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Published 4:55 pm Friday, December 6, 2024 By PA News Semaj Pierre, left, and Michael Riles sign letters of intent to play college football. (Chris Moore/Special to The News) Michael Riles signs a letter of intent to play college football. (Chris Moore/Special to The News) Semaj Pierre signs a letter of intent to play college football. (Chris Moore/Special to The News) By Chris Moore Special to The News Two Memorial Titans players signed national letters of intent Wednesday to continue their football careers at the college level. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Defensive end Michael Riles signed to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, while receiver Semaj Pierre elected to sign with Rice University. For Pierre, the signing was a full-circle moment dating back to when he was 7 years old. “My dad told me I could go to a school like Rice when I was really young. I was too young to even really understand it,” Pierre said. Pierre performed well at a Texas Christian University camp, which earned him an invite to the Rice camp, he said. “I went and did well again and they offered me that day,” Pierre said. “My dad pulled me aside and asked if I remembered what he told me when I was younger. I knew it was God telling me that I need to be there.” Riles, a four-star standout, said he chose Oklahoma State because of the coaching staff. “It feels great,” he said. “They made it feel like a home away from home. I love going up there and being around the coaching staff. You can tell the passion they have for me. I talk to the coaches there almost every day. I love the defensive side of it. I’m looking forward to have my teammates get to know me and know that I am a game changer.” Both players pointed to big plays they made while at Memorial, but both also said they are going to miss their teammates the most. During their speeches, both took time to thank their teammates and encouraged the younger players to keep working hard. Memorial Head Coach Brian Morgan said both players grew in different ways while at Memorial. He said he told Pierre that he would have to add some weight if he wanted to play college ball, and said his hard work paid off. Pierre will also graduate at the end of the month and enroll early at Rice in January. For Riles, while he also physically grew at Memorial, the coach also pointed to the player’s growth in maturity as the greatest asset to his success. Both laughed when talking about several in-office discussions between the two. Morgan said Riles growth will have to continue to excel at Oklahoma State both on and off the field. Riles thanked his coach for his patience and believing in him.Grand Opening of the Rees Jones "Woods" golf course announced at Boca Woods Country Club
Anas Sarwar named The Herald Scottish Politician of The YearELLENDALE, N.D., Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Digital Corporation (Nasdaq: APLD) (“Applied Digital” or the “Company”), a designer, builder, and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure designed for High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications, today announced a major milestone in the development of its purpose-built HPC data center in Ellendale, N.D., with the successful energization of its on-site main substation transformer. This milestone signals the facility’s progression into the next stage of its build-out, setting the foundation for a data center capable of supporting cutting-edge AI and high-performance computing. The energization of the on-site main substation transformer marks a critical step toward bringing the Ellendale HPC campus fully online. This milestone was celebrated at an event that brought together key partners and stakeholders who have been instrumental in the project’s development. Participants included representatives from Applied Digital, utility provider Montana-Dakota Utilities (“MDU”), and members of the Ellendale community, including Mayor Don Flaherty. “This energization milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Todd Gale, Chief Development Officer at Applied Digital. “We believe it demonstrates our progress in bringing our Ellendale HPC campus to life, showcasing both technological innovation and the strength of our partnerships with Ellendale and MDU. This achievement will allow the Company to initiate equipment commissioning activities, bringing us closer to delivering the infrastructure we believe will define the future of AI and digital transformation in Ellendale and beyond.” This milestone comes shortly after Applied Digital submitted a petition for annexation of its property to the City of Ellendale, a move aimed at further solidifying its partnership with the local community. The annexation is expected to bring increased revenue streams and expanded municipal services to the community, benefiting Ellendale, its residents, and the region. The partnership between Applied Digital and the City of Ellendale was recently recognized with the Community Impact award at the 18th Annual Data Center Dynamics Awards, underscoring the Company’s unwavering commitment to the Ellendale community. About Applied Digital Applied Digital (Nasdaq: APLD) develops, builds and operates next-generation data centers and cloud infrastructure. Different by design, the Company’s purpose-built facilities are engineered to unleash