Category: 5. Entertainment

This year Crayola is celebrating creativity through color and the deeply personal role color plays in connecting us to the past and inspiring them anew. Following the resounding success of the Limited Edition Retired Color Collection – where nostalgic colors like Dandelion, Blizzard Blue and Magic Mint are making a triumphant return for a limited time – Crayola is eager to discover what other beloved Crayola colors hold a special place in consumers’ hearts with the Global Color Vote.

“Color is part of one’s identity: who we are, how we feel, how we live our lives,” said Pete Ruggiero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crayola. “With this global color vote, Crayola will bring innovation to the market that directly reflects the global consumer. People around the world will have the unique opportunity to influence a special collection of crayons, colored pencils, and markers based on the colors that mean the most to them.”

According to a 2024 Color Perception Survey conducted by Crayola in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute, color rates as the most impactful element in planning important milestones, symbolizing meaningful aspects of life, and describing something as beautiful or unique by more than 88% of respondents. These emotional ties to color also lend themselves to self-expression as 87% of those surveyed believe color significantly impacts creativity.

“The 2025 Global Color Vote celebrates the incredible power that color has to connect us to our emotions and memories, to unite us, and to help us creatively express our feelings, thoughts and ideas,” says Victoria Lozano, Chief Marketing Officer at Crayola. “We’re excited to see which colors resonate most deeply with people around the world and bring those meaningful hues together to encourage more creative moments and colorful memories.”

To become a part of Crayola history, color enthusiasts of all ages can cast their votes from now until Sept. 30, 2025 by visiting www.crayola.com/votenow or scanning QR codes on the back of Crayola “What’s Your Favorite Color” products – 24-count crayons, 12-count colored pencils, 10-count broad and fine line markers or 8-count washable watercolors.

Teachers, parents, and kids can find their favorite Crayola back-to-school products at retailers nationwide for the same exceptional value they’ve come to rely on. Consumers can also purchase bulk packs of top list items to help provide much needed supplies that support learning in the classroom. For added nostalgia and colorful fun, shoppers have the opportunity to supplement their baskets with Limited Edition Retired Color Collection items before they go back into retirement.

Color Perception Survey Methodology Findings from a nationwide study conducted by Crayola in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute from October 16-23, 2024, with 1,503 parents of kids aged 2-12.

About Crayola
Whether it’s providing tools to put a purple octopus on the moon, helping create family memories or enabling teachers to bring arts-infused learning into the classroom, Crayola is passionate about helping parents and educators raise creatively alive children. The company has inspired creativity in children for over 120 years, creating an expansive portfolio of innovative art tools and learning resources, crafting activities, toys and digital platforms, live action and animation content, and location-based experiences allowing children of all ages to color their world in imaginative ways. Through its work, Crayola sees a world where the inherent creativity of children is fully nurtured into adulthood, helping all kids reach their full potential. For more information visit www.Crayola.com or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/Crayola.

 Media Contact: Jaclyn Giuliano, [email protected] 

SOURCE Crayola

The unique partnership will showcase the distinctive heritage and charm of three iconic North American properties within The Luxury Collection’s portfolio through a creative lens.

BETHESDA, Md., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces a partnership with Michael McGregor, the Los Angeles-based artist celebrated for his striking and vibrant depictions of everyday life. In his first collaboration with a global hotel brand, McGregor has partnered with The Luxury Collection to create a bespoke series of original drawings that celebrate the local charm and culture of three of the portfolio’s most esteemed North American properties: Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco; Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis; and Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah. This exclusive collaboration reinforces the brand’s commitment to providing guests with immersive experiences that capture the soul and cultural vibrancy of each destination, seen through the unique lens of global creatives.

Known for exploring themes of luxury, leisure, and travel with expressive style, McGregor was inspired by his personal experiences at the three hotels to create one-of-a-kind artworks that reflect the identity and locale of each destination. Whether capturing the Gilded Age opulence of Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco, the flourishing arts and design scene surrounding Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis, or the romance and historic charm of Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah, McGregor’s drawings translate each hotel’s sense-of-place with his signature whimsy.

