Hi everyone! Today I want to discuss which picks I got correct and which ones I got wrong. So, let’s get started! I predicted that the Patriots would beat the Jaguars easily 45-10, but the final score was 50-10 Patriots over the Jags in a blowout. I was so close on that prediction! Just 5 points away!! I predicted that the Buccaneers would beat the Jets 48-17, but the final score was 28-24 Buccaneers over the Jets in a close game. Tom Brady led the Bucs to a comeback after they were down 7 and 4 points. Now before that even happened, the wide receiver Antonio Brown took off his jersey and shirt and threw it somewhere in the stands. That shows that he is done playing football as he is being released by the Bucs and he is no longer a Buccaneer. He will be suspended forever possibly. I predicted that the Bills would beat the Falcons 41-24, but the final score was 29-15 Bills over the Falcons. The Bills have clinched their playoff spot. I predicted that the Titans would beat the Dolphins 37-31, but the final score was 34-3 Titans over the Dolphins in a blowout. After the Dolphins won 7 straight games, it has come to an end. I predicted that the Eagles would beat the Washington Football Team 30-16, but the final score was 20-16 Eagles over the Football Team in a close game. The Eagle’s defense sealed the win with the game-winning interception in the end zone. The Eagles have clinched their playoff spot. I predicted that the Chargers would beat the Broncos 31-23, but the final score was 34-13 Chargers over the Broncos. I predicted that the 49ers would beat the Texans 38-20, but the final score was 23-7 49ers over the Texans. The 49ers did not clinch a playoff spot because the Saints won, but they will get another chance.

I predicted that the Cardinals would beat the Cowboys 38-35, but the final score was 25-22 Cardinals over the Cowboys in a close game. The Cardinals got up to a 10-0 lead in the first half. The Cardinals were kind of beating themselves because the Cowboys were trying to stop the Cardinals from expanding their lead. The Cowboys scored a touchdown and the 2-point conversion to make a 3-point game, but the Cardinals offense did just enough to barely seal the game with a win. Kyler Murray had 2 touchdown passes both to the wide receiver Antoine Wesley. Murray is 8-0 in Texas. The Cardinals have finally won the game and snapped their 3-game losing streak. I predicted that the Packers would beat the Vikings 28-23, but the final score was 37-10 Packers over the Vikings in a blowout. I predicted that the Steelers would beat the Browns 32-29, but the final score was 26-14 Steelers over the Browns.

I predicted that the Ravens would beat the Rams 29-26, but the final score was 20-19 Rams over the Ravens in a close game. The Rams scored a game-winning touchdown pass to the wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and the Ravens took a big sack with not a lot of time left on the clock. Mainly because Tyler Huntley had slipped. I predicted that the Chiefs would beat the Bengals 36-29, but the final score was 34-31 Bengals over the Chiefs in a close game. The Bengals rallied from being down 14-0 by the help of the wide receiver Jamarr Chase. This dude is a freak and a monster. He has had a very good season and that’s one of the reasons why the Bengals are a really good team.

