Minority Mindset

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, and while some episodes haven’t held up over time, one remains strikingly relevant: Star Trek: Voyager‘s “Living Witness” (Season 4, Episode 23). The episode deals with the dangers of misinformation and manipulation, a theme that feels particularly important today with the increasing prevalence of AI, deepfakes, and fake news. It’s a surprisingly accurate reflection of our current world.

I’m a big fan of The 13th Warrior! It’s based on the old story of Beowulf, but it’s not a straight retelling. The filmmakers took the basic idea of the legend and blended it with a real historical account – the writings of Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who actually traveled with Vikings along the Volga River. They traded the magical parts of Beowulf for a more realistic, gritty feel based on what ibn Fadlan wrote about his experiences.

Following the huge success of Top Gun: Maverick – it earned almost $1.5 billion and was even nominated for an Oscar – a third Top Gun movie is now in the works. Christopher McQuarrie and Ehren Kruger, who worked on the previous film, are returning to write the script.

Fame can sometimes limit an actor, forcing them into roles they can’t escape. But James Van Der Beek, who recently passed away at 48, wasn’t that type of performer. He was incredibly popular for a short time in the late 90s and early 2000s – known for Dawson’s Creek, the football film Varsity Blues, and The Rules of Attraction. After that, he often played variations of himself, and he was surprisingly willing to make fun of his own public image, something many actors avoid. Van Der Beek didn’t seem to worry about maintaining a carefully crafted persona. He openly acknowledged how huge Dawson’s Creek became and didn’t mind poking fun at its overwhelming presence in pop culture, even if it meant playfully diminishing his own image.

The Van Der Beek family is facing incredibly high medical bills. To help, friends organized a GoFundMe campaign and even hosted a Dawson’s Creek reunion last year. Actor Paul Walter Hauser has also been using Cameo to raise money for the family, sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram expressing support and promising continued prayers and fundraising efforts. Here are some tributes from friends and colleagues remembering James Van Der Beek.