lodigame vip 4
PHILADELPHIA and PERTH, Australia , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadium Lithium plc (NYSE: ALTM, ASX: LTM, "Arcadium Lithium"), a leading global lithium chemicals producer, today announced that it has obtained all requisite shareholder approvals in connection with the proposed acquisition by Rio Tinto previously announced on October 9 , 2024. "Today's vote of support by our shareholders confirms our shared belief that with Rio Tinto, we will be a stronger global leader in lithium chemicals production. Together, we enhance our capabilities to successfully develop and operate our assets while supporting the clean energy transition. We are confident that this transaction will provide future benefit to our customers, employees and the communities in which we operate, and I am excited by the path ahead," said Paul Graves , president and chief executive officer of Arcadium Lithium. The final voting results of Arcadium Lithium's special meetings will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Form 8-K and will also be available at https://ir.arcadiumlithium.com . Regulatory Update As of this release, merger control clearance has been satisfied or waived in Australia , Canada , China , the United Kingdom and the United States (Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976). Additionally, investment screening approval has been satisfied in the United Kingdom . The proposed transaction is still expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of remaining regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Arcadium Lithium Contacts Investors: Daniel Rosen +1 215 299 6208 daniel.rosen@arcadiumlithium.com Phoebe Lee +61 413 557 780 phoebe.lee@arcadiumlithium.com Media: Karen Vizental +54 9 114 414 4702 karen.vizental@arcadiumlithium.com About Arcadium Lithium Arcadium Lithium is a leading global lithium chemicals producer committed to safely and responsibly harnessing the power of lithium to improve people's lives and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. We collaborate with our customers to drive innovation and power a more sustainable world in which lithium enables exciting possibilities for renewable energy, electric transportation and modern life. Arcadium Lithium is vertically integrated, with industry-leading capabilities across lithium extraction processes, including hard-rock mining, conventional brine extraction and direct lithium extraction (DLE), and in lithium chemicals manufacturing for high performance applications. We have operations around the world, with facilities and projects in Argentina , Australia , Canada , China , Japan , the United Kingdom and the United States . For more information, please visit us at www.ArcadiumLithium.com . Important Information and Legal Disclaimer: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, we have identified forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for Arcadium Lithium based on currently available information. There are important factors that could cause Arcadium Lithium's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the completion of the transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining required regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the transaction; potential litigation relating to the transaction that could be instituted by or against Arcadium Lithium or its affiliates, directors or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm Arcadium Lithium's business, including current plans and operations; the ability of Arcadium Lithium to retain and hire key personnel; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or governmental relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact Arcadium Lithium's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; significant transaction costs associated with the transaction; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction, including in circumstances requiring Arcadium Lithium to pay a termination fee or other expenses; competitive responses to the transaction; the supply and demand in the market for our products as well as pricing for lithium and high-performance lithium compounds; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the integration of the businesses of Livent and Allkem or of any future acquisitions; our ability to acquire or develop additional reserves that are economically viable; the existence, availability and profitability of mineral resources and mineral and ore reserves; the success of our production expansion efforts, research and development efforts and the development of our facilities; our ability to retain existing customers; the competition that we face in our business; the development and adoption of new battery technologies; additional funding or capital that may be required for our operations and expansion plans; political, financial and operational risks that our lithium extraction and production operations, particularly in Argentina , expose us to; physical and other risks that our operations and suppliers are subject to; our ability to satisfy customer qualification processes or customer or government quality standards; global economic conditions, including inflation, fluctuations in the price of energy and certain raw materials; the ability of our joint ventures, affiliated entities and contract manufacturers to operate according to their business plans and to fulfill their obligations; severe weather events and the effects of climate change; extensive and dynamic environmental and other laws and regulations; our ability to obtain and comply with required licenses, permits and other approvals; and other factors described under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in Arcadium Lithium's 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 , as well as Arcadium Lithium's other SEC filings and public communications. Although Arcadium Lithium believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Arcadium Lithium cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither Arcadium Lithium nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Arcadium Lithium is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this news release to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadium-lithium-announces-shareholder-approval-of-proposed-rio-tinto-transaction-and-provides-regulatory-update-302338409.html SOURCE Arcadium Lithium PLC
