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Hubert Monteilhet

Biography

Hubert Monteilhet (July 10, 1928 - May 12, 2019) was a French writer of crime and historical fiction. His best-known novels are The Praying Mantises and Return from the Ashes which have been adapted into TV and motion pictures. His works are characterized by their literary sophistication and mordant wit while exploring moral and philosophical issues. He was called "one of the more eclectic and diversified dabblers in crime" and "the most literary of all the French crime novelists." Born to a family of a magistrate, Monteilhet was educated by the Jesuits at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, a private Catholic school in Paris. During the Occupation, he lived in Auvergne at the family estate in Nouara, near Ambert. He was tutored by Jean Recanati, a communist and future editor of L’Humanité, whom Monteilhet’s parents had taken in. After the war, Monteilhet received his degree in history at the Sorbonne. He first taught history in Normandy, and then at the Lycée Carnot in Tunisia from 1959 to 1970. Monteilhet’s debut novel, The Praying Mantises, was an instant success. It became the winner of the 1960 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière in France and received Simon & Schuster's Inner Sanctum Mystery Award for 1962. In the crime novels that followed -- Return from the Ashes, The Road to Hell, Prisoner of Love and others — he established himself as a master of psychological suspense with a very personal style, showing great imagination in his choice of themes and plot twists. In the 1976 novel Sophie ou les Galanteries exemplaires, for the first time, Monteilhet set his story in a distant past – the 18th century. In 1981, he briefly ventured into the science fiction genre with Les Queues de Kallinaos, both a philosophical tale in the style of Pierre Boulle and a tragedy of paternal love pushed to extremes. Beginning from the 1980s, Monteilhet dedicated himself mostly to historical fiction. He covered a vast array of subjects: the Spanish Inquisition in Les Derniers Feux (1982), Emperor Nero’s Rome in Néropolis (1984), Joan of Arc in La Pucelle (1988), the times of Louis XIII and the Musketeers in De plume et d'épée (1999), and the French Revolution in Les Bouffons (2004). He continued writing crime novels from time to time: Le Procès Filippi (1981), La Perte de Vue (1986), Arnaques (2006) and others. For many years, Monteilhet was a food columnist for the regional newspaper Sud Ouest Dimanche. He explored his gastronomic preoccupations in the witty crime thrillers La Part des anges (1992), Œdipe en Médoc (1993), Étoiles filantes (1994), and Le Taureau par les cornes (1994). His last novel, Une vengeance d'hiver, was published in 2012. In 2015, he also wrote the non-fiction book Intox: 1870-1914, la presse française en délire. Monteilhet died on May 12, 2019, in Garlin, a small town in southwestern France, where he resided for many years. He is survived by his wife Geneviève, five children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Source: Article "Hubert Monteilhet" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
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Do Mo-se

Biography

Do Mo-se is a Korean AV actor who debuted in 2015 in the movie Stormy Affair. In 2012, he participated in Season 2 of the reality television show Korea's Got Talent as 'Little Rain'. He was often casted in adult films due to his various charms, including his handsome appearance, tall height, well-built body, and decent acting skills. In August 2019, he announced his retirement for the reason that his religious profession as a Protestant doesn't suit his sentiment of being an adult actor and for the sake of his girlfriend. He also said that he plans to live his life as a writer and published his first erotic essay with the Korean title 스물 아홉, 에로영화 찍으러. After almost five years, he comes out of retirement and becomes active again in the AV industry by the end of 2024.
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Prakash Raj