the power of accelerated compute and deliver secure, scalable and sustainable digital hosting, along with turnkey CSaaS and GPU-as-a-Service solutions. Backed by deep hyperscale expertise and a robust pipeline of available power, Applied Digital aims to accommodate AI Factories and beyond to support the world’s most exacting AI/ML, blockchain and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, business strategy and objectives. These statements use words, and variations of words, such as "will," "continue," "build," "future," "increase," "drive," "believe," "look," "ahead," "confident," "deliver," "outlook," "expect," and "predict." Other examples of forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, (i) statements of Company plans and objectives, including our evolving business model, or estimates or predictions of actions by suppliers, (ii) statements of future economic performance, and (iii) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to uncertainty. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company's expectations and projections. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include: our ability to complete construction of the Ellendale HPC data center; availability of financing to continue to grow our business; our ability to timely and successfully build new hosting facilities with the appropriate contractual margins and efficiencies; power or other supply disruptions and equipment failures; the inability to comply with developments and changes in regulation; cash flow and access to capital; decline in demand for our products and services; and maintenance of third-party relationships. Information in this release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and the Company does not undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law.Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars
Distribution Dates and Amounts Announced for Certain BlackRock Closed-End FundsNo. 2 UConn men’s basketball upset by Memphis in thrilling overtime opener at Maui Invitational, 99-97
NVidia’s Wall Street Surge! What Gamers Need to Know NowAP Business SummaryBrief at 4:16 p.m. EST
Star Entertainment’s recent financial turmoil serves as a microcosm for broader challenges in the casino industry. With a lifeline secured from banking syndicates, it highlights the vulnerabilities and resilience of brick-and-mortar casinos. Understanding these dynamics offers valuable insights for both traditional and online gaming platforms like Betinia . In the evolving landscape of the casino industry, digital platforms are becoming increasingly significant. Betinia is an online platform offering a wide range of sports betting and casino gaming options. Users can place bets on various sports events, participate in live betting, and enjoy a variety of casino games including slots, table games, and live dealer games. The website also features promotions and customer support to enhance the user experience. This digital innovation is crucial in meeting the challenges faced by traditional casinos. Star Entertainment has faced significant financial hurdles recently, emblematic of challenges that many in the casino industry encounter. Financial instability prompted by market shifts and regulatory pressures is a common thread running through many casino operators’ narratives. By examining Star Entertainment’s journey, there’s much to learn about navigating these turbulent waters. The casino industry is no stranger to challenges that demand both strategic foresight and adaptability. Financial management remains a critical concern, especially when faced with fluctuating revenues and significant operational costs. Additionally, regulatory compliance presents another layer of complexity, requiring constant updates to align with evolving laws and standards. To thrive in such an environment, casinos must remain attuned to changing market conditions and consumer preferences. This need for agility is where Betinia sets a benchmark, offering insights into how digital platforms can address these issues effectively. Faced with severe financial strain, Star Entertainment embarked on a strategic path to ensure its survival. The company secured additional financing through new loans and considered selling assets to shore up its fiscal standing. These strategies highlight the importance of having a robust financial plan and exploring diverse avenues to stabilize operations. Such measures are not only pertinent to physical casinos but also provide valuable lessons for digital platforms seeking sustainability. As the landscape continues to shift, adopting proactive strategies becomes crucial for long-term viability. Online platforms like Betinia can glean significant insights from the trials faced by traditional casinos like Star Entertainment. Flexibility and expansive reach are innate advantages that online platforms possess over their physical counterparts. This digital edge allows for rapid adaptation to consumer demands and market trends, which is vital in maintaining competitiveness. Furthermore, by leveraging technology, online platforms can offer personalized experiences that enhance user engagement and satisfaction. Innovation is at the heart of staying competitive in the fast-paced casino industry. For online platforms like Betinia.com, integrating cutting-edge features is essential to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Innovations