Although being married or in a long-term relationship is often seen as the norm, more people are staying single for life. But singlehood can bring economic and medical disadvantages, especially as people get older and may become more reliant on others. New research in Psychological Science reveals that lifelong singles have lower scores on life satisfaction measures and different personality traits compared to partnered people, findings that point to the need for both helpful networks and ways to create such networks that are better catered to single people. “When there are differences, they might be especially important in elderly people who face more health issues and financial issues,” said Julia Stern, one of the lead authors and a senior researcher at the University of Bremen in Germany, in an interview with APS. “They need more help, and the help is usually the partner.” Stern and colleagues compared single people and partnered individuals on life satisfaction ratings and the Big Five personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism). The study used a survey of more than 77,000 Europeans over the age of 50 and was the first of its kind to look across cultures and at people who had been single their entire lives. The findings revealed that, in addition to lower life satisfaction scores, lifelong singles are less extraverted, less conscientious, and less open to experience, compared to partnered people. Previous studies used different definitions of being single, sometimes considering only current status and other times drawing the line at having never married or, alternatively, at never living with a partner. But people who have been in a serious relationship in the past—even if it has ended—might have different personality traits than those who have never been that committed. To investigate this, Stern and colleagues grouped respondents by the different definitions: currently partnered, never living with a partner, never married, or never being in any long-term relationship. People who had never been in a serious long-term relationship scored lower on extraversion, openness, and life satisfaction than those who were currently single but had lived with a partner or been married in the past. All singles scored lower on these measures than people in current relationships. Although this study cannot definitively decipher if personality differences are due to selection—people with certain personality types may be more likely to start relationships—or socialization—long-term relationships could change personalities—the evidence points to the former. Stern said that changes to personality from being in a relationship are small and temporary. For instance, although an extraverted person beginning a new relationship may be keen to stay in with their partner, eventually their extraversion comes back. “It’s more likely you have these selection effects: For example, people who are more extraverted are more likely to enter a relationship,” Stern said. But she warned that the results are average effects and not necessarily descriptive of everyone; of course, there are single extraverts and introverts in committed relationships. For singles, living in a society where marriage is the expectation may affect their life satisfaction. Because the large sample included people from 27 European countries, the researchers were able to ask whether there were any cultural differences. In countries with higher marriage rates (such as southern European countries), singlehood resulted in even lower life satisfaction scores, but the effects were small. The religiosity of the country did not seem to matter, however. When comparing across gender and age, single women scored higher on life satisfaction than single men, and older people tended to be happier with their singlehood status than middle-aged singles. Stern speculated that, with the era of their peers getting married and starting families behind them, older singles may accept their circumstances and be happier. Singles may grow happier with age, but their lower scores compared to partnered people are still worrying. Previous research has shown life satisfaction and particular personality traits (including extraversion and conscientiousness) can predict health and mortality, emphasizing the need to find ways to promote the well-being of older singles. “There are differences between people who stay single their entire lives and people who get partnered, and for me this means that we have to take extra care of these people,” Stern said. She suggested developing new kinds of programs to prevent loneliness that take these personality traits into consideration and help older singles meet like-minded people. “If they have people who care for them or look out for them regularly, this might help.” Reference Stern, J., Krämer, M. D., Schumacher, A., MacDonald, G., & Richter, D. (2024). Differences between lifelong singles and ever-partnered individuals in Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction. Psychological Science , 35 (12), 1364–1381. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976241286865Police in South Wales and Gwent will become the first police units in the UK to use mobile apps with facial recognition that can scan a person’s face in “near real-time.” The app, known as operator-initiated facial recognition (OIFR), allows law enforcement to take a photograph of a person’s face with a mobile phone and match it to a predetermined database. The technology, however, has quickly come under scrutiny from rights groups that warn that police searches could be conducted against thousands of photos of innocent people. Police say that the OIFR will enable quick identification of suspects and missing persons. The facial recognition feature can also be used when a person is found unconscious or dead, refuses to identify themselves or provides a fake name. “This mobile phone app means that with the taking of a single photograph which is compared to the police database, officers can easily and quickly answer the question of ‘Are you really the person we are looking for?” says Trudi Meyrick, assistant chief constable to the South Wales Police. The app has already been tested by 70 officers across South Wales, securing quick arrests and detentions. However, digital rights group Big Brother Watch says that mobile facial recognition could create a “dangerous imbalance” between the public’s rights and the police’s powers. For years, regulators and rights groups have been that the police are storing images of innocent people in its national database which may be used for facial recognition checks. This is despite a ruling that keeping custody images of people who faced no charge or were charged and then acquitted is unlawful. “South Wales Police will search against thousands of unlawfully held photos every time they do a face scan, and they should be fixing this ongoing industrial-scale privacy breach rather than exploiting these photos for yet more surveillance,” says Jake Hurfurt, head of Research and Investigations at Big Brother Watch. According to the organization, South Wales Police has disproportionately targeted ethnic minorities for face scans, which may further undermine trust in the police. The police note that in private places such as houses, schools, medical facilities and places of worship the app will only be used in situations carrying a risk of significant harm. Photos taken through the app will not be retained. “The use of this technology always involves human decision-making and oversight,” says Gwent Police Assistant Chief Constable Nick McLain. While the UK government has been equipping police with more facial recognition surveillance tools, privacy and data watchdogs have been warning of lacking oversight. Rishi Sunak’s government had planned to eliminate the post of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, transferring of the responsibilities for biometrics regulation to the Information Commissioner’s Office. However, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI) that was supposed to enable this change was in May due to the UK elections. Since then, England and Wales have had limited oversight, according to the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Brian Plastow. The Home Office has been “gapping” the position since Tony Eastaugh left in mid-August, Plastow tells in an email. Eastaugh after leaving the dual-commissioner post. “At a time when the new UK Government is advocating greater use of surveillance technologies such as Live Facial Recognition, the Commissioner is now calling on the UK Government to end its paradigm of indecisiveness by appointing a Commissioner for England and Wales to restore the independent oversight,” Plastow’s office in response to the England and Wales Commissioners’ Annual Report. New forms of biometric technology are far from the only concern, however, as Plastow notes that “National Security Determinations (including in Scotland) are stacking up with no independent oversight being exercised.” | | | | | | | |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.Biden pardons Chinese spies convicted of stealing US tech secrets
Massive Demand Poised to Propel Taiwan Semiconductor Forward Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s premier third-party chip producer, is no stranger to booming growth cycles. Echoing the setup it experienced back in 2020, TSMC is once again poised for a potential breakout, driven by the evolution of its chip technology and surging market demands. Strategic Technological Advancements Back in 2020, TSMC launched its groundbreaking 5nm chips, leading to a significant uptick in demand. In a parallel scenario, the company is now developing its highly anticipated 2nm chips, expected to debut by the end of 2025. This advancement will markedly enhance chip density and processing power, aligning perfectly with the increasing need for advanced technology in AI-driven applications. Surging Demand for AI Chips As the demand for AI technologies skyrockets, TSMC plans to capitalize on this trend. Management previously projected the AI chip segment to grow at a compound annual rate of 50% over five years. Astonishingly, actual growth is outpacing projections, with AI revenue expected to triple in 2024 and capture a significant share of the company’s earnings in 2025. Valuation and Market Performance The stock’s valuation is drawing comparisons to its levels in early 2020, setting the stage for potential gains reminiscent of its past performance. Although the stock price nearly doubled in 2024, TSMC now finds itself trading in a range familiar to investors from 2020, attracting attention as it seeks to maintain robust growth momentum. The question remains: will TSMC repeat its past success? While a doubling in stock price isn’t guaranteed, the current landscape suggests that the company is positioned to outperform the market in 2025. Is TSMC Unstoppable? Insights into Taiwan Semiconductor’s Strategic Conquests and Future Outlook In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) stands on the brink of transformative growth, powered by its strategic advancements and