So, I have gotten 9 out of 11 picks correct! Now let’s get started with the week 18 NFL picks, the last week of the NFL season! So, let’s get started, shall we?! The first game I will predict is the Chiefs @Broncos game. I think the Chiefs will beat the Broncos 35-16. The next game I will predict is the Cowboys @Eagles game. I actually think the Eagles can beat the Cowboys 24-20 because the Eagles seem to be a dangerous team to watch in the playoffs and they want to come out and beat the Cowboys. The next game I will predict is the Bengals @Browns game. I think the Browns might beat the Bengals 31-17 because I think the Bengals might be resting their starting players for the playoffs. The next game I will predict is the Steelers @Ravens game. I think the Steelers will beat the Ravens 25-17 because the Steelers are trying to somehow make the playoffs and the Ravens will just keep falling down following that Lamar Jackson is not playing again. The first game I will predict is the Packers @Lions game. I think the Packers will destroy the Lions 48-23. The next game I will predict is the Colts @Jags game. I think the Colts will beat the Jags 38-20 because they are trying to make and clinch their playoff spot still. The next game I will predict is the Titans @Texans game. I think the Titans will beat the Texans 30-17. The next game I will predict is the Seahawks @Cardinals game, the divisional rivalries. Both of these teams are coming off with their wins last week. The Cardinals can win the division with the win and if the Rams lose to the 49ers. The Cardinals just need to figure out how to snap the losing streak at home and they have a chance. They have to play like a real playoff team. They have not swept Seattle since 2009. The Seahawks may not have a big star defensive linebacker Bobby Wagner for Sunday and that is a pretty big loss for their defense. The Cardinals offense should take advantage of it and you have to. Some of the Cardinals key players will not be playing maybe due to the them resting their players for the playoffs. I think this is the game that the Cardinals need to win if they want to have a chance to win the division. It is simple is that, get off to a great lead, make the Seahawks one-dimensional, stop the run, pressure and contain Russell Wilson, cover the 2 great wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett because these guys are the beast, don’t beat yourselves, and score touchdowns. Also, don’t let Russ cook and comeback out of nowhere to win the game because he has had a game-winning touchdowns before and it is a lot of them. So, stay focused! I do think the Cardinals can beat the Seahawks in a close game 27-21. Remember, snap that losing streak at home if you will Kliff Kingsbury and don’t get cute with your play calling!!! The next game I will predict is the Jets @Bills game. I think the Bills will beat the Jets easily 39-16. The next game I will predict is the Panthers @Buccaneers game. I think the Buccaneers will beat the Panthers 31-18. The next game I will predict is the Patriots @Dolphins game. I think the Patriots will beat the Dolphins 34-24. The next game I will predict is the 49ers @Rams game, the divisional rivalries. This is also a big game in the NFC West division! Both of these teams are coming off with their wins last week. The Rams are in the playoffs and the 49ers need to win this game to clinch their playoff spot and they know that they cannot afford to get destroyed and come out desperate for their playoff spot. If the 49ers beat the Rams, then, the Cardinals will win the division, but if the Rams win, they will win the division. The 49ers have the Rams number at a good time because they have to win this game. I do think that the 49ers will come out and beat the Rams in a close game 31-27. The last game of the season I will predict is the Chargers @Raiders game on Sunday Night Football. I think the Raiders might actually beat the Chargers in a close game 34-30.

So, what do you guys think about the week 18 NFL picks?! I would love to hear lots of comments, thoughts, opinions, questions, or concerns down below!

Stay tuned for NFL updates.

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Statement from the Poitier family:

There are no words to convey the deep sense of loss and sadness we are feeling right now. We are so grateful he was able to spend his last day surrounded by his family and friends. To us Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist, and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father, and a man who always put family first. He is our guiding light who lit up our lives with infinite love and wonder. His smile was healing, his hugs the warmest refuge, and his laughter was infectious. We could always turn to him for wisdom and solace and his absence feels like a giant hole in our family and our hearts. Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren—in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and kindness. His legacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.

We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to every single one of you for the outpouring of love from around the world. So many have been touched by our dad’s extraordinary life, his unwavering sense of decency and respect for his fellow man. His faith in humanity never faltered, so know that for all the love you’ve shown him, he loved you back.

2022 Sundance Film Festival: Update

Park City, UT — As a nonprofit arts organization, the Sundance Institute has held the Sundance Film Festival for close to forty years to support artists and introduce their work to audiences, creating a community around independent storytelling.

