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Entertainment & Media

A collection of 121 issues

Less Talk, More Pay: The Story Behind Schwarzenegger's $1,293-Per-Word 'Terminator' Salary

Arnold Schwarzenegger's role in 'The Terminator' is legendary for its efficiency. With a $75,000 salary for just 58 words, he earned a staggering $1,293 per word, proving that in Hollywood, a powerful screen presence can be worth far more than a lengthy script.

Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

From the Schoolyard to the Stratosphere: Billie Eilish's Forgotten Life as a Movie Extra

Before she was a global pop icon, Billie Eilish was an uncredited extra in films like 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and 'Ramona and Beezus.' It was a brief foray into acting that she found so unenjoyable it solidified her true passion for music.

Music Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

Wait, YouTube Subtitles Can Shake? Uncovering a Hidden World of Custom Captions

Did you know YouTube subtitles can do more than display text? An old, rarely-used caption format allows for hidden effects like shaking text and custom on-screen movement, a surprising piece of platform history demonstrated in a viral video by Tom Scott.

Technology & Innovation Entertainment & Media

Proud to be an American... and a Canadian? The Secret History of Lee Greenwood's Other Anthem

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" is a beloved American anthem, but few know he also wrote and recorded "God Bless Canada" for a 1989 tourism campaign. With swapped lyrics praising Manitoba and Calgary, the song reveals a surprising chapter in the history of a patriotic classic.

Music History Entertainment & Media

Watching Paint Dry: The Story of a 10-Hour Protest Film That Trolled the Censors

To protest the UK's expensive film classification system, filmmaker Charlie Lyne crowdfunded a 10-hour movie of paint drying. He then forced the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to watch the entire tedious spectacle to grant it a rating, highlighting censorship by cost.

Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design Media & Censorship

The Man Who Lived the Escape but Wasn't 'Heroic Enough' for the Movie

WWII POW Peter Butterworth helped orchestrate the famous 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III. When auditioning for the 1950 film adaptation, he was rejected for a part because the casting director felt he didn't look 'heroic or athletic enough' for the role.

Biography & Personal Stories Wars, Conflict & Heroes Entertainment & Media

The Last Great Scoop: How a Runner Delivered News of the Everest Conquest

The 1953 Everest conquest was a global sensation delivered not by wire, but by foot. A journalist's coded message was carried by a runner through the Himalayas to the nearest telegraph, reaching London just in time for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in a final hurrah for old-world reporting.

Adventure & Exploration History Entertainment & Media

The Man Who Made 'Airplane!' Fly and 'Ghost' Cry: How a Parody King Directed a Classic Romance

Director Jerry Zucker (Airplane!) almost didn't direct Ghost. Writer Bruce Joel Rubin feared he'd make it a parody and refused. But after a dinner where Rubin found Zucker 'deeply philosophical,' he realized the master of deadpan was the perfect choice for his supernatural romance.

Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

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