surging demand in the AI technology sector. As the world’s leading third-party chip producer, TSMC has harnessed strategic advancements, setting the stage for a promising future defined by its prowess in cutting-edge chip technology. Innovations in Chip Technology: Tapping into Unseen Potential TSMC’s commitment to innovation is underscored by its groundbreaking transition to 2nm chips anticipated by 2025. This technological leap is expected to enhance processing power and chip density, pivotal for meeting the growing demands of AI-driven applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). These chips are poised to deliver unprecedented efficiency, setting new standards in the semiconductor industry and cementing TSMC’s role as a technology leader. Pros and Cons of TSMC’s Technological Leap Pros: – Enhanced Performance: The 2nm chips will provide greater processing power, catering to the demands of next-gen AI applications. – Market Leadership: Continual innovation keeps TSMC at the cutting edge, reinforcing its market leadership. Cons: – High R&D Costs: Developing such advanced technology demands significant R&D investments. – Production Challenges: Scaling up production for new technology presents logistical and technical hurdles. AI Chip Demand: An Unstoppable Surge With AI technologies gaining rapid traction across industries, TSMC is expected to capitalize on this wave like never before. The AI chip segment is projected to triple its revenue by 2024, far exceeding initial forecasts. TSMC aims to capture substantial earnings in 2025 from AI applications, which could significantly boost the company’s profitability and market share. Reviews and Market Resilience TSMC’s market performance draws intriguing comparisons with its dynamics in early 2020, a period marked by robust growth. While stock prices experienced substantial gains in 2024, TSMC is currently navigating familiar trading ranges reminiscent of those past highs. Investors are watching to see if the company will maintain its growth trajectory, with market analysts largely optimistic about its performance in the coming years. Predictive Trends and Industry Insights Industry experts predict that TSMC’s advancements in chip technology are a harbinger of further growth, potentially outpacing other players in the semiconductor domain. The move towards more efficient and powerful chips is not only a response to market demand but also a strategic positioning that will likely yield substantial long-term benefits. Conclusion: TSMC’s Path Forward In conclusion, TSMC’s strategic advancements in chip technology and its ability to harness the booming AI demand are setting the company on a promising path. While the challenges are substantial, so too are the opportunities. As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve, TSMC’s innovations position it well to potentially outperform the market. For more information on TSMC, visit the official website here .Manmohan Singh funeral: Congress claims ‘mismanagement’; BJP alleges ‘cheap politics’
Report by USAID-funded network said ‘highly likely’ the threshold for famine has been surpassed in northern Gaza. United States President Joe Biden’s administration is facing criticism after a US-backed report on famine in the Gaza Strip was retracted this week, drawing accusations of political interference and pro-Israel bias. The report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), which provides information about global food insecurity, had warned that a “famine scenario” was unfolding in northern Gaza during Israel’s war on the territory. A note on the FEWS NET website, viewed by Al Jazeera on Thursday, said the group’s “December 23 Alert is under further review and is expected to be re-released with updated data and analysis in January”. The Associated Press news agency, quoting unnamed American officials, said the US asked for the report to be retracted. FEWS NET is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on Thursday afternoon. Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians since early October 2023 and plunged the coastal enclave into a dire humanitarian crisis as access to food, water, medicine and other supplies is severely curtailed. An Israeli military offensive in the northern part of the territory has drawn particular concern in recent months with experts warning in November of a “strong likelihood” that famine was imminent in the area. “Starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing” in northern Gaza, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said in an alert on November 8. “Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future,” it said. The report The FEWS NET report dated December 23 noted that Israel has maintained a “near-total blockade of humanitarian and commercial food supplies to besieged areas” of northern Gaza for nearly 80 days. That includes the Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon areas, where rights groups have estimated thousands of Palestinians are trapped. “Based on the collapse of the food system and worsening access to water, sanitation, and health services in these areas ... it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate,” the FEWS NET report had said. The network added that without a change to Israeli policy on food supplies entering the area, it expected that two to 15 people would die per day from January to March at least, which would surpass the “famine threshold”. The report had spurred public criticism from the US ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, who in a statement on Tuesday said FEWS NET had relied on “outdated and inaccurate” data. Lew disputed the number of civilians believed to be living in northern Gaza, saying the civilian population was “in the range of 7,000-15,000, not 65,000-75,000 which is the basis of this report”. “At a time