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By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -Filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou takes audiences to a bustling Taipei night market in family drama "Left-Handed Girl", weaving in personal and "collected" experiences. Chosen to represent Taiwan at the 2026 Oscars, the movie marks Tsou's solo directorial debut. She co-directed 2004's "Take Out" with Oscar winner Sean Baker and the two became frequent collaborators. The "Anora" filmmaker co-wrote, edited and produced "Left-handed Girl". Around two decades in the making, "Left-Handed Girl" stemmed from her grandfather telling Tsou off for using her left hand, traditionally believed to be the devil's hand. Tsou shared the story with Baker after meeting him at university in New York and they set out to make a movie, finishing a draft script in 2010 and travelling to Taiwan to scout locations, but the project proved difficult to finance. Tsou kept in touch with the night market vendors over the years and found new inspiration when she became a mother. "I'd always go back to visit them, getting to know their stories and the life in the night market… it's like collecting stories and also maturing this whole idea," she said. TAIPEI NOODLE STAND In "Left-Handed Girl", a single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei to open a noodle stand after living in the countryside. Settling into new routines, they face new challenges and past secrets resurface after the youngest child is scolded for using her left hand by her conservative grandfather. The movie is shot on iPhones, the only option for filming in a busy market, said Tsou. "I always knew I wanted to shoot in a real night market but to do that, you have to hide everything because when people see you filming on location, they always want to know who is the star. If you're using an iPhone…they wouldn't think that's a movie," said Tsou. The approach also helped show the young protagonist's perspective on the world around her. "We want the audience to see it through this little girl's eyes. It's like a sense of wonder," said Tsou, who juxtapositioned the vibrant scenes with an intergenerational family story. "I wanted to keep the whole family dynamic really strong. You can see how women survive in this society that's male-dominated," said Tsou. "It's really important to show that dynamic and to have the audience think about their own family." "Left-Handed Girl" premieres on Netflix on Friday. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala, editing by Ed Osmond)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -Actor Kiefer Sutherland, whose career spans four decades, says he got to expand his repertoire in the new Christmas movie "Tinsel Town". Sutherland stars as past-his-prime Hollywood actor Bradley Mack. Deemed difficult and temperamental, Mack finds work drying up after he wraps the seventh instalment of his action movie franchise and is left with no choice but to accept an offer to appear in a play in England. But instead of London's West End, Mack finds himself cast in a small town's traditional Christmas pantomime production. Sutherland showcases his singing and dancing skills as well as a range of emotions as Mack connects with his colourful co-stars and his estranged young daughter. "I thought it was really heartwarming to follow a character that starts off the movie not the best version of themselves and through the Christmas spirit and his daughter, becomes the better version of himself. I think that's a very kind of heartfelt, warm Christmas message," Sutherland said at the film's premiere in London on Thursday. "I've never done a song and dance number before, so that was a real challenge for me and very exciting. After 40 years of doing this as a profession, to be able to find new things to try, makes me really grateful," Sutherland, 58, said. The film also stars Rebel Wilson as the pantomime's choreographer, Jill. Theodora Williams, daughter of pop star Robbie Williams and actress Ayda Field, makes her acting debut as Jill's daughter, Cara.  "My mum gave me advice to enjoy the moment. I was really worried about working on my accent because I don't normally have a Yorkshire accent and I forgot the accent and just was in the moment and it worked out perfectly," she said. "Tinsel Town" is directed by Chris Foggin, who set out to make a movie all generations could watch together at Christmas. A celebration of the British pantomime tradition, it also stars Katherine Ryan as Mack's agent and Derek Jacobi as Albert, who has devoted his life to the theatre form. "It celebrates Britishness, but it also celebrates kindness," said actress Maria Friedman who plays a member of the troupe. "It's got a big, warm heart. My goodness, don't we need that right now." "Tinsel Town" is released in select U.S. theatres and digital platforms on Friday and debuts on Sky Cinema in the UK on December 5. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by David Gregorio)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -Actor Kiefer Sutherland, whose career spans four decades, says he got to expand his repertoire in the new Christmas movie "Tinsel Town". Sutherland stars as past-his-prime Hollywood actor Bradley Mack. Deemed difficult and temperamental, Mack finds work drying up after he wraps the seventh instalment of his action movie franchise and is left with no choice but to accept an offer to appear in a play in England. But instead of London's West End, Mack finds himself cast in a small town's traditional Christmas pantomime production. Sutherland showcases his singing and dancing skills as well as a range of emotions as Mack connects with his colourful co-stars and his estranged young daughter. "I thought it was really heartwarming to follow a character that starts off the movie not the best version of themselves and through the Christmas spirit and his daughter, becomes the better version of himself. I think that's a very kind of heartfelt, warm Christmas message," Sutherland said at the film's premiere in London on Thursday. "I've never done a song and dance number before, so that was a real challenge for me and very exciting. After 40 years of doing this as a profession, to be able to find new things to try, makes me really grateful," Sutherland, 58, said. The film also stars Rebel Wilson as the pantomime's choreographer, Jill. Theodora Williams, daughter of pop star Robbie Williams and actress Ayda Field, makes her acting debut as Jill's daughter, Cara.  "My mum gave me advice to enjoy the moment. I was really worried about working on my accent because I don't normally have a Yorkshire accent and I forgot the accent and just was in the moment and it worked out perfectly," she said. "Tinsel Town" is directed by Chris Foggin, who set out to make a movie all generations could watch together at Christmas. A celebration of the British pantomime tradition, it also stars Katherine Ryan as Mack's agent and Derek Jacobi as Albert, who has devoted his life to the theatre form. "It celebrates Britishness, but it also celebrates kindness," said actress Maria Friedman who plays a member of the troupe. "It's got a big, warm heart. My goodness, don't we need that right now." "Tinsel Town" is released in select U.S. theatres and digital platforms on Friday and debuts on Sky Cinema in the UK on December 5. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by David Gregorio)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -Streaming platform Netflix was down for about an hour for several users in the United States on Wednesday evening, coinciding with the release of the fifth and final season of its hit series "Stranger Things". There were less than 800 reports of the issue as of 8:45 p.m. ET, down from a peak of 14,290 incidents earlier in the day, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages using multiple sources. "Some members briefly experienced an issue streaming on TV devices, but service recovered for all accounts within five minutes," Netflix said in an emailed response to Reuters. Netflix has ranked "Stranger Things" as its third-most popular English-language series globally. The highly anticipated season was set to be released at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The platform has previously faced outages during major events, including the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing bout and the live-streamed reality show "Love is Blind." (Reporting by Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For the Korean boy band Riize, recording their second studio album, "Fame," was a chance to explore a new musical persona. “This next chapter is sort of us showing a different side of ourselves that we haven’t really shown before,” Korean-American member Anton, who grew up in New Jersey, told Reuters.  “In this album, you can see in the trailer as well, but there’s a piece called 'Something’s in the Water,' and it really shows our dark side and things that we would want to hide,” Korean-born member Sohee added, contrasting “Fame” with the brighter elements of their first album, "Odyssey."  "Odyssey" was released in May 2025 by SM Entertainment. It featured the high-energy lead single “Fly Up.” "Fame" came out this week. It includes “Something’s in the Water,” a soulful R&B song that channels the group’s signature “emotional pop” sound, the upbeat song "Sticky Like" and the hip-hop title song, "Fame." Anton said the tone of the “Fame” album is a departure from the recurring theme of “growth” that the group has previously pursued.  “I’m curious to see how fans react,” he added. Riize (pronounced "rise") formed in 2023, and the K-pop group's name is a combination of the words “rise” and “realize,” signifying the members' mutual growth and realization of their dreams.  Group members include Shotaro, who is Japanese, and Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton. The boy band performed at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on November 11 for their "Riizing Loud" tour, a showcase of the "Odyssey" album and a full-circle moment for the group.   The members recalled making their Los Angeles debut in the same theater in 2024 during their “Fan-Con” tour. “Los Angeles is sort of Riize’s hometown in a way because we shot our debut music videos in this city,” Anton said. “Being back here (Los Angeles) and performing was such a memorable experience,” he added. The U.S. leg of the “Riizing Loud" tour concluded on November 14. The tour will continue with performances in Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Macau in early 2026. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) -Filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou takes audiences to a bustling Taipei night market in family drama "Left-Handed Girl", weaving in personal and "collected" experiences. Chosen to represent Taiwan at the 2026 Oscars, the movie marks Tsou's solo directorial debut. She co-directed 2004's "Take Out" with Oscar winner Sean Baker and the two became frequent collaborators. The "Anora" filmmaker co-wrote, edited and produced "Left-handed Girl". Around two decades in the making, "Left-Handed Girl" stemmed from her grandfather telling Tsou off for using her left hand, traditionally believed to be the devil's hand. Tsou shared the story with Baker after meeting him at university in New York and they set out to make a movie, finishing a draft script in 2010 and travelling to Taiwan to scout locations, but the project proved difficult to finance. Tsou kept in touch with the night market vendors over the years and found new inspiration when she became a mother. "I'd always go back to visit them, getting to know their stories and the life in the night market… it's like collecting stories and also maturing this whole idea," she said. TAIPEI NOODLE STAND In "Left-Handed Girl", a single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei to open a noodle stand after living in the countryside. Settling into new routines, they face new challenges and past secrets resurface after the youngest child is scolded for using her left hand by her conservative grandfather. The movie is shot on iPhones, the only option for filming in a busy market, said Tsou. "I always knew I wanted to shoot in a real night market but to do that, you have to hide everything because when people see you filming on location, they always want to know who is the star. If you're using an iPhone…they wouldn't think that's a movie," said Tsou. The approach also helped show the young protagonist's perspective on the world around her. "We want the audience to see it through this little girl's eyes. It's like a sense of wonder," said Tsou, who juxtapositioned the vibrant scenes with an intergenerational family story. "I wanted to keep the whole family dynamic really strong. You can see how women survive in this society that's male-dominated," said Tsou. "It's really important to show that dynamic and to have the audience think about their own family." "Left-Handed Girl" premieres on Netflix on Friday. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala, editing by Ed Osmond)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery has asked potential buyers to submit improved offers by December 1, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The parent of HBO and CNN last month said it was exploring its options for sale. Since then, it has received preliminary buyout bids from rivals Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix. After reviewing any improved offers, Warner Bros may enter a period of exclusive discussions with one of the bidders, the sources said. Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast, Netflix and Paramount Skydance did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Bloomberg News first reported the development earlier on Tuesday. Paramount is expected to bid for all of Warner Bros Discovery, including its cable television networks. Paramount's bid is backed by the studio's controlling shareholder, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who is among the world's richest men. The potential combination would enhance Paramount's presence in movie theaters, giving it a 32% share of the North American theatrical market, according to Comscore, and strengthen its streaming service by combining HBO Max with Paramount+. Any potential deal involving Warner Bros Discovery would further consolidate the media industry after the $8.4 billion merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global. The deal had capped a drawn-out deal process marked by political scrutiny and shareholder concerns. Reuters exclusively reported that Warner Bros Discovery's board rejected Paramount's mostly cash offer of nearly $24 a share for the company, valuing it at $60 billion, and publicly announced it would evaluate strategic options for the studio. Warner Bros Discovery's stock has soared 83% since Paramount's intention to bid for the media company was reported in September. The stock closed at $22.96 on Tuesday. The media giant previously announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies, separating its studios and streaming business from its fading cable networks. (Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For the Korean boy band Riize, recording their second studio album, "Fame," was a chance to explore a new musical persona. “This next chapter is sort of us showing a different side of ourselves that we haven’t really shown before,” Korean-American member Anton, who grew up in New Jersey, told Reuters.  “In this album, you can see in the trailer as well, but there’s a piece called 'Something’s in the Water,' and it really shows our dark side and things that we would want to hide,” Korean-born member Sohee added, contrasting “Fame” with the brighter elements of their first album, "Odyssey."  "Odyssey" was released in May 2025 by SM Entertainment. It featured the high-energy lead single “Fly Up.” "Fame" came out this week. It includes “Something’s in the Water,” a soulful R&B song that channels the group’s signature “emotional pop” sound, the upbeat song "Sticky Like" and the hip-hop title song, "Fame." Anton said the tone of the “Fame” album is a departure from the recurring theme of “growth” that the group has previously pursued.  “I’m curious to see how fans react,” he added. Riize (pronounced "rise") formed in 2023, and the K-pop group's name is a combination of the words “rise” and “realize,” signifying the members' mutual growth and realization of their dreams.  Group members include Shotaro, who is Japanese, and Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton. The boy band performed at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on November 11 for their "Riizing Loud" tour, a showcase of the "Odyssey" album and a full-circle moment for the group.   The members recalled making their Los Angeles debut in the same theater in 2024 during their “Fan-Con” tour. “Los Angeles is sort of Riize’s hometown in a way because we shot our debut music videos in this city,” Anton said. “Being back here (Los Angeles) and performing was such a memorable experience,” he added. The U.S. leg of the “Riizing Loud" tour concluded on November 14. The tour will continue with performances in Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Macau in early 2026. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For the Korean boy band Riize, recording their second studio album, "Fame," was a chance to explore a new musical persona. “This next chapter is sort of us showing a different side of ourselves that we haven’t really shown before,” Korean-American member Anton, who grew up in New Jersey, told Reuters.  “In this album, you can see in the trailer as well, but there’s a piece called 'Something’s in the Water,' and it really shows our dark side and things that we would want to hide,” Korean-born member Sohee added, contrasting “Fame” with the brighter elements of their first album, "Odyssey."  "Odyssey" was released in May 2025 by SM Entertainment. It featured the high-energy lead single “Fly Up.” "Fame" came out this week. It includes “Something’s in the Water,” a soulful R&B song that channels the group’s signature “emotional pop” sound, the upbeat song "Sticky Like" and the hip-hop title song, "Fame." Anton said the tone of the “Fame” album is a departure from the recurring theme of “growth” that the group has previously pursued.  “I’m curious to see how fans react,” he added. Riize (pronounced "rise") formed in 2023, and the K-pop group's name is a combination of the words “rise” and “realize,” signifying the members' mutual growth and realization of their dreams.  Group members include Shotaro, who is Japanese, and Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton. The boy band performed at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on November 11 for their "Riizing Loud" tour, a showcase of the "Odyssey" album and a full-circle moment for the group.   The members recalled making their Los Angeles debut in the same theater in 2024 during their “Fan-Con” tour. “Los Angeles is sort of Riize’s hometown in a way because we shot our debut music videos in this city,” Anton said. “Being back here (Los Angeles) and performing was such a memorable experience,” he added. The U.S. leg of the “Riizing Loud" tour concluded on November 14. The tour will continue with performances in Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Macau in early 2026. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For the Korean boy band Riize, recording their second studio album, "Fame," was a chance to explore a new musical persona. “This next chapter is sort of us showing a different side of ourselves that we haven’t really shown before,” Korean-American member Anton, who grew up in New Jersey, told Reuters.  “In this album, you can see in the trailer as well, but there’s a piece called 'Something’s in the Water,' and it really shows our dark side and things that we would want to hide,” Korean-born member Sohee added, contrasting “Fame” with the brighter elements of their first album, "Odyssey."  "Odyssey" was released in May 2025 by SM Entertainment. It featured the high-energy lead single “Fly Up.” "Fame" came out this week. It includes “Something’s in the Water,” a soulful R&B song that channels the group’s signature “emotional pop” sound, the upbeat song "Sticky Like" and the hip-hop title song, "Fame." Anton said the tone of the “Fame” album is a departure from the recurring theme of “growth” that the group has previously pursued.  “I’m curious to see how fans react,” he added. Riize (pronounced "rise") formed in 2023, and the K-pop group's name is a combination of the words “rise” and “realize,” signifying the members' mutual growth and realization of their dreams.  Group members include Shotaro, who is Japanese, and Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton. The boy band performed at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on November 11 for their "Riizing Loud" tour, a showcase of the "Odyssey" album and a full-circle moment for the group.   The members recalled making their Los Angeles debut in the same theater in 2024 during their “Fan-Con” tour. “Los Angeles is sort of Riize’s hometown in a way because we shot our debut music videos in this city,” Anton said. “Being back here (Los Angeles) and performing was such a memorable experience,” he added. The U.S. leg of the “Riizing Loud" tour concluded on November 14. The tour will continue with performances in Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Macau in early 2026. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)