{"id":2377895,"date":"2026-04-17T17:37:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2377895"},"modified":"2026-04-17T17:37:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:37:05","slug":"hollywood-stars-oppose-paramount-warner-bros-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/hollywood-stars-oppose-paramount-warner-bros-merger\/","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood stars oppose Paramount-Warner Bros. merger"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"270\" data-attachment-id=\"303814\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2025\/05\/10\/desktop-documentary-feng-shui\/sc1-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?fit=795%2C275&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"795,275\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SC1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?fit=780%2C270&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=780%2C270&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-303814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?w=795&amp;ssl=1 795w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=450%2C156&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=768%2C266&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=600%2C208&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=780%2C270&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=400%2C138&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=706%2C244&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?resize=150%2C52&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SC1.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-petition-friday\"><strong\/><strong>Petition Friday<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_6PEgDS127qK?ui_title_intro=Listen+to+this+story&amp;ui_title_icon=headphones&amp;client=wp&amp;client_version=3.1.2\" width=\"100%\" height=\"136px\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Friday, April 17\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0\u2014<\/strong>\u00a0Hello everyone, and happy Friday! This week, we\u2019re starting off with some news about petitions. We are\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wbd.com\/news\/warner-bros-discovery-sets-shareholder-meeting-date-april-23-2026-approve-transaction\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">less than a week away from the meeting where Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will vote on the merger with Paramount Skydance\u00a0<\/a>(I feel like I\u2019m watching \u201cSuccession\u201d again), and many in Hollywood are sending up a last-minute plea.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Over 3,000 Hollywood industry professionals, including Florence Pugh, Ben Stiller, and Jane Fonda,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blockthemerger.com\/openletter\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have signed an open letter opposing the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.<\/a>\u00a0Paramount responded to the letter, maintaining its oft-repeated promise that it will release 30+ feature films a year, all with theatrical releases (I\u2019ll believe it when I see it, but I\u2019m guessing I won\u2019t).<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know if this will have any measurable effect on what ends up happening with the merger \u2013 celebrities sign open letters all the time \u2013 but there are some interesting wrinkles here. Multiple people who signed the letter, including J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, have deals with Warner Bros.\/HBO. Will the threat of losing that talent have any effect? I\u2019m skeptical, but I guess we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SIDE NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0At the Oscars, Jane Fonda\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/florence-pugh-pedro-pascal-paramount-warner-bros-merger-open-letter-1236721627\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said this of the possible merger and its effect on celebrity.land:<\/a>\u00a0\u201cI mean, I slept with a guy who created it [Ted Turner]! I have a personal stake in it!\u201d Amid all this terrible news, I\u2019m happy to be able to laugh at a good Jane Fonda quote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Without further ado \u2026 Action!<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udf7f CinemaCon, the trade show for movie theater owners in Las Vegas, was the talk of the town this week.\u00a0Warner Bros.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/news\/breaking-news\/sean-bakers-next-film-ti-amo-warner-bros-clockwork-1235189100\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">unveiled Clockwork, a new specialty division<\/a>\u00a0(but didn\u2019t mention the merger), we saw a teaser for Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u201cThe Odyssey,\u201d and Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunited for \u201cPractical Magic 2.\u201d IndieWire has been covering everything,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">and you can keep up with that here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfc6 The Atlanta Film Festival has announced the\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/josh-brolin-carrie-preston-danielle-184500454.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">honorees for its 2026 IMAGE Film Awards Gala<\/a>, including Will Packer, Josh Brolin, and Carrie Preston.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfb8 Soul Cinema Sundays is commemorating the 10-year anniversary of Prince\u2019s death with a\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/soul-cinema-sunday-purple-rain-4k\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">screening of \u201cPurple Rain\u201d at the Plaza Theatre on April 19.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa The\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurofilmfestatl.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European Film Festival of Atlanta<\/a>\u00a0returns to the Tara and Plaza Theatres May 13-16.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfdc\ufe0f Landmark Theatres begins its third annual Pride series on May 30 with\u00a0\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.landmarktheatres.com\/movies\/11316-the-adventures-of-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert\/?utm_source=Out+on+Film+List&amp;utm_campaign=8a9ef25e9a-Reel+Resistance+Fellowship+Announcement_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_-f259e521e2-1441144023&amp;mc_cid=8a9ef25e9a&amp;mc_eid=531f89a016\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert\u201d<\/a>\u00a0at the Midtown Art Cinema. The series will continue through June.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcbc\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/biz\/news\/disney-layoffs-1000-employees-josh-damaro-memo-1236721266\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Disney began making layoffs this week<\/a>, with plans to eliminate about 1,000 jobs.