by Stone Marshall | Jan 31, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
Life after Harry Potter for actress Emma Watson has become a juggling act. From taking a stand for women in her new role at the United Nations to graduating from Hogwarts to mature movies, Watson is making it clear that she’s determined to make a name for herself, reported the Hollywood Reporter. Emma first gained attention by launching the HeForShe campaign in New York City, which is designed to encourage men to support feminism. She revealed that the response to her speech overwhelmed her.
“I’ve been stunned by the amount of men in my life that have contacted me since my speech to tell me to keep going, and that they want to make sure that their daughters will still be alive to see a world where women have power and equality, economically and politically.”
In addition, the actress has taken on a wide range of film roles. In the Bling Ring, for example, Watson played one of a group of teens obsessed with celebrities who rob stars’ homes.She also will be appearing in the yet-to-be-released film Regression with Ethan Hawke, reported Stack News. The suspense movie features Hawke as a detective tracking a father whose daughter, played by Watson, accuses him of committing a crime he cannot remember.
As a psychologist works with the father, a mystery that has impacted the entire nation is revealed. In addition to Emma and Ethan, Regression stars David Dencik as the father and David Thewlis as the psychologist.
As for Watson’s personal life? She recently broke up with boyfriend
Matthew Janey, according to
Us Weekly.
“It was a mutual decision,” said an insider. “[Emma has] moved on and is currently busy with work and her lining up some philanthropic pushes.”
Emma has dated both British lads and American boys. She explained the difference to Ellen DeGeneres, below.
She also currently is filming a drama Colonia Dignidad. Based on a true story, the film reveals how a German wife played by Emma hunts desperately for her kidnapped husband.
And although Watson is too busy to talk Harry Potter sequels, the film and books franchise is still going strong as the Inquisitr reported.
From an exhibit and lectures at Yale Medical School to Harry Potter chocolate and engagement rings, the lure of the boy wizard remains. Also showing the power of Potter is the net worth of the author and actors.
Rowling has become the world’s first author to have a net worth of $1 billion. Surpassing his co-actors, Daniel Radcliffe’s net worth is $110 million. Watson, who played Hermione Granger, is worth $60 million. And Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, has a net worth of $50 million.
Harry Potter attractions in London will include the Hogwarts Express.
And for those who want to celebrate Harry Potter, “Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter” is expanding to re-create the Hogwarts Express and Platform 9 ¾, reported Digital Spy. Visitors can view the results on March 19, which is scheduled to coincide with the attraction’s third anniversary.
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by Stone Marshall | Jan 30, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
HARRY Potter fans are in for a treat next month with a day of Hogwarts themed activates planned at libraries across the district.
Craft workshops, storytelling, Quidditch matches, Diagon Alley hunts, biscuit decorating and competitions are planned for Thursday, February 5.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Culture, said: “These events will be great for the many Harry Potter fans out there. There is something to inspire everyone and encourage children and their families to visit our libraries.”
There is also a Harry Potter competition for anyone who knows the names of the four houses of Hogwarts.
Answers should be written on a postcard with your name, age, school and telephone number in capital letters. Postcards need to be marked for the attention of Christinea Donnelly DO:YP Ilkley Library and handed to a member of staff at one of the Harry Potter events.
Events and times are: Baildon Library – Reading of Harry Potter extracts and making wands followed by a Diagon Alley hunt and activity sheets and online access – 3.45pm; Bingley Library – Reading of Harry Potter extracts and making wands followed by a Diagon Alley hunt and activity sheets and online access – 3.45pm; Burley Library – Quick draw challenge and Diagon Alley hunt among other activities – 3.30pm; City – Harry Potter wand making and magicians hats – 4.30pm-5.30pm; Clayton – Colouring competition, crafts and decorating biscuit – 3.30pm-4.30pm; Girlington – Making Harry Potter mini wizards with children who have hearing impairments – 11.30am-noon; Haworth Road – Making a Harry Potter collage and wands – 3pm-4pm; Holme Wood – Quidditch event with prizes for the top scorers and making Harry’s owl Hedwig – 3.30pm-4.30pm; Idle – Making Hedwigs and Hogwarts acceptance letters, along with Hogwarts Crest Collage, plus Harry Potter quiz – 3pm; Ilkley – Staff will be dressing up and are inviting children to do the same and will be reading extracts and running a craft session. There will also be “potions” to sample – 3.30pm; Keighley – Making Pygmy Puffs and Hedwigs – 3.30pm; Laisterdyke – Making magical wands and Harry Potter glasses – 5pm; Manningham – Making mini wizards – 4pm-5.30pm; Menston – Quick draw challenge and Diagon Alley hunt among other activities – 3.30pm; St. Augustine’s – Creating broomsticks and bookmarks – 4pm-5pm; Shipley – Reading Harry Potter extracts and making wands followed by a Diagon Alley hunt and activity sheets and online access – 3.45pm; Wibsey – Making sorting hats, broomsticks and marauders map – 3.45pm; Wyke – Creating Hedwigs and Harry Potter treasure (book in advance) – 4pm-5pm.
