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New African series ‘Kizazi Moto: Generation of Fire’ and ‘Kiff’ headline disney EMEA’s annecy presentation

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Disney EMEA hosted its annual Studio Focus at the current year’s Annecy Animation Festival, sadly pre-recorded for the second edition in a row, where the organization reported a pair of new African series, the sci-fi anthology series “Kizazi Moto: Generation of Fire” led by “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” co-director Peter Ramsey, and a musical kids show named “Kiff” from South Africa.

“This year’s fest is about celebrating African animation,” said Orion Ross, VP of original programming and animation for Disney EMEA. “We would like to start with how Disney is embracing the vast talent from this continent.”

Every one of the shorts in “Kizazi Moto” was made to respond to one question: “hat does African future look like from an African perspective?”

While discussing his involvement, Ramsey reviewed a visit to the Cape Town Animation Festival where he was “blown away, reinvigorated by the people, work, the industry. There was the feeling that this place is a pot about to bubble over with creativity and the world is going to see something exciting coming from Africa.”

Creators and filmmakers of the ten shorts then, at that point occupied with a virtual discussion where they shared the vaguest of mysteries about their projects and discussed their own excitement and motivation to make something totally new that will reverberate all throughout the planet, while demonstrating the diversity of storytelling available on the landmass.

“Kizazi Moto: Generation of Fire” will be accessible worldwide on Disney Pslus in late 2022.

From Cape Town, creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal enthusiastically got the presentation together with their recently greenlit series “Kiff,” a musical comedy show for older kids about a fiery squirrel named Kiff and her rabbit best pal Barry.

“It’s about a kid who lives with her parents and goes to school, and the comedy is all in the tone and the characters that we’ve created,” Heavens explained.

“[The word] ‘Kiff’ in South Africa is slang for cool, awesome or rad, it’s the pinnacle,” Smal Said. “Like a good pair of blue jeans, it will never go out of style. That’s what the world needs. If the world comes at you with bad vibes and you show love and kindness, they got nothing.”

Smal and Heavens then, at that point shared an early clip of Kiff singing a hardcore rap track concerning why she is excessively occupied to brush her one larger than average incisor prior to going out for the afternoon. Eventually, Mom is left unswayed and Kiff retreats to the bathroom to clean her magnificent white.

Arrangement is created and delivered by Disney Television Animation in L.A. where “Phineas and Ferb” vet Kent Osborn is on board as co-producer and story editor.

Reported in February by EntertainmentOne and Frogbox, Ross additionally highlighted preschool series “Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes.” Scheduled to launch on Disney Junior in 2023, the show initially got Disney’s attention as a component of the organization’s African Story Lab, a drive launched in 2015 to search out and foster ability from the landmass, coordinated by Triggerfish. In the show, 7-year-old Kiya and her two best friends utilize their otherworldly headbands to become superheroes and battle villains which threaten their community.

Ross was additionally joined by the group working on Disney’s “Chip ‘N’ Dale” reboot. The series was first reported at Annecy in 2019 and is participating in the festival’s TV competition this year with the episode “The Ghost.” French studio Xilam Animation produces with Marc du Pontavice as Executive Producer and Jean Cayrol as Director.

Zagtoon founderand CEO Jeremy Zag was invited to tease his upcoming action series “Ghostforce,” a splendidly lit and colorful action series around three teens who use Ghost-like powers to track down and capture ghosts which terrorize New York City. Zagtoon likewise gave a short update on the “Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir” IP, which sends its half-French, half-Chinese lead character Marinette Dupain-Cheng – Ladybug herself – East to investigate her Chinese roots for the first time in franchise history.

Ross additionally declared that both “PJ Masks” and “Gigantosaurus” are underway for their 6th and third seasons individually, and that recently reported new series “Viking School” and “The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti” are on track for 2022 releases.

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Danny Ramirez on Joaquin Phoenix Leaving the Gay Romance Film Directed by Todd Haynes

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Todd Haynes was planning to cast Danny Ramirez and Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance movie. However, Phoenix left the untitled production five days before Guadalajara, Mexico, filming got underway.

At the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday night in Los Angeles, Ramirez told Variety’s Marc Malkin, “It’s definitely disappointing.” “If anything,” he continued, “If anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing, and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. So that’s what I’m excited about.”

The movie, which depended on Phoenix’s casting, was in danger after it was revealed in August that he had quit the production, according to sources. Two guys in love in the 1930s who escape Los Angeles and travel to Mexico were the main subject of the NC-17-rated movie.

“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,” Ramirez stated. “The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read… There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.’”

“The most recent update is ‘hopefully.’” Ramirez said in response to a question about whether the movie is still in development with filmmaker Haynes.

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David Schwimmer Remembers Rejecting “Men in Black”: ‘That Would Have Made Me a Hollywood Star’

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Although David Schwimmer admits his “career would have taken a very different trajectory” if he had been the lead in the 1997 movie, he doesn’t regret declining Men in Black.

