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The outspoken Lee Daniels

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NewsHubThere are at least two things that Lee Daniels is really good at. The first is making movies and TV shows that people love, including “Monster’s Call,” “Precious,” “The Butler” and “Empire.”
On the set of what he hopes becomes his newest hit, the TV show “Star,” Daniels ricochets from the set to the costume department to a meeting about music.
Music is a big part of “Star,” a series about a racially-diverse aspiring girl group. The inspiration? The Broadway musical “Dreamgirls.”
“I’ll never forget stealing my mom’s El Dorado and driving from Philadelphia at 17 into New York City and sneaking in to see the show, and just how it changed my life,” he told Rocca. “But it’s not really about ‘Dreamgirls.’ It’s about my life when I first came to Hollywood, the desperation and finding myself, understanding what it was that I wanted.”
An even earlier formative experience in Daniels’ life helped inspire his hit series “Empire.” Rocca asked, “Is it exactly what happened, that your father took you when you came down wearing your mother’s high heels and put you in a trashcan?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think your father was just reacting to effeminacy? Or do you think your father was reacting to, ‘Uh-oh, I know what this means for him later on’?”
Lee Daniels.
“Both,” Daniels replied. “Because I think that he as a man was embarrassed to have a gay [son]. I had no questions, I had no problems rather, letting him know, ‘This is how I felt’ at an early age. I was very outspoken. I owned who it was that I was.”
Daniels’ father was a Philadelphia police officer.
How? “Verbally. Physically. He was embarrassed and ashamed. I think in hindsight, he was just more concerned about my future. And so I think that in some strange way his telling me that I was nothing inspired me to be something.”
When Daniels was 15, his father was killed during a holdup. His mother — with five children to support — convinced a neighbor to help her eldest son attend an elite suburban high school.
Daniels said, “I remember going into that environment and being the only black person, and feeling love and feeling like there was absolutely no racism at all for me.”
“Did you make friends fast?” Rocca asked.
Lee Daniels directs Helen Mirren in his first feature film, the 2005 crime drama “Shadowboxer.”
“Oh yeah. I learned to go seamlessly through a black environment to a white environment and to adapt to both. And I think that helped me with my journey, that I was very comfortable in both places.”
The experience gave him the confidence, he said, to move at age 21 to Los Angeles, where he worked as a receptionist at an agency for home health aides. Soon enough he opened his own successful agency.
But…
But what Daniels REALLY wanted was to make movies. So he started at the bottom as a production assistant on the movie “Purple Rain.”
He told Rocca he showed up on the set in an Armani suit, driving a Porsche, smoking a Newport cigarette.
He wasn’t a P. A. for long.
His winning combination of talent, smarts and startling self-assurance propelled him. By age 41, Daniels produced “Monster’s Ball,” which won Halle Berry an Oscar.
A Harlem Teenager Strives to Overcome Abuse, Incest and Illiteracy in This Harrowing Drama
As the director of “Precious,” Daniels earned his own Oscar nomination for getting raw performances from a cast that included a certain diva almost unrecognizable as a social worker.
How, Rocca asked, did he get Mariah Carey to take off her makeup? “Carefully!” Daniels laughed. “I’m a snake charmer. I mean, carefully. Nice and easy. Easy does it.”
“What’s that mean? Was it a hazardous situation?”
No, he doesn’t hold back … which brings us to the second thing Lee Daniels is very good at:
“I gotta tell you, for the record, I’m bored with Hollywood people of color saying Hollywood owes you something. Don’t nobody owe you nothing.”
… provoking and often outraging people with his unalloyed candor, especially on the topic of race.
Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton in “Monster’s Ball.”
“I had to fight for everything, from my very first movie on.”
“You raised the money for ‘Monster’s Ball,’” Rocca said.
“At last year’s Oscars, when there were no black nominees for any of the acting awards, how did you feel?”
“How did I feel? I don’t know that there was anything that was deserving to be nominated. Was there?
“I don’t vote on color. I vote on the movies that deserve to be nominated. You don’t see me running around complaining ‘cause I didn’t get nothing for ‘The Butler.’ You know what? Next. I went on and made ‘Empire,’” he laughed. “I mean, like, you know, see ya!”
Lee Daniels at his home in New York City.
From a fur-lined hammock in his New York City apartment, the 57 year-old Daniels presides over an empire he hopes continues to expand.
“Do I think that there are injustices in Hollywood every day, as they are in America? Yes, there are,” he said. “Not just injustices, but there are atrocities, I believe, that have happened. But is that going to define me? No. And am I gonna get what’s mine? You better believe it, I am! And I will continue.”