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by Stone Marshall | Jan 29, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
It is the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of Disney’s top franchises.
It was the most downloaded movie from Apple last year, and kids everywhere are still singing the movie’s anthem, “Let It Go.”
Heck, it’s now probably stuck in your own head right now, even if you have never seen the film.
So why has the 2013 movie stuck around for so long for the under-5 set?
Experts say it is not just because you can find images of movie’s sisters on everything. Elsa and Anna are on dresses, on scooters and, just in time for the Easter season, even on jelly beans.
To understand the psychology behind “Frozen” Mania, CNN reached out to psychologists who are sisters themselves: Yalda Uhls is regional director for Common Sense Media. Maryam Kia-Keating is an associate professor of clinical psychology at University of California, Santa Barbara. Here is our edited conversation.
CNN: Princess movies have been around since the beginning of time, but this has really resonated. What has made this one so unique?
Yalda Uhls: One of the things that really struck me, and I think struck little children, is that there is a really strong intergenerational, family-themed message here. Despite the sisters Anna and Elsa being separated for so long, the story is ultimately about the bond between the two of them.
When you’re little, that is your zone; that’s your group; they define your world.
Highlighting that and making it feel important — your sister, your brother, your mom and dad — is something little kids can really identify with.
Maryam Kia-Keating: Kids can really understand the idea of their sister wanting to play with them, and sometimes not, but still having a strong family bond.
Ultimately, it’s about the love between the sisters. That’s a message that many little children understand. There are also good lessons about overcoming struggles and facing life challenges. But, what’s interesting about preschoolers, in particular, is there’s this loyalty and unrelenting interest to watch this movie over and over again.
Part of it is because it was so well done, but there are some themes that younger kids can really identify with.
My 4-year-old daughter told me that she also liked that it didn’t have a witch.
I wouldn’t have thought that until she said it, but it made me more thoughtful about all the other movies — great movies — that have scary witches and themes in them.
This was something that little kids under 5 aren’t going to have nightmares about.
CNN: Why is not having a witch important to a preschooler?
Kia-Keating: When you’re an adult, you’ve heard a lot of these stories, like “Snow White” or “Cinderella,” and you forget the power they can have.
It’s helpful to have a child’s point of view on this.
Kids are living in this world where the line between what’s real and what’s not really is blurry, and because they have such vivid imaginations, witches and monsters can feel very real.
As adults, we may see these villains or monsters as a way to tell a story or a lesson, but when children are in the moment of being scared, they are caught up in the fear and not in finding the larger lesson.
Uhls: I used to work in the film industry, and as adults, we’re told that we need conflict to drive drama. Take Grimm’s Fairy Tales; there are always dire stakes. Or movies like “Bambi” and “The Lion King,” where the mother or father die.
These are serious issues and themes, and sometimes little kids aren’t ready to process and understand these ideas.
CNN: What about the characters seem so easy for kids to empathize with?
Uhls: Preschooler imaginations are really strong, and so they respond really well to stories with magical realism.
In “Frozen,” Princess Elsa has these powers to control ice and snow — and that really captures kids’ imaginations.
When you’re small, you don’t feel powerful. Everyone is always dictating what you can and cannot do. Having a character they can empathize with that has these powers can make them feel more empowered, as well.
Kia-Keating: That magical piece is exciting and is one of the things that really sets this movie apart from others.
Another aspect that kids see themselves in Elsa and Anna is the impulsiveness.
Parents are constantly trying to teach their little ones how to self-regulate their emotions, how to behave, how to sit down.
Elsa is constantly trying to tame or control her emotions — and while this is something that is salient to everyone throughout their lifetimes, this is something preschoolers deal with all the time.
CNN: The song “Let It Go”: It’s everywhere, and kids can’t stop singing it. What is it about this anthem?
Kia-Keating: My 4-year-old came home and learned the song before we had even seen the movie.
One of the lines she and all her friends connected to was “Be the good girl that you always have to be.”
And when they sing it, they wag their fingers like they do in the movie.
I think it looks a lot like something they see and hear from parents — be a good girl or boy, don’t do this or that — so part of it is copying what they frequently hear.
But when I asked my daughter what she thought the song was about, she said it was about “Elsa being happy and free, and nobody bothering her.”
That’s a message that everyone wants: to be happy and free.
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