The actor said, “That’s not why I turned it down,” in response to a question on a recent episode of the podcast Origins With Cush Jumbo regarding whether he rejected down the successful franchise because it conflicted with his Friends filming schedule. Rather, he decided to become a feature film director.

Schwimmer said, “[It] was a brutal decision.” the actor chuckles. “I had just finished filming The Pallbearer, my first film with Gwyneth Paltrow, and there were high expectations of that, which didn’t come true (Laughs). It was kind of a bomb, but there were high expectations, and the studio, which was Miramax, wanted to lock me into a three-picture deal at a fixed price, and I said I would do that if I got to direct my first movie.”

After months of talks, the intelligence actor said that they had come to an agreement whereby he “would act in three more movies for them” in exchange for allowing him to “direct my entire theater company in the first film,” Since You’ve Been Gone from 1998. The film was told through the perspective of a doctor who was severely beaten up by a fellow graduate on graduation day, humiliating him and setting the stage for a ten-year class reunion.

“All these unknown actors but I was going to put them on the map, basically. I was going to let everyone discover the talent of this amazing company,” Schwimmer said, “We found this amazing script, and we were developing it. We started pre-production. All my best friends in the world in my theater company quit their jobs so they could be in this film over the summer, which was going to be a six-week shoot in Chicago.”

However, Schwimmer had to make a tough decision about his career because the production for his directing debut happened to coincide with the filming of Men in Black.

The Six Days Seven Nights actor recalls, “We’re in pre-production, hired the whole crew, everything’s going and that’s when I was offered Men in Black.” “It was a direct conflict with this. My summer window from Friends was four months. I had a four-month hiatus and Men in Black was going to shoot exactly when I was going to direct this film with my company. And of course, it was an amazing opportunity. However, my theater company and that relationship with all those people would probably have ended. I don’t think it would have recovered.”

Schwimmer stated that he is unsure if “he made the right choice,” but he firmly feels that in these kinds of circumstances “you have to follow your gut, you have to follow your heart.”

“Look, I’m really aware, whatever 20 years later maybe more, [Men in Black] would have made me a movie star,” he continued. “If you look at the success of that film and that franchise, my career would have taken a very different trajectory.”

In the end, Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith played the key parts in the Men in Black franchise.

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The Role of Vulnerability in Success: Hannah Love’s Guide to Embracing Your True Self

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In a world that often celebrates strength and success, vulnerability might seem like a weakness—but for Hannah Love, it’s a cornerstone of true personal growth and success. Throughout her journey, Hannah has discovered that embracing vulnerability isn’t just about being open with others; it’s about being honest with yourself. It’s through this honesty that real transformation begins.

Hannah’s life has been shaped by challenges that tested her resilience and forced her to confront deep-seated fears and insecurities. From childhood trauma to the emotional struggles of her twenties, she faced moments where vulnerability was not an option but a necessity. “For a long time, I saw vulnerability as a sign of weakness,” Hannah recalls. “I thought that if I let people see my pain, they would see me as less capable, less strong.”

However, as Hannah began to open up about her experiences, she realized that vulnerability was not her enemy—it was her greatest ally. It allowed her to connect with others on a deeper level, to share her struggles without shame, and to find strength in the very parts of herself that she had once tried to hide. “Vulnerability isn’t about being weak,” she explains. “It’s about being real. It’s about showing up as your true self, no matter how imperfect that self might be.”

One of the most significant lessons Hannah learned is that vulnerability is essential to building meaningful relationships. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for others to do the same. This mutual openness fosters trust and deepens connections, both personally and professionally. “The more I shared my story, the more I realized that others were going through similar struggles,” Hannah says. “By being vulnerable, I wasn’t just helping myself—I was helping others feel less alone.”

In her work as a mental health advocate, Hannah emphasizes the power of vulnerability in healing and personal development. She encourages others to embrace their imperfections, to share their stories, and to see vulnerability as a pathway to growth rather than a hurdle to overcome. “When we hide our true selves, we limit our potential,” she explains. “But when we embrace who we are, flaws and all, we open ourselves up to new possibilities.”

Hannah’s journey also taught her that vulnerability is closely linked to authenticity. For years, she tried to fit into societal molds, hiding her true feelings behind a mask of perfection. But this only led to more pain and disconnection. It was only when she started living authentically—when she stopped trying to be what others expected and started being herself—that she found true success. “Living authentically means embracing your vulnerabilities and showing up as your whole self,” she says. “It’s about being honest with yourself and others, even when it’s hard.”

Through her platform, Hannah continues to advocate for vulnerability as a key to personal and professional success. She believes that when we embrace our vulnerabilities, we not only empower ourselves but also inspire others to do the same. “Success isn’t just about what you achieve,” she explains. “It’s about how you achieve it—by being true to yourself and allowing others to see the real you.”

As Hannah prepares for her TEDx Miami talk, she is eager to share her insights on vulnerability and authenticity with a broader audience. She hopes to inspire others to embrace their true selves and to see vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a source of strength and connection. Her message is clear: in a world that often values perfection, it’s our imperfections—and our willingness to share them—that truly make us successful.

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