Hollywood
87th Oscar’s hit by racist row
MUMBAI: Heard of the “white” Oscars anytime? Well this year could be the time when the term could come into existence. As the world gears up to view the mother-of-all award ceremonies, it has been hit with a new row. The prestigious awards for this year have been hit by allegations of being racist in nature as since 1988, no non-white actors were found be making the cut in the four major categories.
For the year 2015, 20 actors nominated in the categories such as Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor are all white. The year 1988 was one such year when no non-white actors made it to the list and the report is seen this year.
The lack of variety prompted netizens to take to the micro blogging site Twitter to express their anguish. This resulted in the creation of the online trend #OscarsSoWhite, which is currently trending on Twitter.
Meanwhile acclaimed directors like Wes Anderson and Alejandro González I?árritu’s are caught in a neck to neck battle as both their films have received a total number on nine nominations. Wes Anderson has directed the offbeat dramedy “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” while I?árritu’s has directed the genre-defying film, “Birdman.”
The movies that have made it to the list for the 87th Oscar Awards are as follows:
1) American Sniper
2) Birdman
3) Boyhood
4) The Grand Budapest Hotel
5) The Imitation Game
6) Selma
7) The Theory of Everything
8) Whiplash
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