<\/p>\n<p>This week\u2019s newsletter has interviews with a few filmmakers who have movies playing at this year\u2019s Atlanta Film Festival (there will be a lot more where that came from next week) and a review of Stephen Soderbergh\u2019s new film \u201cThe Christophers.\u201d We\u2019re skipping Spotlight this week, but we\u2019ve still got what\u2019s playing at theaters and some reading and listening recommendations\u00a0for your lunch break.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for reading!<br \/>Sammie<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background\">\ud83d\udc3e The\u00a0<strong>Midtown Mutt Gala\u00a0<\/strong>returns May 3 from 2\u20135 p.m. for an afternoon of fashionable pups, music, vendors, and a doggy red carpet complete with Pawpurazzi! A small fee applies to enter the costume contest.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/midtownmuttgala2026.eventbrite.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register by Apr. 26 and learn more here<\/a>. <strong>SPONSOR MESSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/nearly-40-years-later-mark-mori-returns-to-atlanta-film-festival-with-baristas-v-billionaires\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"539\" data-attachment-id=\"350464\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?fit=1200%2C830&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,830\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?fit=780%2C539&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=780%2C539&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-350464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=1024%2C708&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=450%2C311&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=768%2C531&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=550%2C380&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=800%2C553&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=600%2C415&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=780%2C540&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=400%2C277&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=706%2C488&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?resize=150%2C104&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8702124d-721a-3408-b76b-95c8c825d176-1024x708.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/a>Photo courtesy of Atlanta Film Festival<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mark-mori-returns-to-atlanta-film-festival-with-baristas-v-billionaires\"><strong\/><strong>Mark Mori returns to Atlanta Film Festival with \u2018Baristas v. Billionaires\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u2615 In 1989, Mark Mori screened his documentary \u201cBuilding Bombs,\u201d which he co-directed with Susan Robinson, at\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vasulka.org\/archive\/Tools\/show-fest3\/Atlanta\/poster%2789.pdf\">what was then called the Atlanta Film &amp; Video Festival<\/a>. Now, 37 years later, he has a new film playing at the 50th Atlanta Film Festival.<\/p>\n<p>The Georgia State University grad\u2019s new film is called \u201cBaristas v. Billionaires,\u201d a documentary that chronicles\u00a0the struggles of Starbucks baristas as they try to unionize against a company that seems determined to fight them every step of the way.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/atlff26.eventive.org\/films\/69c169b54f7fcd759d944b0d\">The film will play at the festival on April 28 at the Tara Theatre.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ahead of that screening, I spoke with Mori and co-producer Dennis LA White about the project and why it means so much to them.<\/p>\n<p>\u270a\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/nearly-40-years-later-mark-mori-returns-to-atlanta-film-festival-with-baristas-v-billionaires\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/high.org\/exhibition\/noguchi\/?utm_medium=Digital&amp;utm_source=RoughDraft_SponsoredStory&amp;utm_campaign=Noguchi&amp;utm_content=digital\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"585\" data-attachment-id=\"350465\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?fit=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"800,600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc (2)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?fit=780%2C585&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=780%2C585&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-350465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=450%2C338&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=550%2C413&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=780%2C585&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bac9609-7b3b-ae4b-00a2-e333607371dc-2.jpeg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sculpting-space-shaping-experience\"><strong\/><strong>Sculpting Space, Shaping Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83c\udfa8 Step into the expansive world of Isamu Noguchi, where sculpture, design, and space converge in unexpected ways.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/high.org\/exhibition\/noguchi\/?utm_medium=Digital&amp;utm_source=RoughDraft_SponsoredStory&amp;utm_campaign=Noguchi&amp;utm_content=digital\">Discover nearly two hundred works\u00a0<\/a>ranging from iconic furniture to unrealized visions and large-scale installations that reveal an artist redefining how we live, play, and experience form.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Plus, celebrate with a luminous community lantern parade\u00a0from the\u00a0<strong>High Museum of Art<\/strong>\u00a0to Piedmont Park on April 23, featuring hands-on lantern-making workshops inspired by Noguchi\u2019s iconic Akari lanterns with Chantelle Rytter.<\/p>\n<p>\u279e\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/high.org\/exhibition\/noguchi\/?utm_medium=Digital&amp;utm_source=RoughDraft_SponsoredStory&amp;utm_campaign=Noguchi&amp;utm_content=digital\">Now open.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/marissa-read-and-selyna-warren-capture-90s-sitcom-nostalgia-with-a-twist-in-step-friend\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-attachment-id=\"350466\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?fit=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-350466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=450%2C253&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=550%2C309&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=800%2C450&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=600%2C338&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d4806165-7573-7318-5683-943b87ff2e46-1024x576.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/a>Photo courtesy of Atlanta Film Festival<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-marissa-read-and-selyna-warren-capture-90s-sitcom-nostalgia-with-a-twist-in-step-friend\"><strong\/><strong>Marissa Read and Selyna Warren capture 90s sitcom nostalgia with a twist in \u2018Step-Friend\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa Sometimes, it feels like Marissa Read and Selyna Warren share the same brain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When I interviewed the writing partners, whose project \u201cStep-Friend\u201d will be playing in the Episodic section of this year\u2019s Atlanta Film Festival, that fact became more apparent than ever. They often finish each other\u2019s sentences, or say the same thing at the same time. It\u2019s the kind of chemistry that only years of working closely together can bring.