By John Carucci
NEW YORK (AP) --Gal Gadot is using her Hollywood starpower to spotlight remarkable women from around the world.
The "Wonder Woman" actor is host and executive producer of a new documentary series that follows six women who made a positive impact on their communities despite dealing with poverty, violence, discrimination and natural disasters.
The 35-year-old says "National Geographic Presents IMPACT with Gal Gadot" grew from her quest to "do something good with my fame and my social media" after the success of 2017's "Wonder Woman."
She and her husband Yaron Varsano, who is also an executive producer on the series, watched a short documentary from music video director Ryan Pallotta about a dancer from the favelas in Brazil.
"We completely fell in love with the story, and we decided that we're going to build a concept around the story," Gadot said.
The first episode follows a young Black figure skating coach in Detroit who has dedicated her life to coaching young girls of color to empower them.
"She's not only she's empowering them, but she's giving them a skill … that is familiar or familiar with white people doing it, which is ice skating," Gadot said.
Another episode tells the story of Kayla, who helps create a safe community for homeless transgender women of color in Memphis, Tennessee, by building homes.
The series debuts April 26, a day after the Academy Awards. Gadot said she's encouraged by the inclusion at this year's ceremony: "Nomadland" director Chloé Zhao and "Promising Young Woman" director Emerald Fennell became only the sixth and seventh women ever to be nominated for best director.
"Women that are used to be only in front of the camera are now going to the other side of the camera and developing stories that they're passionate about and that they care about and that now it's becoming a norm, almost. You know, you see it with the Oscars," she said.
"There's a great change. But at the same time, I got to say that the change can only happen when we include the men. It's never like you can just empower the women and not educate the men."
She said that's what her DC cinematic universe superhero was able to accomplish for a new generation.
"The girls can go and be inspired by the girl and imagine themselves doing these amazing things as girls. But also, it gives them a role model for boys to admire as well and to understand that women can be strong and great and just like men," she said. "So, for me, it's educating both women and men in order to reach this place that we always talk about gender and equality and all of that. We have to do this together."
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More