Top News
Happy there’s finally a microphone on the voice: Robin Wright on #MeToo
By Durga Chakravarty
Singapore, Nov 9 (IANS) Actress-director Robin Wright is happy with the #MeToo movement in Hollywood and says that there is finally a microphone on the voice so that people “wake up and change the bad”.
The #MeToo movement began in Hollywood last year with The New York Times reporting multiple sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. It led to the opening of a Pandora’s box of complaints against celebrated personalities like Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey, who shared screen space with Wright in Netflix’s political thriller series “House Of Cards”.
Asked about the #MeToo movement in Hollywood, Wright said: “…I am just happy that there is finally a microphone on the voice, so that people wake up and change bad habits…
“I think it’s great for the whole new generation of kids… Yes, we have always been taught the difference between right and wrong, but we are going to have a new lesson about right and wrong and I think that kind of movement shines a light… Teaching a new way of operating and being decent. We have lost decency.”
Trouble for Spacey started when actor Anthony Rapp claimed that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14.
Following the allegations, Spacey apologised to Rapp, but claimed that he didn’t remember the encounter and said that he now will “choose to live as a gay man”.
This opened a box full of troubles for Spacey. More allegations were made against him. He was fired from the show and removed from the film “All The Money In The World” too.
Talking about dealing with the crisis with Spacey’s exclusion from the series, Wright said: “The crisis was going on… It was a current affair… Everybody was shocked and alarmed it was hitting the news and multiple things. People were hitting the news on a daily basis and because the climate was so sensitive and hot at the same time… It was a conversation that we all had…
“Me, the showrunners, Netflix — we said ‘you know what we need to take a pause here, let the dust settle and really digest and what do we do collectively. Let’s decide…. And ultimately, I wanted to continue because we would have put over thousands of people out of employment in the state of Maryland…”
In the current atmosphere in Hollywood, how’s it to be an actress?
The Golden Globe winner said in response to the question by IANS in a press conference: “I don’t know because finishing ‘House of Cards’ six years great run having tasted the field of directing, I don’t feel like an actress right now and I am seeking out things to direct more than acting right now.”
Wright has gone behind the camera to direct “House Of Cards”. The first two episodes were directed by filmmaker David Fincher. She was here for Netflix’s “See What’s Next Asia” event.
Wright says direction was daunting at first for her.
“In the beginning it was daunting because I actually believed I was sailing the ship. It was all upto me…. But as a director you are dependent on all of the other departments and we are all architects of that building (story).The production designer, castings and prop department… Having every department head be a part of your vision…We all did it together,” she replied to a question by IANS.
(Durga Chakravarty is in Singapore on an invitation by Netflix. She can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
dc/nv/sed
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.