But Cooper has a different view of nudity when it comes to the privacy of his own home. In an interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the “Maestro” actor and director said he grew up with a father who was “always nude” in their house, according to the Daily Mail.

So, Cooper said, he has a very relaxed approach when it comes to shedding his clothes behind closed doors, including around his 6-year-old daughter.

When Shepard revealed that he and his wife, actor Kristen Bell, are pretty relaxed about nudity at home, saying he and his family are “naked all the time,” Cooper agreed, “Me too.”

“I was like that. Not with my mom but with my dad,” Cooper told Shepard, according to the Daily Mail. “My dad was always nude, always took showers with him.”

“And you’re quite comfortable nude?” Shepard asked.

“Totally,” Cooper said.

Cooper revealed that he and his daughter Lea — whom he co-parents with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk — regularly chat while he is on the toilet. For his part, Shepard said that his daughters, Lincoln, 10, and Delta, 9, regularly “file in” to the bathroom to talk during his “poopy time.”

In response, Cooper laughed: “My bedroom — the bathtub and toilet and bed are all in the same room.”

“It’s 24/7, dude! There are no doors,” Cooper said, according to the Daily Mail. “The stairs go up and it’s all one floor.”

When Shepard asked, “Do you find that your daughter doesn’t care at all?’

Cooper replied, “Yeah, no, no. We talk where I’m on the toilet, she’s in the bathtub; that’s sort of the go-to.”

The Swedish actor, who is best known for the “Dune” and “Mission: Impossible” franchises, touched off this internet guessing game when she recently recounted her heated exchange with a co-star during an appearance on the “Reign With Josh Smith” podcast Tuesday, the New York Post and other outlets reported.

“I did a film with an absolute idiot of a co-star and it doesn’t matter who it was,” Ferguson began.

“I remember there was a moment when this human being was being so insecure and angry because this person couldn’t get the scenes out,” Ferguson shared. “And I think I was so vulnerable and uncomfortable that I got screamed at.

“But because this person was No. 1 on a call sheet, there was no safety net for me,” Ferguson added. “So no one had my back. And I would cry walking off set.”

But Ferguson said she rallied by the next day and stood up for herself. She told her co-star, “You get off my set. You can (expletive) off. I’m gonna work towards a tennis ball. I never want to see you again.” While producers told her, “You can’t do this to No. 1. We have to let this person be on set,’” she replied that “the person can turn around and I can act to the back of the head.”

Ferguson added that this happened “within my last 10 or 12 years.”

Everyone pretty much agrees that it’s wrong that Ferguson had to deal with such a big, raging, fragile ego, though. Hollywood has long been filled with big, raging, fragile egos. But her story still raises the question of who yelled at her.

As Decider writer Liz Kocan wrote, Ferguson provided few clues. She was careful not to use gender pronouns. The only thing she said is that the A-list actor or actress was no. 1 on the call sheet, the project was a movie and that the incident occurred 10 or 12 years ago.

The New York Post and Decider listed many of of Ferguson’s major co-stars. They include Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Grant, Michael Fassbender, Chris Hemsworth, Ewan McGregor, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.

It should be noted that, in her interview, Ferguson clarified that her screaming co-star was not Cruise or Jackman, her co-star in “The Greatest Showman.”

With that, here is a breakdown of the leading contenders to be Ferguson’s unnamed screaming co-star based on reports and social media speculation.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson 

The Hayward native, Ferguson’s co-star in the 2014 film “Hercules,” actually rushed to distance himself from her accusations. In a post on X, Johnson wrote, “Hate seeing this but love seeing her stand up to (expletive). Rebecca was my guardian angel sent from heaven on our set. I love that woman. I’d like to find out who did this.”

Unfortunately, Johnson may not have done himself any favors with this post, as Decider’s Kocan pointed out. On one hand, it’s “great that Johnson was quick to jump in with his support,” Kocan said. On the other hand, Johnson’s post may be an example of a self-serving actor “trying to get ahead of the story,” cynics said. Kocan also said that he’s “had his share of ego moments on movie sets, including his notorious rivalry with Vin Diesel, and the role he played in tanking the success of “Shazam‘s” sequel and his own Black Adam franchise.

Jake Gyllenhaal

For Decider’s Kocan, Gyllenhaal is a top contender, even though Gyllenhaal’s collaboration with Ferguson is more recent than 10 or 12 years ago. They co-starred in the 2017 film “Life” with Ryan Reynolds, who isn’t among the top contenders for the screamer.