when inaccurate information is causing confusion and accusations, it is irresponsible to issue a report like this,” he said. pic.twitter.com/f9rxgHdVPm — Ambassador Jack Lew (@USAmbIsrael) December 24, 2024 ‘Bullying’ But Palestinian rights advocates condemned the ambassador’s remarks. Some accused Lew of appearing to welcome the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. “To reject a report on starvation in northern Gaza by appearing to boast about the fact that it has been successfully ethnically cleansed of its native population is just the latest example of Biden administration officials supporting, enabling and excusing Israel’s clear and open campaign of genocide in Gaza,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement. The group urged FEWS NET “not to submit to the bullying of genocide supporters”. Huwaida Arraf, a prominent Palestinian American human rights lawyer, also criticised Lew for “relying on Israeli sources instead of your own experts”. “Do you work for Israel or the American people, the overwhelming majority of whom disapprove of US support for this genocide?” she wrote on X . Polls over the past year have shown a high percentage of Americans are opposed to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and want an end to the war. A March survey by Gallup found that 55 percent of people in the US disapproved of Israel’s actions in Gaza while a more recent poll by the Pew Research Center, released in October, suggested about three in 10 Americans believed Israel’s military offensive is “going too far”. While the Biden administration has said it is pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, it has rebuffed calls to condition US assistance to Israel as a way to bring the war to an end. Washington gives its ally at least $3.8bn in military assistance annually, and researchers at Brown University recently estimated that the Biden administration provided an additional $17.9bn to Israel since the start of the Gaza war. The US is required under its own laws to suspend military assistance to a country if that country restricts the delivery of American-backed humanitarian aid, but Biden’s administration has so far refused to apply that rule to Israel. “We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of US law,” Department of State spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in November despite the reports of “imminent” famine in northern Gaza.
VNET Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VNET – Get Free Report )’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $3.72, but opened at $4.02. VNET Group shares last traded at $4.20, with a volume of 1,607,830 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have commented on VNET. Citigroup started coverage on shares of VNET Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $4.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of VNET Group from $6.40 to $7.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 29th. HSBC upgraded shares of VNET Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $5.20 target price for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Hsbc Global Res raised VNET Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded VNET Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $3.10 to $5.00 in a research report on Friday, November 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $4.78. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on VNET Group VNET Group Price Performance Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ballentine Partners LLC acquired a new stake in VNET Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Wolverine Trading LLC acquired a new stake in VNET Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $46,000. AXA S.A. purchased a new position in VNET Group in the second quarter worth approximately $65,000. Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in VNET Group in the third quarter worth approximately $115,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in VNET Group by 785.4% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 42,074 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $172,000 after acquiring an additional 37,322 shares in the last quarter. 72.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. VNET Group Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) VNET Group, Inc, an investment holding company, provides hosting and related services in China. It offers managed hosting services consisting of managed retail services, such as colocation services that dedicate data center space to house customers' servers and networking equipment, as well as allow customers to lease partial or entire cabinets for their servers; interconnectivity services that allow customers to connect their servers; value-added services, including hybrid IT, bare metal, firewall, server load balancing, data backup and recovery, data center management, server management, and backup server services; cloud services that allow customers to run applications over the internet using IT infrastructure; and VPN Services that extend customers' private networks by setting up connections through the public internet. See Also Receive News & Ratings for VNET Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VNET Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Harris Dickinson was nervous to approach Nicole Kidman. This would not necessarily be notable under normal circumstances, but the English actor had already been cast to star opposite her in the erotic drama “Babygirl,” as the intern who initiates an affair with Kidman’s buttoned-up CEO. They’d had a zoom with the writer-director Halina Reijn, who was excited by their playful banter and sure that Dickinson would hold his own. And yet when he found himself at the same event as Kidman, shyness took over. He admitted as much to Margaret