Director and screenwriter Jeymes Samuel says he couldn’t have picked two more perfect actors to portray real-life cowboy and Old West hero Nat Love for his 2013 short film They Die by Dawn and his 2021 directorial feature debut, The Harder They Fall.
In They Die by Dawn, Samuel tapped the late Michael K. Williams for the role of Love, which the director reveals was his first encounter with the talented Wire actor.
“When I used to watch him act, he would embody heartbreak in such a poetic way,” Samuel tells ABC Audio. “He’d embody heartbreak and vulnerability with such strength. And that was Nat Love for me…I couldn’t see anyone else playing him — just the way that he portrays heartbreak and the beauty of everything he’s gone through…and…gives you hope on camera and off.”
Samuels says it was those important characteristics that made Williams the “quintessential Nat Love” for his film. Not surprisingly, when it came time to make The Harder They Fall, Samuel says he looked for similar qualities.
“I came across Jonathan Majors and he had the same thing,” Samuel says of Majors’ “much younger” portrayal of Love. “The way he finds strength through vulnerability is so beautiful.”
Although Samuel says the two projects are very “different,” the director notes that he felt a significant connection to both Williams and Majors.
“[Majors] sent me a poem of the mental workings of Nat Love [and] I knew it was him,” Samuel says of how Majors landed the role. “And then [Majors and Williams] did Lovecraft [Country] together, unbeknownst to me. And then they forged a beautiful friendship with themselves. So it’s almost like Nat Love bonded all of us in real life.
The Harder They Fall is now in select theaters and debuts on Netflix on November 3.
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All Time Low has issued a statement denying recent allegations of sexual misconduct as “absolutely and unequivocally false.”
The statement does not specify the exact allegations, but refers to a TikTok video that “gained traction a few weeks ago alluding to inappropriate behavior within our camp.” The presumed TikTok shows a woman sharing that a “famous pop punk band” invited her on their tour bus when she was 13, adding that they tried to take her bra for their “nasty collection” and offered her alcohol.
That video was then followed by a lengthy statement from an anonymous social media account specifically accusing guitarist Jack Barakat of grooming, abuse and sexual assault.
In their statement, which is credited to all four member of All Time Low, the “Monsters” rockers write that “we have to state with outright certainty that what is being said about us is completely and utterly false.”
“We are investigating further the source of these false accusations, and will be seeking legal recourse as we take these allegations very seriously,” the statement reads.
“We stand with victims and always wish to amplify the voices and stories of those who have suffered abuse and trauma,” the band continues. “But we cannot and will not fuel or amplify lies that only cloud and distort the true stories of those who need to be heard and represented.”
Bakarat also issued a separate statement, reading, “While the four of us wrote this statement together, I feel the need to personally refute the claims being made against me and us, as they are 100% false.”
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As the investigation continues into the accidental shooting on the set of the Alec Baldwin film Rust, new details have emerged about the assistant director who handed Baldwin the prop gun that ended up killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
A producer on the movie Freedom’s Path confirms to ABC News that assistant director Dave Halls was fired from that film in 2019 after a gun mishap on set.
“First of all, our condolences go out to everyone affected by the recent tragic event in New Mexico,” the unnamed producer says in a statement.
“I can confirm that Dave Halls was fired from the set of ‘Freedom’s Path’ in 2019 after a crew member incurred a minor and temporary injury when a gun was unexpectedly discharged,” the producer continues. “Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged. Production did not resume filming until Dave was off-site. An incident report was taken and filed at that time.”
According to a search warrant affidavit from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office regarding the Rust incident, Halls yelled “Cold gun!” before handing the prop weapon to Baldwin — a phrase that indicates the gun is not loaded. Halls reportedly told police he didn’t know the pistol was loaded.
Gal Gadot is set to return in Wonder Woman 3 and, as hinted by the actress, so are her children.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Gadot was asked if there’s a chance her husband and their three kids will make a cameo in the upcoming movie.
“Well, we might,” she replied, but declined to say for certain. “They can get used to it. It’s a nice souvenir in each movie they’re going to be older and older.”
Gadot, 36, shares three daughters with husband Yaron Varsano: 10-year-old Alma, four-year-old Maya, and Daniella, who was born in June.