Nonetheless, Kocan wrote how Gyllenhaal recently made news for his alleged demanding behavior in pre-production for the film “Suddenly.” That film’s director, Thomas Bidegain, told a French magazine about a “humiliating” situation involving Gyllenhaal, according to Variety. The magazine story also described how Gyllenhaal demanded multiple rewrites and rehearsed scenes in a mocking “Pepe Le Pew-like accent.”

During the press tour for “Life,” Gyllenhaal also made some arrogant comments about the art of acting, which may echo what Ferguson’s screaming co-star said to her: “You call yourself an actor?” Gyllenhaal told The Guardian in 2017 that it “seems to me that anybody feels they can be an actor nowadays.”

Hugh Grant

Ferguson was in the 2016 movie “Florence Foster Jenkins” with both Grant and Meryl Streep. Many social media sleuths are pointing the finger at the “Notting Hill” star who has developed a reputation for being curmudgeonly, the New York Post said.

When another person argued that Streep was the star of the film, still another pointed out that Grant could have been No. 1 on the call sheet the day that he filmed scenes that involved Ferguson.

Someone else wrote: “I’ll bet it was Hugh Grant, I’ve read stuff about him being really rude and hard to work with. He’s even said himself that his female costars probably hate him.”

Michael Fassbender 

Fassbender and Ferguson co-starred in the poorly reviewed 2017 serial killer thriller, “The Snowman.” According to The Post, many movie fans believe that Fassbender, famous for his intense roles, was the screamer.

“It’s Michael Fassbender y’all,” one person declared.  “This was definitely Fassbender,” another said. 

But others defended Fassbender, based on the way that he and Ferguson appeared to get along well while doing publicity together for “The Snowman.” Still, one person pointed out: “People posting interviews with them together doesn’t prove a damn thing. Publicity tours are part of the job and they’re ACTORS.”

1 WATCH : The ‘Dune’ we deserve

“Dune: Part 2” is finally in theaters and all we can say is, wow!

2 PLAY: Magic mustard season

It’s that time of the year in Napa when mustard blooms cast those rolling hills in a beautiful golden glow — but that’s not the only reason to visit the wine country these days.

3 DINE: Check out an exciting new seafood restaurant

Newly opened Hurrica Restaurant in Redwood City welcomes visitors by land or sea with first-rate seafood and a flashy jellyfish aquarium. We checked it out recently and here are our thoughts.

4 MAKE & SCARF: Umami bombs away

These crispy, healthy and utterly addictive lettuce wraps are so easy and quick to make, you won’t believe your tastebuds.

5 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From Smuin Ballet reviving two of its greatest hits to a “Magic Flute” in Livermore and free tunes at a beloved old bandshell, there are a lot of great shows and concerts to catch this weekend.

6 WATCH: A ‘Shogun’ for a new generation

James Clavell’s epic and compelling novel has been adapted for TV again, and this version is even better than the classic 1980 one.

7 PLAY: A hot, hot, hot new game

“Helldivers 2” is taking the video game world by storm — here’s why.

The California Film Commission said the productions will create nearly 20,000 jobs and add nearly $408 million into the state’s economy.

The California Film and Television Tax Credit Program offers companies a 20% tax break for productions with a budget of at least $1 million. The credit applies only to the first $100 million in expenditures and uplifts, or purchases paid off over time through installments.

The latest round of productions getting the tax credits includes five big-budget films and 10 independent films.

Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” part of the “Star Wars” franchise, will be shot entirely in California and will be the biggest tax credit recipient.

RELATED: Star-studded major motion picture set to start production soon in Humboldt County

Other non-independent tax-credit recipients include an as-yet untitled Disney live action project and another untitled film plus two Amazon MGM Studios projects, “The Accountant 2” and “Mercy.”

Janice Arrington, who heads the Orange County Film Commission, said the positive impacts of on-site film productions are substantial.

“The footprint can be large in terms of needs,” she said. “It creates business for suppliers, hotels, restaurants, car rentals and other businesses like dry cleaning. The location sites are paid and local people can also work as background actors.”

Jeffrey Ball, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, wants the state to go further with its tax credits.

“We would like to see an expansion of this program and other measures which support business to help promote the economic health of our region while providing a net increase in taxes which support the vital services we depend on,” Ball said in a statement.

The Film & Television Tax Credit Program is nearly a decade old. The $1.55 billion Version 3.0 program, which sunsets June 30, 2025, provides tax credits for production costs on projects produced in California.