Biography

Prakash Raj (born Prakash Rai on 26 March 1965) is an Indian actor, director, producer, and politician who works in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam cinema. He made his film debut in the Kannada film *Mithileya Seetheyaru* (1988). He later worked in the Tamil and Telugu film industries. Raj won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as politician Tamizhselvan in Mani Ratnam's Tamil political drama *Iruvar* (1997). He appeared in character and antagonist roles in films including *Antahpuram* (1998), *Badri* (2000), *Ghilli* (2004), and *Pokiri* (2006). He also played patriarchs in the family dramas *Bommarillu* (2006) and *Abhiyum Naanum* (2008). In 2008, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a silk weaver in Priyadarshan's Tamil drama *Kanchivaram*. Raj also appeared in Hindi films, including *Wanted* (2009), *Singham* (2011), and *Dabangg 2* (2012). As a producer, he received a National Film Award for the Kannada film *Puttakkana Highway* (2011). His later film roles include appearances in *O Kadhal Kanmani* (2015) and *Rangasthalam* (2018). His recent film credits include Trivikram's *Guntur Kaaram*, Dhanush's *Raayan*, Koratala Siva's *Devara: Part 1*, Suriya's *Kanguva*, and Sukumar's *Pushpa 2: The Rule*. His other credits include S. Shankar's *Game Changer*, *They Call Him OG*, *Daaku Maharaaj*, Dhanush's *Idli Kadai*, *Dacoit: A Love Story*, and the Hindi thriller *Drishyam - The Conclusion*. He has received five National Film Awards.
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Jason Statham

Biography

Jason Statham (/ˈsteɪθəm/ STAY-thəm; born 26 July 1967) is an English actor and producer. He is known for portraying tough, gritty, or violent characters in various action thriller films and has been credited for leading the resurgence of action films during the 2000s and 2010s. By 2017, his films had grossed over £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion), making him one of the industry's most bankable stars. While working at local market stalls, Statham began practising Chinese martial arts, kickboxing, and karate recreationally in his youth. An avid footballer and diver, he was a member of Britain's national diving team and competed for England in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Shortly after, he was asked to model for French Connection, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi's in various advertising campaigns. Statham's history of working at market stalls inspired his casting in the Guy Ritchie crime films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000). Both films were commercial hits, and they helped catapult Statham to stardom. He played supporting roles in the American action films Turn It Up (2000), Ghosts of Mars and The One (2001). From 2002 to 2008, he played the title role in the first three films in the Transporter film series (2002–2008), which solidified his status as an action star. In 2003, he appeared in the ensemble heist action film The Italian Job. He went on to play leading roles in the commercially successful films Crank (2006), The Bank Job (2008), The Mechanic (2011), Homefront (2013), Mechanic: Resurrection (2016), The Meg (2018), Wrath of Man (2021), Meg 2: The Trench (2023), and The Beekeeper (2024). Statham has also starred as Lee Christmas in the ensemble action film series The Expendables (2010–2023) and as Deckard Shaw in the Fast & Furious franchise (2013–2023), including the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw (2019), which he co-produced. His voice acting work includes the documentaries Thai Boxing: A Fighting Chance (2002), Truth in 24 (2008) and its 2012 sequel, and the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet (2011). Description above from the Wikipedia article Jason Statham, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Sarah Polley

Biography

Sarah Ellen Polley OC (born January 8, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker, political activist and retired actress. She first garnered attention as a child actress for her role as Ramona Quimby in the television series Ramona, based on Beverly Cleary's books. This subsequently led to her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series Road to Avonlea (1990–1996). She has starred in many feature films, including The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Exotica (1994), The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Guinevere (1999), Go (1999), The Weight of Water (2000), No Such Thing (2001), My Life Without Me (2003), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Splice (2009), and Mr. Nobody (2009). Polley made her feature film directorial debut with Away from Her (2006), for which she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Director and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Polley's second film, Take This Waltz (2011), premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by her first documentary film, Stories We Tell (2012). She also wrote the miniseries Alias Grace, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. In 2022, Polley wrote and directed the film Women Talking, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sarah Polley, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Zhang Min

Biography

After graduating from Shanghai Oriental Middle School in 1973, she worked in a department store in Luwan District, Shanghai, and stood at a counter in a small shop on Huaihai Road. Since both parents were actors, they went to the movie studio to play. Learned the art of recitation with the help of the famous voice actor Qiu Yuefeng, and later starred in the drama "There is a Heat Outside the House" and attracted attention. Zhang Min was recommended to take part in the film "Bashan Night Rain" filmed by Shanghai Film Studio, in which she played a rural girl and was well received. In 1982, Zhang Min entered the Shanghai Film Studio's Actor Troupe as an actor. She has played roles in many films and has participated in shooting TV series. She currently works for a chemical company in the United States. After entering Austria, she now lives in Hong Kong and is said to have married a foreigner.
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Will Thompson