The Red Notice actress said she doesn’t take her family’s cameos lightly, adding that she is always thinking back to what her husband told her after Alma was born.
“He told me, ‘It’s for you to choose, but just think about what kind of example you want to set for her,'” she recalled. “So I just think about it as a win-win and of course something’s always got to give. We can’t be just perfect, but the only thing we can do is just give our best and do our best.”
The recently confirmed Wonder Woman 3, which is rumored to be the third and final installment, will also star original TV Wonder Woman Lynda Carter. A release date has yet to be announced.
(BOISE, Idaho) — Two people were killed and four others, including a Boise police officer, were injured in a shooting at a mall in Boise, Idaho, police said.
One person is in custody, Boise police said. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee told reporters that police were working to notify the victims’ families.
“I cannot stress enough how traumatic enough this event was for the community at large,” he said at a news conference.
Police responded to reports of shots fired at the Boise Towne Square Mall on N. Milwaukee Street around 1:50 p.m. local time, authorities said.
When officers arrived at the scene they found someone matching the description of the suspect and there was an “exchange of gunfire” that took place, Lee said. One officer was injured and the suspect was taken into custody, according to Lee.
Both the FBI and ATF are assisting in the investigation. Authorities closed the roads leading to the mall following the shooting.
Officers were working to clear each business in the mall, police said, adding that there’s no indication there are additional threats or additional shooters.
The investigation is ongoing and Lee said the police would release more information about the incident as it becomes available.
Boise Mayor Lauren McClean offered her condolences to the victims and her thanks to those in the mall who came to the aid of people inside the shopping complex.
“I want to thank the shopkeepers, the people in the mall that reacted so quickly to take care of folks who were there,” she said. “You showed in a tough and chaotic moment how much you care, and what you are willing to do to support and care for strangers.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Episode two of the new ABC Drama Queens premieres tonight, and it was a particularly difficult one for series star Naturi Naughton.
We found out in the first episode that Naughton’s character, Jill, is living a double life — hiding the fact that she’s gay from her friends and family.
Naughton tells ABC Audio that getting comfortable in Jill’s skin was “a little scary at first.” “It’s not my real experience,” she explains, “and I always want to be as authentic as possible.”
That led the 37-year-old singer, songwriter and actress to do some research.
“I’ve even talked to a few friends and people who’ve actually lived that,” Naughton says. “The journey that I’ve kind of decided to tap into is that she really is trying to assert something that she has suppressed for so many years because of the hip hop background, because of her religious backgrounds.”
It’s rare to see a gay woman of color in a lead role on a network TV show, even in this day and age, and Naturi hopes her representation helps.
“There’s so much pressure on Jill and one thing that I hope my character inspires people is to release that pressure. To release that worry about what people may think,” Naughton offers. “And that’s actually what my character deals with constantly. But also don’t take on too much at once. Like, say your truth and it’s OK if you’re not perfect. It’s OK if you’re not the spokesperson for the entire movement.”
Angelina Jolie says she is the kind of mother that wants her kids to raid her closet, which explains why her daughters have been spotted wearing familiar outfits on the red carpet these days.
Speaking with E!’s Daily Pop, the Eternals actress said she encourages her children to pick through her wardrobe and take what they want.
“I’m like, ‘Oh my god, wear it and wear it better than me! Take it, it’s your turn,'” Jolie raved, noting that she is the “opposite” of the kind of parent who is territorial over their personal belongings.
Jolie is the mom of Maddox, 20, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and twins Vivienne and Knox, who are 13, whom she shares with ex Brad Pitt.
Jolie, who stars as Thena in Eternals, also explained why she wanted to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying the diverse cast seen in Eternals reminded her of her own family — and that excited her.
“It was now going to be a family that represented the world we live in, and for that, I said, ‘I don’t care the size of my role or what it is, I just want to back that family,” she said. “I wanted to see this family onscreen, so we all joined without having read the script. We all joined with a lot of faith but understanding that there was a message behind this film, that we are stronger together, and that this was going to be a very diverse, inclusive and different family. It was a love letter to humanity.”