Scores of big-budget movies have been filmed in Orange County, including “Iron Man,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Catch Me if You Can,” “Rain Man” and “Jerry Maguire,” among others.

San Bernardino County has also played host to some big productions, including “The Parent Trap” and “American Sniper.”

Other movies aided by California’s latest round of tax credits are set to be filmed in San Francisco County, Alameda County and Marin County.

Academy Award nominated producer Charles Roven, who’s set to produce the sci-fi film “Mercy” starring Chris Pratt, said there are distinct advantages to filming locally.

“Almost everyone gets to go home to their own bed at the end of day,” he said.

Colleen Bell, the film commission’s executive director, said the broad array of film projects included in the latest round of incentives demonstrates California’s “enduring attraction for storytellers.”

“These productions, spanning big-budget features to indie films, not only infuse millions into our economy but also showcase our state’s talent and versatility,” Bell said.

LOS ANGELES — Tensions over the upcoming “Road House” movie remake, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, are flaring again with the original film’s screenwriter taking a legal swing at Amazon Studios.

On Tuesday, R. Lance Hill, who wrote the screenplay for the 1989 cult movie, sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and its parent, Amazon Studios, for copyright infringement, seeking declaratory relief.

Hill, who goes by the pen name David Lee Henry, alleges the Seattle e-commerce giant ignored his ability, under the U.S. Copyright Act, to reclaim the rights for his 1986 screenplay, “Roadhouse,” which spawned the original movie and this year’s reboot, in which Gyllenhaal portrays an ex-UFC fighter who struggles to leave his brawling days behind.

In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Central District Court in Los Angeles, Hill alleges that he filed the necessary petition with the U.S. Copyright Office in late 2021, requesting the copyright revert back to him when United Artists’ claim was due to expire this past November. United Artists released the original movie, which featured Patrick Swayze.

But Amazon, which owns the “Road House” rights through its acquisition of MGM’s film library, allegedly ignored his copyright claims and plowed ahead — even taking steps to work around the SAG-AFTRA strike — to attempt to finish the movie before the copyright expired, according to the suit.

Amazon “went so far as to take extreme measures to try to meet this November 10, 2023 deadline, at considerable additional cost, including by resorting to the use of AI (artificial intelligence)” during last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike, Hill’s lawsuit claims. He alleges Amazon used AI to “replicate the voices” of the actors in the 2024 remake.

The movie was completed in January — about two months after the copyright deadline, the suit claims.

The lawsuit also alleged that the use of AI to simulate actors’ voices violated provisions in collective bargaining agreements between the major studios, including Amazon, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, as well as the studio alliance contract with the Directors Guild of America.

Amazon Studios representatives did not immediately comment on Hill’s suit or its claims.

The suit seeks to block distribution of the film, which is scheduled to become available March 21 on Amazon Prime Video.

The reboot had already stirred controversy. Director Doug Liman has said he’ll boycott the film’s premiere, which is slated to open next month’s South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas. In an essay published last month by industry site Deadline, Liman expressed dismay that Amazon was sending the movie to its Prime Video streaming platform rather than releasing it widely in theaters.

When Amazon Studios announced the movie in mid-2022, it said the film was greenlit as a streaming title.

In the remake, Gyllenhaal’s character, named Dalton, meets a roadhouse bar owner, played by Jessica Williams (“The Daily Show” and “Shrinking”), who needs a bouncer to protect her Florida Keys haunt from thugs who bring in a character played by real-life mixed martial arts fighter, Conor McGregor.

In the original, Swayze played the muscle-ripped bouncer, also named Dalton, who (mostly) kept order at Double Deuce bar in Missouri.

The behind-the-scenes struggles over “Road House” provide a clear view of the consolidation of Hollywood — and its ramifications. United Artists was formed more than a century ago by a cadre of film luminaries, including Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford. MGM bought the storied label in 1981.

In 2006, MGM brought in Tom Cruise and producing partner Paula Wagner in a joint venture to reinvigorate the film label. But the rebooted UA released just two movies, “Lions for Lambs” and “Valkyrie,” before Wagner departed as chief executive. MGM bought back full control of the historic label in 2012 and the assets were included as part of Amazon’s $8.5 billion purchase of MGM — a deal that was completed two years ago following a long regulatory review.

Hill’s suit said that on Nov. 10, 2021, Hill notified United Artists, and its successor companies, alerting them to his plans to recover the copyright to the screenplay — providing the so-called “statutory notice of termination,” per the Copyright Act.

But, the suit said, Amazon would not recognize that Hill had terminated the studio’s ability to exploit the source material.

