Francis Ford Coppola thinks ‘Megalopolis’ outweighs ordinary film ideas

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

By Rollo Ross and Danielle BroadwayLOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Renowned American director Francis Ford Coppola believes his harshly criticized science fiction film “Megalopolis” offers audiences a unique narrative vastly different from what they are accustomed to seeing.“We’re so used to seeing movies that are like other movies because they’re financed that way,” Coppola told Reuters during a Zoom interview while he was at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the film was also screened.“It’s [movies like other movies] always something that’s already proven that it will make money. It’s like a potato chip that you know is habit forming and ‘Megalopolis’ is new,” he added.After debuting this year at the Cannes Film Festival, Coppola’s $120 million self-funded project is going to be shared with broader audiences when it arrives to U.S. movie theaters on Friday.While the film will be distributed by Lionsgate, Coppola maintains ownership of the movie.Adam Driver stars as Cesar Catilina, an architect-scientist who wants to better a fictional version of New York City called New Rome, pitting him against Mayor Franklyn Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who prizes authority and institutions over change.Catilina falls in love with the mayor’s daughter, Julia, played by “Game of Thrones”‘ Nathalie Emmanuel, as she helps him work towards his vision and re-ignites his power to stop time.When asked if “Megalopolis” is an allegory for his film-making journey, the 85-year-old director said, “All of my films are.”“When I was young and made ‘The Godfather,’” I had to be like Michael [Michael Corleone] because I had no power and I had to be very Machiavellian. When I made ‘Apocalypse Now,’ I was in an absurd situation with helicopters and millions of dollars every week that I was paying for, so I had to become a megalomaniac like Kurtz [Colonel Kurtz]. You know, I have always become the characters in my movies just to survive,” he added.While the press response to the movie has been poor with a low score of 51% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Driver believes “Megalopolis” is a film that needs more than one viewing to be truly absorbed.“I think it does have legs and I think it is something that you want to return to and can return to and mine something else out of it,” Driver said. “And it, you know, has a place in people’s minds as being one of a kind, which I don’t think a lot of films can say that, you know.”(Reporting by Rollo Ross and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and David Gregorio)

US Proposes New Rule Banning Chinese Tech In Connected Vehicles Over National Security Risks 

Technology

Modern vehicles have GPS tracking, cameras, microphones, and other optical sensors connected to the internet. If Chinese-made software and hardware were integrated into these vehicles, then there’s a genuine risk America’s highways could be flooded with rolling spying machines.

The Biden-Harris administration is getting tougher on China ahead of the November elections to show the American people that they mean business with Beijing. A newly proposed rule from the US Commerce Department reveals the potential to ban Chinese-made software and hardware in vehicles connected to the internet. 

Here’s more from the White House:

Today, President Biden is announcing strong action to protect America from the national security risks associated with connected vehicle technologies from countries of concern. The Department of Commerce is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would, if finalized as proposed, prohibit the sale or import of connected vehicles that incorporate certain technology and the import of particular components themselves from countries of concern, specifically the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia.

The announcement is the next step in a process President Biden announced in February, 2024. This NPRM incorporates public feedback submitted in response to the Department’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) issued on March 1, 2024, which sought public comment on the national security risks associated with certain technologies used in connected vehicles.

As the Department of Commerce has found, vehicles’ increasing connectivity creates opportunities to collect and exploit sensitive information. Certain hardware and software in connected vehicles enable the capture of information about geographic areas or critical infrastructure, and present opportunities for malicious actors to disrupt the operations of infrastructure or the vehicles themselves. Commerce has determined that certain technologies used in connected vehicles from the PRC and Russia present particularly acute threats. These countries of concern could use critical technologies within our supply chains for surveillance and sabotage to undermine national security.

On Sunday, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo told reporters during a conference call that “in extreme situations, a foreign adversary could shut down or take control of all their vehicles operating in the United States, all at the same time, causing crashes (or) blocking roads.” 

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Special recognition for New City College Media students’ haunting film Blue

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Two New City College Media students have received special recognition for a short film they created that explores coping with grief and the loss of a parent.Their movie Blue was chosen for the exceptional mention by the judging panel in the Film of the Month competition run by Into Film.Filmmakers Melany and Hanna, who are studying Creative Media Skills at Hackney Campus, were highlighted on the Into Film website for producing ‘a haunting and beautiful exploration of grief with stunning visuals’. The film can be watched here.Blue’s overriding theme is that if you love someone, they’ve never really gone and the two girls have used the sounds of whale song mixed with clever visuals to explore topics such as loss, love and hope.Into Film caught up with Melany and Hana and asked them about their filmmaking experience – how they made the film, what inspired them to create it and what they hoped the viewer would feel when watching it.Melany said: “I came up with the story for the film based on the idea that you can hear a whale’s heart from two miles away. This made me think of a story about a girl that could hear the heartbeat, but no one else could.“Hana offered to play the character of the girl who had lost her mum. This created lots of emotion and we hoped to make people think about others who don’t have their loved ones with them anymore.“I want people to feel that the whale represents the heartbeat of the mum and that if you love someone, they’ve never really gone.Hana said: “Melany approached me with the concept for a movie named BLUE. The role I portrayed was intended to express the emotions of people who have experienced loss. To convey the mood, we experimented with a range of camera angles, and we used close-ups to connect the viewer with the emotions of the character.“A blue wall inside Hackney Campus was used to create the whale effect using chroma keys in Premiere Pro. The whale symbolises the mother’s love, and the sound of her song leads the character to her.“We changed the heartbeat to whale song as it suited the atmosphere much better. This suggests that the mother will always be there to support and guide her child.”The film was screened at Hoxton Hall, near the Hackney Campus, as part of NCC’s Summer Creative Arts Show and was very well received by visitors.

Scientists demonstrate X-rays as a way to zap asteroids out of Earth’s path

Science and Health

US scientists have demonstrated that potentially dangerous asteroids destined for Earth could be deflected from their trajectory using X-rays.
The researchers said the technique, which involves using a powerful X-ray pulse to vaporize a chunk of the asteroid’s surface, could potentially be used for future planetary defense missions.
While the risk of asteroid strikes to life on Earth are well documented – RIP dinosaurs – the human race’s ability to do anything about it is uncertain. Proposals such as NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission involve a spacecraft meeting and altering the trajectory of a threatening asteroid. The problem with that approach is the time taken to prepare such a mission, as well as the cost.

Led by Nathan Moore, a postdoctoral researcher at New Mexico’s Sandia National Laboratories, the group figured out how they could mimic the techniques in laboratory experiments using an X-ray pulse to target two 12-millimeter-wide dummy asteroids in a vacuum tube. One of the experimental samples was made from quartz, while the other was made from fused silica. In the lab tests, X-ray pulses heated up the surface of the pretend asteroids to create a vapor plume that was significant enough to alter their speed by around 70 meters per second.

The data collected from the test provided input to numerical simulations designed to demonstrate how the X-ray pulse method might deflect and how the deflection might scale, suggesting that an asteroid close enough to Earth about four kilometers across could be shoved off its path using the strategy. “We demonstrate that scaled asteroid deflection experiments can be accurately performed and without space flight,” the researchers said in a paper published in Nature Physics today.
The X-ray bubble was generated using a megajoule-class plasma driver at the Sandia National Laboratories’ “Z machine.”

The machine is the largest pulsed power device in the world today, the authors said, and was used to discharge up to 22 MJ of stored energy into an electric current pulse.

The researchers said future experiments could investigate other target materials and structures and test different X-ray pulses since the vapor plume generated by the X-ray pulses is dependent on the chemical composition of the asteroid.
The research should be welcomed as a recent NASA tabletop game has demonstrated how poorly prepared Earth is to “quickly implement” any space missions needed to defend itself against a devastating asteroid strike, even with 14 years’ notice. The exercise in April involving multiple US government agencies described a bewildering number of moving parts impeding a coordinated effort from space agencies.
There are other proposals for deflecting or destroying dangerous asteroids. In March last year, NASA’s DART spacecraft smashed into the surface of asteroid Dimorphos, altering the space rock’s orbit by more than the kinetic impact alone.
But before Team Earth can destroy or deflect asteroids, they have to find them. Thankfully, a new algorithm has been deployed in the under-construction Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile to detect asteroids. ®

Harness the Power of Data Science & Machine Learning from Home

Science and Health

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Thailand postpones Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for foreign tourists

Travel

The implementation of Thailand’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for foreign tourists has been postponed, reported The Nation Thailand. The country’s foreign ministry made the announcement on Sep. 23, merely a week after plans for the ETA system were first announced.
It was earlier reported on Sep. 16 that all visa-exempt visitors entering Thailand by land, air, or sea will be required to obtain an ETA beforehand. The system was originally slated to be implemented by December this year. Postponed The ministry said coordination with relevant agencies is still ongoing and a launch date has yet to be determined. It added that it remained committed to implementing the ETA and ensuring a smooth launch. Streamline immigration procedures The system was designed to streamline immigration procedures for visitors. Foreign tourists from 93 countries granted visa-free entry to Thailand would have to register online prior to their arrival. The QR code they receive on registration can then be used to pass through automated immigration gates. The ETA system is part of Thailand’s transition to an electronic visa system. Those travelling to Thailand are advised to monitor updates from the foreign ministry and the immigration bureau about the ETA system’s launch date. Top photo from Suvarnabhumi Airport 

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WeChat’s Etienne Ng highlights Chinese traveller trends, digital payments at GM Forum 2024

Travel

At the recently-concluded Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024, Etienne Ng, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), delivered a presentation on the evolving trends of Chinese travellers and the crucial role of digital payments in the hospitality industry. The session offered attendees a deep dive into how WeChat, one of the most popular apps in China, influences travel spending patterns and enhances guest experiences through digital solutions.
Etienne Ng opened his session by engaging the audience with an informal poll, asking if they had ever used WeChat, a Chinese super app with over 1.2 billion users. He highlighted the app’s evolution from a simple messaging platform to an all-encompassing ecosystem that integrates messaging, social media, and digital payments—transforming everyday activities for millions of users.
“Think of WeChat as a super app that does everything,” Etienne Ng explained, comparing the seamless Chinese mobile experience to the more fragmented app usage seen in other parts of the world. WeChat’s diverse functionalities, from business communication to social media and payments, form the backbone of daily life for many Chinese, making it an essential tool for reaching Chinese travellers.

Etienne Ng emphasised that the Chinese traveler of today is notably different from the pre-pandemic era. While shopping once accounted for a significant portion of Chinese spending abroad, the trend has shifted toward spending more on unique experiences, local sightseeing, and quality dining.
“The same dollar that used to go toward shopping is now being spent on experiences,” Etienne Ng shared, noting that Chinese tourists increasingly prioritise immersive travel, cultural exploration, and fine dining. This shift offers a golden opportunity for hoteliers to attract Chinese tourists by offering compelling experiences that highlight local heritage and culinary delights.
Furthermore, Etienne Ng pointed out the spike in dining-related expenditure, particularly in destinations known for Michelin-starred or celebrity restaurants. He highlighted how Singapore’s Low & Behold Group recently enabled WeChat Pay to attract high-spending Chinese customers, recognising the growing importance of offering seamless digital payment options for a frictionless experience.
As digital payments become integral to the travel experience, Etienne Ng delved into how WeChat Pay is transforming the hospitality industry by facilitating operational efficiency and enhancing guest convenience. He underscored that for Chinese travellers, the ability to use WeChat Pay for transactions during their international trips is a key factor in providing a seamless travel experience.
Etienne Ng also drew attention to the untapped potential of WeChat Pay in the Maldives, where only 1% of registered merchants actively use the service, despite Chinese visitors being a key source of tourism revenue. He urged Maldivian hoteliers to capitalise on this opportunity by educating their frontline staff about WeChat Pay to ensure smooth transactions for Chinese guests.
“A lot of the frontlines in Maldives don’t even know they accept WeChat Pay,” Etienne Ng noted, emphasising the need for better awareness and training. “Providing frictionless, painless payment modes will enhance guest satisfaction and could even drive ancillary revenue.”

Mohamed Jailam presents Artificial Intelligence’s role in travel at GM Forum 2024

Travel

At the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024, Mohamed Jailam, CEO and Managing Director of Javaabu and Co-Founder of DhivehiGPT, delivered a presentation titled “How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Revolutionise Travel.” His talk centred on how AI is already transforming various sectors, and the potential it holds for revolutionising the travel and hospitality industry.
Jailam began his presentation by addressing the audience of business leaders, noting that AI, though often discussed as a modern buzzword, is far from a new concept. He likened AI’s current role to that of Google Maps, which, since its introduction in the early 2000s, has radically improved how travellers navigate and explore new places. “Google Maps made travel easier, cheaper, and most importantly, safer,” Jailam remarked. AI’s current advancements, according to him, are poised to drive even greater transformations in travel.
To help the audience grasp the core of artificial intelligence, Jailam explained neural networks, drawing a comparison to the human brain. He used a simple analogy: how a neural network can distinguish between pictures of cats and dogs by processing and classifying images based on large sets of labeled data. AI, he emphasised, is essentially the result of vast amounts of training data and can be applied to multiple areas of business—from predicting sales to understanding customer behaviour.
“Artificial intelligence is not about replacing humans, but amplifying human ingenuity,” Jailam quoted Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. He underscored that while AI could handle certain tasks more efficiently, it would not replace the human element that makes travel and hospitality memorable. “People travel to be greeted by a human smile,” he said, urging the industry not to sacrifice human warmth for automation.

