AirTalk dives into the newly approved Metro proposal to install mobile showers at two LA Metro stops and public restrooms at all new rail stations. We also bring you the latest on North and South Korea’s summit, where leaders pledged ‘era of peace’; review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; and more.
North and South Korea pledge ‘era of peace’ in historic summit to stabilize peninsula
Kim Jong Un is now the first North Korean leader to have set foot in the South since a 1953 armistice halted three devastating years of war between the two Koreas.
With all eyes glued on the highly anticipated inter-Korea summit, Kim and President Moon Jae-in met as scheduled on Friday at the Peace House in Panmunjom, a truce village located in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) of the peninsula.
The two leaders greeted each other in what appeared to be a masterful but sincere display of warm diplomacy, with handshakes, hugs and a long, private conversation at the border. Both also took turns stepping into each other’s country.
The North and South have released a formal declaration of peace, which includes removing all nuclear weapons and pursuing talks with the United States to officially end the Korean War.
But with all the conciliatory bravado, how is the rest of the international community responding? After decades of conflict and tension, does the possibility of unification now seem more likely? And if you’re of Korean descent, what has this historic day of talks meant for you? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Paul Adams, diplomatic correspondent for the BBC who has been following the story; he tweets
Sung-Yoon Lee, an expert on the Koreas and professor in Korean Studies at Tufts University
How authorities used DNA, public genealogy website to track down the ‘Golden State Killer’
Sacramento investigators were able to track down the suspected “Golden State Killer,” decades after the crime, using DNA from public genealogical websites, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday.
A relative’s genetic information posted on the genealogy website GEDmatch led police to Joseph James DeAngelo, according to the Sacramento Bee.
People using the website publicly share their genetic information which eliminates legal hurdles for investigators trying to crack cases. Unlike other DNA websites, including Ancestry and 23andMe, authorities would have harder time accessing private information.
DeAngelo, 72, was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Sacramento. He is accused of killing 12 people and raping more than 50 women in the 1970s and 80s.
Guest:
Sam Stanton, reporter for the Sacramento Bee; he broke the story about cops using genealogy websites to track down the Golden State Killer; he tweets
Are Sedans on the way out? Ford will stop making all passenger cars, save for the Mustang
If you’re looking to buy a passenger car from Ford, your only option will soon be the Mustang.
Ford will be scrapping most of its sedans and focus on its trucks, crossovers and SUVs, which have been their main money makers. According to a press release from Ford, by 2020 nearly 90 percent of the automaker’s North American portfolio will be “trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles.”
Ford seems to be framing this as a rational response to market demands. But some critics say Ford’s move is an opening for foreign competitors and that entry-level cars will never truly go away.
Have North American consumer preferences shifted away from the sedan? If so, why? And how is the rest of the auto industry responding to Ford’s move?
Guests:
Nick Bunkley, a news editor for Automotive News, a trade magazine for the auto industry; he tweets
Edward Loh, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend, a trade magazine for the auto industry
Portable showers and public restrooms: LA Metro’s latest proposal to provide for the homeless
As cities across Southern California struggle to deal housing a growing homeless population, LA Metro has given the greenlight Thursday to look into providing additional services for those living on the streets.
The plan includes the installation of mobile showers at selected subway stations, install public restrooms at all new rail stations.
Recently, LA Metro started a program in which social workers are dispatched to ride the Red Line and provide outreach to homeless individuals.
What do you think of LA Metro’s latest proposal? Call us at 866.893.5722 and weigh in.
Guests:
Laura Nelson, transportation reporter for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets
Alex Wiggins, chief system security and law enforcement officer who oversees Metro’s homeless outreach social services program
FilmWeek: ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ ‘Kings,’ ‘Disobedience’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Justin Chang review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Avengers: Infinity War" in wide release
"Disobedience" at ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
Star Rachel Weisz spoke to The Frame about her role in the film. Listen to the full interview here.
"Kings" in select theatres (check your local listings)
"Zama" at Laemmle's Playhouse & Laemmle's Royal
"Adventures in Public School" at Arena Cinelounge Hollywood
"The Rachel Divide" at Laemmle's Music Hall & Netflix
"The House of Tomorrow" at Laemmle's NoHo, Laemmle's Playhouse & AMC Orange
"The Great Silence" (4K restoration of 1968 film) at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre
CRITICS' HITS
Lael: "Disobedience" & "Adventures in Public School"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpKiUPrNl3Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul0BdWColUo
Justin: "Zama" & "The Rachel Divide"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc5hiLqHa6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyhOTvC1v-A&t=3s
MIXED FEELINGS
Lael: "The House of Tomorrow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teb6n0YCVOo
Justin: "Avengers: Infinity War"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwievZ1Tx-8
MISSES
Justin: "Kings"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSjkrVUnLuA
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets
Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Leaked resignation letter from Academy board member cites failures on multiple fronts
When ex-Academy board member Bill Mechanic finally decided to leave his post, it’s safe to say that his exit interview – if he had one – would have been less than flattering.