We have been looking forward to our first fully hybrid Sundance Film Festival and our teams have spent a year planning a festival like no other. But despite the most ambitious protocols, the Omicron variant with its unexpectedly high transmissibility rates is pushing the limits of health safety, travel and other infrastructures across the country. And so, today we’re announcing: the Festival’s in-person Utah elements will be moving online this year. While we’re disappointed to not provide the full hybrid experience and gather in-person as intended, audiences this year will still experience the magic and energy of our Festival with bold new films and XR work, the discovery of new storytellers, direct encounters with artists, and an innovative globally accessible social platform and gallery space. Our partner community will also be adding a vibrant dimension to the festival with a rich mix of conversation, talent talks and events. 

While it is a deep loss to not have the in-person experience in Utah, we do not believe it is safe nor feasible to gather thousands of artists, audiences, employees, volunteers, and partners from around the world, for an eleven-day festival while overwhelmed communities are already struggling to provide essential services.  

This was a difficult decision to make. As a nonprofit, our Sundance spirit is in making something work against the odds. But with case numbers forecasted to peak in our host community the week of the festival we cannot knowingly put our staff and community at risk. The undue stress to Summit County’s health services and our more than 1,500 staff and volunteers would be irresponsible in this climate. It has  become increasingly clear over the last few days that this is the right decision to make for the care and well-being of all of our community.

The Festival is important not only to the artists and audiences who gather each year, but also as the most essential fundraiser for underwriting the Institute’s  year-round artist support work. We are thrilled to be able to convene the 2022 edition of the Sundance Film Festival online, building on the success of last year. In addition to reaching global audiences, we forged a path for immersive online experiences that we are building on in 2022. And while we will be proud to again deliver an incredible digital experience of the 2022 Festival, our belief in the unique power of gathering in person as an independent storytelling community remains. 

In two weeks, we will gather together online to celebrate independent storytelling and introduce you to remarkable artists and their work. The Festival will begin Thursday, January 20, 2022 as planned. Our eleven days of online programming will proceed, with screening schedule adjustments to account for an online only schedule. Our seven satellite partners will host screenings for their local communities from January 28-30. 

We ask for your patience as we work to make the necessary adjustments. We will be in touch with all pass and package holders and ticket purchasers. with an update on already purchased tickets. As previously announced, single tickets will now go on sale January 13 (January 12 for the membership pre-sale) at 10 a.m. MT. 

We believe in the transformative power of artists and their work. Today, as we navigate all that the pandemic throws at us we go back to what is certain: Gathering together — in whatever way we can — is profound. Community matters. We follow the artist. So, we look forward to sharing with you the extraordinary work that fuels our Festival, experiencing it together, and celebrating the artists who will change the culture.

The Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Flee, CODA, Passing, Summer Of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, Brooklyn, Precious, The Cove, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth, Napoleon Dynamite, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Reservoir Dogs and sex, lies, and videotape. 

The Festival is a program of the non-profit Sundance Institute. 2022 Festival sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors – Acura, AMC+, Chase Sapphire, Adobe; Leadership Sponsors – Amazon Studios, DIRECTV, DoorDash, Dropbox, Netflix, Omnicom Group, WarnerMedia, XRM Media; Sustaining Sponsors – Aflac, Audible, Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Dell Technologies, IMDbPro, Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, Rabbit Hole Bourbon & Rye, Unity Technologies, University of Utah Health, White Claw Hard Seltzer; Media Sponsors – The Atlantic, IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Shadow And Act, Variety, Vulture. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute’s year-round programs for independent artists. Festival.Sundance.org

Sundance Institute

As a champion and curator of independent stories for the stage and screen, Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, film composing, and digital media to create and thrive.

Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. Sundance Collab, a digital community platform, brings artists together to learn from each other and Sundance advisors and connect in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, City So Real, Top of the Lake, Between the World & Me, Wild Goose Dreams and Fun Home. Join the Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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Up and coming actress Arischa Conner has proven that age and the starting point of one’s career do not determine an individual’s success. No matter what age or experience level an actor may be, it’s never too late to gain a prosperous future in the industry. 

