I The Behrend Beacon - 1 kirri - r - 71 - rjrri /\ 7 - 1 -n\ jr - r7l - 1 Pi Word Qf The Week: focused - adj. - "hammered or stamped in, as in a figure on a coin." Last week, I made a bet with my friend Jeff that he couldn't catch a piano dropped from five stories up. Now every day I walk past where his body is inc Actor Heath Ledger dies, autopsy results By Evan Koser entertainment edito, lOW psu.rdu olice have yet to find the reason behind the death of 28-year old actor Hearth Ledger this past Tuesday. On Jan 22. Ledger was found dead in his fourth floor apartment at 421 Broome Street in New York City. A police statement revealed that his house keeper, Theresa Solomon, arrived around 12:30 PM for her r When Solomon enter room at 1:00 PM to c. light bulb, Ledger wai down on his mattr Lst-production stages Lnd footage will remain inaffected by his death. Thus far, the only known iffect his death may lave may be on the viral marketing surrounding ;s character. In 2005, Ledger starred set meeting time. Ennis Del Mar in unresponsive, Wol . okeback Mountain. " called 9-1-1 at 3:26 role earned him an He was pronounced di tdemy award nomination ten minutes later when .._ the best performance by CONTRIBUTED PHOTO an actor in a leading rillation and CPR. role. did not respond to defib - Actor Heath Ledger, above, won many fans with Ledger has also starred Police said that six superior acting jobs in several popular movies. in "The Patriot" (2000). "A types of prescription sleeping heavily. when and snori Apparent) Ledger' masseuse Dian, Wolozin arrived it 2:45 PM. Ledger wiu unresponsive to his eel phone when he did ni exit his bedroom at drugs were found in Ledger's apartment, including anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills. Authorities have announced that preliminary autop sy results were inconclusive. According to police estimates, it could be approximately ten days after the actor's death until a cause of death can be found. Near Ledger's bed, a twenty dollar bill was found rolled up. but tests confirmed the absence of any drug residue. Police have also mentioned that there were no illegal drugs found anywhere inside of his apartment. Antihistamines were found and it has ••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Upcoming releases: Movies Strange Wilderness Two men (Steve Zahn, Allen Covert) travel to the Andes mountain in search of Bigfoot. Rating: R Music Chris Walla -Jan. 29- "Field Manual" inconclusive as to cause The Eye Feb. 1- A woman (Jessica Alba) who receives an emergency eye opera tion begins to see into the supernational workd. Based off a Japanese thriller. Rating: R Jack Johnson -Feb. 5- "Sleep Through the Static" been confirmed that three of the drugs had been pre scribed in London, as Ledger had been filming in Europe. The only statement confidently held by the police is that Ledger may have accidentally over dosed. Ledger mainly starred on television series throughout the majority of the nineties. He began his acting career at the age of twenty in Hollywood. He will have his final. posthumous appearance in "The Dark Knight" as Batman's iconic archne- Tr. The role is surpris ; and twisted, straying - om his common pattern ten heroic and compas tate roles. The film is in Knight's Tale" (2001), and "The Brother's Grimm" (2005). His latest role was in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." which was set to be released in 2009: however, production has halted in ligh! of the actor's untimely death. Those who have had the opportunity to work with Ledger have expressed their deepest condolences and regret about the actor's death. "He was just tak ing off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family." says actor Mel Gibson, who played Ledger's father in "The Patriot." riters' strike shows some signs of resolution • By Connor Sattely • • entertainment Milo, cisso6o@'pu.edu l'n the tug-of-war case of the screenwriters' strike during the past couple of months. it appears that Hollywood directors may finally he reaching a tentative solution to the problems. During the past few months the strike has reached desperate points several times. The Hollywood writers who walked away from negoti ations last year used several tactics to further their side of the strike, including boycotts, legal com plaints, and public pickets. Some writers, angry with their own side, decided to leave • the union entirely, • reports the New York • • Times. John Ridley • became one of the • • _ hrst writers to break with the Writers' Guild and declared financial core" sta- tus. which allows someone to pay union dues hut not observe the Guild's rules. Many other writers, such as the two lead ing writers for "All My Children, - started to take similar steps in resistance against their union's tactics. Music in a Digital Age Top Ringtone Downloads Top Digital Songs 1. Soulja Boy Tell'em - "Crank That" 1. Chris Brown - "With You" 2. Henry Mancini - "Pink Panther" 2. Alicia Keys'- "No One" 3. Grupo Montez de Durango -"Adios Amor Te Vas" 3. Chris Brown - "Kiss Kiss" 4.. DJ Khaled "I'm So Hood" 4. Alicia Keys - "Like You'll Neve; See Me Again" 5. Koji Kondo - "Super Marios Bros. Theme" 5. Jaheim - "Never" 6. J. Holiday - "Bed" 6. Taylor Swift -"Teardrops on My Guitar" 7. 