“At The Luxury Collection, we are passionate about unearthing the authentic essence of a destination and creating moments of discovery that resonate long after guests depart,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “Michael McGregor’s talent for distilling the spirit of a place with unmistakable character and flair beautifully encapsulates this mission. His drawings are artistic celebrations of personal exploration. In the same spirit, we hope to inspire our guests to discover and fall in love with the destinations they visit in their own unique ways.”

The drawings will also be integrated into the guest journey at these select hotels through bespoke guest collateral and visual storytelling elements including welcome notes and amenity cards that evoke a deep sense of place. Additionally, a curated box set of postcards featuring five of McGregor’s illustrations will be available for purchase at participating properties and online, offering guests a timeless memento of their stays.

To further bring the collaboration to life, each of the three hotels will offer bespoke guest programming inspired by McGregor’s artistic process and his whimsical approach to capturing a sense of place. At Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco, guests will be invited to join Sketches Through Time, a guided walking tour through the hotel’s historic spaces culminating in a sketching session led by a local artist. Using custom sketch kits and materials, guests will be encouraged to interpret the property’s iconic architectural and cultural details that inspired Michael himself.

Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah and Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis will also introduce interactive sketching activations celebrating local creativity and personal expression. At the rooftop bar Peregrin at Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Savannah, the Sketch & Sip event will invite guests to create their own illustrations of Savannah while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Guests’ artworks will then be shared on social media for a friendly competition, with the lucky winner receiving a postcard set, gift card to Peregrin, and a complimentary one-night stay at the hotel. Meanwhile, Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis, will also host a sketching class led by local artists. Held within the hotel’s skyway system, guests will reimagine impressive views of the Ziggurat-inspired Ivy Tower and downtown Minneapolis skyline. These activations will offer guests thoughtful moments of connection and creativity – an extension of Michael’s belief in approaching travel with an observational and curious spirit.

“I find inspiration in the quiet observations of everyday life and the freedom to explore at my own pace, so travel has always been a driving force in my creative process. Partnering with The Luxury Collection is a natural fit, as the brand’s approach to travel resonates with my own, both valuing curiosity and the thrill of unexpected discoveries,” said Michael McGregor. “The hotels I visited were as unique as the destinations they inhabited, with stories and characters waiting to be uncovered. It’s been a fulfilling artistic endeavor to share my perspectives on these remarkable places and bring them to life through my drawings.”

The postcard set will be available to purchase online at TheLuxuryCollectionStore.com and on property at select locations.

ABOUT THE LUXURY COLLECTION HOTELS & RESORTS
The Luxury Collection^® is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA^® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of over 120 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in over 40 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy^®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

ABOUT MARRIOTT BONVOY
Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with more than 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques^®. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

ABOUT MICHAEL MCGREGOR
Michael McGregor is a Los Angeles-based artist known for his distinctive, wide-eyed renderings that transform traditional subject matter into vibrant, thought-provoking works, with a focus on still life. His illustrations, often inspired by themes of luxury, travel, and leisure, have been featured on hotel stationery and in various lifestyle publications. In 2024, McGregor released Hotel Sketches: Capturing Moments of Travel and Leisure, a coffee table book that compiles his most iconic works, offering a visual journey through the nuances of travel and the beauty of everyday life.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

The return of Charlize Theron’s band of immortals; another behind the scenes glimpse at the lives of NFL quarterbacks; a brand-new music talent series featuring one of Liam Payne’s final TV appearances; the conclusion of The Sandman‘s story; a potential breakout Korean thriller; and the long-awaited return of Happy Gilmore are some of the highlights among the new films and series hitting Netflix in July.

One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard. Debuting on July 2, the Victoria Mahoney-directed film once again sees Charlize Theron playing Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy, the leader of a band of vigilante immortals. In The Old Guard 2, following on from the climax of the first film, Andy must come to terms with her newfound mortality while preparing to face a mysterious foe (played by Uma Thurman). The cast includes returnees KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and newcomers Thurman and Henry Golding.

Quarterback, the sports docuseries, is back for its second season this month, debuting on July 8. The show, produced by Netflix in partnership with NFL Films, 2PM Productions, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, is in the vein of the streamer’s phenomenally successful Drive to Survive docuseries. Season one of Quarterback followed Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota through the 2022 season. Season two will see Cousins return, this time as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions.