Qualley, who took things into her own hands and introduced them. “She helped me break the ice a bit,” Dickinson said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. On set would be an entirely different story. Dickinson might not be nearly as “puckishly audacious” as his character Samuel but in the making of “Babygirl,” he, Kidman and Reijn had no choice but to dive fearlessly into this exploration of sexual power dynamics, going to intimate, awkward, exhilarating and meme-able places. It’s made the film, in theaters Christmas Day, one of the year’s must-sees. “There was an unspoken thing that we adhered to,” Dickinson said. “We weren’t getting to know each other’s personal lives. When we were working and we were the characters, we didn’t veer away from the material. I never tried to attach all of the history of Nicole Kidman. Otherwise it probably would have been a bit of a mess.” His is a performance that reconfirms what many in the film world have suspected since his debut seven years ago as a Brooklyn tough questioning his sexuality in Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” : Dickinson is one of the most exciting young talents around. Dickinson, 28, grew up in Leytonstone, in East London — the same neck of the woods as Alfred Hitchcock. Cinema was in his life, whether it was Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” films at the local multiplex or venturing into town to see the more social realist films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. “Working class cinema interested me,” he said. “People around me that represented my world.” Appropriately, his entry into making art started behind the camera, with a comedy web series he made as a kid, which he now describes as “really bad spoofs” of films and shows of the time. But things started to really click when he began acting in the local theater. “I remember feeling invigorated by it and accepted,” he said. “I felt myself for the first time and felt able to express myself in a way where I didn’t feel vulnerable and I felt alive and ignited by something.” At around 17, someone suggested that he should give acting a try professionally. He hadn’t even fully understood that it was a career possibility, but he started auditioning. At 20, he was cast in “Beach Rats” and, he said, just “kept going.” Since then, he’s gotten a wide range of opportunities in films both big, including “The King’s Man,” and small. He’s captivated as a male model in Ruben Östlund’s Cannes-winning “Triangle of Sadness,” an estranged father to a 12-year-old in Charlotte Regan’s “Scrapper,” an actor bringing an ex-boyfriend to life in Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir Part II,” the charismatic, tragic wrestler David Von Erich in Sean Durkin’s “The Iron Claw” and a soldier in Steve McQueen’s “Blitz.” But “Babygirl” would present new challenges and opportunities with a character who’s almost impossible to define. “He was confusing in a really interesting way. There wasn’t loads of specificity to it, which I enjoyed because it was a bit of a challenge to sort of pinpoint exactly what it was that drove him and made him tick,” Dickinson said. “There was a directness that unlocked a lot for me, like a fearlessness with the way he spoke, or a social unawareness in a way — like not fully realizing what he’s saying is affecting someone in a certain way. But I didn’t make too many rules for him.” Part of the allure of the film is the ever-shifting power dynamics between the two characters, which could change over the course of a scene. As Reijn said, “It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when you suppress your own desires.” She was especially in awe of Dickinson’s ability to make everything feel improvised and the fact that he could look like a 12-year-old boy in one shot and a confident 45-year-old man in the next. Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, the film has led to some surprisingly direct conversations with audiences spanning generations. But that, Dickinson understood, was what Reijn wanted. “She really wanted to show the ugliness and the awkwardness of these things, of these relationships and sex,” he said. “That sort of fumbly version and the performative version of it is way more interesting, to me at least, than the kind of fantasized, romanticized, sexy thing that we’ve seen a lot.” Dickinson recently stepped behind the camera again, directing his first feature film under the banner of his newly formed production company. Set against the backdrop of homelessness in London, “Dream Space” is about a drifter trying to assimilate and understand his cyclical behavior. The film, which wrapped earlier this year, has given him a heightened appreciation for just how many people are indispensable in the making of a film. He’s also started to understand that “acting is just being able to relax.” “When you’re relaxed, you can do stuff that is truthful,” he said. “That only happens if you’ve got good people around you: The director that creates the good environment. The intimacy coordinator facilitating a safe space. A coworker in Nicole encouraging that kind of bravery and performance with what she’s doing.” Dickinson did eventually get to the point where he managed to ask Kidman questions about working with Stanley Kubrick and Lars Von Trier. But he also kept one shattering possibility between himself and his director. “There is a world in which Samuel doesn’t even exist. He’s just a sort of a device or a figment for her own story. And I like that because it kind of means you can take the character into a very unrealistic realm at times and be almost like a deity in the story,” Dickinson said. “We didn’t talk about it with Nicole.”TransMedics to Participate in the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
- Previous: lodigame vip 3
- Next: lodigame vip download