At the heart of Jailam’s presentation was his belief that AI agents represent the future of the travel industry. AI-powered agents, he explained, will revolutionise how businesses interact with potential customers. These agents will go beyond static websites, engaging with users in their native languages, providing personalised recommendations, and answering detailed questions—such as dietary preferences or local services—as if they were human travel consultants.
He demonstrated a video clip featuring a conversation between a man and an AI agent. The AI, using natural language processing, recognised the man’s emotions and responded accordingly. “This is the future,” Jailam remarked. “AI agents that can understand and respond to users in a human-like fashion will be key in transforming how travel businesses engage with their clients.”
He offered various use cases for AI in travel:

AI-driven booking agents that interact with travellers before their journey even begins.
AI helplines that assist travellers in real time during their journey, providing information about bookings, local destinations, and services.
AI butlers that replicate personalised luxury experiences, even in budget hotels, by handling guest requests 24/7.
AI tour guides that offer real-time, location-based information enhanced with AR and VR, giving tourists rich, multimedia storytelling at heritage sites.
Real-time speech-to-speech translation services that bridge language gaps, allowing travellers to communicate seamlessly in foreign countries.

These AI applications, Jailam argued, would make premium services more affordable and accessible, thus elevating the entire travel experience.

Thai Government Urged to Act as Strong Baht Threatens Tourism Goals

Travel

BANGKOK — The strengthening Thai baht is casting a shadow over Thailand’s tourism industry, potentially derailing the country’s economic recovery plans.Ronnarong Cheewinsiriamnuay, President of the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association (TCTA), revealed on September 24 that the strengthening of the Thai baht is certainly affecting the tourism sector, especially the travel decision-making atmosphere.
Currently, many countries are promoting to attract foreign tourists to visit their own countries, making tourism highly competitive. Several countries with weakening currencies are becoming more attractive to tourists, such as Japan with its weakened yen.
When tourists plan their trips and find that the Thai baht has strengthened, resulting in higher exchange rates, it will inevitably affect the psychology of tourists, whether it’s us or them.Advertisement
Chinese tourists pose for a group photo at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan, Thailand, March 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
“Comparing with the Chinese market visiting Thailand, currently Chinese tourists who come here don’t just travel, but they also love shopping because prices in Thailand are cheaper than in China, and many Thai products are popular. They enjoy coming to buy in Thailand themselves,” he said.
Before COVID-19, a survey found that Chinese tourists coming to shop in Thailand reached up to 60%. So now, Thailand should have Chinese tourists coming to Thailand for travel and shopping exceeding 60%, but it has not reached that number yet, even though Thai government has implemented a visa-free measure to facilitate travel.
Ronnarong said that after discussions among the private sector, it is believed that if Thailand continues to let the foreign tourist market grow naturally like this, it will be difficult to reach the government’s targets, especially in terms of revenue, which the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set at 3 trillion baht.
This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows people visiting an ancient village in Yixian County in Huangshan City, east China’s Anhui Province. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)
This means the government needs to support opening up the country by increasing flights to Thailand, particularly for the Chinese market. They should support direct flights from secondary Chinese cities to Thailand, whether they are major cities or tourist destinations, because we still see high demand for travel to Thailand.
“This needs to be done quickly because October 1st is China’s National Day, an important holiday when Chinese people travel abroad. If we don’t support direct flights soon, we may miss out on these tourists.”
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He added that currently, we’re seeing Thai people traveling to China at unprecedented levels because the mutual visa-free arrangement makes travel easier and more convenient. With the strong baht, it may encourage more people to travel abroad, including to Thailand, as they can exchange for more foreign currency than before.
For example, previously 1 yuan would cost 5 baht, but now it only costs 4.67 baht. If the currency strengthens further, it will become even cheaper. The concern is that if the baht remains strong for a long time, it will lead to more Thais planning trips abroad, as they can now accumulate foreign currency for future use, making it easier to travel anytime.
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