Latest news with #Steven
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Steven Spielberg was ‘deeply involved' in Jurassic World: Rebirth, says writer David Koepp
Jurassic World: Rebirth writer David Koepp has said Steven Spielberg was 'deeply involved' in making the movie. The 78-year-old director helmed the original 1993 film Jurassic Park, its 1997 sequel The Lost Work: Jurassic Park and has served as an executive producer on the Jurassic World series ever since, and Koepp - who wrote the first movie and its follow-up - revealed one of the main reasons he returned for Jurassic World: Rebirth was because Spielberg was 'very involved' in it. Speaking to Deadline about Spielberg, the 62-year-old scribe said: 'Oh, he was very involved. 'That was one of the reasons I most wanted to do it. Because Steven was deeply involved from the beginning, and for the six months that we were working on the script, it was really just him and me. 'I'd send him my ideas, and we'd work on them, and when you have Steven's full attention, the results can be pretty spectacular.' Jurassic World: Rebirth - which stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali - follows a team of covert operatives on a mission to stop a rogue biotech organisation from unleashing weaponised dinosaurs around the world. As the chaos escalates, the team uncovers a dark secret connected to the original Jurassic legacy. Koepp previously said Jurassic World: Rebirth - which was directed by Gareth Edwards and releases on 2 July 2025 - would capture the 'spirit of the first movie'. He told TheWrap: '[We were trying to evoke] the spirit of the first movie, which is the tone that we would like to get closest to.' The writer added it was 'the idea of starting afresh' which convinced him to return to the Jurassic series. He said: 'You don't often get that chance, where they give you very few guidelines, except there must be dinosaurs in it.' Even so, before he agreed to come back for Jurassic World: Rebirth, Koepp had a list of demands he gave to Universal Pictures that the studio had to meet. He explained: 'Number one was – the events of the previous six movies cannot be denied or contradicted, because I hate a retcon. '[Number two was] all science must be real. [Third was] humour is oxygen.' Reflecting on returning to the Jurassic series, Koepp said it was 'weird and trippy' for him to step back in time for Jurassic World: Rebirth. He explained: 'It even smelled the same. It felt low pressure, even though Universal might be horrified to hear that.' Looking back at Jurassic Park and The Lost World, Koepp said 'writing those first two movies were some of [his] favourite experiences in [his] career so far'. He added: 'The combination of grand adventure and real science is right up my alley. And it was fun to be able to decide on a new tone, because every three movies seems like a good time to change tone and characters in a franchise. 'It was great to be able to work solely with Steven and make up a story and think of all new characters and all in a different tone.'
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scots soldier who lost eye during training opens up on 'daunting' experience
Steven Williams, 42, from Edinburgh, was forced to leave the Army in 2011 after a sharp tree branch snapped back into his face during field training in Nairobi. A Scots soldier who lost an eye during a patrol in Kenya is hoping to inspire others by taking on a gruelling series of Kiltwalks. Steven Williams is raising awareness for veterans with sight loss after he was discharged from the army in 2011 after a branch snapped back in his face in Nairobi. At first, he shrugged it off as there was 'blood". However, by the morning, he was blind in one eye. After flying home to Edinburgh, he underwent 12 operations before doctors gave him the heartbreaking choice - undergo further treatment or remove his eye. He made the difficult decision to have the operation in May of 2011 and was soon informed he was 'no longer fit to serve', reports Edinburgh Live. Steven admits he soon felt he had lost 'his job and purpose, and felt completely lost.' He sought help from Sight Scotland Veterans, which he hailed as 'invaluable'. Now, he's taking part in four Kilt Walks this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee alongside his partner. They're looking to highlight the work of Sight Scotland Veterans. Recalling his time in the army, Steven said: 'I served ten years in the Army, starting with the Royal Scots. I did a couple of tours in Iraq and each one was completely different. "The first was intense combat, modern day warfare. The second was more about training the Iraqi Army to be self-sufficient and allow the British Armed Forces to leave. There were some hairy moments along the way, we got blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the back of a FV510 Warrior, an armoured vehicle, during one patrol down 'Route Irish' which is a 7.5mile stretch from the Green Zone to Baghdad's International Airport. "The FV510 Warrior was immobilised when an IED detonated at the front, striking the engine, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be here to tell the story. Our training automatically kicked in and we secured the site but thankfully there was no secondary fire." Steven heard that The Black Watch were seeking a 30-man platoon from Scottish regiments for an upcoming deployment in Afghanistan. Admitting that he was 'naively feeling invincible', he volunteered. Part of the training was in Kenya. He recalled: "After four weeks in the field near Nairobi, a branch snapped back during a patrol and struck me in the eye. There was no blood, and you couldn't really stop, so I kept going, but by morning I couldn't see. "I was CASEVAC (casualty evacuated) from the field and taken to hospital in Nairobi where they removed part of the thorn. I flew back with a field doctor having drops put in my eye every fifteen minutes during a ten-hour flight. 