Hollywood
Amy Adams breaks down while remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman
MUMBAI: Hollywood actress Amy Adams, in the weeks leading into the Oscars, filmed an interview for Inside the Actors Studio, an American television program hosted by James Lipton. In between discussing her career and her Oscar-nominated role in American Hustle, Adams broke down when host James Lipton asked her about her recently deceased co-star Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman died at the age of 46 from an apparent heroin overdose on 2 February. Adams and Meryl Streep were among many celebrities who attended his private funeral in New York City on 6 February.
The 39-year old Adams worked with Philip Seymour Hoffman on two of her most acclaimed movies: Doubt, in 2008, and The Master in 2012. “I wish you all could get a chance to work with him,” she told the assembled students. “He was beautiful. He’s a beautiful spirit and he had this unique ability to see people; to really see them. Not look through them. He just really saw people”, she explained tearfully to the students in the audience. “I just really loved him, and I know so many people did,” Adams added through sobs, “I just don’t know how much more I can talk about it right now, sorry.”
The actor then apologised and said she wouldn’t be able to go on talking about him.
After making her mark in the industry with memorable appearances in films such as Junebug, Enchanted, Doubt, and The Fighter, Amy Adams discusses her multifaceted career leading up to her standout performance in Columbia Pictures’ American Hustle. Her lead role as a con-artist in the Academy Award nominated film earned Adam’s her first Golden Globe win and fifth Academy Award Nomination. Adams has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and six Screen Actors Guild Awards.
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.
