News

Warning: contains spoilers for The Gold Finale

At the beginning of each episode, The Gold announced itself as a mix of fact and fiction with the disclaimer: “The following is inspired by real events. Some characters or elements have been created or changed for dramatic purposes.” That meant while several of its characters had the real names of figures associated with the Brink’s-Mat Robbery, including Kenneth Noye, Micky McAvoy, John Palmer and Dci Brian Boyce, some were created for the series.

Money launderer Edwin Cooper is one of the invented names, for a character likely inspired by real-life solicitor Michael Relton, who was sentenced to 12 years for his part in washing the proceeds of the 1983 robbery. Detective Nikki Jennings is another invention, a composite character inspired by several of the female police officers who worked on the Brink’s-Mat investigation.

Two other characters appear under what seem to be invented names,...

Statement Films – the women-led, data-driven entertainment startup – has announced that it has secured an initial three quarters of a million dollars of funding from an array of titans across Hollywood, Sports and Business, including Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Latanya Richardson Jackson.

Founded by writer, producer, and political analyst, Areej Noor, Statement Films sources, develops and presents a pipeline of African-women-led IP to international buyers, bridging the gap between African and Diaspora women filmmakers and the global market.

It showcases the growing collaboration and stewardship between Black America and Africa. A Somali-American, Noor was born in Washington D.C. to a prominent global women’s rights activist turned political strategist. The stories of powerful women from around the world were abundant in Noor’s childhood, inspiring her to build an inclusive global community of influential African women creatives.

Areej Noor comments, “I grew up exposed to incredibly creative...

NBC News just announced that long time anchor and correspondent John Palmer has passed following a brief illness. In his 40-year career, which ended with his retirement in 2002, he was a familiar presence in the network’s coverage of national and international affairs. He covered the administrations of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan as NBC‘s White House correspondent and in 1980 delivered the first reports of the aborted rescue of U.S. hostages in Iran. He also reported the 1986 explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle. Palmer was news anchor on The Today Show from 1982 to 1989, a period when it became the top-rated morning show. NBC called Palmer “a brilliant, brave, and tireless journalist who guided viewers through many of the most significant events of the past half-century – from the early days of the civil rights movement through the tragedy of 9/11. ” Here’s the network’s statement: “We are deeply saddened...