'Back in the UK, and I remember being in Heathrow and I was still wearing my dusty and dirty camouflage clothing, and the field doctor went into one of those fancy designer shops and bought some 'civvy' clothes. I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London to stabilise my eye and I was transferred to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre for a week before returning to my unit in Edinburgh. I still had the eye, but I had no central vision." Doctors 'didn't know what to do' following dozens of treatments, and after two years of being unable to serve, Steven felt he was ready to leave the army. Although admits it was 'daunting'. He continued: "Things got extremely hard. I started to feel sorry for myself and I didn't know what to do. I essentially lost my eye, my job, my purpose, and I felt completely lost. "It was around this time I started to get help from Sight Scotland Veterans and my independent living worker in Midlothian was amazing. She supported not just me, but also my partner and our children. That meant the world, because when a veteran loses their sight, the whole family is affected. Until I had my eye removed, people didn't even understand that I was injured. It was invisible, and that made it even harder to deal with. "I was fitted with a prosthetic eye, but it was so uncomfortable, and I was told I would need yet another operation on my eye lids and I couldn't face it. So, I spoke with my family, and we all agreed that if I was OK with how I looked (without the prosthetic eye), I didn't need it." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Steven is not legally classified as sight-impaired, but says his sight loss affects him every day. He struggles walking downstairs, judging distances or noticing things from the side. He's also 'constantly worries' about bumping into things. Steven says he's spent ten years 'pretending he doesn't have sight loss'. He added: "Over time, I've tried to be a bit kinder to myself. The support I received from Sight Scotland Veterans was invaluable. "They encouraged me to get involved with the community again. I started by volunteering to coach my son's football team. That led me to the Lothian Veterans Centre where, after seven months of volunteering, I was offered a part-time job as an employability officer. "Eventually, I became the operations Manager for four years. It was a rewarding but demanding role, often supporting people in crisis such as facing job loss, homelessness, or struggling with their mental or physical health. "I was regularly contacted out of hours, even on Christmas Day, and often neglected my own wellbeing. All this time I wasn't dealing with my own sight loss, and my mental health began to suffer. Throughout this time Sight Scotland Veterans remained a constant support." Steven realised he 'needed a break', and began exploring mindfulness and yoga. He found a role with Sight Scotland Veterans, and began helping veterans rebuild their lives after the pandemic. Since then, he's started a new role as an independent living worker. He added: "I thoroughly enjoy helping veterans live as independently as possible and reconnect with their communities. "I know first-hand how vital this support is, especially for those experiencing sight loss for the first time or facing significant changes."
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Injured Edinburgh soldier on 'daunting' moment doctors 'didn't know what to do'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh soldier who lost his eye during a patrol in Kenya is determined to inspire others. Steven Williams, 42, was discharged from the army in 2011 after a branch snapped back in his face in Nairobi. He kept going as there was 'no blood', but couldn't see by morning. After returning to his unit in Edinburgh, he went through twelve operations - before doctors gave him the option of further treatments or removing his eye. He made the difficult decision to have the operation in May of 2011, and was told he was 'no longer fit to serve'. Steven admits feeling he had lost 'his job and purpose, and felt completely lost'. He started getting help from Sight Scotland Veterans, which he hailed as 'invaluable'. Now, he's taking on four Kilt Walks this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. Along with his partner, he's looking to highlight the work of Sight Scotland Veterans. Recalling his time in the army, Steven said: "'I served ten years in the Army, starting with the Royal Scots. I did a couple of tours in Iraq and each one was completely different. "The first was intense combat, modern day warfare. The second was more about training the Iraqi Army to be self-sufficient and allow the British Armed Forces to leave. There were some hairy moments along the way, we got blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the back of a FV510 Warrior, an armoured vehicle, during one patrol down 'Route Irish' which is a 7.5mile stretch from the Green Zone to Bagdad's Internation Airport. "The FV510 Warrior was immobilised when an IED detonated at the front, striking the engine, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be here to tell the story. Our training automatically kicked in and we secured the site but thankfully there was no secondary fire." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Steven heard that The Black Watch were seeking a 30-man platoon from Scottish regiments for an upcoming deployment in Afghanistan. Admitting that he was 'naively feeling invincible', he volunteered. Part of the training was in Kenya. He recalled: "After four weeks in the field near Nairobi, a branch snapped back during a patrol and struck me in the eye. There was no blood, and you couldn't really stop, so I kept going, but by morning I couldn't see. "I was CASEVAC (casualty evacuated) from the field and taken to hospital in Nairobi where they removed part of the thorn. I flew back with a field doctor having drops put in my eye every fifteen minutes during a ten-hour flight. 'Back in the UK, and I remember being in Heathrow and I was still wearing my dusty and dirty camouflage clothing, and the field doctor went into one of those fancy designer shops and bought some 'civvy' clothes. I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London to stabilise my eye and I was transferred to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre for a week before returning to my unit in Edinburgh. I still had the eye, but I had no central vision." Doctors 'didn't know what to do' after a dozen treatments, and after two years of being unable to serve, Steven felt he was ready to leave the army. He admits it was 'daunting'. (Image: Sight Scotland Veterans) He continued: "Things got extremely hard. I started to feel sorry for myself and I didn't know what to do. I essentially lost my eye, my job, my purpose, and I felt completely lost. "It was around this time I started to get help from Sight Scotland Veterans and my independent living worker in Midlothian was amazing. She supported not just me, but also my partner and our children. That meant the world, because when a veteran loses their sight, the whole family is affected. Until I had my eye removed, people didn't even understand that I was injured. It was invisible, and that made it even harder to deal with. "I was fitted with a prosthetic eye, but it was so uncomfortable, and I was told I would need yet another operation on my eye lids and I couldn't face it. So, I spoke with my family, and we all agreed that if I was OK with how I looked (without the prosthetic eye), I didn't need it." While Steven isn't legally classified as sight-impaired, he says his sight loss affects him every single day. He finds it hard to walk downstairs, judge distances, or notice things from the side. He's also 'constantly worries' about bumping into things. Steven says he's spent ten years 'pretending he doesn't have sight loss'. He added: "Over time, I've tried to be a bit kinder to myself. The support I received from Sight Scotland Veterans was invaluable. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "They encouraged me to get involved with the community again. I started by volunteering to coach my son's football team. That led me to the Lothian Veterans Centre where, after seven months of volunteering, I was offered a part-time job as an employability officer. "Eventually, I became the operations Manager for four years. It was a rewarding but demanding role, often supporting people in crisis such as facing job loss, homelessness, or struggling with their mental or physical health. "I was regularly contacted out of hours, even on Christmas Day, and often neglected my own wellbeing. All this time I wasn't dealing with my own sight loss, and my mental health began to suffer. Throughout this time Sight Scotland Veterans remained a constant support." Steven realised he 'needed a break', and began exploring mindfulness and yoga. He found a role with Sight Scotland Veterans, and began helping veterans rebuild their lives after the pandemic. Since then, he's started a new role as an independent living worker. He added: "I thoroughly enjoy helping veterans live as independently as possible and reconnect with their communities. "I know first-hand how vital this support is, especially for those experiencing sight loss for the first time or facing significant changes."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Steven Bartlett issues brutal verdict on people who wear suits to interviews
People have been left stunned after businessman and host of Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett, revealed what he wants to see people turn up to job interviews wearing. And it's not a suit When hoping to land a new role and impress a company or individual, applicants often spend a lot of time preparing what they are going to say, researching the business, and planning their outfits. And on the big day, candidates typically spend time getting dressed up in formal attire to make a good impression. However, Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett explained why this isn't always the best idea. He critiqued a young man who turned up to a job interview wearing a suit – and explained why he believes it is not appropriate, leaving many furious. The 32-year-old, who Forbes previously reported to be worth at least £71 million, shared his brutally honest opinion about what you should wear to a job interview. The businessman and host of podcast Diary of a CEO recently spoke to English-American author and inspirational speaker, Simon Sinek, about this subject in an episode of the show. In the clip, shared on YouTube and TikTok, Steven shared a story about a young lad who walked into a job interview with him, wearing a suit. Speaking to Simon, he said: "I flashbacked to an interview I had last week in our company where a young kid walks in wearing a suit and I thought you have no idea who you are, because that's not you." Steven added: "I know that you don't wear a suit. You're 22 years old. You do not wear a suit, so I have no indication... I have no clues as to who you are and therefore I have to figure out if you fit in here." He explained further: "What he tried to do there is show up perfect, how he thought perfect was and in some ways, to hide who he actually was." Even though Steven was trying to give useful advice, people were furious about his comments. In the comments section on TikTok, one responder said: "He's a 22-year-old wearing a suit - he's clearly got ambition and goals. Why shame him?" Another commented: "It's called professionalism and respect, good kid." And a third added: "I am on the side of the guy in the suit. He is not pretending to be something he is not. He takes this interview seriously and showed you and the company respect. Good for him." A fourth pointed out: "If he'd turned up in jeans he would have been called disrespectful." And another noted: "A suit is what you normally wear in an interview. Give the guy a break. You should have specified not to wear a suit or to come smart casual?". Despite the backlash, some stuck up for Steven and agreed with his point of view. One wrote: "It sounds like he felt his outfit was too flashy and not authentic. "Many people have been in that situation. It's perfectly fine to wear an affordable suit from a store like Primark or M&S for a first job. "However, showing up in a £5,000 Armani suit and £10,000 crocodile leather shoes can come across as trying too hard and might give the impression that someone isn't genuine."
