By Ryan Pearson, Entertainment Writer
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --Salma Hayek says "Beatriz at Dinner," her new politically charged film, "speaks to the division of perspective in America."
"You know — two completely different perspectives that are not able to communicate very well right now. And this is what the movie is about," Hayek said of the dark comedy, which premiered Monday at the Sundance Film Festival.
"Beatriz" is directed by Sundance regular Miguel Arteta. Hayek, who was born in Mexico, plays a massage therapist who finds herself at a dinner party hosted by a Donald Trump-like businessman character played by John Lithgow. They clash over empathy, greed and politics.
She said she was looking to see what newly inaugurated President Trump will do when it comes to immigration and other issues.
"He says that he wants to be the president for America and we just have to see what is his definition of America. That's what we need to see. And he says he wants to be the president for everybody in America. Let's see if he's open to the conversation like I was talking — to really hear what is the majority of America expecting for the president?" she said.
Lithgow was more direct in his assessment of Trump, saying: "We'll survive it. I'm looking forward to a great year of schadenfreude. And it all started this weekend. … It's like the worst beginning of a presidency there ever was. And I'm hoping for even worse."
Hayek said it had been a "love fest" to reunite at Sundance with the cast, which includes Connie Britton, Jay Duplass and Chloe Sevigny.
Sundance continues through Sunday.
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