The Other 43 Percent

Carrie Rickey / Truthdig Feb 24, 2017 Hollywood’s gender gap is most apparent with regard to female filmmakers, but their prospects weren’t always as bad as they are today. (Part 1 of our five-part series.) Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Deep Down, a Product of Fear

By Alex Ricciardi Dec 18, 2015 It's unlikely that the beloved space saga's Episode VII -- regardless of whether it turns out to be a crowd pleaser -- has taken the risks George Lucas took with his installments. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Here Come the (Commercial) Drones, America

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Jun 11, 2014 The Federal Aviation Administration has given BP energy corporation permission to use drones in Alaska, marking the first time the government agency has allowed commercial drones to fly over American land. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Texas Gov. Rick Perry: California Is ‘Looking at Our Backside’

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Feb 12, 2013 The Texas governor who made a fool of himself in the 2012 presidential race has come to the Golden State trying to steal businesses and jobs. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Nollywood Rising

Gbemisola Olujobi / Truthdig Aug 27, 2009 The Nigerian movie industry, known as Nollywood (a play on Hollywood in the manner of Bollywood), has grown from an accidental discovery into a mega-industry of over 2,000 titles and $200M annually. The Nigerian movie industry has grown from an accidental discovery into a mega-industry of over 2,000 titles and $200M annually. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

‘Slumdog Millionaire’: The Tour

Staff / Truthdig Feb 20, 2009 As "Slumdog Millionaire" continues to rack up critical accolades (not to mention awards-season promotional blitzes), the film has also drawn crowds to its setting in the slums of Mumbai, India. But does this kind of attention represent a welcome boon for tourism or a form of exploitation -- "poverty porn" -- for a city still recovering from last November's terrorist attacks? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hollywood’s Closet Still Closed for Business

Larry Gross / Truthdig Nov 26, 2008 Gus Van Sant's "Milk" is the first major Hollywood "gay themed" film since “Brokeback Mountain,” and moreover (unlike “Brokeback”), this one is about openly gay activists, not tortured closet cases. Yet, once again, the lead gay roles couldn't be filled by openly gay actors. What's going on here? Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )