Entertainment

Western drama has been an integral aspect of cinematic storytelling since the dawn of the medium, an evergreen exploration of American history that uses sweeping visuals, striking scores, and powerful themes to tell its tales with tremendous gravitas. While this is a constant truism of the genre, Western cinema has also had to evolve dramatically over time to remain relevant. One of the best developments to come from this progression has been the advent of neo-Western cinema. Not only an examination of traditional Western tropes in more modern settings (though that is a huge aspect of it), neo-Westerns also endeavor to revisit popular genre settings with a renewed thematic lens. While the subgenre is relatively new in the wheelhouse of Western cinema at large, it has presented many of t...

California State University, Northridge has once again earned a place among the nation’s top music business programs, according to Billboard magazine. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Billboard has recognized CSUN’s music program in its annual list of the world’s leading music business schools. The publication chose its top 45 music business schools (unranked) based on industry recommendations, alumni information by honorees on its power lists, years of reporting on educational options and information requested from the schools themselves. “CSUN Music is thrilled to be recognized as a national leader in preparing undergraduate and graduate students for their future in music business, production, and performance,” said A.J. McCaffrey, music department chair. “We are immensely pro...

What’s going on here?SharpLink Gaming just posted a standout Q3 2025 – revenue soared over 1,100% to $10.8 million, thanks to a big bet on ethereum, and unveiled a hefty $1.5 billion stock buyback, even as sales missed Wall Street’s $697 million target.What does this mean?SharpLink’s blockbuster revenue jump wasn’t from classic gaming operations, but from cashing in on ethereum’s potential. By doubling down on its ETH per share, ramping up staking activity, and leaning into its crypto treasury to produce yield, the firm’s net income shot up to $104.3 million. This approach let SharpLink convert its digital asset holdings into sizable profits, helping offset softer overall sales. Investors responded positively, especially with the newly announced $1.5 billion stock buyback boosting confiden...

The “Purge” movies are missing from the list, as are the entries in the “Saw” franchise. There are no “Evil Dead” titles. “The Exorcist” is suspiciously absent. The list, in this case, is the favorite four films of Pope Leo XIV, f.k.a. Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago. The pontiff released the list via video ahead of a planned meeting Saturday with luminaries from the world of cinema. To avoid the risk of being played off the stage by the academy’s orchestra, let’s share the winners quickly: 1. “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 19462. “The Sound of Music,” 19653. “Ordinary People,” 19804. “Life Is Beautiful,” 1997That’s it. No “The Agony and the Ecstasy.” No “Pope Joan” or “Spotlight” or “Conclave,” for obvious reasons. No “Sister Act” or “Oh, God!” or any of the associated sequels, for less obvio...

The cinematic clip brings the GRAMMY and CMA-wining song to life. Chris Stapleton enlists an A-list lineup of stars to bring his GRAMMY and CMA-winning song “White Horse” to life in a cinematic music video. Filmed against the open landscapes of Marfa, Texas, the music video, produced by Strange Arcade and directed by Running Bear Films, stars acclaimed Hollywood actors Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men, True Grit) alongside Mae McKagan and Tommy Martinez. Stapleton himself also makes appearances alongside his wife and collaborator, Morgane, adding a personal touch to the narrative. The video follows a couple on the run after robbing a bank, with Brolin’s sheriff character caught in the middle. Despite his commitment to the law, he develops a protective, almost paternal bond with t...

Tencent-owned Swedish developer Sharkmob, which announced in October that the supernatural battle royale Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt will be taken offline in April 2026, says it will lay off an unspecified number of employees as part of "planned changes to its organizational structure." The studio said Exoborne, the "tactical open world extraction shooter" announced during The Game Awards 2023, remains in development.In a statement to GamesIndustry, Sharkmob said the layoffs will allow it to "sharpen our focus and align our efforts on the continued development of Exoborne and position us for sustainable growth." Exoborne held its first playtest in January and showed some promise, but a release date hasn't yet been announced.The layoffs at Sharkmob come less than two months after de...

Ruby Rose has entered the ring to take a swing at Sydney Sweeney — blaming the actor, now known for her choice in jeans, for “Christy’s” disastrous debut. “The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing,” the former “Batwoman” star wrote in a Monday post on Threads. “I was attached to play Cherry. Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting.”“Christy” stars Sweeney as Christy Martin, the groundbreaking boxer who raised the profile of her sport during her Hall of Fame career. The movie follows Martin as a closeted lesbian boxer trying to navigate her professional ascent, an abusive marriage to her toxic coach and her identity. It made just $1.3 million at the domestic box office during its opening weeken...

Country music singer and songwriter Cooper Alan released his debut album this month. He's a Piedmont Triad native. He was born and raised in Winston-Salem, and even named his debut, double album after his hometown and the city he loves so much.The album itself is called 'Winston-Salem.'Cooper stopped by WXII 12 this week to catch up with us about his music journey and what's next. "This place shaped me a lot," said Alan. "And it was really good to me growing up."That's why he felt 'Winston-Salem' would be the perfect name for his first official album."It meant a lot to be able to name it Winston-Salem," he said. "It is a double album-- so it kind of needed two words. Winston-Salem is two words, so it fits perfectly."His songwriting comes from the heart. He sings a lot from his person...

The new Steam Machine is expected to deliver impressive performance powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with 6 cores, 12 threads, and speeds of up to 4.8GHz. Photo : TwitterValve Corporation, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, has announced three new gaming devices, the Steam Machine console, Frame VR Headset, and Steam Controller. The products are set for a Spring 2026 launch and are designed to offer gamers a PC-like experience through powerful hardware and deep Steam integration. This announcement marks Valve’s renewed effort to expand beyond PC gaming and strengthen its presence in the console market.Speculations On PricingThis is Valve’s most significant move into the console market since the release of the Steam Deck in 2022. With the new range, the company plan...

The Wonderland Cinema is one of two theaters on the Disney Destiny where you can watch all the new Disney and Pixar movies that are having their first runs in theaters. Wonderland CinemaWatch first-run Disney films on your Disney Cruise Line voyage at the stunning Wonderland Cinema.Themed to Alice in Wonderland, the Wonderland Cinema has wood doors at the entrance to the theater. It is located on Deck 4.Tile floor breaks up the carpet at the entrance with “What a peculiar place” text inside the tile squares.Images of the Cheshire Cat and more scenes from the movie are on the walls outside the theater. Purple lighting gives the space a bit of a mischievous effect as if the Cheshire Cat is really there.Entering the theater, the there is beige carpet and dark teal chairs with wood backs.Th...