorce petition citing irrec- July 2013. Paris. tentially benefit those with
oncilable differences in Los The filing does not pro- post-traumatic stress disor-
Angeles. vide any additional details Associated Press der. “The Age of Aging,”
Martinez’s filing seeks joint about their breakup, and which Howard directed,
custody of the pair’s 2-year- does not indicate the pair includes researchers who
old son and lists Monday as has a prenuptial agree- believe that the field’s
their date of separation. ment. Berry won a best ac- great achievement would
“It is with a heavy heart that tress Academy Award for be extending the human
we have come to the deci- “Monster’s Ball.” She has “health span” — the pe-
sion to divorce,” the actors been married twice previ- riod of life spent without
wrote in a joint statement. ously and has a 7-year-old disease — as opposed to
“We move forward with daughter from her relation- our life span. It airs Nov. 29.
love and respect for one ship with model Gabriel Why did he assign himself
another and the shared fo- Aubry.q that subject?