“Instead, defendants steamrolled ahead with the production of a remake of the 1989 ‘Road House’ film … derived from the screenplay,” the suit said. “Despite the 2024 Remake’s obvious exploitation of the screenplay, defendants did not bother to secure a new license of film and ancillary rights.”

The dispute between Hill and Amazon centers, in large part, on whether Hill wrote the original screenplay “on spec,” with plans to pitch it to movie studios once he finished the script, or if he was under contract to United Artists at the time.

“Hill had neither an employment nor a contractual relationship with United Artists when he wrote the screenplay,” the lawsuit said. “Rather, United Artists attained the 1986 grant from Hill well after the screenplay had been completed.”

The original movie was directed by Rowdy Herrington and produced by Joel Silver, who has a producer credit on the 2024 remake.

Variety reported that Silver was sidelined last fall amid tensions with the studio.

Malibu attorney Marc Toberoff, who is handling Hill’s case, specializes in intellectual property law.

He has a long track record, including winning a summary judgment in similar Copyright Act cases on behalf of “Friday the 13th” creator Victor Miller and the children of music legend Ray Charles. He represented the family of “Superman” co-creator Jerry Siegel, helping the family recapture a half-interest in the copyright for the iconic hero.

Toberoff has handled high-profile cases against Marvel Studios and later, the Walt Disney Co., on behalf of the heirs of creators of Marvel characters, including the family of Jack Kirby (“Thor, ” “X-Men” and “Black Panther”). That case settled before the U.S. Supreme Court took it up. The attorney also represented Steve Ditko (“Spider-Man”), Larry Lieber (“Thor,” “Iron Man”), Don Rico (“Black Widow”), Gene Colan (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Don Heck (“Iron Man” and “Black Widow”).

U.S. Copyright law establishes a provision for authors to recapture the rights to their material that was transferred after 1977.

In such instances, the author has “a five year period commencing 35 years after the date the rights were transferred” to terminate the copyright held by the studio, Hill’s suit said.

“Notice of termination may be served by the author at any time between 10 and two years before the effective termination date,” according to the law.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 A British film industry group has raised the age rating for the beloved children’s classic “Mary Poppins” over discriminatory language.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which regulates films and video content in the country, changed the rating of the 1964 Disney musical last week from U (Universal) to PG (Parental Guidance) because it features a racial slur once used by White Europeans to refer to the native peoples of southern Africa.

“Mary Poppins (1964) includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots,’” a BBFC spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U.”

The iconic film returns to UK theaters this year in celebration of its 60th anniversary, which prompted the BBFC to reexamine its original rating.

“Mary Poppins,” starring Julie Andrews in the titular role as well as Dick Van Dyke, follows the magical adventures of a nanny who comes to the rescue of the dysfunctional Banks family. It was a commercial and critical success in its time, with a lifetime gross of more than $103 million and five Academy Awards. In 2013, the US Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry, which recognizes American cinema of cultural, historic or aesthetic significance. And in 2018, it got a long-awaited sequel.

Even as “Mary Poppins” remains a treasured part of the cultural canon, the film has been criticized for trafficking in blackface. It’s partly in this context that the discriminatory language referenced by BBFC appears in the film.

In one scene, the eccentric Admiral Boom asks one of the Banks children if he is going on an adventure to “defeat hottentots.” Later in the film, as Admiral Boom sees chimney sweeps with soot-blackened faces dancing in the distance, he shouts, “We’re being attacked by hottentots!” and orders a cannon to be fired in their direction.

“Hottentot” is a derogatory term used by European settlers to refer to Khoikhoi peoples of South Africa and Namibia, according to the Oxford reference.

Per the new film rating, children of any age can still watch without an adult present, but parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive children, a BBFC spokesperson said.

A 2021 BBFC report on racism in media found that people generally understand films and TV shows with objectionable material to be “products of their time,” but that they would prefer to be warned about such content so that they can decide whether it’s appropriate for themselves and their families.

In recent years, the movie industry has grappled with how to handle racist or offensive content in classic films.

In 2019, Disney+ began issuing disclaimers on films such as “Dumbo” that they featured “outdated cultural depictions.” In 2020, the company updated the language in its advisories to more strongly condemn racist content, with warnings appearing on films including “Lady and the Tramp” and “Peter Pan.”

“This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures,” the updated advisories read. “These stereotypes were then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.”

The-CNN-Wire
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Cirque du Soleil presents ‘KOOZA’: Now through March 10, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco. This cirque show combines acrobatic performance with the art of clowning while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power. Sit back and watch as The Innocent’s journey brings him into contact with comic characters from an electrifying world full of surprises. Tickets starting at $72. cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

2024 Culinary Clash: March 4, 8 and 11, Luce, 888 Howard St., San Francisco. Six rising City College of San Francisco students take over Luce’s world-class kitchen to showcase their very own three-course fine-dining menu. Revel in the rivalry as these culinary students compete for scholarships and cash prizes. $55. bit.ly/CulinaryClash

‘God is a Scottish Drag Queen’: 8 p.m. March 8, Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Revel in the humorous genius of award-winning comedian Mike Delamont. Winner of “Best of Fest” a staggering 18 times, this one-man show is a side-splitting comedy that clears up some misconceptions about God, while also allowing God to vent about human behavior. $25 to $55. livermorearts.org/events/god-is-a-scottish-drag-queen

Early Blooming Wildflowers Hike: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 9, Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. Amazing wildflowers! On this walk through Jack London State Historic Park, guests will learn how to identify them and their potential pollinators, and how to recognize common Sonoma County plant family characteristics. $15. jacklondonpark.com/events/early-wildflowers-2024

‘Eden’ Cinequest Film Screening: 4:30 p.m. March 9, California Theatre, 345 S First St, San Jose. See the feature-film debut of Los Gatos filmmaker Chris McGilvray. ‘Eden” tells the story of a family that operates one of California’s most historic wineries, struggling with succession in a hauntingly beautiful mediation on balancing personal and professional identities. $14. bit.ly/EdenScreening

Berkeley Chamber Performances Presents The Zodiac Trio: 7:30 p.m. March 12, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. Premiere clarinet-violin-piano ensemble, the Zodiac Trio, is known for its performances featuring unconventional instrumentation, hidden gems, eclectic arrangements, and the occasional duo/solo. $35. berkeleychamberperform.org/zodiac-trio

Fork2Film Festival: March 14-17, Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena. This festival brings together audiences, filmmakers, chefs and winemakers for a celebration of culinary, wine-centric and agriculture films from around the world with epicurean screenings, food and wine experiences and filmmaker Q&As. $20 to $25 per event. cameocinema.com

All Star Swing Jam: March 14-17, Embassy Suites, 101 McInnis Parkway, San Rafael. Swing into spring with a casual event where attendees can try out new swing skills in a pressure-free atmosphere while enjoying the expertise of all-star level competitors, instructors, judges and DJs. $0 to $179. allstarswingjam.com

Oakland Running Festival: March 15-17, Oakland venues. Nationally recognized as one of the country’s best running festivals, this three-day series offers distance running for all skill levels, as well as other events featuring food, drinks and fun activities. Register at oaklandmarathon.com

‘Dancing With The Stars’ Live 2024: 3 p.m. March 17, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is back to heat up this winter with an all-new stage show featuring your favorite professional dancers from the hit television series performing glittering new numbers, as well as some unbelievable showstoppers from Season 32. $59 to $575. lutherburbankcenter.org/event/dwts24

SF Salsa Festival: March 21-23, SF Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame. Celebrating samba — the dance, not the condiment — the 14th annual festival offers a weekend of world-class performances, dancing, competition and workshops with top salsa instructors. $20 to $170. sfsalsafestival.com

California Artisan Cheese Festival: March 22-24, Sonoma County Event Center, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. This celebration brings together lively experts and presenters from the artisan cheese world to promote awareness and enjoyment of those delicious products. Enjoy tours, tastings, seminars, a cheese crawl and an artisan marketplace. $25 to $175. artisancheesefestival.com

Appellation St. Helena bASH: 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 23, CIA at Greystone, 2555 Main St., St. Helena. Appellation St. Helena invites guests to its 13th annual bASH, a wine and food pairing competition. Wines from twenty ASH member wineries will be paired with savory bites prepared by professional chefs and teams of ‘rising star’ students at the CIA. $200. bit.ly/bASH2024

West Coast Taco & Beer Festival: March 23-24, History San Jose, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. Eat. Sip. Repeat! This event features unlimited taco and beer tastings from dozens of restaurants and breweries, plus live music, boutique vendors, games and entertainment. $49 to $109. bluestreament.ticketspice.com/wctbfbayarea

Frank Sinatra Dinner Show: 7 to 9 p.m. March 30, Alhambra Irish House, 831 Main St., Redwood City. Enjoy a five course meal and a glass of wine while watching as award-winning artist Perry D’Andrea pays tribute to one of the most iconic members of the Rat Pack. $55. bit.ly/SinatraDinner