On July 9, Netflix debuts its new music competition series, Building the Band. The show was notably the last television appearance of the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died tragically in October 2024. Before his death, Payne recorded episodes as a guest judge on the series that is hosted by Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, with Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls) serving as mentor-judge and Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland also serving as a guest judge. Following Payne’s death, the show’s producers and Payne’s family were weighing his inclusion in the series. Ultimately, they have decided to move forward with Payne remaining in the show.

Launching in three parts over the month of July is the second and final season of The Sandman, the fantasy series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic graphic novels. Despite stellar reviews and decent ratings for season one, the followup and indeed the very existence of a second season hung in the balance as Gaiman was accused of sexual assault by five women in July 2024, and by four more women in January 2025. The second season will conclude the story for Dream (played by Tom Sturridge), the show’s central character and part one will debut on July 3, with part two on July 24 with a special episode concluding things on July 31. Season two will feature a number of fan-favorite characters reprising their roles, including Mason Alexander Park as Desire, Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, and Patton Oswalt as the voice of Matthew the Raven. Jenna Coleman, Donna Preston, Esmé Creed-Miles, Adrian Lester, Barry Sloane, Ferdinand Kingsley, Stephen Fry, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Razane Jammal, Ruairi O’Connor, Freddie Fox, Clive Russell, Laurence O’Fuarain, Ann Skelly, Douglas Booth, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore, and Steve Coogan also appear.

A potential breakout film for Netflix this month could be the Korean psychological thriller Wall to Wall, which debuts on July 18. In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience. According to the logline, Wall to Wall is about “Woo-sung, a financially burdened homeowner who struggles to find sleep and peace in what should be his dream home. When all his neighbors accuse him of being the source of the noise, he sets out to find the source himself and prove his innocence.”

The other big Hollywood film release for Netflix in July, and the feature most likely to shoot up the top 10 list and dominate social media, is the sequel to Adam Sandler’s classic and endlessly quotable golf comedy Happy Gilmore. The first film, released all the way back in 1996, featured Sandler as a failed hockey player with a knack for booming golf drives, and the Kyle Newacheck-directed sequel sees Happy picking up his clubs once more to pay for his daughter’s school fees. As well as Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher “Shooter McGavin” McDonald, and Ben Stiller reprise their roles from the original film while Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny are newcomers. Happy Gilmore 2 debuts on July 25.

Movies added to Netflix in July include Blow, Born on the Fourth of July, Captain Phillips, The Deer Hunter, Friday Night Lights, Here Comes the Boom, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Horrible Bosses, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible II, Mission: Impossible III, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, The Notebook, Pacific Rim, The Sweetest Thing, Tangerine, V for Vendetta, White Chicks, Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3 and Jaws: The Revenge.

Read on for the complete list of titles hitting Netflix in March.

July 1

Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers (GB)
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel (GB)
17 Again
Annie (1982)
Blow
Born on the Fourth of July
Captain Phillips
The Deer Hunter
Friday Night Lights
Here Comes the Boom
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
Horrible Bosses
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid Part II
The Karate Kid Part III
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible II
Mission: Impossible III
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Mom: Seasons 1-8
The Notebook
Pacific Rim
PAW Patrol Seasons 2-3
Portlandia: Seasons 1-8
The Sweetest Thing
Tangerine
V for Vendetta
White Chicks
Yellowjackets: Season 2
Zathura: A Space Adventure

July 2

The Old Guard 2
Tour de France: Unchained: Season 3 (GB)

July 3

Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano
Mr. Robot: Seasons 1-4
The Sandman: Season 2 Volume 1

July 4

All the Sharks

July 5

The Summer Hikaru Died (JP)

July 8

A Star Is Born (2018)
Better Late Than Single (KR)
Nate Jackson: Super Funny
Quarterback: Season 2
Sullivan’s Crossing: Seasons 1-2
Trainwreck: The Real Project X (GB)

July 9

Building The Band
The Gringo Hunters (MX)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Under a Dark Sun (FR)
Ziam (TH)

July 10

7 Bears (FR)
Brick (DE)
Leviathan (JP)
Off Road (IL)
Sneaky Pete: Seasons 1-3
Too Much (GB)

July 11

Aap Jaisa Koi (IN)
Almost Cops (NL)
Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding

July 14

Apocalypse in the Tropics (BR)
SAKAMOTO DAYS: Season 1 Part 2 (JP)

July 15

Entitled: Season 1
Jaws
Jaws 2
Jaws 3
Jaws: The Revenge
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy (GB)

July 16

Amy Bradley Is Missing
Mamma Mia!
Wanted

July 17

Catalog (EG)
Community Squad: Season 2 (AR)
UNTAMED

July 18

Almost Family (BR)
Delirium (CO)
I’m Still a Superstar (ES)
Superstar (ES)
Vir Das: Fool Volume (IN)
Wall to Wall (KR)

July 19

Eight for Silver

July 21

The Hunting Wives: Season 1
The Steve Harvey Show: Seasons 1-6

July 22

Trainwreck: P.I. Moms (GB)

July 23

Critical: Between Life and Death (GB)
Hightown: Seasons 1-3
House of Lies: Seasons 1-5
Letters From The Past (TR)

July 24

A Normal Woman (ID)
Hitmakers
My Melody & Kuromi (JP)
The Sandman: Season 2 Volume 2

July 25

Happy Gilmore 2
Trigger (KR)
The Winning Try (KR)

July 28

The Lazarus Project: Seasons 1-2

July 29

Dusty Slay: Wet Heat
Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 (GB)
WWE: Unreal

July 30

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes
Unspeakable Sins (MX)

July 31

An Honest Life (SE)
Glass Heart
Leanne
Marked (ZA)
The Sandman: Season 2: Special Episode

The BBC’s director general is facing questions over why he did not pull the live-stream footage of Bob Vylan after being informed during a visit to Glastonbury of the chants calling for the death of Israeli soldiers.

Tim Davie, who has led the BBC for nearly five years, was told of the chanting of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” by Bob Vylan’s vocalist after it had been broadcast live on the BBC on Saturday afternoon.

He was at the festival in Somerset on a visit to meet presenters and production staff when he was told that the chanting had been aired.

“At that point he was clear it should not feature in any other Glastonbury coverage,” a BBC spokesperson said. The decision was taken that the footage of Bob Vylan would not be made available on the broadcaster’s on-demand service.

But the live stream of the West Holts stage where Bob Vylan performed continued to be aired for a number of hours after the incident, allowing anyone watching the broadcast live to rewind it.

The band put out a statement on Tuesday saying they were “not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group”. In an Instagram post they said: “Today a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. Last week it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band.

“We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use unnecessary lethal force against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.

“We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story and whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”

The Irish rap trio Kneecap, including the member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who appeared in court earlier this month charged with a terror offence, took to the stage directly after Bob Vylan and led chants of “Free Palestine”. Their performance was not livestreamed.

The BBC did not offer any explanation for the decision made after consultation with Davie.

The broadcaster has already issued an apology on behalf of its staff running the live operations for failing to pull away from the performance of Bob Vylan during the chanting, describing the scenes as “utterly unacceptable”.

A BBC spokesperson said: “The director general was informed of the incident after the performance and at that point he was clear it should not feature in any other Glastonbury coverage.”

Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, said the incident was a “national shame”.

He wrote on X: “The airing of vile Jew-hatred at Glastonbury and the BBC’s belated and mishandled response, brings confidence in our national broadcaster’s ability to treat antisemitism seriously to a new low.

“It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it. Toxic Jew-hatred is a threat to our entire society.”

Avon and Somerset police said on Monday they had launched an investigation into both performances after reviewing video footage and audio recordings. A senior detective has been appointed to lead the investigation.

A police spokesperson said: “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage.

“The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.”

Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, said he had been shocked by the behaviour of some at the festival.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “There are some lessons, I think, for broadcasters from this, but let’s also not shy away from the issue, which is people in a crowd glorifying violence.

“I don’t think it’s something we’d associate with any music festival, but it’s a wider societal problem.

“It’s possible, I think, to be completely concerned by the scenes in Gaza and not stray into the kind of behaviour and endorsement that we saw with that performance.

“And I’m deeply shocked to be honest, that people would even not realise what I think they’re participating in when they do that.”