Conner has expanded her success recently by taking on roles in Hulu’s Dopesick and Apple+’s Swagger. Playing dynamic characters in both works, the actor showed her range and talent as she portrayed characters who were central to the show’s plot. Recently via video interview, Conner spoke out on fighting ageism and her ability to play dynamic characters for roles that tell a true story. 

How does it feel to be part of a series like Dopesick where the plot has such an integral message of the crisis currently going on in this country?

It feels amazing to be a part of such a great story and also a great representation of what really happened during the opioid crisis. Previously, I was in a documentary theater piece called Misery Is Optional. We talked about the 40 people who were in active recovery from drugs and alcohol. I portrayed eight different characters. I was able to actually meet those people. To be able to tell their stories and actually meet them on the recovery side was amazing. So when I got the opportunity to audition for Dopesick I was overjoyed because I had already been intertwined with some of the struggles of addiction and I understood what it meant to be Dopesick. I also understood that it does something to your brain. A lot of people don’t know that story from that perspective. 

What do you hope that people take away from this series?

Number one, a lot of those persons who got addicted to the drugs didn’t get addicted because they were seeking to get addicted. It was because the pharmaceutical company misled their pharmaceutical techs, they misled the doctors, they misled everybody into thinking that this drug was less than one percent addictive. So when doctors were prescribed this drug, they were trying to help their patients. Some of those patients got addicted because it was just such a highly addictive drug, so in a lot of those cases it wasn’t their fault. A lot of people don’t understand that addiction does something to your brain that changes how you think and makes you feel like, “I need these drugs, I can’t survive without them.” Even for those persons who go into recovery, it takes time for that part of your brain to heal. So I think that, from an educational standpoint, the story is timely. It just educates people on what it is, how it is, what happened. It gives them a better understanding instead of just thinking that addiction is the fault of those persons who are addicted. 

What was your experience like in Swagger?

Swagger, it was amazing. All of the experiences are amazing. What was great about that is it was actually my first co-star role on a network. Swagger was my first and Dopesick was my second. When I auditioned for Swagger, it was right at the beginning of the pandemic. As I was doing my audition and sending these messages that Apocalypse Anne says, I visualized myself talking to my students. Those are kids who I love, who I had a bond with, and I knew I wasn’t going to see them anymore. I knew that they were going through something. It was therapeutic to me because I felt like every time I was speaking, I was speaking to them. It was an amazing opportunity and an amazing experience.

You’ve proven that age does not determine success. How do you think that we can combat ageism in the entertainment industry?

Number one, people who are older have to realize that just because you’re older it doesn’t mean that you can’t be successful in whatever realm you decide you want to go into at a later age. I’m reminded of Dorothy Steel, who was in Black Panther. She didn’t start acting until she was in her 80s. Every production needs people. They need people of different races, of different heights and builds. They need those people to fill those spaces. I think that everything is opening up from a production standpoint. They’re realizing, “Hey, we can use these persons.” There are so many stories out there being told and so many different streaming services are able to tell them that it’s opening up for older people. 

You have a great range of work from Dopesick to Swagger, to Another Tango. How do you prepare yourself for taking on such a range when it comes to roles?

I think of characters like we’re all a connected community — we’re one big community, just in different places speaking in different languages. Because we’re all connected, whenever there’s a character before you, there’s something in that character that you can connect to. 

Can you talk a little bit about any upcoming roles or what you’d like to pursue? I heard that you’re a fan of Guardians of the Galaxy.

I would love to be in Guardians of the Galaxy. I love superhero movies, I love action, and I would love to see them have somebody who is like me. I do have a couple of projects coming out. One is called Players; it’s going to be on Paramount+. I’ll be portraying the lead character’s mother. Another one is The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray, which is based on a book by Walter Mosley. Samuel Jackson plays the lead role. It’s a wonderful story. I’m just looking forward to more great stories to tell. 

Dopesick is now available on Hulu. Swagger is available for viewing on Apple+.