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Arts and Entertainment, Uncategorized

A new era in the movie industry

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There was a time where Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest action movie star in Hollywood. Star Wars was the hottest movie franchise around and watching movies in the theater made your experience unimaginable.

Nowadays, we are still getting Star Wars movies over 30 years later, movie stars have come and gone, and there is no longer a need to go to the theater. The Movie and TV show industry has drastically changed over the years.

One way they’ve been different is their constant need to remake every movie and TV show out there.

Whether they create a spin-off of the original idea, repurpose it into an animated or live action movie or series, or just flat out remake the movie with a different cast. Hollywood will stop at nothing to keep a franchise alive for all generations.

Part of the reason for this is because the audience plays a major role in the direction of movies. The franchises that were created and loved have an already existing fan base, where as completely new movies have no audience.

According to a study by Stephen Follows back in 2015, the budget for a film based on an existing premise is $70.8 million, while a brand new film is $46.4 million.

In fact, according to the same study by Stephen Follows, sequels and prequels now make up nearly a third of all top-grossing films. However, is that necessarily a bad thing?

I interviewed NECC student Andrew Venditti, a fan of film who had very interesting opinions on the matter.

When asked if he felt that Hollywood is lacking in creativity, Venditti said “I think Hollywood could use some more unique stories. I like superhero movies as much as the next guy, but they get a little stale in my opinion.”

I also asked him if there would need to be a limit on remakes when it comes to certain franchises or any movie in general, He responded by saying “I think some remakes are really good. On the other hand, if remakes and stretching out movie franchises sell really well, there might be less profit incentive to make new material.”

So while there are certainly good and bad remakes, where you watch them is an entirely new thing.

Instead of buying a ticket at your local movie theater, people now would much prefer watching the movie at home.

While the pandemic has not helped with ticket sales, theaters have been in decline for a long time now. According to Paul Hardart, director of the Entertainment, Media and Technology Program at New York University’s Stern School of Business, movie theater attendance was plateauing even before COVID 19.

However, ticket prices have nearly doubled, going from $5.39 in 2000 to $9.16 in 2020. Now, there are all kinds of streaming services like Netflix, Paramount + and others that make watching movies more convenient in the comforts of home.

Movies and TV shows have been more or less the same, but watching them has evolved over the years. While we’re not sure what franchise they will duplicate next, we hope that it will be just as good as the original.

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Behind the scenes essential workers share their experiences during height of pandemic

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As the Covid-19 pandemic began, many people were deemed heroes as the public watched emergency room doctors, nurses, and first responders work tirelessly throughout the pandemic beginning in 2020 to present.

There are endless accounts of the bravery and perseverance that these essential workers exhibited. The dedication to their careers and adherence to their sworn oaths proved honorable beyond belief as they navigated through a time which many would consider agonizing and even traumatic.

However, there are several lesser-known occupations that were deemed essential also. People in these industries too, took substantial risks working through a global health crisis. Three local essential workers shed light on their occupations and why they uniquely qualify as working essential jobs.
David Sweet, a Senior BioProcess Specialist employee at Bristol Myers Squibb in Devens, MA described why his job was considered essential.

“I work in BioPharma in the large-scale commercial production of therapeutic proteins for various human diseases. My job position is considered essential because patients depend on the medicines for survival and quality of life. Global inventory supply would be greatly affected if we weren’t operating the process to manufacture them.”

Production of life-saving medications is crucial, especially during a health crisis. Sweet continues on to describe his experience working in-person when exposure risks were high.

“New company policies were set in place at the onset of the pandemic with regard to personal spacing and the use of face masks.”

According to Sweet, employees still take part in these practices today. In addition to these precautions, Sweet described additional safeguards his company has implemented to keep its employees safe.

“Weekly communication from our site leaders and company senior management provide us with updated company policies.” Similar to those working in a medical setting, Sweet described being accustomed to using PPE. “Because the nature of my job involves working in a clean room setting, I am required to, and used to wearing full PPE, including face masks for the duration of my shift.”

Sweet’s work in pharmaceuticals plays a vital role in maintaining public health; especially in the midst of a health emergency that spans world-wide.

Tyler Slepoy, a Marblehead, MA municipal employee, working in arboriculture and urban forestry on the North Shore, compared the safety risks of working through the pandemic to the risks that already come along with his line of work. “My occupation remains one of, if not the most, dangerous job in the country, with the highest fatality rates. While I would have felt safer health-wise remaining home, I understood why that was not always possible.”

Slepoy shares why his job was deemed essential work. “My work ranges from standard tree care; which is pruning, tree removal, and stump grinding to emergency storm work; which is clean up of fallen or damaged trees and limbs due to inclement weather or accidents. It would not be possible to work remotely in my industry. We need to be physically present. Especially when microbursts, nor’easters, and heavy winds occur. Oftentimes trees fall on cars, houses, and into public roadways and must be cleared immediately.”

In an area prone to severe weather such as New England, Slepoy’s occupation is certainly a necessity.

Another essential worker conveyed the importance of her job, especially during Covid-19 surges. Alyce Slepoy, an Occupational Therapy Assistant working in Lynn, recalls somber moments where she felt called to provide emotional support to her patients. “I knew that it was very important to my patients for me to be there for them and at times holding hands because their loved ones weren’t allowed to come in and be with them.”

Slepoy was asked whether or not she agreed that her job should’ve been considered essential; she responded “I do agree. The elderly population still needed to be cared for on a daily basis and with staffing so short in that type of facility and because of the setting – we lost a lot of lives! It is by far the saddest time I’ve lived through.”

Exposure and transmission rates can be high in a medical setting. When asked if she felt safe continuing to work during the pandemic, Slepoy stated “I would be lying if I told you I felt safe during the pandemic. It was a very very very scary time. I was probably up every night worrying about bringing the virus home to my family and my loved ones. I was saddened by the fact that I couldn’t see my grandchildren or children for months. I do believe my family was afraid of what I would bring home to
them as well and I couldn’t blame them.”

Despite these drawbacks, Slepoy remained loyal to her patients and career throughout these trying times. “I did not prefer to be
home. I knew I needed to be where my job was.”

 

Features

Spotlight on Student Life Coordinator Stephanie Haskell

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Student Life Coordinator, Stephanie Haskell, has a lot on her plate at NECC, but she is an integral part of the Northern Essex community.

Haskell is from Concord New Hampshire and has been working at Northern Essex for over three years now since September of 2018.

There are many important aspects of Haskell’s job here at NECC. “Another area I oversee is all the student clubs and organizations” said Haskell. This is certainly one of her most important responsibilities.

She makes sure that all of these clubs have all of their appropriate paperwork and everything they need to thrive.

This includes the Student Government Association. She is actually the adviser of the Student Government Association. The Student Government Association has been integral in creating solutions to certain issues at Northern Essex.

Another one of Haskell’s important responsibilities is overseeing and running Northern Essex student life social media accounts. This includes the Northern Essex Community college TikTok account.

Haskell is also responsible for organizing social and educational events. The college hosts several of these events within a standard semester. Furthermore, Haskell is on many different boards within the Northern Essex community that are essential to the prosperity of the school.

When asked about what she loves most about her job here at Northern Essex, Haskell said, “I love actually being at the events because I get to meet the usually new students”.

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Portrait of a professor: The philosophies of Meredith Gunning

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Meredith Gunning, Professor of Philosophy at Northern Essex Community College, opens up about where she came from and gives insight on her motivations and philosophies both in and out of the classroom.

In the suburbs of Scarborough, Toronto, young, zany and candid Meredith Gunning grew up in a very exciting, diverse and progressive environment. In high school, her ardor for philosophy and answering life’s big questions often landed her in some kind of trouble.

She says “I used to get in more trouble than I liked for asking questions which were thought disrespectful. For instance, I once got kicked out of an English Lit class, studying Genesis as literature, for asking why God allowed there to be a snake in what was meant to be a utopian place; why would God let Adam and Eve be tempted in the first place, who then punishes all of humanity for their mistakes? How is this fair? The teacher thought I was being a troublemaker.” Even given this, Gunning recalls having some of the best times of her life in high school, including the one summer where she traveled to Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival to act in one of her drama teacher’s own plays. Being thoroughly influenced by her culture has made her more accepting of any and all ideas and people from all walks of life. Additionally, because of the environment in which she was raised, Gunning was also brought up with a broad perspective on multiculturalism and developed a sensibility for the LGBTQ+ community. “I think growing up in a diverse, multicultural city enabled me to become friends with people of many different backgrounds…” she says. “One of my closest friends in high school taught me much about political persecution since he had to flee Uganda during the dictatorship of Idi Amin. And I also vividly recall being in a Gay Pride Parade as an ally for my LGBTQ+ friends in the late 1980s.”

When Gunning moved to New England she was most certainly impressed by the trees. She was most certainly not impressed by the lack of health-care coverage. She says “I grew up believing that healthcare is a universal right – it was a shocking adjustment for me to deal with a for-profit medical care industry in the U.S.” For five years Gunning pursued her degree at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y. It was the summer of 2005 when Gunning finished her studies and received a Ph.D in philosophy. While working full time with six children, this was, and to this day still is, her greatest accomplishment. With a chuckle, she says to all students like her, “It’s possible ,you just need to learn to be sleep deprived!”

Like most, Gunning’s training in philosophy has been quite frankly narrow, focusing on mostly Western philosophy and the words and ideas of century old men. She desires to branch out and learn more about her study, acknowledging other cultural philosophies like African and Spanish philosophy as well as women in philosophy. “My life long quest is to be aware of my bias and be diverse in what I teach,” she says.

Gunning relishes being compelled to think and rethink her philosophies. She has always loved exploring ideas and thinking about life’s big questions. In her career she has developed more empathy and admiration for her students than ever before.

Teaching open discussions is something she considerably enjoys and the classroom she says is a “space for learning for me, not just my students.” Gunning also teaches a philosophy film class where she and her students analyze films which relate to different philosophical questions and ideas such as how the movie “The Matrix” unsheathes the dilemmas surrounding the difference between reality and illusion.

Gunning is quirky and a straight shooter. Those close to her will tell you she can be blunt and sometimes undiplomatic, especially out of the classroom. However, these very personality traits have gotten her to where she is today. She is extremely passionate about not only philosophy and her teachings but about community service as well. She’s involved in the NECC Community Outreach Program – a group of NECC students who help the local community.

In her free time, Gunning enjoys reading and watching films, a favorite pastime for her and her father. “When I was really young, we would watch “The Wizard of Oz” every year which taught me the value of friendship and facing your fears. As I got older, we would go to see some films together, and he would love to discuss them afterwards,” she says.
She’s passionate about music and recalls many awe-inspiring moments she’s had the from live shows such as the one night Jack White (who became known through the White Stripes but now mostly has a solo career) gave her the stink eye when he spotted her taking pictures while he was performing at the Newport Folk Festival.

Identifying her strengths and weaknesses, Gunning prides herself on being present in class as well as knowing the material but also recognizes her interest in the content often causes her to run off course. She says “I do believe that I owe it to my students to try and know the material I am teaching inside out. Sometimes I try new material which I am still learning about myself – risk taking is good. But I should never just do it half-baked or on the fly.”

Something she is currently working on is expanding her comfort zone by attempting to incorporate non-white, female thinkers into her teachings rather than just the usual Western principles. Gunning also says “Anyone can engage in philosophizing and it is important to show my students a more diverse array of people who philosophize so that a variety of perspectives are heard.”

 

 

Arts and Entertainment

Anticipation builds for 2022 Oscars

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The 2022 Oscar nominations have been announced, and so many of the most incredible performers and filmmakers of the past year are getting the recognition that they all deserve as artists. Best Picture nominees include comedy “Don’t Look Up,” a movie about a comet heading directly toward Earth, which serves as a satirical take on climate change and the actions that need to be taken against it. Another nominee in that category is “Drive My Car,” a Japanese movie that follows a stage director who loses his wife, and eventually forms a strong bond with his driver. Other Best Picture nominees include “King Richard,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Belast,” “Dune,” “Nightmare Alley,” “The Power of the Dog,” “West Side Story” and “Coda.”

NECC Liberal Arts Professor Kim Lyng, has seen a few of the nominees for the “Animated Feature Film” category, “They were all great and my kids can’t stop singing ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ from Encanto.” says Lyng, “I have to admit it’s a very catchy tune and they sound great singing it!”

Lyng also watched “tick, tick…BOOM!” and “West Side Story.” When referring to “West Side Story,” Lyng says, “I know the film didn’t do as well as expected at the box office so it’s nice to see it getting accolades at the Academy Awards, especially for actress Ariana DeBose, the cinematography, and Spielberg’s directing.”

A notable snub that disappointed me personally when the nominations were announced was Lady Gaga not getting nominated for her role in “House of Gucci” as Patrizia Reggiani. Gaga has worked so hard to be an actress; she has said many times that she “wanted to be actress before she wanted to be a musician.” I also feel as though this role as Patrizia was a much more advanced role than Ally in “A Star is Born,” the movie that Gaga starred in in 2018.

The 2022 Oscars will be hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Skyes, and will air on March 27th at 8:00 PM ET. All Oscar nominations are listed at oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2022.

Arts and Entertainment

Movies of 2022: What to expect

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2022 is going to be quite a massive year for cinema fans. Film has been one of the most prominent forms of entertainment that have been keeping people less stressed throughout the pandemic. 2021 already consisted of some major releases, such as

“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Godzilla vs Kong,” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” However, 2022 is going to be just as big of a year for movies, as many big franchises will be given a new installment and there are some new films for NECC Students to be excited for.

Here are some of the most exciting movies to look forward to this year:

“The Batman” – As one of the most anticipated movies of 2022, “The Batman” will provide fans with a new movie version of the comic book character and when it releases on March 4. The film will be directed by Matt Reeves. It stars Robert Pattinson as the titular character. Pattinson previously starred in movies such as “Twilight” and “The Lighthouse.” The film will also star Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth.

“Jurassic World: Dominion”– A trailer for “Jurassic World: Dominion” was released on February 10th. The “Jurassic Park” series will conclude with this movie. The film will be directed by Colin Trevorrow, who worked on the most recent two “Jurassic World” films. Not only are Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprising their roles from the past two films in the “Jurassic World” movies, but “Dominion” will also feature the return of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. The three of them are well known for their roles in “Jurassic Park” as Alan Grant, Elle Sattler, and Ian Malcolm, respectively.

“Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” – A trailer was released during this year’s superbowl. “The Multiverse of Madness” is the sequel to “Doctor Strange,” which waas released five years ago. It will explore the multiverse an what exists within it. The movie will be directed by Sam Raimi, mostly known for his works in “Evil Dead” and “Spider-Man.” Benedict Cumberbatch will reprisse his role as “Doctor Strange” and is known for his roles in movies such as “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “Sherlock.” Also returning is Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlett Witch. Olsen starred in “WandaVision” last year. It has been speculated that Patrick Stewart will be reprising his role as Professor X from the “X-Men” movies.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse Part One” – The long-awaited sequel for “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse” will finally be released on Oct. 7. It will be directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin Thompson. Hailee Steinfeld and Shameik Moore will be reprising their roles as Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales respectively. Oscar Isaac will also be reprising his role as Spider-Man 2099. Oscar Isaac is having a big year this year as well, starring in “Moon Knight” as the titular character.

These are the most highly-anticipated movies that will be released this year. While there are plenty of movies coming out this year, these releases in particular seem to be the most popular among NECC students and many others. It seems 2022 will be another big year for movies, and it seems to get even bigger as the year progresses.

 

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Students share tips on fighting ‘seasonal slump’

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While many enjoy the weather that winter in New England brings, many others suffer to get the motivation to go about their regular routines. With the confinement indoors due to the cold, excitement of the holidays in the past, shorter days, and COVID restrictions, many people start to lose energy and become sluggish and less motivated. However, there are many strategies people use to help them get out of this funk, such as finding activities to focus their energy, embracing the cold weather and more.