such as live dealer games and interactive betting experiences cater to modern consumers’ desires for dynamic and engaging content. By continuously evolving their offerings, platforms not only retain existing users but also attract new demographics eager for fresh experiences. Star Entertainment’s saga underscores key lessons about resilience and adaptability within the casino sector. For those exploring modern gaming solutions, Betinia offers an enticing blend of tradition and innovation to captivate today’s audiences. Embracing these insights can help navigate a constantly changing landscape with confidence.ATLANTA, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PESI) (“Perma-Fix” or the “Company”), an environmental and environmental technology know-how company, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the proposed offering. Perma-Fix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund (i) continued R&D and business development relating to the Company’s patent-pending Perma-FAS process for the destruction of PFAS, as well as the cost of installing at least one second-generation Perma-FAS commercial treatment unit; (ii) ongoing facility cap-ex and maintenance costs; as well as (iii) general corporate and working capital purposes. Craig-Hallum is acting as sole managing underwriter for the proposed offering. The shares described above are being offered by Perma-Fix pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283555), including a base prospectus, that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and declared effective on December 12, 2024. The proposed offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus that will form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to this offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained from Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 222 South Ninth Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN 55402, by telephone at (612) 334-6300 or by email at prospectus@chlm.com . The final terms of the proposed offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. About Perma-Fix Perma-Fix is a nuclear services company and leading provider of nuclear and mixed waste management services. The Company’s nuclear waste services include management and treatment of radioactive and mixed waste for hospitals, research labs and institutions, federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”), the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”), and the commercial nuclear industry. The Company’s nuclear services group provides project management, waste management, environmental restoration, decontamination and decommissioning, new build construction, and radiological protection, safety and industrial hygiene capability to our clients. The Company operates four nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD and commercial facilities, nationwide. Please visit us at http://www.perma-fix.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements” which are based largely on the Company’s expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by use of the words such as “believe”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipate”, “plan to”, “estimates”, “projects” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to satisfy the closing conditions related to the offering and the overall timing and completion of such closing and the use of the net proceeds of the offering; accepting commercial waste for destruction before the end of the year; well positioned; treatment of effluent from DFLAW facility; and cost-effective solution for Hanford site tank waste. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including, without limitation, future economic conditions; industry conditions; competitive pressures; our ability to apply and market our new technologies; the government or such other party to a contract granted to us fails to abide by or comply with the contract or to deliver waste as anticipated under the contract or terminates existing contracts; Congress fails to provides funding for the DOD’s and DOE’s remediation projects; inability to obtain new foreign and domestic remediation contracts; and the additional factors referred to under “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of our 2023 Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs for quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024. The Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward-looking statements. Contacts David K. Waldman-US Investor Relations Crescendo Communications, LLC (212) 671-1021 Herbert Strauss-European Investor Relations herbert@eu-ir.com +43 316 296 316
UnitedHealth Group Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors
NonePARIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO –– NASDAQ: NBTX – the ‘‘Company’’), a late-clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches to expand treatment possibilities for patients with cancer and other major diseases, today announced a virtual event titled "Accelerating the Future of Nanotherapeutics," scheduled to take place at 9:00 AM ET / 3:00 PM CET on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Nanobiotix remains focused on advancing its lead program which is proceeding as planned. To enable further growth, Nanobiotix will leverage new nanotherapeutic technologies with the potential to improve treatment outcomes for millions of patients. The event will feature a presentation by Laurent Lévy, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Nanobiotix, and Matthieu Germain, PhD, Head of Curadigm at Nanobiotix. Together, they will outline the future potential of the Curadigm Nanoprimer Platform, an innovative nanotherapeutic technology designed to transform the development of intravenously-administered therapeutics. Following the presentation, a panel discussion will bring together leading experts to explore the transformative potential of Curadigm. Participants include: Event Details: Viewers can watch the event online or the replay archived on the Company’s website at www.nanobiotix.com . About CURADIGM Curadigm is an early-stage nanotherapeutic platform designed to disrupt the design and development IV-administered therapeutics and improve outcomes for patients. Curadigm’s Nanoprimer platform increases drug bioavailability while decreasing unintended off-target effects, specifically liver toxicity. The platform can be used with most intravenous (IV) therapeutics across multiple drug classes. Curadigm is dedicated to advancing therapeutic development based on our deep understanding of how drugs interact with the body, to impact both known and novel drugs across multiple clinical indications. About NANOBIOTIX Nanobiotix is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company pioneering disruptive, physics-based therapeutic approaches to revolutionize treatment outcomes for millions of patients; supported by people committed to making a difference for humanity. The Company’s philosophy is rooted in the concept of pushing past the boundaries of what is known to expand possibilities for human life. Incorporated in 2003, Nanobiotix is headquartered in Paris, France and is listed on Euronext Paris since 2012 and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in New York City since December 2020. The Company has subsidiaries in Cambridge, Massachusetts (United States) amongst other locations. Nanobiotix is the owner of more than 25 umbrella patents associated with three (3) nanotechnology platforms with applications in 1) oncology; 2) bioavailability and biodistribution; and 3) disorders of the central nervous system. For more information about Nanobiotix, visit us at www.nanobiotix.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter Disclaimer This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceed therefrom, and the period of time through which the Company’s anticipates its financial resources will be adequate to support operations. Words such as “expects”, “intends”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “potential”, “should” and “will” or the negative of these and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements which are based on the Company’ management’s current expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements, including risks related to Nanobiotix’s business and financial performance, which include the risk that assumptions underlying the Company’s cash runway projections are not realized. Further information on the risk factors that may affect company business and financial performance is included in Nanobiotix’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 24, 2024 under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors”, in Nanobiotix’s 2023 universal registration document filed with the AMF on April 24, 2024, in Nanobiotix’ 2024 semi-annual report under the caption “Supplemental Risk Factor” filed with the SEC on Form 6-K and with AMF on September 18 2024, and subsequent filings Nanobiotix makes with the SEC from time to time which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and except as required by law, Nanobiotix assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly. Contacts AttachmentsThe CEO of UnitedHealth Group, Andrew Witty, told employees he would increase security, including “perimeter protection,” at the company’s sites following the killing of one of their colleagues, CEO of the company’s health insurance branch . In comments shared with the Guardian, Witty said the company would make “permanent” changes that would make campuses less “welcoming”, but they were necessary in the country’s current “climate”. “We guard against the pressures that exist for unsafe or unnecessary care to be delivered, in a way that makes the whole system too complex and ultimately unsustainable,” Witty said, according to comments shared with the Guardian. “I have never been more proud of what this company and our colleagues do on behalf of the people in this country. I urge you to tune out the negative messaging you hear on social media,” Witty said. Witty made the comments in the face of in response to the killing of Thompson, a 50-year-old CEO of United HealthCare, who is survived by two sons and his wife, Paulette. Thompson was killed early Wednesday morning in midtown Manhattan, just outside the site of the company’s annual investor meeting, by an who shot the executive at least twice and then fled on an e-bike. Police are still searching for the suspect, and released photos and information about items found at the scene, including shell casings scrawled with the words, . The motive for the killing is unknown. The killing has been strongly condemned by lawmakers such as Amy Klobuchar, Democratic US Senator of Minnesota, who on described Thompson’s death