George R. R. Martin closes cinema, non-profit foundation amidst Coronavirus spread

Coronavirus is slowly but surely pushing society to the brink of stoppage. While governments around the world have taken some strict measures to control the spread, there is a growing responsibility on individuals to do their bit as well. George R.R Martin has realized it too and is doing his own bit.

As per KRQE, Martin has decided to close down the cinema and the non-profit foundation owned by him. The Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe has been closed down until April 15. Stagecoach Foundation, which holds classes for kids about film and TV production, too will be close down. Martin has however decided that foundation will continue to pay its employees.

It is an important step taken by Martin as people are being told to stay at home by governments around the world. It is not all bad though. Martin recently took to his blog and revealed that amidst the virus spread and self-isolation, he has begun to write daily. This is good news as fans have been awaiting the release of The Winds of Winter for almost a decade now. He wrote on his blog:

“For those of you who may be concerned for me personally… yes, I am aware that I am very much in the most vulnerable population, given my age and physical condition. But I feel fine at the moment, and we are taking all sensible precautions. I am off by myself in a remote isolated location, attended by one of my staff, and I’m not going into town or seeing anyone. Truth be told, I am spending more time in Westeros than in the real world, writing every day.”

There you have it, folks. Martin is doing everything he can to make a difference. Its time we fulfill our duties as well.

How are you doing amidst the chaos? Talk to us in the comment section below.

A new chance for Game of Thrones’ fans to relive their fantasies is about to open in Northern Ireland. A £24m Game of Thrones attraction center in Co Down is being set up by Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge. It will be developed under license with Warner Brothers Consumer Products.

The tour will be another stop for fans of the fantasy TV series who, pre-COVID, loved to visit spots like Ballintoy Harbour, Castle Ward, and the Dark Hedges to follow in the footsteps of characters. The tourist attraction will feature sets from King’s Landing and Winterfell.

The Linen Mill Studios have now received planning permission. The tour is expected to pull in 600,000 visitors and generate £400m in revenue per year. It will help in the recovery of the tourism industry post-COVID-19, as tourism is estimated to have lost 50% of its 2019 £1bn revenues.

The show was filmed here between 2009 and 2018 by HBO. It was adapted from George R.R. Martin’s famous novel A Song of Ice and Fire. Linen Mill Studios want the venue to embody the entertainment, drama, and quality which made Game of Thrones the most pirated TV show in history.

Some of the most iconic scenes of the show were shot at the studio. The fans will have an opportunity to visit and see the work of the show’s incredible crew in a museum setting. Apart from the set, the tour will also feature a make-up and prosthetics shop for the guests. There will also be a restaurant to relive the studio catering experience.

Are you excited about the brand new opening of the tour stop? Let us know in the comments below!

The year 2020 has been the Red Wedding of years. As if the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t enough, tragedy has struck yet once again. This time, the wretched year has taken away another gem of the entertainment industry. Diana Rigg, who played the cunning Lady Olenna Tyrell on the series Game of Thrones, has passed away at the age of 82.

Diana was a decorated and esteemed performer. She was a venerable figure in Britain’s entertainment industry and was the recipient of the famed Tony and Emmy awards. Rigg was also famous for her role as intelligence agent Emma Peel on ‘The Avengers’ in the 1960s.

Dame Diana Rigg . She always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honor to work with. May her soul Rest In Peace https://t.co/BC4annah1H

— Nikolaj CosterWaldau (@nikolajcw) September 10, 2020

Diana Rigg played the role of Lady Olenna Tyrell, also known as The Queen of Thorns on HBO’s The Game of Thrones. She began in the third season in 2013. She was nominated for the esteemed Emmy awards for the category ‘Best Guest Actor’ for her work on the show, consecutively from 2013 to 2015.

“Diana was a beautiful kind and generous human being that enhanced the lives of all that knew her as well as a great actress. She leaves a great void in my heart,” said Lionel Larner, who was Rigg’s long time friend and talent agent.

Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. She spent her early childhood in India. Diana did her training as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1955-57 and made her professional stage debut in Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle in 1957. She died from cancer which was diagnosed back in March.

Her loss will be deeply felt and she will be missed all over the world. Our condolences are with her family and friends.

Game of Thrones was a memorable experience for both the fans and the show’s crew. Rarely do we see a TV show achieve massive popularity as Game of Thrones did in the last decade. Many of the show’s crew have moved on to new projects, including showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Game of Thrones directors David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with Alexander Woo are working together to adapt Liu Cixin’s bestseller “Three-Body Problem” for Netflix. The series will be covering all three books of the trilogy, namely, “The Three-Body Problem,” “The Dark Forest,” and “Death’s End.” The story revolves around the idea of humanity’s first contact with aliens. Netflix struck a deal with Yoozoo group for the rights to make an English adaptation of the trilogy.

The Three-Body Problem, the story of humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization inspired by @cixinliu’s renowned novel, will be adapted as a Netflix series from David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo. pic.twitter.com/Dily05j2Vw

— NX (@NXOnNetflix) September 1, 2020

Benioff and Weiss were highly impressed by the books. They said, “Liu Cixin’s trilogy is the most ambitious science-fiction series we’ve read, taking readers on a journey from the 1960s until the end of time, from life on our pale blue dot to the distant fringes of the universe. We look forward to spending the next years of our lives bringing this to life for audiences around the world.”

The Three-Body Problem is going to be the first project Benioff and Weiss will work on, since the completion of Game of Thrones. They have already proved their mettle with the amazing success of Game of Thrones. The new show is the type of fantasy genre that is right up their sleeves. Benioff and Weiss are also associated with another Netflix series, “The Chair” as executive producers.

The Netflix series does not have a release date yet. What are your expectations for the show? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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