A Conversation with The Lincoln Lawyer: 7:30 p.m. April 5, Danville Village Theatre, 233 Front St., Danville. Best-selling crime novelist Michael Connelly engages in conversation with his long-time collaborator, legendary former LAPD homicide detective Rick Jackson, about murder investigations and the real-life Southland mysteries of Connelly’s “Lincoln Lawyer” and “Harry Bosch” series. $95. bit.ly/LincolnLawyerConvo

Folk Music Festival Series: April 5, Aug. 2 and Nov. 1, Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. Front Porch Open Mic continues its partnership with Town Hall Theatre to present a folk music festival series featuring acoustic musicians and performers. $15 to $20. townhalltheatre.com/front-porch

Bay Area Super Ball Competition: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 6, Stanford ACSR, 341 Galvez St., Stanford. Step out for a ballroom and Latin dance competition featuring competitive events in international standard and Latin, American smooth and rhythm, and nightclub dances. There also will be performances, a team match and other fun events throughout the day. $5 to $50. bit.ly/BayAreaSuperBall

Bay Area Printers Fair & Wayzgoose: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13, History Park, 635 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Join this annual celebration of printmaking, book arts and letterpress printing. The fair features a wide range of activities, book artists, letterpress printers, live demonstrations and a marketplace with more than 40 vendors. Free admission. printersguild.wordpress.com

Mad Tea Party: 6 to 10 p.m. April 13, Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Fairyland invites adults for an Alice in Wonderland immersive experience filled with fantasy, dance, games, live entertainment and special libations including the March Hare’s Madness cocktail. $35. fairyland.org/events-and-performances/mad-tea

Whalefest Monterey: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13-14, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park. This festival features engaging and educational activities for all ages, including live music, a symposium and dozens of fascinating marine-related interactive exhibits by local and national organizations. Free admission. whalefest.org

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: April 13-21, Japantown, San Francisco. Enjoy the largest Cherry Blossom Festival on the West Coast. Each year, more than 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing vibrant Japanese culture and the rich heritage and diversity of the Japanese American community. Free admission. sfcherryblossom.org

Sausage Making at The Local Butcher Shop: 7 to 9 p.m. April 14, The Local Butcher Shop, 1600 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Learn how to make sausages with The Local Butcher Shop’s sausage makers. From grinding and mixing to recipes, proportions and casings, you’ll become a sausage pro in no time. $135. bit.ly/LocalButcherClass

Tech Roast Show 2042: 8 to 9:30 p.m. April 19, SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin St., San Francisco. Humanity may be toast, but we can still go out with a laugh. Enjoy a comedy show where renegade tech comedians will roast whimpering techies on stage in front of a live crowd. $44 to $129. bit.ly/Roast2042

Sacramento Grilled Cheese Festival: 1 to 4 p.m. April 27-28, Southside Park, 2115 Sixth St., Sacramento. This annual festival pairs grilled cheese with everything from craft beer to kids fare, so there’s fun for everyone. Enjoy unlimited samples while sipping from your souvenir tasting glass, playing games and enjoying live music. $10 to $95. sacgrilledcheese.com

Sol Blume Festival: May 3-5, Discovery Park, Downtown Sacramento. Enjoy music performances by some of the most sought-after R&B, soul and hip-hop acts, plus family-friendly activities, wellness experiences, immersive art activations and local vendors. $249 to $449. solblume.com

Foodieland Night Market: May 10-12 at Sacramento’s Cal Expo and May 24-26 at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. FoodieLand is a renowned outdoor festival featuring food, shopping, games and live entertainment. This year’s edition promises more than 185 food and retail vendors. $0 to $7. foodielandnm.com

SF Beer Fest: 12 to 10 p.m. May 11, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. Head for Fort Mason to try the best beer in town, all under the same roof. Enjoy a vast selection of specially curated beers set to an absolutely jamming soundtrack. $45 to $65. bit.ly/SFBeerFest2024

Bottle Rock: May 24-26, Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa. This annual Wine Country music festival features a fabulous lineup of live entertainment from nationally known artists, singers and bands, as well as gourmet food, wine and beer stalls and a culinary stage. $233. bottlerocknapavalley.com

Carnaval San Francisco: May 25-26, San Francisco venues. The 46th edition of this annual multicultural celebration and parade will feature a rich assortment of food, music, dance, arts and crafts, games and live entertainment for all ages to enjoy. Free admission. carnavalsanfrancisco.org

Have an entertainment event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.

The results might have been better if the budget had made room for a more refined screenplay.

Bookworms of a certain age know well that you didn’t merely read James Clavell’s epic 1975 novel, a 1,152-page classic, as much as you devoured it. Didn’t matter if you were going to work or school or on a hot date — all plans got shoved aside so you could power through this mesmerizing, multi-pronged narrative about a power struggle in 1660s Japan. The tale, based on a true story, brings two unlikely figures together — a wise but imperiled feudal lord and a brash, crass British pilot whose ship got washed ashore. They didn’t exactly strike up a let’s-do-brunch friendship, but learned to respect and learn from each other, and stare down enemies in the process.

Clavell was a masterful storyteller and this, his third novel, sold millions upon millions and then got turned into one of TV’s first “event” miniseries, airing on ABC in 1980. It starred “Seven Samurai’s” Toshiro Mifune and Richard Chamberlain, and the ratings shot through the Nielsen roof. That nine-hour series, along with the book itself and the ensuing computer games and even Broadway musical spurred, a deep dive into Japan’s fascinating and rich history, culture and lore.

Now, the husband-wife duo of Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo have created their own 10-episode interpretation of the durable Clavell classic (his daughter Michaela Clavell serves as an executive producer), and they’ve crafted something better, more daring and ferociously gripping than the popular 1980 version. They also showcase its Japanese cast first and foremost, rather than telling the story predominantly from a White man’s perspective. Most of the dialogue is spoken in Japanese with subtitles.

This version balances such jaw-dropping spectacles as an earthquake and a bloody cannonball attack with its story lines full of cultural clashes and multi-pronged political strategizing.

It is just as gripping as Clavell’s words, and is guaranteed to be one of the best limited series you’ll see this year.

The casting choices be much better, each actor is in perfect sync with the complicated people they are portraying. Hiroyuki Sanada gives a seamless understated performance as sage-like Yoshii Toranaga, the lord presiding over the Kanto Region and a ruler who is dangerously at odds with major players at Osaka Castle, including the cunning Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira). Sanada is ingenious here, able to convey with just one glimmer in his eye a sentiment that would take most actors a protracted monologue to deliver. He’s magnificent.

When Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) — dubbed the Barbarian and later the Anjin (or pilot) — arrives after a distressed vessel deposits him on this new land, the ever-aware Toranaga seizes on the opportunity to reap the benefits of this hot head’s knowledge base. The impatient Blackthorne can’t understand or appreciate Japanese culture and rituals, a stance that softens once Toranaga assigns Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) — who’s dealing with disgrace of her own along with a brute of a husband — as a translator.

Jarvis and Sawai wisely temper how their evolving connection develops, never revealing what we know is going on underneath. Jarvis previously co-starred in 2016’s “Lady Macbeth” and 2022’s “Persuasion” and continues to excel at being a fearless actor. He never soft pedals who Blackthorne is — an uncouth, short-fused blowhard — and still manages to make him likable. It’s a historically appropriate approach given how Blackthorne represents European ideals and actions, those at odds with Eastern ways of being. His Blackthorne is also resentful of what he sees as Jesuits interference and power plays. Sawai’s performance only deepens and intensifies as her backstory gets revealed. She’s stunning in the part, as are so many others in this vast Japanese cast.

“Shōgun” is a stirring and meaty historical series that matches its spectacle and scale with its emotion and intelligence as it ponders deep philosophical discussions about life, sacrifice, valor and death. It’s epic, in the very best way.

Details: 4 stars out of 4; episodes are 7 p.m. (PST) Tuesdays on FX with each episode available to stream on Hulu. Final episode drops April 23.

“Monolith”: Wily is the best word to describe Matt Vesely’s genre nonconformist, a brainy piece of work that fools you once then fools you again and again. Lily Sullivan is the only actor on-screen throughout its entirety, and she is riveting — and the major reason that the film actually works. She portrays a scandal-plagued journalist holed up at her parent’s posh, remote home in Australia. It’s there where she pursues a new podcast searching for answers or truths out of mysteries or unsolved phenomena. But can truth be subjective and shaped by the person investigating it? Those questions pop up as Sulllivan’s nameless looks into an anonymous email about a black brick. Is it tied to a conspiracy? Or something else? And will the “truth” – whatever that should be – win out? Lucy Campbell’s risky screenplay isn’t afraid to look at bigger pictures in an industrious indie that defies its genre conventions every step of the way. Sound designer Leigh Kenyon deserves special attention along with director of photography Michael Tessari.