Writing on Instagram, Pascal Robinson-Foster, who performs under the name Bob Vylan, wrote: “Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place …

“Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”

The band is due to perform on 5 and 6 July at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region has urged the venue to call off the show.

A Greater Manchester police spokesperson said: “We are aware that Bob Vylan will be performing in Manchester at the weekend.

“Greater Manchester is famous for promoting music of all genres and we welcome all artists to our region. However, we will act immediately on any reports of commentary or actions that could be breaking the law.”

Meg Waite Clayton was mulling how to follow up her best-selling 2021 historical fiction novel “The Postmistress of Paris” when fate tapped her on the shoulder.

Her father had died and grief was making writing difficult. Then came the global pandemic, which found the California author hunkered down in the new home she shared with her husband Mac in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, a picture-book hamlet snuggled up against a crescent-shaped Pacific beach.

And so was born “Typewriter Beach” (out now from HarperCollins), a novel about blacklisted screenwriter Léon Chazan, who goes by Leo, and his journey toward the embrace of family that was denied him by the Holocaust. The tale toggles between Los Angeles during the 1950s McCarthy era, and 2018, when Chazan’s granddaughter Gemma decamps to his old Carmel cottage to meet her own personal and professional destiny.

“Leo just came to me, that’s my father’s middle name, and Gemma is basically Meg backwards,” says Clayton. “It’s not my family’s story per se; my father was a tech executive, not a blacklisted writer. But it all comes from the shreds of my heart.”

Clayton is no stranger to populating novels with real events and even historical figures, and she’s particularly fond of slicing off gritty periods from the mid-20th century.

In “The Race for Paris” (2015), she crafted a tale spotlighting women war correspondents who helped chronicle D-Day, while in “Last Train to London” (2019) she based her heroine on a real Dutch woman who was integral to the fabled Kindertransport that saved many Jewish children during World War II.

In “Typewriter Beach,” we’re in another difficult period where Senator Joseph McCarthy is on a witch hunt to ruin the lives of anyone even remotely suspected of being connected to the Communist party. Often evidence was thin or fabricated, but that didn’t stop McCarthy and others from sending many Hollywood actors and writers into exile. Screenwriters such as Dalton Trumbo had to submit scripts through proxies, often accepting only a fraction of their regular pay.

That dilemma is at the core of “Typewriter Beach,” which also features an appearance by none other than Alfred Hitchcock, who invites Clayton’s ’50s actress character, Isabella Giori, to audition for him. There are other well-known name drops, involving real Oscar night dramas and #MeToo movement trials, all of which bubbled to the fore during the author’s pandemic writing blitz.

“I write best when I write about the things I’m passionate about. And beyond being interested in the impact of the blacklist, I’d been writing opinion pieces for some time about the treatment of women in Hollywood,” she says.

How women are treated in Hollywood is a big focus on the novel ‘Typewriter Beach’

In this new novel, Giori is an up-and-coming actress whose life is upended by the scrutiny and demands of a publicity machine that doesn’t allow actors to simply be themselves. On the run, she leaves Los Angeles for Carmel. Clayton says she mined those details from reading about real legends from Grace Kelly to Marilyn Monroe, whose careers were subject to intense scrutiny and control.

Ingrid Berman was virtually blackballed after her scandalous extramarital affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini, a marriage that would later produce actress Isabella Rossellini. She stayed away from the Oscars in 1957 despite winning for “Anastasia.”

For Clayton, the power of fiction over news reports is rooted in the heart. “History you read about, but with historical fiction you try and make people feel what it might be like to have something powerful happen to you,” she says.

Part of what keeps “Typewriter Beach” clicking along are the overlapping references to Hollywood then and now, especially when a guest appearance is made by the murder-mystery icon best known simply as “Hitch.”

To make sure his presence was genuine, Clayton watched countless hours of Hitchcock interviews and “made sure I watched many of his greatest works, which frankly was a great excuse to watch movies during the daytime,” she says.

As for the accuracy of Hitch’s comments and behavior in her novel, Clayton says that while creative license is fair game after someone dies, “I still felt compelled to make sure that things resonated, whether it was his love of eating many steaks at a time or his relationship with his wife, Alma, or the description of the house they had just north of Carmel. It’s all the way it was.”

