Stone finds relief in grim silent movie
For Emma Stone, acting in “Bleat,” a Greek silent movie with surreal and disturbing scenes of sex, death and resurrection, was a professional challenge and a relief. Playing a young widow in the 30-minute, black-andwhite film, Stone said she welcomed rejoining Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos for the limited-release project set on the Greek island of Tinos and featuring goats roaming its rockand-thorn landscape.
“What I like about Yorgos would take me a very long time to answer,” Stone said Thursday after a screening for the news media in Athens, and on the eve of the premiere at the Greek National Opera.
“In short, I’ll say it’s very rare that you meet somebody who you get along with so well but on top of that artistically (provides) the ability as an actor to want to give yourself over to something and not have to worry about every small move you make.”
After winning an Academy Award for best actress in “La La Land” in 2017, Stone worked with Lanthimos in the “The Favourite,” and earned an Oscar nomination as an actress in a supporting role two years later.
They remained friends, and Stone agreed to waive her fee and participate in “Bleat” — shot using traditional film cameras and presented with a live 36-member orchestra and choir that follows the story with a jarring and funereal score.
“Bleat” was shot in early 2020 on Tinos just before the pandemic triggered lockdowns in Greece and across Europe, and Stone described the experience as a welcome change.
“What is the point continuing to give in this kind of — no offense — stupid job of acting if you’re not gonna keep pushing and being challenged?” she said. “I guess that’s also true of life.”
The film was set to screen to the public for three days in Athens. Lanthimos and his associates said it could later be made available for limited release in other countries.
Todd’s MSNBC program moving to streamer:
Chuck Todd’s MSNBC program “Meet the Press Daily” is moving to NBC News NOW. Executives were set to announce Friday that the Washington-based program will be renamed “Meet the Press NOW” and will stream live on NBC News NOW starting in early June, according to a memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
“Meet the Press,” the flagship Sunday roundtable program that has aired on NBC’S broadcast network since 1947, is not affected by the move.
Todd, who is political director of NBC News, has been moderator of “Meet the Press” since 2014. The daily version has aired on MSNBC since 2015.
With the shutdown of CNN+, Todd will be the most high-profile TV news talent to have a daily program on a streaming service. NBC News NOW is Nbcuniversal’s free, ad-supported news service.
“MTP Daily” will be replaced on MSNBC by an hour of news anchored by Chris Jansing.
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May 9 birthdays: