Tag Archives: Jack Black

Culture

World’s Largest Swapping Network Even Lets You Trade Your House

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LOS ANGELES. HomeExchange – the world’s largest home exchange network with over 65,000 active listings in 150 countries – has launched HomeExchange Gold, an extension of its offering that caters to the luxury segment with a set of premium, personalized services.

“HomeExchange has always offered top-notch member support. As exchangers, we have it in our DNA,” said Jim Pickell, President of HomeExchange. “The depth of experience across our regionalized Support Team has been a signature of our commitment to the concept of sharing since we launched 24 years ago. We are excited to push the standard of service even higher, unparalleled in the industry, through HomeExchange Gold. This launch is about offering a Gold level of support to help ensure members find the right fit, not just a five-star home.”

HomeExchange Gold membership is ideal for home exchangers who have multiple homes or are looking for more personalized service through a dedicated Gold Exchange Specialist, reachable by phone, email or chat at anytime, from anywhere. The standard HomeExchange guarantee still holds of unlimited exchanges worldwide with no extra fees.

Even sailboat listings! Like this one in Greece.
Even sailboat listings! Like this one in Greece.

HomeExchange Gold premium services include the Gold Exchange Specialist’s real-time assistance in optimizing profiles and listings for maximum exposure; and on-demand, personally curated listings – the best possible options – based on travel preferences like dates and destinations, number of bedrooms required, amenities (pool, beach, wi-fi, car…) and any special needs.

HomeExchange Gold members have a choice between connecting exclusively with fellow Gold members or making their listing visible to the entire community.

“Luxury today is about personalization, on-demand service, flexibility and freedom of choice,” explained Peter Anton, Director of Global Marketing. “HomeExchange Gold aggregates these four components as a first-class facilitator ensuring a great home exchange vacation.”

how home exchange worksThe higher level of service was added in response to demand by the growing segment of owners with second homes seeking to connect with others like them. However, based on the principle of flexibility and freedom of choice, all HomeExchange members will continue to be able to choose between traditional membership or upgrade to the more personalized level of service through HomeExchange Gold.

“We are very excited to launch this inclusive offer of premium services, available to all in our current community, as well as future members. Travelers have different needs and we now have different levels of service to enhance their home exchange experience,” concluded Anton. For the Silo, Alexandra Origet du Cluzea

At the time of writing, “HomeExchangeGold” annual membership is $560 Cdn and regular “HomeExchangeRegular” annual membership is $170 Cdn.

About HomeExchange

Founded by Ed Kushins, a pioneer of the “collaborative consumption” movement, HomeExchange has facilitated over one million home swaps since 1992. It was featured in 2006 in the cult movie “The Holiday” starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and Jude Law. In 2015, 65,000 HomeExchange members made 130,000 home swaps across 150 countries.  HomeExchange makes it easy to plan and enjoy a home exchange vacation and offers travelers a memorable, authentic experience. It was voted in November 2015 “Best Site for Booking Your Stay” by readers of USA TODAY and 10Best.

Gaming

Tony Hawk Videogame Documentary Coming In August

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LOS ANGELES: JULY , 2020 – Wood Entertainment is proud to announce the August 18 digital/VOD release of the highly anticipated documentary feature PRETENDING I’M A SUPERMAN – THE TONY HAWK VIDEO GAME STORY. Wood Entertainment acquired Worldwide rights to the film in May at the Mammoth Film Festival in a deal negotiated between CEO Tara Wood and Producer Ralph D’Amato (“Tony Hawk Pro Skater” series, “Gun”) on behalf of D’Amato Productions.

Arriving just ahead of the eagerly-awaited reboot of the $1.4 USD billion Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game series coming this September, this definitive documentary from Director Ludvig Gür tells the story of skater turned video game mogul Tony Hawk, and the near extinction of skateboarding culture before exploding back into the mainstream in the early 2000s.

“PRETENDING I’M A SUPERMAN is a robust, real-life story of our successful videogame series as told by those who created it, and many who were inspired by it” said multi-record-breaking skateboarder and documentary subject Tony Hawk.

“I’m really excited to partner with Wood Entertainment” said director Gür. “It’s been a long journey making the documentary and I’m stoked it will finally be released for skateboarding and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater fans worldwide. The art form and video game had an enormous impact on Generation Y / Z and the story behind it is even more fascinating.”
In 1999, the video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater shook the world when it sold 9 million copies upon release and changed the skateboarding scene forever. Pretending I’m a Superman is the story of the skaters and developers who came together to create the best-selling game as well as a look into how skateboarding became a part of the mainstream.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with the legendary skater Tony Hawk as well as industry stars interviews with Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and Jamie Thomas, Gür takes audiences through an intimate yet extraordinary journey, chronicling the meteoric rise of skate boarding’s most famous name.

“Tony Hawk has one of the most inspiring stories ever told, from groundbreaking skater to gaming mogul” said Wood. “We are thrilled to present it to its worldwide audience.”
For the Silo, Scott Motisko.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2' Is Getting Remastered and Here's ...
Reviews

The Big Year Is A Fun Comedy For Bird Enthusiasts

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I first took notice of this film because of where I live- which is not that far away from Long Point, Ontario, a mecca for birdwatchers. I find that it’s a more immersive experience to watch a movie that is connected thematically in some way to the sorts of activities that the area I live in has to offer. This reinforces the suspension of disbelief while watching and serves to supercharge the imagination.  If you live in a seaside community and you’ve ever watched Jaws followed by a bit of swimming you know exactly what I mean.

Back to the birds 

The main story arc of The Big Year goes a little like this:  A ready-to-retire-but-not-quite-sure-its-the-right-time-to-retire businessman and a mid-thirties-divorced-unemployed-savant (he can identify any bird just by hearing a few notes of its birdsong) aim for beating the current single year record of bird sightings. In the parlance of the ‘birding’ community, this is known as doing a ‘big year’. The current record holder, played by Owen Wilson, is the rock-star of the ‘birding’ community and is completely obsessed with stopping anyone else from beating his record- even if this means missing the birth of his child and ruining his second marriage.

Highly competitive obsession

Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson in the The Big Year.

I always believed that birding was a slowly paced albeit serious hobby but this movie turns the notion on its head. The story develops and moves quickly. The characters are highly  competitive and race against each other as the suspense and intensity builds.

The Big Year is satisfying, clever and funny . If you are a birder there is a good chance that you will love this movie (especially if you can relate to the obsessive compulsive behavior of the main characters) but then again you might end up blaming this movie- you might decide on doing a big year and to hell with anything and anyone in your path. For the Silo, Doug McKenzie.

Jack Black’s character feeling bad (but not that bad) about Steve Martin’s character picking up the dinner tab.

Supplemental- The Big Year:A Tale of Man,Nature and Fowl Obsession by Mark Obmascik.  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june04/bird_04-12.html