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© Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-outspoken-lee-daniels/
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Saving Sally: The little Filipino film that needed saving

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NewsHubIt’s a tale of unrequited teenage love terrorised by giant animated monsters in the chaotic streets of Metro Manila.
Saving Sally tells the story of Marty, a young aspiring Philippines comic book artist, played by Enzo Marcos.
He falls in love with his best friend Sally, a gadget inventor – portrayed by Filipina actress Rhian Ramos – who is also the centre of Marty’s universe.
The story quickly unfolds with stunning cartoons which tell the story of Marty’s lonely world.
Like every love story, there are numerous complications and challenges for the hero.
Namely defending the love of his life from a beastly rival and her difficult parents, who take the form of monsters because to Marty, that is simply what they are.
„Sadly, Marty also has the innate ability to do nothing about everything despite his vivid fantasies of defending Sally from the big bad world,“ described the film’s director Avid Liongoren.
While it has been described as a „typical teen movie about love, monsters and gadgets“, the film also touches on serious issues prevalent in Philippine society.
„On the surface, it’s a fun and straightforward love story, with good laughs and visual gags that reference Filipino as well as Western pop culture,“ said screenwriter Charlene Sawit-Esguerra , who wrote and conceptualised the film.
„But it also touches on darker themes like physical abuse and escapism. “
After an arduous 10-year journey and a series of setbacks, the team’s efforts paid off. Saving Sally gained an entry into the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The annual festival serves as an outlet to better promote local talent in the Pinoy film industry. But the MMFF sadly still could not save Sally.
The humble film was not widely shown in local cinemas.
Its creators said the answer could lie in the nature of the domestic cinema industry.
Largely unregulated, Philippine cinemas have built a notorious reputation for favouring commercial successes movies like Hollywood blockbusters and „manufactured“ romance dramas.
„They pick the films that they think people will watch. So it is more of a perception that since ours is a small, non-studio film, no-one would want to watch it,“ explained Mr Liongoren.
Ms Sawit-Esguerra said „demand“ was often a deciding factor before a film could be considered for screening.
„Theatre owners here think that local audiences will only watch films starring big-names and A-list stars, produced by major studios. Saving Sally has neither,“ she said.
„Because of this, many cinemas don’t want to take the risk and would rather see how audiences responds to our movie first. “
To film critic Oggs Cruz, another problem with the film lay in its animation, the very thing that its makers fought so hard to create.
„While most Filipinos enjoy animated films, the animated aspect in Saving Sally doesn’t favour its commercial ability,“ he told BBC News.
„It is an adjunct of the main characters and I don’t think it has any effect in its marketability. Sadly it won’t entice children or adults. “
„A lot of Filipinos are proud of their heritage but ironically, they would rather watch the latest Star Wars movie than support local film festival entries.
„It’s a losing situation for the film makers whose work will get pulled out for more commercially viable movies that will earn more money. “
The show’s creators turned to the power of social media and launched an online campaign to save Sally, calling on audiences to contact theatre owners demanding they screen the film.
„Let your voices be heard. Please help us make noise and reach out,“ read a Facebook post on the movie’s official page which drew close to 50,000 reactions and was shared more than 10,000 times.
Thousands of curious Facebook users and fans began to show their support for the film by leaving comments and writing posts using the hashtags #ShowSavingSally and #ImSavingSally .
„It was worth the wait and our money. Great storytelling and amazing animation – good job,“ gushed Dicay Galvez from Makati city who shared his joy in finally being able to catch the film.
„I cannot imagine the love and passion that went into this film, it may be a typical love story but the entirety of the movie itself is a work of art,“ wrote Ace Antipolo in an Instagram post .
„Big movie companies in the Philippines just don’t put this kind of effort anymore but the efforts of a small group of people who worked for 10 years just to complete this beautiful masterpiece will be cherished forever. “
„I guess business is business but I just don’t understand why some cinemas saved spots for other movies over Saving Sally. Please show it in Bacolod,“ said Fraire Acupan.
Given its animation-meets-real life component which plays out heavily, and its slacker hero, Saving Sally has drawn comparisons with popular 2010 geek sleeper hit Scott Pilgrim vs. the World .
But will Sally see a similar indie cult following to that which Scott Pilgrim enjoyed?
Its makers said the public response „has been incredible“ and fan demand played a crucial role in boosting the film.
Saving Sally was shown on around 50 screens to begin with, but was expected to close at 86 screens.
„Theatres have relented to the barrage of messages from Filipino youngsters wanting to see our film,“ said Mr Liongoren.
Ms Sawit-Esguerra said: „Saving Sally surpassed what it was expected to earn, according to Industry experts. It also made it to the top four of the festival films based on how it did at the Philippine box office. “
She also added that they have received offers for a North American release but that has not yet been finalised.
„We’ve also been invited to film festivals in Portugal, Spain and Belgium,“ she said.