as, “horrifying and shocking act of violence”. In response to questions about the webcast and comments, a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group referred the Guardian to a : “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place. So many patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out. We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend.” In a webcast to employees shared with the Guardian, Witty said that the company would, “provide as much support as we could possibly do to Brian’s family” and “for as long as the family need us”. Witty then turned to security of the company’s sites: “We’ve also been working hard to make sure that people who feel concerned about security, individually, but more importantly perhaps for our sites, continues to be reviewed and strengthened and to make sure we have put in place all of the appropriate mechanisms to keep our organization and our people safe.” The CEO also said the company would strengthen the “perimeter protection” of UHC campuses as time goes on. “We will see permanent changes that will make our sites less welcoming, especially for guests and visitors, but it’s a necessary change to make in the changing climate in this country,” Witty said. The comments come as corporate CEOs are on edge following Thompson’s death, and as political violence researchers warn that the online reaction to the killing is evidence of the growing acceptability of violence as a means to resolve conflict in the US. In another part of what appears to be the same webcast, Witty also lambasted the media coverage of Thompson’s death. “I’d like to give you a little bit of advice around the media,” said Witty in video obtained by reporter Ken Klippenstein and republished by . “My strong advice and request to everybody is just don’t engage with the media. If you’re approached, I would recommend not responding and, if necessary, simply refer them to our own media organization.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge on Monday upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, allowing the state to continue prohibiting treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers for people under 18. Circuit Court Judge Robert Craig Carter from southern Douglas County wrote in a 74-page order on Monday that the ban was constitutional. The ruling rejects a lawsuit brought on behalf of families of trans youth, medical providers and national LGBTQ advocacy organizations. In addition to ruling that the ban was constitutional, Carter went a step further, finding that there was “an almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics” of treating adolescent gender dysphoria, which is typically defined as the feeling of distress when a person’s gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. “The evidence at trial showed severe disagreement as to whether adolescent gender dysphoria drug and surgical treatment was ethical at all, and if so, what amount of treatment was ethically allowable,” Carter wrote in the order. Carter’s ruling comes after a nine-day trial that concluded in Jefferson City last month. The trial and lawsuit centered on a law that the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed and Gov. Mike Parson signed into law in 2023. The law, which took effect in August 2023, bans gender transition surgeries on minors and imposes a three-year moratorium on hormone therapy and puberty blockers unless the patients were already receiving the medications. The legislation also affects adults, prohibiting Missouri Medicaid dollars from covering gender-affirming care and bans prisons and jails from providing gender-affirming surgeries. The ban was part of a nationwide push to regulate the lives of transgender people and has sparked fear in Missouri’s transgender community, prompting some to leave the state. The Kansas City-area was at the center of the fight , with transgender residents straddling two states that sought to restrict their rights. The ACLU of Missouri and the national LGBTQ civil rights law firm Lambda Legal, representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, sharply criticized the ruling in a joint statement. The two groups said they planned to appeal. “The court’s findings signal a troubling acceptance of discrimination, ignore an extensive trial record and the voices of transgender Missourians and those who care for them, and deny transgender adolescents and Medicaid beneficiaries from their right to access to evidence-based, effective, and often life-saving medical care,” the groups said in the statement. The lawsuit alleged the ban violated the Missouri Constitution by discriminating against trans patients on the basis of sex and their trans status, and deprives parents of a fundamental right to seek medical care for their children. The law also forces medical providers to choose between abandoning their patients or keeping their medical licenses, according to the suit. Carter disagreed, upholding the law on all counts, according to his order. Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office defended the law in court. The ban came after Bailey had previously attempted to severely restrict gender-affirming care by issuing a regulation, leading even some Republicans to question its legality. He eventually abandoned that effort after lawmakers approved the ban. Bailey and other Republicans have regularly framed restrictions on gender-affirming care as necessary to protect children, an argument Bailey reiterated after Monday’s ruling. “Mutilation is not healthcare,” Bailey wrote on social media on Monday. “We will never stop fighting to protect your children.” Bailey’s office put out a release later in the day, saying he was proud of the work his office put in to “shine a light on the lack of evidence supporting these irreversible procedures.” “We will never stop fighting to ensure Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children,” Bailey said. Impact on Kansas City Bailey had pushed for restrictions on gender-affirming care after a former employee at Washington University in St. Louis’ transgender center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital alleged the center was harming patients. The university’s internal report found the allegations to be unfounded. Despite Bailey’s argument, the ACLU of Missouri and Lambda Legal said Monday that Missouri had “prioritized politics over the well-being of its people.” “This ruling sends a chilling message that, for some, compassion and equal access to health care are still out of reach,” the groups said. The law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner also represented the plaintiffs in the suit. After the ruling came down, Celeste Michael, a 23-year-old transgender woman from Kansas City, said that she felt for transgender kids. Trans people, she said, are facing “even more vitriol and more hatred.” “I think it’s a really scary time to be a trans person,” Michael said. “If they’re going to go for kids, which are our most vulnerable subset of trans people, they’re going for incarcerated people, which are also some of our most vulnerable trans people, who’s to say they’re not going to go for me next?” ©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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How does such a genre-defying film like Jacques Audiard’s transgender Mexican cartel musical come into being? In this case, it went through a uniquely adventurous development process. The acclaimed film, which was loosely inspired by a chapter in Boris Razon’s 2018 novel , originally began as two distinct projects, both written by Audiard and titled : an opera libretto to be performed for the stage and a gritty crime movie the director envisioned shooting on location in Mexico. “It took a lot of time for the two projects to merge into one, to make ,” says Paul Guilhaume, the French cinematographer who shot and is considered an Oscar frontrunner for his work on the film. “I didn’t even know myself which one I would be shooting — both, or was it one or the other?” Guilhaume recalls of the early days after he signed onto the project. The cinematographer and a team of collaborators spent four months scouting locations in Mexico and imagining visual possibilities for the film — but at the end of that process, Audiard announced he would be pivoting. “He wanted to do a film that talks about very serious things but to add an element of lightness in the treatment and process of doing it,” Guilhaume recalls. “From there, it was, OK, let’s forget everything we have now and do the film in a studio. And let’s use all of the location scoutings we have done as a starting point.” recently sat down with Guilhaume for an edition of , to discuss the creation of ‘s wholly original visual language, one that melds Audiard’s signature “aesthetic of movement” with explosive, music video-style choreography, telenovela melodrama, consistently dramatic lighting choices, brooding political commentary and a gangland car chase through a simulated Mexican desert. “It was strange because we didn’t have a unique reference,” Guilhaume explains. “Very often when you make a film, you say, ‘OK, it’s but [with this and that].’ That was not the case here. It was so different with the music and choreography — a genre of film that we couldn’t even say.” As ‘s chief critic David Rooney put it in in May, where debuted to acclaim: “Some Francophile cinema fans keep hoping that Audiard will make another searing drama like or , but any filmmaker who declines to repeat himself and instead keeps experimenting and pushing in new directions should be applauded. With , he has made something fresh, full of vitality and affecting, held aloft by its own quietly soaring power. Rooney adds: “The movie looks terrific — never too slick, with a slight rough-edged quality that adds to its appeal. The camerawork is loose and supple, the moody textures of the many night scenes are effective and the use of vibrant color is invigorating.” stars Karla Sofía Gascón as a feared cartel leader who enlists a lawyer, played by Zoe Saldaña, to help her disappear and achieve her dream of transitioning into a woman. Selena Gomez co-stars as the cartel leader’s young wife who is left in the dark about her partner’s transition and is unwittingly brought along for the ride. Guilhaume previously shot Audiard’s 2021 black-and-white drama , as well as music videos for Kanye West and Rosalía. Watch the episode above for his scene-by-scene breakdown of how was made — along with the title of the movie he rewatches every time he begins a new project, to remind himself of “visual perfection.” This edition of is sponsored by Netflix. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter
Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level Media