The Eternals premieres in theaters on November 5.
Marvel is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
(NEW YORK) — COVID-19 vaccine shots for kids ages 5 to 11 may be available as soon as November, depending on the outcome of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel hearing happening Tuesday.
At the hearing, the FDA’s independent advisory committee is expected to have a public discussion and hold a non-binding vote on whether to authorize the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for the approximately 28 million children in the United States ages 5 to 11.
Once the FDA decides to authorize the vaccine, the issue goes before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory group.
That group, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, is set to meet on Nov. 2 and 3, and from there, the CDC director must sign off on the recommendation.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said on “Good Morning America” Tuesday that getting more kids vaccinated will be key to ending the pandemic.
“If we can create a situation where more of these kids are not getting infected, we should be able to drive this pandemic down which is what we really hope to do, even as we face the cold other and other concerns about whether we might see another surge,” said Collins. “We don’t want that, and this would be one significant step forward in getting our country really in a better place.”
As the countdown begins, here are five things parents should know about COVID-19 vaccines and kids under the age of 12.
1. Kids ages 5 to 11 are still not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Tuesday’s public hearing does not mean that children under age 12 will immediately be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The final vote on whether the vaccine is authorized for use in kids ages 5 to 11 will happen in early November, and will come from the CDC director.
Once that decision is made, the vaccine would be able to be administered relatively quickly to children across the country.
At the same time, the FDA will continue to review data to decide whether to grant full FDA approval for the vaccine in kids ages 5 to 11.
The FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for people ages 16 and older in August. It is currently authorized for emergency use in children ages 12 to 15.
The two other vaccines currently available in the U.S., Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are currently available only for people 18 years and older.
Moderna said Monday it plans to submit data to the FDA soon showing its vaccine for children ages 6 to 11 produces a strong immune response and appears safe.
2. The Pfizer dose is different for kids under age 12.
In Pfizer and BioNTech’s clinical trial of more than 2,200 children, the COVID-19 vaccine was administered in two doses, but the doses were one-third the amount given to adults.
The clinical trial results, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, showed the antibody response in children at that dose was at least as strong as the full adult does in patients ages 16 to 25.
Pfizer and BioNTech say the vaccine produced minimal side effects in children ages 5 to 11, and the side effects were similar to those experienced by adults and older children.
For 12- to 15-year-olds, the FDA has authorized the same dosing as adults with the Pfizer two-dose vaccine.
3. The vaccine’s focus is on kids’ immune systems.
Children have different immune systems than adults, so it should be reassuring for parents that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be safe in kids.
Differing immune systems among people of different ages also help explain why the cutoffs for vaccine eligibility rest on age and not body size.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, other immunizations are also scheduled and administered based on age and not weight. This is partially due to the fact that the body’s immune responses to vaccinations and infection are known to be different based on age.
4. The vaccine will be distributed to kids through pediatricians, pharmacies, health clinics and more.
Once greenlighted, the pediatric doses of the vaccine will be sent to thousands of sites across the country, including more than 25,000 pediatricians’ offices, more than 100 children’s hospitals, tens of thousands of pharmacies, and hundreds of school and community-based clinics, the White House announced Oct. 20th.
Within days, more than 15 million doses are set to begin distribution across the country.
Though the White House has purchased 65 million Pfizer pediatric vaccine doses — more than enough to fully vaccine all children ages 5-11 in America — the first launch will dole doses out in waves based on states’ eligible population of kids. Shipments can recalibrate based on shifting demand.
The distribution plan will also include a national public education campaign to “reach parents and guardians with accurate and culturally-responsive information about the vaccine and the risks that COVID-19 poses to children,” according to the White House.
White House officials told the nation’s governors on Oct. 12th that it has enough pediatric doses on hand for the 28 million children ages 5 through 11 expected to become eligible once the FDA gives the green light.
To troubleshoot any confusion in distribution, federal health officials are outlining a new color-coded cap system for each formulation of the vaccine, though still “preliminary.” Purple-capped vials will contain doses for adult and older adolescents, a chart offered to states said; orange-capped vials will contain doses for kids aged 5-11.