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© Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38486968
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Charlie Sheen-Leah Remini TV movie 'Mad Families' to premiere on Crackle this Thursday

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NewsHubLOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) — Mad Families , an original comedy film starring Charlie Sheen , Leah Remini , Finesse Mitchell and Naya Rivera , is to premiere on Crackle this Thursday.
Directed and produced by Fred Wolf from a script by Wolf and David Spade , Mad Families „centers on three families — one Hispanic, one African American, one Caucasian — who find themselves annoyingly sharing the same campsite during a busy Fourth of July holiday weekend,“ the streaming service explained in a press release. „After realizing it was all because of a silly booking error, no one volunteers to vacate. So, they try to co-habitate peacefully, but shortly thereafter, madness ensues. From there, the male family members turn to a series of outlandish camp competitions to determine the one family who gets to stay. As the hysterical contests occur, the brassy, biting Charlie Jones begins to take the lead in learning what’s really important in life. “
The cast also includes Juan Gabriel Pareja, Charlotte McKinney, Chris Mulkey, Clint Howard, Chanel Iman, Barry Shabaka Henley, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Efren Ramirez and Danny Mora.

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© Source: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2017/01/08/Charlie-Sheen-Leah-Remini-TV-movie-Mad-Families-to-premiere-on-Crackle-this-Thursday/4761483889987/
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Golden Globes: Hollywood gears adult for film and TV awards

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NewsHubHollywood is gearing adult for this year’s Golden Globes – one of a biggest nights in a party calendar.
The rite is traditionally seen as an indicator of that films will do good during a Oscars.
La La Land leads a margin with 7 nominations, followed by Moonlight (six) and Manchester By The Sea (five).
The Globes also cover TV – and this year sees British actors including Claire Foy, Tom Hiddleston and Thandie Newton hotly sloping for trophies.
The awards will be handed out in Los Angeles from 17:00 PST Sunday/01:00 GMT Monday during a rite hosted by Jimmy Fallon .
La La Land, that stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, tells a story of a jazz pianist and an determined singer who are chasing dreams of stardom in Los Angeles.
Its nominations embody best comedy or low-pitched film, where it faces foe from Florence Foster Jenkins, Sing Street, 20th Century Women and Deadpool.
The low-pitched is also in a using for best screenplay and best director, while Stone and Gosling have both perceived behaving nods.
Its executive Damien Chazelle told a BBC : “I grew adult amatory those aged Hollywood musicals, and what we wanted to do was to take that form of film-making we consider of as aged fashioned and see if it could be updated and regenerated for today.”
The best play film difficulty is expected to be some-more hotly contested, with Moonlight and Manchester By The Sea a frontrunners.
Moonlight tells a story of a immature happy black male flourishing adult in an bankrupt community in Miami.
British singer Naomie Harris is nominated for best ancillary singer for her purpose in a film – a partial she primarily wanted to spin down.
“I didn’t wish to do it since we didn’t wish to play a moment addict – we wanted to execute certain images of women in ubiquitous and black women in particular,” she told a BBC final month.
“So we stupidly was about to contend no, though afterwards a executive said, ‘I’m fundamentally seeking we to play my mum’, and we thought, I’ve never had anyone ask me to do that before, and it’s his story.”
Moonlight is also nominated for best director, best screenplay, and best ancillary actor for Mahershala Ali.
Meanwhile, Manchester By The Sea, that stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges, has already been named best film of a year by a National Board of Review.
Florence Foster Jenkins, that stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, and Lion, with Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel, have 4 nominations apiece.
In a radio categories, The Crown’s British star Claire Foy is nominated for best heading play singer for her description of Queen Elizabeth II in her younger years.
The Crown has been done by streaming use Netflix with a reported £100m budget.
Thandie Newton, who appears in HBO play Westworld, is nominated for best ancillary TV actress, as is Olivia Colman for The Night Manager.
Her assignment is one of 4 for a BBC view drama. Tom Hiddleston is adult for best TV play actor and Hugh Laurie is adult for best TV ancillary actor, while a uncover itself is nominated for best mini-series.
Other British contenders embody Riz Ahmed, who is adult opposite Hiddleston in a TV play actor difficulty for The Night Of, Charlotte Rampling for London Spy, and Matthew Rhys for The Americans.
The People vs OJ Simpson leads a radio nominations, with 5 in total.
Follow us on Facebook , on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts , or on Instagram during bbcnewsents. If we have a story idea email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk .

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Sentiment rank: 7.7

© Source: http://headlinenewstoday.net/golden-globes-hollywood-gears-up-for-film-and-tv-awards.html
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"Нафтогаз" ожидает провокаций от "Газпрома" в связи с морозами в РФ

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НАК „Нафтогаз Украины“ в связи с сильными морозами в Российской Федерации указывает на высокую вероятность провокаций со стороны ПАО „Газпром“ и необоснованных обвинений Украины в невозможности обеспечить транзит. В частности, об этом говорится в сообщении компании, размещенном в Facebook.
„Арктические холода затронули Украину лишь мельком и лишь на несколько дней. Настоящие холода – в России. Вполне вероятна ситуация, когда „Газпрому“ не хватит ресурсов и на обогрев своих, и на экспорт в ЕС. Тогда крайними постараются сделать нас… Ждем любимую песню: пугать тем, что Украина отбирает газ из своих подземок“, – отметили в „Нафтогазе“.
При этом компания подчеркнула, что никаких обязательств помогать „Газпрому“ у нее нет.
Ранее в „Нафтогазе“ отмечали, что „Газпром“ сократил объемы транзита природного газа через украинскую газотранспортную систему.

Similarity rank: 8.7

© Source: http://112.ua/ekonomika/naftogaz-ozhidaet-provokaciy-ot-gazproma-v-svyazi-s-morozami-v-rf-364038.html
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SeaWorld San Diego puts an end to its most popular orca show

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NewsHubJanuary 8, 2017
— SeaWorld San Diego will display its most popular show featuring killer whales for the final time on Sunday, bringing to a close the once enormously successful show that has run under a series of different names since the 1960s.
While the primary show, which features acrobatic displays of strength and agility by the marine mammals in coordination with the park’s trainers, will end, it will be replaced early this summer by a new attraction demonstrating more the natural behaviors typical of orcas in the wild – hunting, communicating, and navigating.
„We want to be able to demonstrate behaviors people would see in the wild with the killer whales and their abilities as a top predator in the sea. The vast majority of behaviors people have seen in our shows will be very suitable for demonstrating that,” former trainer and vice president of zoological operations, Al Garver, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
While the intention is to present a more naturally authentic orca experience for viewers, the animals will still receive prompts from trainers. According to Garver, “you will still see a whale leaping out of the water,” referring to one of the more renowned features of the original orca shows.
SeaWorld San Diego will become the first of the company’s three namesake parks to end its theatrical performances following declining ticket sales and increased public pressure, with the Orlando and San Antonio parks scheduled to end their shows by 2019.
Much of the negative publicity against SeaWorld and its captive breeding program stems from the 2013 documentary, Blackfish , which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah and highlighted the controversial aspects of keeping such large predators in captivity.
The film followed Tilikum, a large male orca who was regularly featured in performances at SeaWorld Orlando. Tilikum became one of the best-known members of his species, particularly following his involvement in the death of an experienced trainer during a show at the park. It was the third human death in which he was involved, in three separate incidents.
The third and final incident, the 2010 death of Dawn Brancheau – which occurred after Tilikum pulled her off a platform and held her underwater for an extended period – made national headlines. Further outrage was sparked three years later when the documentary „Blackfish“ highlighted the complicated nature of capturing, housing, training, and breeding the large, intelligent marine animals.
Tilikum, the Orca featured in the documentary, was captured in the wild near Reykjavík, Iceland in 1983, and kept in captivity until his death on Friday, Dec. 30, at the Orlando SeaWorld park.
The telling of his life story led in large part to the changing social climate that has caused considerable drop-off in attendance at all three SeaWorld parks, as well as the growing pressure to put an end to the orca shows and breeding programs.
„The trainers aren’t safe, and the whales aren’t happy ,“ said „Blackfish“ director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, as quoted by the Associated Press. „They’re still just doing manic circles around concrete swimming pools. “
And SeaWorld San Diego will become the first of the three parks to do so.
While the park still has 11 orcas, ranging from two to 52 years of age, they will no longer be involved in the same capacity as they had been for several decades.
Meanwhile SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. announced in December that it was eliminating 320 jobs company-wide. They also announced that they would be developing the first ever SeaWorld park that would not involve orcas at all.
This is being hailed as a victory by the environmental and human rights activists who have been campaigning against the SeaWorld company and its practices and treatment of its orcas.
Many activists have called for SeaWorld to release all of its orcas into coastal sanctuaries. The company has said that it believes that those animals that were born or raised in captivity would probably die in the wild.
The end of the SeaWorld breeding program and the creation of an orca-free park, however, could herald the long-term phasing out of orcas in captivity.

