News Mash-up: American Movies

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. sitcom / ˈsɪtˌkɒm / (n.) – a TV program that shows characters in different funny situations
    Example:

    I enjoy watching sitcoms. They make me laugh and help relieve my stress.


  2. off-screen / ˈɔfˈskrin / (adv.) – relating to events that are happening to actors in real life and outside of their roles on TV or in movies
    Example:

    Alice’s role in the movie has a very extravagant lifestyle, but she actually lives a very simple life off-screen.


  3. prior to (something) / ˈpraɪ ər tʊ / (prep.) – before something
    Example:

    Don’t forget to register on the website prior to the event.


  4. stride / straɪd / (n.) – a great change or development in something
    Example:

    The company has made huge strides in improving the quality of its customer service.


  5. ecosystem / ˈi koʊˌsɪs təm / (n.) – all plants, animals, and non-living things that exist together in an environment
    Example:

    If some of the animals become extinct, the entire forest’s ecosystem could be affected.


Article

Read the text below.

Nicole Kidman brings American TV icon Lucille Ball to life in Being the Ricardos


Actors Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem on Dec. 6 launched their latest film Being the Ricardos in Los Angeles about Hollywood icon Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who starred in the classic American sitcom I Love Lucy but were also a couple off-screen.


Tony Hale, who plays the sitcom’s executive producer Jess Oppenheimer, said audiences don’t need to know I Love Lucy prior to watching the film.


The film depicts the huge strides Ball made as a woman in show business, heading her own production studio and being pregnant on camera.


Being the Ricardos released in theaters on Dec. 10 in the United States and was set to stream on Amazon on Dec. 21. (Reuters)


Thailand allows visitors back to beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio film


Thailand has reopened Maya Bay, a white sand beach made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.


The film attracted many tourists to the beach — thousands each day. They damaged its coral reefs and beach areas, so officials closed the beach in 2018. They wanted the ecosystem to recover.


But since the start of this year, Thailand has allowed some visitors back.


“The sharks have come back, coral reefs are regrowing and the water is clear again,” said, Yuthasak Supasorn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.


The beach is surrounded by 100-meter-high cliffs on the island of Phi Phi Leh in the Andaman Sea. It can be reached only by boat from nearby spots such as the islands of Phuket or Phi Phi.


Authorities said only up to 375 visitors will be allowed at a time and swimming will not be allowed for now. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The movie Being the Ricardos is about Hollywood icons Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who starred in the classic American sitcom I Love Lucy but were also a couple in real life. What do you think about actors who start as on-screen partners and later become real-life partners (ex. it’s romantic, it’s too good to be true)? Discuss.
  • What do you think of films featuring the life of celebrities and other famous people (ex. interesting, inspiring)? Who else do you want to be featured in a film? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Since the start of this year, Thailand has allowed some visitors back to Maya Bay after closing it in 2018. Do you agree with the officials’ decision to reopen the beach to tourists? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Authorities limited the number of visitors to 375 and they said that swimming will not be allowed for now. Aside from these actions, what else should the authorities do to prevent damage on Maya Bay (ex. inspect the beach area frequently)? Why? Discuss.