Biography

Will Thompson, a distinguished actor, writer, director, producer, filmmaker, and dedicated storyteller, hails from Chicago. In 2009, he embarked on his acting journey and currently serves as the CEO of Urban Visionary Films, a production company he personally funds. Will has garnered acclaim as a prominent force behind some of today's most impactful scripts and feature-length productions under the Visionary Films umbrella. His recent film, "Good Intentions," catapulted him into the spotlight, earning recognition for his outstanding performances and signaling a rising trajectory in his career. His impressive credits include roles in notable productions such as "Chicago Fire" (2014), "Murder Chose Me" (2017), and the critically acclaimed "Related Destiny," which earned him accolades at the Oniros Film Awards. Additionally, he received accolades for his script "Illuminati" at the Los Angeles Movie Award Film Festival and secured Best 1st Time Director & Best Supporting Actor honors at the 2019 Vegas Movie Award. Will's achievements extend beyond the screen, as evidenced by his feature on the front page of FilmmakerLife Magazine and his recognition as a filmmaker of the future at the Filmmakerlife Film Festival. Driven by passion and compassion, Will takes immense pride in his work and thrives on the creative process. His status as a licensed pilot adds a unique dimension to his inspiration, with long flights serving as a source of creative insight.
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Dick Smith

Biography

Richard Emerson Smith (June 26, 1922 – July 30, 2014) was an American special make-up effects artist and author, (nicknamed "The Godfather of Make-Up") known for his work on such films as Little Big Man, The Godfather, The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Scanners and Death Becomes Her. He won a 1985 Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on Amadeus and received a 2012 Academy Honorary Award for his career's work. Description above from the Wikipedia article Dick Smith (make-up artist), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Marie Dubas

Biography

Marie Dubas (3 September 1894 – 21 February 1972) was a French music-hall singer, diseuse and comedian. Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre mixing comedy into her routine. She earned a following that led to offers to perform in Parisian operettas and musicals and during the 1920s and 1930s, starred at such places as the Casino de Paris and Bobino, the great music hall in Montparnasse. Her most famous song, Mon légionnaire, was written by Raymond Asso and recorded in 1936. Her popularity became such that in 1939 she toured the United States. The occupation of France by the Germans during World War II proved a difficult time for the Jewish, Marie Dubas. Although married to a French gentile who served in the Air Force, she was nevertheless banned by the Vichy government and placed under house arrest by the Gestapo who raided her Paris apartment. Forced to flee the country, Dubas took refuge in Lausanne, Switzerland where she remained until the end of the war. On her return to France, she learned her sister had been executed and her nephew had been shipped to a concentration camp, never to be heard from again. The inspiration for Édith Piaf, Marie Dubas returned to performing and in 1954 was chosen as a headliner for the reopening of the Paris Olympia. A stage production about her life, Dubas de haut, en bas, was created by Opéra Éclaté. Marie Dubas retired in 1958. She died in Paris in 1972 and is interred there in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. She is largely forgotten today. Source: Article "Marie Dubas" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
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Maximilian Le Cain

Biography

Maximilian Le Cain (born 1978) has made more than ninety short, medium and feature length experimental films and videos over the past decade. He is affiliated with Experimental Film Society. He is currently working in creative partnership with sound/performance artist Vicky Langan. He collaborates with artist Esperanza Collado in the multi-disciplinary art project Operation Rewrite and with composer Karen Power on the sound / film / performance project Gorging Limpet. He is a contributor to the Cinema Cyanide noise project. He is also a film critic. He founded and edited Cork Film Centre’s online experimental film magazine Experimental Conversations. He regularly programmed experimental film for the Cork-based experimental music/film event Black Sun and has presented avant-garde film events in collaboration with, amongst others, Cork Film Centre and Cork Film Festival, involving filmmakers such as Peter Tscherkassky, Vivienne Dick, Pip Chodorov, James Fotopoulos, Abigail Child and Christoph Girardet. As a film critic, his writings have appeared in a broad range of international film journals, including La Furia Umana and Senses of Cinema, and in several books, including The Cinema of Roman Polanski: Dark Spaces of the World (Wallflower Press, 2006). He is based in Cork City, Ireland.
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