In this Jan. 17, 2014 file photo, actress Kristen Stewart smiles at the premiere of the film "Camp X-Ray" during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Stewart will be among the panelists selecting the winners for a short film competition. At least five young female directors will be chosen to direct shorts based on characters from “Twilight." (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) --
"Twilight" will be raised from the dead for a series of short films on Facebook.
Two years after the last film of the popular movie franchise, Lionsgate announced late Tuesday that Stephenie Meyer's world of vampires and werewolves will be revived for a short film competition. The Women in Film organization will help lead a campaign to develop and produce a series of shorts directed by aspiring female filmmakers.
At least five young directors will be chosen to direct shorts based on characters from "Twilight." Meyer and "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart will be among the panelists selecting the winners.
In a statement, Meyer said she was honored to work on a project "giving more women a chance to be heard creatively."
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
