Minority Mindset

Richard Linklater’s filmmaking journey began in 1988 when he taught himself filmmaking with an 8mm camera and a $3,000 budget, inspired by the idea that experience is the best teacher. Based in Austin, Texas, he’s always maintained an outsider’s perspective, fueled by a constant curiosity and a desire to explore. His early film, Slacker, proved that great movies could be made anywhere, and he’s since moved fluidly between small independent projects and large studio films. Despite this range, his work is united by several key themes: philosophical exploration, as seen in Slacker and Waking Life; nostalgic and personal storytelling in films like Dazed and Confused and Everybody Wants Some!!; innovative uses of time, particularly in the Before trilogy and Boyhood; and a consistent focus on dialogue and the inner lives of his characters.

So, director Ryan Coogler recently shared some fascinating insights into Space Jam 3 on the Get Rec’d podcast. Apparently, the villain, Remmick’s intense look – those red eyes and overall vibe – were directly inspired by the character of Death from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It’s funny, Pixar gave him the personality, but the surprisingly graceful dancing? That’s all Disney’s influence – Jack O’Connell really brought the moves! Beyond the movie itself, Coogler also gave a shout-out to Rosemary Graham, his creative writing professor who first encouraged him to pursue screenwriting. He described Sinners as a clear nod to Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, and honestly, I’m hoping this trend continues. Maybe we’ll see Ayo Edebiri, a fantastic Irish-American actress, pop up in Black Panther 3? That would be amazing!

After being delayed twice for Peacock subscribers – including once due to unforeseen tragic events – the documentary series Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks is finally hoping its release date will stick. The series aims to offer a behind-the-scenes look at Universal’s theme parks, similar to Disney’s The Imagineering Story. It will explore the history of Universal’s iconic attractions and offer a preview of the new Epic Universe park, with the possibility of revealing even more future plans.

Tom Cruise accepted an award this weekend at a ceremony celebrating him alongside Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton.

New photos shared on X give fans their first glimpse of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason as Link and Zelda in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. While the actors have been cast in the lead roles, the studio hasn’t yet announced the rest of the cast or details about the movie’s plot.