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© Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2017/0108/SeaWorld-San-Diego-puts-an-end-to-its-most-popular-orca-show
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В Киевской области могут ограничить движение грузового транспорта из-за снегопада

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NewsHub„Учитывая ухудшение погодных условий и усиление снегопада, обращаемся к водителям и собственникам крупногабаритного транспорта воздержаться от поездок по автодорогам области. В случае продолжения снегопада возможно введение ограничения на движение грузовиков, которым придется либо возвращаться, или ждать улучшения погодных условий на специальных стоянках и пунктах обогрева“, – указывается в сообщении пресс-службы ведомства.
Ранее сообщалось, что из-за сильных снегопадов ограничение движения автомобилей введено в Одесской, Николаевской, Херсонской, Кировоградской и Днепропетровской областях.
Тем временем, в Украине „Укрзалізниця“ сообщает о задержках поездов по всем направлениям. По данным компании, с 8:00 6 января до 8:00 7 января в работе задействовано 7200 железнодорожников и 14 снегоуборочных машин.

Similarity rank: 7.7

© Source: http://zn.ua/UKRAINE/v-kievskoy-oblasti-mogut-ogranichit-dvizhenie-gruzovogo-transporta-iz-za-snegopada-235280_.html
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Ночью в Одессе произошел взрыв в частном доме, два человека погибли (ФОТО)

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NewsHubСегодня ночью , 8 января, в 00:50 в частном одноэтажном доме в Одессе произошел взрыв с последующим возгоранием. Два человека погибли в результате взрыва.
Об этом сообщает пресс-служба ГСЧС Украины.
„В результате взрыва и разрушения строительных конструкций здания погибли 2 человека. Из-под завалов бойцы ГосЧС Украины спасли пожилую женщину „, – говорится в сообщении.
Как отмечается, в 2:01 пожар площадью 50 кв.м. была ликвидирована. В результате взрыва разрушена большая часть здания площадью около 70 кв.м. Причина взрыва устанавливается.
Взрыв жилого дома в Одессе, вероятно, произошел из-за возгорания газа , сообщил спикер ГУ ГСЧС в Одесской области Андрей Мельник.
„Эксперты еще работают. Взрыв от чего? Вероятно, от газа“, – отметил он.
При этом Мельник уточнил, что спасенная – 90-летняя женщина.
В пресс-службе ГУ ГосЧС в Одесской области позже отметили, что у пострадавшей диагностировали травму ноги, ее в состоянии средней тяжести направили в городскую клиническую больницу №11. Кроме нее в доме было прописано 6 человек, а на время взрыва находились еще двое, которые погибли.
К ликвидации последствий происшествия привлекалось 5 единиц основной пожарной и специальной техники и 19 человек личного состава спасателей.

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© Source: http://ru.golos.ua/uncategory/nochyu_v_odesse_proizoshel_vzryiv_v_chastnom_dome__dva_cheloveka_pogibli_foto_0584
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В Одесской области взорвался дом с тремя людьми внутри

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NewsHubНочью 8 января в частном одноэтажном доме Одесской области произошел взрыв с последующим возгоранием. В результате взрыва и разрушения здания погибли два человека. Из-под завалов удалось спасти лишь пожилую женщину.
– В 2:01 подразделениями Госслужбы по чрезвычайным ситуациям Украины пожар площадью 50 кв.м. была ликвидирован. В результате взрыва разрушена большая часть здания площадью около 70 кв.м. Причина взрыва устанавливается, – сообщили в ведомстве.
Взрыв жилого дома в Одессе, вероятно, произошел из-за возгорания газа. Об этом в эфире телеканала “ 112 Украина “ сообщил спикер ГСЧС в Одесской области Андрей Мельник.
– Эксперты еще работают. Взрыв от чего? Вероятно, от газа, – отметил он.
При этом Мельник уточнил, что спасенная – 90-летняя женщина.
ЧИТАЙТЕ ТАКЖЕ
Очевидцы взрыва в Сумах: „Думали о начале полномасштабной войны“
Вечером 3 января в одном из девятиэтажных домов в Сумах произошел взрыв, в результате которого погибла 64-летняя женщина. Также пострадали десять человек – двоих доставали из-под завалов, они госпитализированы. Жителей дома эвакуировали, часть из них расселили в отели, но большинство уехали к родственникам.

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© Source: http://kp.ua/incidents/563015/
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The hidden artist of the Soviet space programme

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NewsHubAn architect by training and an artist at heart, Balashova went on to spend three decades designing the interior of the Soyuz and other Soviet spaceships, making sure the crafts were not just metal carcasses stuffed with equipment, but also living spaces.
Beginning in 1963 over just one weekend, she sketched the interior of the Soyuz craft at home after Sergei Korolyov, the father of the Soviet space programme, asked that the ship be made habitable.
Engineers had fitted out the module with two giant boxes of instruments, but Korolyov had rejected the design and decided to get outside help.
„They didn’t understand what a living space is, they don’t use spatial thinking but think in terms of instruments,“ said Balashova, now in her 80s.
„Over the weekend, I thought of how to place the instruments, designing a sort of cupboard on one side and a sort of sofa on the other, where they could nap“ — a ubiquitous setup in Soviet households.
After Korolyov approved her sketch, which included the landscape drawing on the wall, she also had to provide the actual watercolour painting that would go up into space.
Since Korolyov had approved the design with a landscape drawing, the engineers „always asked for one“ on subsequent modules. „Nine of (the paintings) went to space,“ laughed Balashova.
Despite that, Balashova says she was not allowed to put her name under her work, complaining that her bosses took the credit.
Balashova still lives in her tiny apartment in Korolyov, a town outside Moscow that is home to Russia’s space mission control and named after the space travel visionary.
Sitting in her living room, Balashova spreads out her watercolour space designs on the table, their airy pastels in odd contrast with the militaristic nature of the programme during the space race era.
„At first I wanted to create a space for microgravity that would not have a floor or ceiling,“ she said.
But the futuristic vision was discarded for practical reasons.
„Humans train on Earth and they are used to the concepts of top and bottom. „
Cosmonaut Pyotr Klimuk, who travelled to space as part of the Soyuz and Salyut programmes, agreed that it was important for colours and other elements of the Soyuz interior to create a „cosy“ atmosphere.
In the orbit module „certain elements were painted certain colours and special fabric was used“, he said.
„Delicate colours are better“ and no matter the microgravity, the human eye „still believes there is a floor and ceiling“, like on Earth, he said.
Colours were especially important in Balashova’s work on the 1975 US-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz project, which would be seen by millions around the world and needed to fit in additional photo and video equipment.
„My bosses wanted a red sofa but red showed up as black on film,“ she said.
She struggled through four versions of the craft before finding a solution „when suddenly things were human-scale and there was harmony“, she said.
The resulting orbital module had a green sofa and velcro belts with which cosmonauts attached themselves, and even a folding table where they ate and signed the documents marking the symbolic joint flight.
When visiting the module, American astronaut Vance Brand praised its „very convenient setup“.
Balashova still sits in a chair upholstered with the same green fabric she used to cover the Soyuz sofa.
That too was a product of experimentation. Initial attempts to use velcro on the furniture led to cosmonauts „losing their jersey pants“ on it, she giggled.
Her flat is filled with books and watercolour portraits of family, with almost no sign that she influenced the look of generations of Soviet spaceships.
She says her engineering bosses didn’t value her work, looking down on her as an artist and a woman — one of the few working in the Soviet space industry and the only female in a creative position in Korolyov’s team.
„I was alone working with only men, and they treated me like a servant. „
After she retired, her drawings spent over a decade gathering dust under her bed.
Balashova now lives on a pension of 18,000 rubles ($297, 287 euros) a month.
„I never wanted to go to space,“ she admitted. But as an architect, she found the work interesting, she said, and found her inspiration in constantly striving for harmony in her designs.
„When I got it, I felt goosebumps down my back,“ she said.

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© Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/2017/01/08/The-hidden-artist-of-the-Soviet-space-programme
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