In writing the new book, Clayton also got to know her new hometown better, strolling its tree-dotted and canopied streets, discovering its hidden beaches and learning about its famous poet Robinson Jeffers. She even dove into 1950s town gossip by perusing the archives of the local paper, the improbably named Carmel Pine Cone.

Searching old copies, she’d stumble upon articles announcing that Bing Crosby had just arrived for the season, see ads for movies playing at the local theater and scan announcements detailing which resident had just gotten a telephone. It all made it that much easier to make Carmel-by-the-Sea a key protagonist in her latest work.

“It’s this tiny town known the world over for its cottages and fog and famous residents like Clint Eastwood, Doris Day and now even Brad Pitt,” she says. “But the gift I personally got from the pandemic was being able to focus on where I now lived. And that was just wonderful.”

Apple Corps, the Beatles‘ media corporation, has named Tom Greene as its new CEO, the announced Tuesday morning.

Greene is best-known for his work with the Harry Potter franchise, where he worked first as an executive both at Pottermore Publishing, then as the CFO and later general manager at Wizarding World Digital, the joint venture between Warner Media and Pottermore. Greene is currently the chief operating officer of esports programming company Blast, and he is still on the board at Pottermore.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom Greene as CEO,” Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Sean Ono Lennon said in a joint statement. “We have a lot of exciting plans and Tom’s experience and vision make him the perfect person to join us in making it all happen.”

Greene’s appointment comes months after previous CEO Jeff Jones, who served as Apple Corps’ top executive for 17 years, stepped down from his post last October, per Billboard. The Beatles had first established Apple Corps back in 1968, and Greene will serve as the third CEO in the company’s history, per the company.

Apple Corps remains active in overseeing the Fab Four’s musical legacy, giving the signoff for Sam Mendes’ biopics on all four of the Beatles. Those films will star Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and they’re expected to release in 2028.

“It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history,” Greene said in a statement. “Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with The Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of The Beatles’ spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started.”

Apple Corps has appointed Tom Greene as chief executive officer, effective September 2025. 

Since 1968, Apple Corps has overseen The Beatles’ creative and business interests. 

“Only the third CEO in Apple Corps’ storied history, British executive Tom Greene’s experience and vision perfectly position him to continue that legacy, whilst expanding The Beatles’ creative horizons,” said a statement.

Greene has previously fulfilled operating roles for the Harry Potter franchise, including stints running both Pottermore Publishing and Wizarding World Digital, a joint venture between Warner Bros and Pottermore. 

At the time he left Wizarding World Digital, the Harry Potter Fan Club had grown to over 50 million members, supported by immersive digital experiences, daily content publishing and an innovative ecommerce offering. He remains on the board of Pottermore. 

Greene is currently the COO of Blast, an entertainment company working with video game developers and publishers on the production, commercialisation and audience growth of their esports programmes. It has grown twenty-fold during his time at the company, opening offices in London, Copenhagen, Berlin, New York and Mumbai. He will remain on the board of Blast. 

In a joint statement, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Sean Ono Lennon said: “We are thrilled to welcome Tom Greene as CEO. We have a lot of exciting plans and Tom’s experience and vision make him the perfect person to join us in making it all happen.”

It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history

Tom Greene

Tom Greene said: “It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history. Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with The Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of The Beatles’ spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started.”

With 32.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, The Beatles’ enduring catalogue (released via Universal Music’s catalogue division) remains hugely popular across multiple generations.

Apple Corps’ music initiatives include Special Edition releases for several Beatles albums, including Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (White Album), Abbey Road, Let It Be and Revolver. 

The Beatles’ 2023 international hit single Now And Then reached No,1 in the UK singles charts. It secured a Grammy win and a BRIT Award nomination. 

Peter Jackson’s 2021 documentary series Get Back won five awards in the Emmys’ documentary categories.

Last year, Apple Corps and Disney+ released David Tedeschi and Martin Scorsese’s new Beatles ’64 documentary, as well as a restored version of Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s Let It Be. 

A four-film Beatles cinematic event is set for release in April 2028 through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions. 

Directed by Sam Mendes, written by Jez Butterworth, Jack Thorne and Peter Straughan, and starring Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison), the project marks the first time Apple Corps and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for scripted film.