5. Families need to remain vigilant against COVID-19.
While there is a light at the end of the tunnel with younger kids having access to a COVID-19 vaccine, families need to stay vigilant against the virus as they wait for FDA authorization.
Unvaccinated children can not only become ill from COVID-19 themselves, but they can also spread the virus to more vulnerable family members and other adults with whom they interact.
Both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal mask-wearing in schools to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Experts said that in addition to unvaccinated children wearing face masks, parents and siblings who are vaccinated should also continue to wear face masks indoors because of the rates of breakthrough infections in the U.S.
Families should also continue to follow other safety guidelines shared throughout the pandemic, including social distancing and hand washing.
(WASHINGTON) — Brihanna Sims, a 27-year-old school bus driver and mother of a 7-year-old daughter, faces a financial pinch each summer when the number of routes are scaled back.
In summer 2020, classes held virtually because of COVID-19 meant even fewer routes and more strain. Although she received the Child Tax Credit before this year, the regular monthly payments and larger sum from the expanded Child Tax Credit became a “safety blanket” for Sims and her daughter, Addilynn, Sims said.
“She doesn’t have to see me stress about, ‘Oh my goodness, I didn’t get enough hours this month. Am I gonna make enough? Am I gonna make rent? Are we gonna be OK?'” Sims said.
Under a provision in the American Rescue Plan, 39 million families are now eligible for the expanded Child Tax Credit, according to the IRS, but the current program is set to lapse at the end of the year. President Joe Biden had proposed extending it through 2025, but it now may be extended only one additional year as Democrats pare back their social spending package amid pressure from moderates to cut the cost of the president’s plan.
Emma Mehrabi, director of poverty policy at the Children’s Defense Fund, said the monthly payments have benefited children, parents and caregivers in different ways — from monthly rent to groceries to newly established savings accounts.
“They’ve never experienced this type of income predictability each month, that has maybe given them a little bit of extra boost, a sense of security and relief and joy,” Mehrabi said.
Mehrabi also said the monthly payments, rather than the smaller payouts that used to come only during tax season, can make a life-changing difference.
“That can mean something to somebody who has felt disillusioned and fearful of the government,” Mehrabi said.
The first Child Tax Credit payment alone lifted 3 million children above the poverty line from June to July, according to a Columbia University study.
Kris Cox, deputy director of federal tax policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the expanded program is an opportunity for the U.S. to get up to speed with other nations.
“Many other developed countries have had child allowances that recognize that parents and families have particular financial obligations to raise children,” Cox said.
“We know that kids who grew up in homes with more income are healthier, that they do better in school, that they earn more as adults,” Cox added. “It’s just so important to give children a strong start in life.”
Sims said she’s being realistic and planning for what happens if the expanded Child Tax Credit payments disappear.
She also channels her energy into activism, volunteering for a coalition in Minnesota called the Barbershops and Black Congregation Cooperative that works to inform people in the community about political figures and policies, including the Child Tax Credit.
“Right now, I am preparing myself for things to go back to the norm,” Sims said. “Going back to that kind of budget that I had before, and putting a real tightening on things. But I’m also keeping myself positive that maybe this can change.”
(LONDON) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is back at work less than a week after an overnight hospital stay.
The 95-year-old monarch was seen smiling on Tuesday as she held a virtual audience at Windsor Castle to receive South Korea’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Gunn Kim.
The queen, wearing a yellow dress and a pearl necklace, spoke with the ambassador via video link from the royal residence in England’s Berkshire county, where she has been staying since her hospitalization.
Last week, Queen Elizabeth was forced to cancel a trip to Northern Ireland under orders from her medical team to rest.
She was hospitalized on the night of Oct. 20 for “preliminary investigations,” according to a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace.
By the following afternoon, the queen was back at her desk at Windsor Castle and undertaking light duties, the spokesperson said.
No further details about her condition were released by the palace.
The day before her hospitalization, Queen Elizabeth hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for a global investment summit where she met with leaders, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and U.S. climate envoy John Kerry.
She did not attend church on Sunday, so Tuesday’s appearance was the first public sighting of the queen since her hospitalization.
Queen Elizabeth is still scheduled to travel to Glasgow, Scotland, next week with other members of the British royal family for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