50 Cent feat. Olivia - "Candy Shop" , 7. Britney Spears - "Piece of Me" 8. Plies feat. T-Pain "Shawty" 8 Baby Bash "What Is It" 9. Afroman - "Because I Got High" tr 9. DJ fhiled - "I'm So Hood" 10. Nickelback "Rockste 10. Partmlore "CrushCrusherush” Source: Billboard top 100 Source: AOL Music : CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Guild and the Alliance of The WGA strike deals with writers' Motion Picture and Television demands for residual payments for clips. Producers could cause the Nicholas Cage satisfies audiences again in National Treasure: Book of Secrets By Connor Sattely entertainment editor c:sso6oo`psu.edu For the average college student returning home for winter break, a major dilemma could have presented itself at the movie theatre. With several fantastic movies ("Juno," "1 Am Legend") releasing, this winter's view ing options gave an exciting menu for movie watchers to choose from However, after three weeks, one movie stayed at the num ber one spot: "National Treasure: Book of Secrets." In the sequel to the popular "National Treasure" movie released last year, this new flick features Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) again search ing the nation for treasure; this time, however, the Gates fam ily seeks to reclaim the honor of their ancestors, and prove that Gates' great great grand father was a true American. In a harrowing trip around National Treasure: The Book of Secrets the nation, Gates explores , many different places (Such as the Oval Office and Mount Rushmore) and even overseas in his •ch for the next CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Actor Nicholas Cage Perhaps in response to such turmoils within its ranks, the Directors Guild of America entered negotiations with studios this month. On Jan. 17, the union announced that Hollywood directors have reached a tentative agreement after five days of negotiations. Gil Cates, the chairman of the DGA's negotiations committee. called the deal "groundbreaking and substantial." AP reports indicate that the deal will likely not only raise wages, but also residuals, for each year of the contract. The deal will also introduce pay ments to writers for streaming clips and online viewing. It will encourage writers to end the walk out that has angered viewers all across the nation. However, the exact details of the contract have not yet been announced. Behrend student Zach Ohl, a long-time fan of shows such as "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show," was dissappointed when the strike hit. "I basically stopped watching over break," he said. "I guess I might start watch ing again when the writers' strike ends.- The Writers' Guild of America, however, has said that the direc tors do not represent their inter ests. Actors and writers will still need to come to a separate agree ment. Though, Reuters reports that a deal between the Directors "I liked the movie a lot," says Behrend freshmen Leanne Stuyvesant, ho watched it over 'eak. "I even TM that it was pret- Ise to being as good as the first one. - The box office Friday, January 25, 2008 would say much of the same. The sequel has earned roughly $314 million world-wide in sales. with its predecessor reaching heights just above it, at $347 million. During the winter days after its release, fans of "National Treasure" showed their support for the ill Smith's "I am Legend" and een drama "Juno" releasing around the same time, `National Treasure: Book of Secrets" sat in the number one pot in sales for three weeks ,traight. reat in the movie," said ;tuyvesant. "Probably as good as the first one." Fans of Cage may remember him from such .ether movies like "Matchstick Men," "Lord of War," and 'Gone in Sixty Seconds." Cage, who was widely praised 'or his acting job in "National 'reasure," delivered another stellar performance in its sequel. Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, and Jon Voight all made repeat appearances as well. Actor Ed Harris ("Apollo 13," "A Beautiful Mind") also joined the crew to play a rival to the treasure hunting trio. Rumors have been circulating as to whether another sequel will he released, but for those who saw the movie, it seems certain. During the latter half of the movie, various references are made to a page from a notebook that could very well set up Cage's next treasure hunt. Director Jerry Bruckheimer has been reported as saying that the Writers' Guild's strike has slowed the script produc tion for a third movie. If a third movie was to be released, viewers like Stuyvesant would likely flock to theatres to see it. "I loved both movies," the Behrend freshman said. "and I would definitely go see a sequel." The strike reached a desperate point when the Writers' Guild boycotted an awards show. screenwriters' 10-week strike to wane in the corn ing months, hopefully causing students like Ohl, and viewers everywhere, to return to their regular viewing For that to happen, though, the WGA would have to form their own seperate deal. However, WGA's website reports that any contract break throughs that the Directors Guild acheives could help the writers form their own contract. WGA Writer Patric Verrone is quoted on the website as saying, "We've been just as anxious as you to hear news from the Directors' Guild talks. We hope they make a good deal, and when they close their deal and it does become public, we'll look at it very, very carefully. The deal we make has more influence not only on writers but on actors down the road so there has to be a settle ment that ends all of this for everyone." Behrend students will no doubt be thankful to end the monotony of reruns and return to their favorite programs with the same vigor as before. used in the sidewalk Cage is one reason for he movie's success. "He did
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