Starting a new semester in the middle of winter can be difficult. One is not yet in the habit of completingchool work, and it is hard to step back and take a break when the weather outside makes it difficult to get fresh air.

Emily Graves, a NECC student, stated, “It’s hard to go out and be active when it is so cold, and it forces me to be inside more and leaves me with less to do and more to think about.”

Motivation can slip and it can feel hard to catch back up.

NECC student Cassidy Smith, said, “The weather literally makes me depressed. I have little to no motivation to do anything, and the cold with the gray skies amplify that feeling.”

The gloomy feeling outside can mirror in one’s moods and make it challenging to drive oneself to complete the countless assignments due.

These seasonal mood plunges have fallen even deeper in the past two years due to COVID. Not only are people staying inside to avoid the cold, but they are even further isolated due to the virus.

“I definitely think that COVID-19 has impacted the magnitude of the seasonal slump,” said Graves. It’s hard enough doing things when it’s winter out, but the pandemic has only elevated that.”

The pandemic can also fuel more stress. Many students wondering if winter will ever end, but they have also been asking the same question about COVID for the past two years.

This lack of a “light at the end of the tunnel” can result in a feeling of defeat.

However, one does not have to allow this funk to control them.

There are many strategies to bring energy and excitement back to one’s life.

NECC student Avery Hochheiser says, “I like to embrace the cold. Dress cozy and drink hot drinks.” .

Graves said she liked to do activities that made her forget how dreary it could be outside. Some of her examples included “painting, listening to music, baking and cooking.”

Smith said listening to happy music or music that reminded her of summer helped her enter a more positive mindset.

Some other tricks and tips include moving your desk towards a window to increase exposure to sunlight, staying active, getting enough sleep, and not pushing oneself too hard.

Knowing limits helps to determine what one can and cannot handle. These strategies can aid in getting through these four to five more weeks of winter until spring comes to melt the snow and lift everyone’s “seasonal slumps.”

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A balancing act: Alumn shares advice on juggling school, work and family responsibilities

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There’s a pressure to work today, especially for college students. Student debt is a fear that looms over many student’s heads, as well as the desire to move away from home and be their own person. There’s also the belief that if you have free time as a college student, especially one attending community college, then you should fill that time with a job, which isn’t always the best option for some.

The cost of living is increasing as well as student debt, and no matter what, students are scrambling to catch up to the cost of living in today’s world. Many students are also parents trying to earn a degree while raising a child. So how do they manage this pressure, and the stress that comes from being enrolled in college at the same time?

For Kelly Aleska, she found it quite stressful, but also rewarding. Aleska attended Northern Essex Community College and got her associate’s in 2018, then later transferred to UMass Lowell to earn her degree in psychology with a concentration in developmental disabilities in 2020. While she was in school, she was a waitress at Not Your Average Joes in Methuen. She also was a single mother taking care of her son.

“I took online classes whenever I could because it allowed for more flexible hours. When I had to go in person I would go while my son was at school, and I would work at night. My mother helped babysit mostly,” she said.

Balancing school, work and raising a child at the same time was difficult for Aleksa. “It was stressful to find the time to get everything done,” she said. “I found myself giving away shifts when it came close to finals even though I had rent to pay.”

Like Aleksa, many students decide to lose time during work so they can focus on school, but it’s not a decision many make lightly. Some advice Aleksa gives to other students is to use whatever resources you have. “Apply for scholarships even if you think you won’t get them, and use your time wisely,” she said.

Aleksa was also a part of the PACE program at Northern Essex Community College who helped her find scholarships. Northern Essex has a great support center from Academic Coaching, the PACE program, and even childcare services.