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStep-Friend,\u201d which was written and directed by both Read and Warren, is the pilot of what the duo hopes will become a series. It features a nostalgic multicam sitcom format (think \u201cFull House\u201d) and follows the strained relationship between Scout (Read) and her best friend Darby (Warren) after Darby marries Scout\u2019s dad, Vince (Jim O\u2019Heir). Things come to a head when Vince\u2019s boss (Jillian Bell) comes over for dinner.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udf7f I spoke with the duo ahead of the project\u2019s screening at the Atlanta Film Festival.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/marissa-read-and-selyna-warren-capture-90s-sitcom-nostalgia-with-a-twist-in-step-friend\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out our conversation here.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/art-is-a-relationship-in-the-christophers\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"412\" data-attachment-id=\"350467\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?fit=1200%2C634&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,634\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON Z 8&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1740481870&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;33&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?fit=780%2C412&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=780%2C412&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-350467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=1024%2C541&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=450%2C238&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=768%2C406&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=550%2C291&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=800%2C423&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=600%2C317&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=780%2C412&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=400%2C211&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=706%2C373&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?resize=150%2C79&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a0a05c33-d49f-10da-efbd-08a378e0cac6-1024x541.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/a>Photo by Claudette Barius<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-art-is-a-relationship-in-the-christophers\"><strong\/><strong>Art is a relationship in \u2018The Christophers\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>WEEKLY FILM REVIEW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\uddbc\ufe0f \u201cThe Christophers\u201d opens with a shot of a drawing. Our protagonist, Lori Butler (Michaela Coel), is sitting on a bench, sketching the building across from her. She\u2019s passing time (she works at the Chinese food truck parked next to the bench), and a completed sketch of the same building already sits on one side of her notebook, as she works on a second identical sketch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We won\u2019t really question what Lori is doing until later, but as the film goes on, you start to wonder \u2013 was she sketching the building in front of her, or was she trying to copy the sketch on the other page? We\u2019ve been conditioned to understand a difference between those two things, but why? Why does that really matter?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Christophers,\u201d directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon, is filled with moments like this one \u2013 seemingly inconsequential at first glance, but raising larger questions about the nature of art. Why do we value the sketch of the building more than the sketch of the sketch? What gives art its importance? Is it originality? And if it is \u2013 what does that mean?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udd8c\ufe0f\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/art-is-a-relationship-in-the-christophers\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read my full review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/normal-2026-244049\/movie-overview\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-attachment-id=\"350468\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/2026\/04\/17\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1730916648&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?fit=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-350468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=450%2C253&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=550%2C309&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=800%2C450&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=600%2C338&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=706%2C397&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roughdraftatlanta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/83647258-ef71-817f-8788-415470e4283e-1024x576.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\"\/><\/a>Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-at-the-movies\"><strong\/><strong>At the Movies!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a movie to see in theaters this week, here\u2019s what you\u2019ve got to look forward to!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Movies releasing this weekend:<\/strong><br \/>\u2744\ufe0f\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/normal-2026-244049\/movie-overview\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cNormal\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(pictured)<br \/>\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddec\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/lee-cronins-the-mummy-2026-244052\/movie-overview\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cLee Cronin\u2019s The Mummy\u201d<\/a><br \/>\ud83d\udcfa\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/lorne-2026-244776\/movie-overview\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cLorne\u201d<\/a><br \/>\ud83d\uddbc\ufe0f\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/the-christophers-2026-245007\/movie-overview\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Christophers\u201d<\/a><br \/>\ud83d\udc30\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fandango.com\/bunnylovr-2026-244785\/movie-overview\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cBunnylovr\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Events:<\/strong><br \/>\ud83d\udc6a An Evening with Blair Underwood +\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/an-evening-with-blair-underwood---a-soldiers-wife-book-talk-madeas-family-reunion\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cMadea\u2019s Family Reunion\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Plaza (Friday)<br \/>\ud83d\udd2e\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/the-dark-crystal-4k\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Dark Crystal\u201d<\/a>\u00a0in 4K @ The Plaza (Saturday-Wednesday)<br \/>\ud83d\udc42\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/blue-velvet-4k\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cBlue Velvet\u201d<\/a>\u00a0in 4K @ The Plaza (Saturday-Wednesday)<br \/>\ud83c\udfb8\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/pavements\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cPavements\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Plaza (Saturday)<br \/>\ud83d\udc51 Soul Cinema Sundays:\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plazaatlanta.com\/movie\/soul-cinema-sunday-purple-rain-4k\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cPurple Rain\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Plaza (Sunday)<br \/>\ud83d\ude32\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taraatlanta.com\/movie\/faces-1968\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cFaces\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Tara (Friday-Wednesday)<br \/>\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Behind the Slate:\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taraatlanta.com\/movie\/behind-the-slate-a-man-escaped\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cA Man Escaped\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Tara (Saturday)<br \/>\ud83e\udd42\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taraatlanta.com\/movie\/bridesmaids-15th-anniversary\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cBridesmaids\u201d<\/a>\u00a015th Anniversary @ The Tara (Saturday-Tuesday)<br \/>\ud83c\udfad National Theatre:\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.taraatlanta.com\/movie\/national-theatre-all-my-sons-2026\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cAll My Sons\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ The Tara (Saturday-Sunday)<br \/>\ud83e\udd78\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springscinema.com\/unique-programming\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Mask\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ Springs Cinema &amp; Taphouse (Sunday-Monday)<br \/>\ud83e\udd30\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springscinema.com\/movie\/terms-of-endearment\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cTerms of Endearment\u201d<\/a>\u00a0@ Springs Cinema &amp; Taphouse (Saturday-Sunday)<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background\">\ud83d\udc3e The\u00a0<strong>Midtown Mutt Gala\u00a0<\/strong>returns May 3 from 2\u20135 p.m. for an afternoon of fashionable pups, music, vendors, and a doggy red carpet complete with Pawpurazzi! A small fee applies to enter the costume contest.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/midtownmuttgala2026.eventbrite.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register by Apr. 26 and learn more here<\/a>. <strong>SPONSOR MESSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lights-camera-action\"><strong\/><strong>Lights, Camera, Action!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\ud83d\udcf1 I\u2019ve never been to an Alamo Drafthouse, but I have been to a dine-in movie theater, and I have some pretty strong, negative opinions about it. But Alamo was supposed to be different. Servers and patrons stayed quiet, and phone usage was banned \u2013 or even ridiculed and punished, if it came down to it. But now, Alamo has joined the dark side and is allowing patrons to use their phones to order food \u2013 basically, encouraging people to do what was for so long a taboo. For IndieWire,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/features\/commentary\/alamo-drafthouse-sucks-now-1235188253\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Ehrlich wrote about the hellscape that is eating at an Alamo Drafthouse in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa I mentioned the podcast \u201cUnspooled\u201d last week, but shared a different podcast episode that the \u201cUnspooled\u201d hosts appeared on. This week it\u2019s their turn. Earlier this week,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/1H8OzLs4sYD2XL2hTrYauw?si=CbSuKmU7TqyuHB752UuAvw\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">they put out a great episode on \u201cThe Truman Show,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0discussing how the film achieves its high-wire balancing act of sincerity and satire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfa7 We all have classics we\u2019ve missed \u2013 for instance, I still haven\u2019t seen \u201cChinatown.\u201d (I\u2019m working on it!) On a recent episode of NPR\u2019s \u201cPop Culture Happy Hour,\u201d the hosts discuss watching their big blind spots \u2013 such as \u201cErin Brockovich\u201d and \u201cRaging Bull\u201d \u2013 for the first time.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/1dthNbAeYbW2pUEhsfDB4M?si=hkuzX7jWSheFlIKuYAh5uw\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check it out here.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n<p>\ud83d\udd8a\ufe0f Today\u2019s Scene was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-service=\"facebook\" data-category=\"marketing\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n\t\t'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '1660251634567832');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView', {\"page_title\":\"\\u2615 &#8216;Baristas v. Billionaires&#8217; @ AFF\",\"user_role\":\"guest\",\"event_url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/roughdraftatlanta.com\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/17\\\/baristas-v-billionaires-aff\",\"post_type\":\"post\",\"post_id\":350463});\n\t\t<\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source roughdraftatlanta.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Petition Friday Friday, April 17\u00a0\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Hello everyone, and happy Friday! This week, we\u2019re starting off with some news about petitions. We are\u00a0less than a week away from the meeting where Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will vote on the merger with Paramount Skydance\u00a0(I feel like I\u2019m watching \u201cSuccession\u201d again), and many in Hollywood are sending up a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2377896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2377895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Hollywood-stars-oppose-Paramount-Warner-Bros-merger.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2377895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2377895"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2377895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2377897,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2377895\/revisions\/2377897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2377896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2377895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2377895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2377895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}