Details: 3 stars, available to rent now.

Find of the week

“Trust:” A matriarch’s suicide reunites three neurotic siblings for an awkward funeral and then the reading of a shocker of a will. The brief amount of time that nursing student Kate (co-writer Jennifer Levinson) spends with recovering alcoholic Josh (Heston Horwin) and hypochondriac diva Trini (Kate Spare) — the trust’s executor — is for the best since these meet-ups only collapse into bitter screaming matches. Director/co-writer Almog Avidan Antonir’s debut feature, receiving a world premiere, does cover familiar terrain but “Trust” sports a fearless attitude and is never dismissive about the issues at hand or the festering problems this family and its disowned father (Linden Ashby) have failed to work through. The cast is first-rate in this gutsy indie with a strong message about how it sometimes is best to uproot from a dysfunctional family tree in order to maintain your own sanity. Details: 3 stars; available to rent or stream on Apple TV,  Amazon, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube Movies and more.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.

Kenneth Mitchell, an actor who appeared in the series “Star Trek: Discovery” and Marvel’s “Captain Marvel,” has died, his family announced in a statement shared on his verified social media Sunday.

He was 49.

“With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend,” the family’s statement read.

Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. He and his family shared periodic updates about his health in recent years. In August, Mitchell marked the fifth anniversary of his diagnosis in a post on Instagram.

“My brother humorously mentioned that they don’t really have a happy ALS Anniversary card in the shop. However, I want to celebrate today; the gift of life. I’m so thankful to have this day in front of me. It’s been a long 5 years. So much lost, so much gained. Incredibly hard times, mixed with so many more blessings,” Mitchell wrote at the time. “At the heart of it all are friends and family, caregivers and doctors coming to the aid of my family over and over and over again. Giving a plethora of support and love and care and encouragement. There is so much beauty in that. This disease is absolutely horrific…yet despite all the suffering, there is so much to be grateful for.”

A native of Canada, Mitchell acquired more than 50 film and television credits over the course of his acting career. He played the father of Carol Danvers in Marvel’s 2019 “Captain Marvel,” and an Olympic hopeful in the 2004 hockey film “Miracle.” Mitchell appeared in dozens of TV series, including “Jericho,” “The Astronaut Wives Club” and “Switched at Birth.”

From 2017 to 2021, Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, in “Star Trek: Discovery.”

Beyond his acting roles, Mitchell was remembered by those close to him as a “hope seeker, daydreamer, dream believer.” In his family’s statement, they expressed their admiration for the strength Mitchell showed as he lived with illness.

“Regardless of his later disabilities, Ken discovered a higher calling to be more fully himself for his kids,” they wrote. “For five and a half years Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Susan, and their two young children.

Chris Gauthier, an actor whose credits included roles in “Once Upon a Time,” “Eureka” and several popular Hallmark Channel projects, died Feb. 23, according to a statement posted by his agent.

He was 48.

His representatives also confirmed the news to CNN.

“We can confirm that our friend and client, Chris Gauthier, passed away on Friday morning, February 23, at the age of 48 after a brief illness. As a beloved character actor, Chris shared his talents with so many of us both on television and in film,” read a statement provided to CNN by TriStar Appearances/Event Horizon Talent. “His loss is felt not just by his fans but by those of us who were lucky enough to know him more personally. On behalf of his family, we ask for privacy during this time so that they are able to grieve properly.”

His agent, Chad Colvin, shared memories in a Facebook post, writing, “This still doesn’t feel real. How can it? A world without you in it is a much darker place.”

“So much so that when his wife reached out to me yesterday with the news, I wept tears of disbelief for hours. It’s taken me til now to fully mentally and emotionally steel myself to write this,” Colvin wrote on Sunday. “I wish we could have had a bit more time together and that you understood the difference you made, not just in my life, but all those you touched. This world is a bit smaller and colder now without you in it.”

Colvin noted Gauthier’s work on shows like “Smallville” and “Supernatural,” as well as his performance as William Smee on “Once Upon a Time.”

“A sweeter, happier soul would be hard to find,” Sbarge wrote in the caption of a group photo he posted on his verified Instagram account. “A man of consummate character, generosity and great talent, he was someone who cared deeply, loved his art, and was always kind to everyone he met.”

Some of Gauthier’s other credits include TV shows “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Joe Pickett” as well as several Hallmark TV movies including “Ms. Christmas Comes to Town.”

“We are sorry to hear about the passing of Chris Gauthier. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.”