 

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ISLAMABAD – The British Council supported a vibrant collaboration between the Faiz Foundation Trust (Pakistan) and the Bradford Literature Festival (UK) to co-curate a special Faiz Festival programme as part of the BLF 2025 edition.

The partnership brought the spirit and legacy of the celebrated Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz to UK audiences, in a festival renowned for championing diverse voices and narratives. As part of this collaboration, three bespoke sessions honoured Faiz’s life, work, and enduring relevance, showcasing his literary influence across poetry, music, and visual arts.

James Hampson, Country Director of the British Council Pakistan, said: “We’re proud to provide an opportunity for people to hear more about Faiz Ahmed Faiz. New collaborations, building on old connections between the UK and Pakistan, will showcase our shared cultural heritage. Introducing established and new talent from Pakistan to British audiences is important to us, and we’re pleased to be supporting Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture.”

Moneeza Hashmi, Media Expert and Faiz Foundation Trustee, said: “My father, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, has always been a poet beyond borders, speaking to the hearts of people across cultures and nations. Now, through the Faiz Foundation, we’re taking his legacy across the world, sharing his poetry and ideals with broader audiences. It’s a privilege to be part of this journey, and I’m thrilled to see his words continue to inspire and unite people globally.

The sessions included:

• An evening with acclaimed actors and Faiz’s grandchildren Adeel and Mira Hashmi, interweaving dramatic readings of Faiz’s work with live ghazal performances by the versatile singer Priti Kaur.
• A conversation between noted curator and artist Salima Hashmi, broadcaster Moneeza Hashmi, and academic Prof. Saeed Khan, exploring how Faiz’s poetry has inspired visual art across generations.
• A panel discussion on poetic resistance and solidarity across borders, connecting Faiz’s legacy with that of Neruda, Darwish, Qabbani, and Preti Taneja, through shared themes of justice, dignity, and human resilience.

In addition to the Faiz Festival sessions, audiences were also treated to a Qawwali performance by Najmuddin-Saifuddin Qawwal, masters of the devotional Sufi tradition.

The collaboration is part of the wider arts programming for Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture, where the British Council is supporting groundbreaking new work by Pakistani artist Meherunnisa Asad, whose installation for Wild Uplands is already drawing attention across national UK media.

Through these initiatives, the British Council continues its commitment to bringing artists and audiences together from Pakistan and the UK to share and exchange creative ideas, fostering mutual understanding and showcasing the richness of contemporary Pakistani culture on the world stage.

 
Rohner: We’ve worked with several hundred thousand people over the past 60-some-odd years on every continent except Antarctica, and while doing that, we’ve learned many lessons about what we’re like and not like as human beings. The beauty of the work we do is that we can now empirically document three things, among others. First, humans everywhere – in any place in the world that we’ve found so far – understand themselves to be cared about or not cared about in the same four ways. So far, no exceptions. Second, if you feel the person or people who are most important to you – these are usually parents when we’re kids and intimate partners when we’re adults, but there could be others like teachers or coaches – if you feel that person doesn’t really want you, appreciate you, care about you, love you, if you feel rejected by that person, most people will respond in exactly the same way. A cluster of 10 things start to happen. We get anxious, insecure. We have anger problems. Our self-esteem is impaired. Children can have issues of cognitive distortions, in which they start to think about themselves in distorted ways. The third important lesson comes from Sumbleen’s work.

Ali: I came to UConn as a psychology student and enjoyed working with Ron so much that I decided to pursue a graduate degree in human development and family sciences. In conversations about IPARTheory, we developed an argument that parental acceptance and rejection might be rooted in our shared biocultural evolution, and I wanted to investigate how that shows up in the brain. This became the focus of my dissertation – the first in affective neuroscience at UConn – under the guidance of my Ph.D. advisors, Preston Britner and Ron Rohner. The research examined how early parental experiences shape emotional regulation. We scanned the brains of students who reported either parental acceptance or rejection while they played a simulated ball-tossing game designed to mimic social exclusion. Those with rejection histories showed more activity in areas linked to emotion and memory, suggesting they were re-experiencing past rejection. Participants who felt loved showed more activation in regions tied to rational thinking, possibly reframing the experience. Now, we’re analyzing resting-state brain data to see whether differences in brain connectivity appear even without an external task.