Last week, Mechanic’s resignation letter was leaked to The Hollywood Reporter, and in it, he documents a list of varying “failures” on the part of the Academy. From inauthentic attempts at diversity to low Oscar ratings, the letter accuses the organization’s leadership of mishandling pressing issues at the expense of both its employees and the industry as a whole.
Bill Mechanic sits down with Larry to discuss the surprising publicity the letter sparked, as well as the incidents that inspired it.
Read the letter in full below:
April 12, 2018
John Bailey
President, AMPAS
Dear John:
There's a moment when if you fail to make an impact, the right thing to do is make for the exits. After Saturday's meeting, I'm at that moment and I respectfully must resign from the Board of Governors.
I have a great love and respect for the Academy. I grew up loving movies and watching the Academy Awards, never dreaming of being a nominee, producing the show, and certainly not becoming a Governor. Eventually all of these things actually came to pass and it was exciting when I was originally elected to the Board, serving with so many distinguished legends side-by-side in a non-hierarchical environment.
I left the Board after one term, but decided to run again a couple of years ago when many of the decisions of the Board seemed to me to be reactive rather than considered. I felt I could help provide some perspective and guidance.
But it's exceedingly clear to me since returning to the Board that things have changed and there is now a fractured environment which does not allow for a unified, strategically sound, vision. I haven't had any real impact, so now it's time to leave.
I feel I have failed the organization. I feel we have failed the organization.
We have settled on numeric answers to the problem of inclusion, barely recognizing that this is the Industry's problem far, far more than it is the Academy's. Instead we react to pressure. One Governor even went as far as suggesting we don't admit a single white male to the Academy, regardless of merit!
We have failed to the move the Oscars into the modern age, despite decades of increased competition and declining ratings. Instead we have kept to the same number of awards, which inherently means a long and boring show, and over the past decade we have nominated so many smaller independent films that the Oscars feel like they should be handed out in a tent. Big is not inherently bad and small is not inherently good. Moving into the modern age does not mean competing with the Emmys for non-theatrical features.
We have failed to solve the problems of the Museum, which is ridiculously over its initial budget and way past its original opening date. Despite having the best of the best inside the Academy membership, we have ignored the input of our Governors and our members.
We have failed our employees. Over the past seven years, we have watched dedicated employees of the Academy be driven out or leave out of frustration. Certainly, some freshening of an organization is a good thing, but that doesn't seem the case here; this seems more like a "purge" to stifle debate and support management as opposed to the needs of the Academy.
We have failed to provide leadership. Yes, that includes the Presidency, which with a one year term creates instability, but moreover the CEO role has become much broader and far reaching, and the results are erratic at best. It also includes 54 Board of Governors, which is so large it makes decision-making difficult and makes it way too easy for the silent majority to stay silent.
Many of the problems I'm talking about come not from malfeasance but rather from the silence of too many Governors. A vocal few people are insistent that the problems are not really problems or would be too damaging to the Academy to admit. Not facing your problems means you are not addressing those issues and, guess what, problems don't go away — they simmer under the surface and, if anything, get worse.
You can't hide the drainage of employees, the cataclysmic decline in the Oscar ratings, the fact that no popular film has won in over a decade; that we decided to play Moral Police and most probably someone inside the Academy leaked confidential information in order to compromise the President; that the Board doesn't feel their voice is being heard with regard to the Museum; that we have allowed the Academy to be blamed for things way beyond our control and then try to do things which are not in our purview (sexual harassment, discrimination in the Industry).
Perhaps I'm wrong about all of this and if so my resignation will simply make things better. If that's the case, so be it. If it's not, then I truly hope the majority of Governors will take action. Check in with our membership and get their input. If they respond as many have with me, then change the leadership of the Academy and put the Academy's interests above any personal likes or dislikes.
Respectfully,
Bill Mechanic
Guest:
Bill Mechanic, chairman and CEO of Pandemonium Films; previous member on the board of governors at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences whose resignation letter went viral