Campus Life, Home Page News Bytes

Best Buddies seeking members

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According to the Best Buddies website, Best Buddies is a student-run friendship club that creates buddy pairs between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
It offers the chance for students to have one-on-one and group friendships with others in the school committee.
The NECC chapter of Best Buddies is looking for new members this semester. It would be a fit for any students looking to make connections in an accepting and kind group and have fun with other students from NECC.
Meetings are held oncea month on the first or second Wednesday at 2 p.m. over zoom.
According to NECC student Yomerly Rodriguez, the student secretary for Best Buddies, “In a normal meeting would have a theme of a certain holiday that is close. Last meeting, we had a Valentine’s day theme, so they asked Valentine’s day trivia questions, and we played a game of Valentine’s this or that.” Rodriguez has been a member of Best Buddies since last semester and loves the community of the club and all of the new connections she has been able to make.
Lilli Baumgardner, a student at NECC and the student vice president of Best Buddies, said she is grateful for the friendships she made in the club. “This has definitely been a group of people I would love to continue to meet with even when I’m not a student at NECC anymore,” Baumgardner said,.
Baumgardner has been a part of Best Buddies since last semester and said one of her favorite things about the group was how diverse the students were; this diversity made her connections even more special.
Grace Adam, the student president of Best Buddies, has been in the club since she was in high school. She also voiced how long-lasting the friendships made in this club are. Members can either join the buddy program or join to be a part of the club as a whole.
“You don’t have to have a buddy in the group; you can just be a part of the group and go to the meetings. During these meetings, you can still do activities and events you just don’t have to have that one-on-one connection if it is too overwhelming,” Adam said. However, the buddy program is a great way to create a meaningful friendship. To be paired, one fills out an interest questionnaire to match with someone compatible with their interests. This pair will include one person with and one person without disabilities. Rodriguez stated, “If you match with someone with a disability, you can learn about it more and have a better understanding of how they live their life.”
In a time when many of our connections have been cut off due to COVID, Best Buddies can help to rebuild these connections for people with and without disabilities. “Best Buddies is a great club to make you feel like you are a part of a group that cares about you,” Rodriguez said.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 9 at 2 p.m. on zoom. Learn more by joining the NECC Best Buddies Blackboard.

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Training for the ‘real world’: Students say they would welcome life skills classes

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It’s that time of year again when soon-to-be high school graduates eagerly send in their college applications and wait patiently for their dream schools to send back an acceptance letter.

In times like these, parents lay solemn as they realize their kids will be off to school in just a few short months, leaving high school with jam-packed knowledge they learned from textbooks. But recently it has come into question as to what knowledge both high school and college students should be learning, versus what they are being taught, and how much of it they’ll take with them in the long run.

A life skills class, which would teach students basic tasks such as balancing a checkbook, doing taxes, buying a home, or putting a spare tire on a car, are all situation’ students will face at one point in their lives.

The incorporation of a class like this could prepare students for life after high school, and possibly lessen the nerves and burden becoming an adult.

“Financial Math taught me about many things that will matter in my future, such as paying for college, taxes, credit scores, and insurance,” said Olivia Hansen, a NECC student, who spoke about a previous class she took in high school.

“Prior to this class, I knew hardly anything about these important topics that I would utilize as I entered the “real world.”
The course made me feel more ready and less stressed about becoming more independent and armed me with more information to prepare myself for the future.”

At Methuen High School, senior Jordyn Graves spoke about the importance a class like this would have for fellow students: “It would educate people more on saving their money correctly and budgeting better. Since people lose track of their finances so easily, it could help them become more organized.”

Though a class like this would be beneficial to students in nearly every state, there are hurdles involved, such as hiring more teachers, which adds to the schools’ payroll.
Schools are already underfunded, so schools would most likely prioritize purchasing new technology or textbooks instead.

“When I send my students off to the next grade every June, I encourage to them to remember how important school is. I encourage them to keep striving to be their best. From what I’ve seen, not every student has the resources to learn skills they’ll need for the future, so I truly believe a life skills class would be so rich in teaching students such important life benefits,” says parent Michelle Graves, who has been teaching in Methuen and surrounding areas since 2008.

Whether it be the Pythagorean Theorem or the Pyramids of Giza, some may say most of the information they have learned in school has no real benefit towards their future lives or teachings.
But fundamental skills that students may have the opportunity to take home with them if a life skills class is incorporated into curriculum could bring quite the joy to any parents’ face.