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Smoked briskets are slowly making it big in Thiruvananthapuram
Steven Netto, owner of Big Poppa's Bistro, located at Kazhakuttam in Thiruvananthapuram, attributes his motivation to start an American-style diner in the city to a trip he took to the United States a few years ago. After falling in love with 'the art, music, and Hollywood', Steven wanted to pay tribute to his travels across the States, choosing to start a 'very New York' and modern diner. Among other dishes, his menu featured an American classic, the beef brisket — something he often drove down to Kochi to enjoy. Brisket, a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef, is one of the nine primal cuts of the meat. Loaded with fat and muscle tissues, it is a tough cut and requires long yet rewarding hours of cooking. Eateries such as Big Poppa's Bistro, Tex&Mex by Chefjee and Smoky Ridge, are those serving this slow-cooked delicacy to residents of the State capital. Steven says, 'The response to brisket has been great, especially over the last three months. Earlier, we served briskets only on weekends; but, now we have it every day. While earlier it used to sell out by the end of the day, now it is sold out by around five in the evening.' Since 2023, there has been a rise of smokehouses in Kochi with Smoke Culture by Steve, Rebbi's House of Barbecue and Eracci, says food vlogger Anjana Gopakumar. 'However, in Thiruvananthapuram, we were still searching for places or home chefs making briskets,' adds Anjana. Something new Jeevanandam Sreekumaram or Chefjee, as he prefers to be called, started Tex&Mex located at Ambalamukku, an eatery with flavours of Texas and Mexico. He explains, 'People in Thiruvananthapuram are used to dishes such as beef fry, beef roast and so on. The brisket cut, however, is not suited for a curry as the meat is tough. Curiosity for new dishes is always there.' Anjana says, 'Beef is a thing we Malayalis love so much, there's no reason why we can't love the brisket, for its meaty, fatty flavours.' Tex&Mex serves beef brisket two days a week — with barbeque sauce, chimichurri sauce, mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato wedges and bread. The marinated meat is cooked on open smoke and then further smoked by wrapping it in aluminium foil, followed by a resting period. 'This takes around 18 to 20 hours, in between it is sprayed with a mixture of apple cedar and water,' says Chefjee. The meat is smoked with mango, jackfruit and tamarind wood. Chefjee also aims to prove that it is possible to serve briskets without a premium price. 'We have premium food being served in big restaurants at a high cost. It is possible to bring that same quality to street food, by stripping off the additional expenses.' Initial challenges One of the initial challenges for the owners was finding a smoker. While Chefjee purchased it from Thrissur, Steven had a smoker custom-made from Bengaluru. For Abhiram SS running Smoky Ridge at Nedumangad, it involved making his smoker with a neighbour's help. 'It was expensive to buy a smoker and that's when I saw some people using metal barrels to smoke the meat on YouTube. My neighbour said he would give it a go by welding metal sheets and we made our smoker,' says Abhiram. The 25-year-old home chef picked up cooking during the pandemic. 'I came across Texas-style barbeque online and I found the method very interesting. I later found videos by a pitmaster called Kochin Foodie aka Joel Rebbi,' says Abhiram, who started his endeavour after training at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Kochi. 'Just having a smoker was not enough, because I didn't know how to cook with it and control the temperatures. We tried chicken first and then beef. The first time I made beef, the 2.5 kilograms meat weighed 1.5 kilograms after cooking. It was burnt and dry,' says Abhiram. 'We needed at least five kilograms, and a lot of butchers wouldn't give just the brisket. I failed six times before I figured out how to do it. And each brisket takes 18 hours to cook,' says Abhiram, who is currently only handing takeaways. 'I am setting up a place but I don't think food alone is enough, we also need the ambience for it,' adds Abhiram, who also serves pork ribs and pork belly. Half a pound of brisket costs ₹800, pork belly costs ₹700 and pork ribs cost ₹750. The gradual expansion of smokehouses in the city is not a mere fad, says Anjana. 'It is something long-term and sustainable. Thiruvananthapuram as a market is both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Even though it took time to come, it is here to stay.' Additionally, Steven says, 'We have expanded the menu and have introduced a whole range of smoked meats as well. We have Pastrami that has been selling out pretty fast, which is still a brisket piece of meat, undergoing a different process.'
